john banks

Wife's Mk5 GTI is four years old, doesn't ride well, isn't very refined and is unreliable. Welcome any ideas for replacement.

Criteria:

More refined, better riding and more reliable
Size: at least Golf sized
No RWD, must be OK in the snow
Reasonable economy and insurance, diesel OK if refined and doesn't chew injectors, flywheels all the time
Manual, DSG or auto, don't really mind
Doesn't have to be fast, but must have a bit of torque
Something that looks nice would be a bonus
Price within reason unimportant

dpb

Toyota Corolla ?

Matteeboy

A wee bit leftfield but Volvo C30 D5? Pretty stylish, loads of torque, nice interior, pretty well made, reliable AFAIK.

john banks

Nice idea, her parents have one (diesel not D5), not been in it.

Matteeboy

D5 is diesel but it's a five pot 180bhp version - goes well. I guess she may not want the same car as her parents though?!

john banks

She'd quite like a 370Z and I could do with transferring some of the GTR work to it. There are also some Inifiti variants that may ride smoothly. All RWD though.

It is too Renault influenced to be properly reliable though perhaps.

I don't think having the same as her parents would matter.

She doesn't tend to rev her engines, so a diesel could be good.

She does like nice handling though, really likes Fords, shame they don't make a Puma now, she loved that.

Matteeboy

Well a C30 is basically a Ford Focus with a much better image - same(ish) chassis. So it handles well.

Spec one up properly and you have a car with a powerful engine (and big torque), a good chassis, a luxurious interior (with cool floating dash) and pretty decent looks.

john banks

Sounds quite good. Boot is a bit small though, will have a nosey at the in-law's one.

stilover

If she doesn't like the Golf GTI ride comfort, she'll hate the 370Z's.

It is well damped, but is very very still. What my MK5 Golf GT Sport just drives (Pot holed road) over with a slight bump, and 370 gives an almighty bump.

Plus road/tyre noise can be loud on certain roads.
Plus there isn't much room in the cabin for storing things (doesn't bother me) but the boot is a decent size.

Different league in performance to her GTI though. Can get the Traction control light flickering in 3rd gear in the dry. Can get it going in 4th gear in the wet.

EDIT
Just read you original post. 370Z is RWD.

john banks

What is the most refined, smoothest riding hatch that is reliable and still handles then?

It seems the default choice in this class is a Golf.

Do these latest adjustable dampers make a real difference? On my GTR the adjustment is quite a minor difference in firmness.

I was in the back seat of a new A4 recently and I could not believe how uncomfortable the ride was.

What hope is there?

A mini LS430 with FWD?

But then what she wants is a bit different, I'm just fed up of fixing VAG crap when the car is rubbish even when it actually works.

Fantom

Whats wrong with a top end Ford Focus then?

john banks

Probably very little, will try one. Last one I drove was a 1.6 TDCI from about 3 years ago, it was excellent. Anyone know if a Mondeo gives significantly better ride quality or refinement?

john banks

There is a new 163 PS 2.0 diesel dual clutch Mondeo. Would interest me, will see if it does the Mrs

Depreciation on a just out variant wouldn't be ideal though.

Andy M3

The new Citroen C5 is undoubtedly the best riding car this side of £50k. I had one as a loaner from my local dealer group. It was a manual base 2.0 HDI, 5 up, a boot full of luggage it was a superb car to motor around in. Considering it was a 12 month old loan car there was nothing wrong with is either?!?!

The 'Exclusive' is the one to go for, either 2.7 V6 HDI or 3.0 V6 petrol......

john banks

Was it quiet from the point of view of tyre, wind, engine noise too?

Is this on springs or air?

SPEN555

What about the Mazda MPS thing 250bhp someone at work has one and it looks a nice discreet car. Don't know how it rides but I think it is based on a focus so should be good?

Or Diesel hatchback Impreza

john banks

Diesel hatchback Impreza PMSL.

What is the point in looking like a tosser without the payback?

SPEN555

Don't knock it, I have not read a single bad review on the diesel from those that own them.

Andy M3

It was super quiet, the car I drove was a base which was metal sprung. The air variant has the advantage of a 'sport' button which tightens things up.

SPEN555

Or this;

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/defa...?storyId=21846

SPEN555

Or this;

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/defa...?storyId=21846

Scotsman

iTrader: (3)

Sad to read that the GTI mark V is so poor - as I'm considering changing my wagon for one! (btw - what colour and spec?)

I do like the look of the new C5 as well - as I'm keen on something that is ultra comfy for motorway driving.

Still fancy the GTI though - didn't expect to read that the reliability is so poor and the ride is harsh. I took my mates out for a drive when they first came out and I thought it felt pretty good. Of course, probably just comparing it to my wagon's ride.

Mat ed30

had my Gti ed30 3years now and it does not crash about at all and never has so u might want to get it looked at

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Well if you want to stick to the same size car John then its either the Focus or the Astra (new model), or go for that volvo must admit I do like the volvo's, dont like the bit where it cuts your power when your low on fuel though

Tony

stiscooby

I've just got myself an 06 Audi A3 T FSI S Line SE. 2.0L Turbo so it has a bit of go (and I came from a 340Bhp STI Scoob, wanted something more comfy).

Very well built, comfy, seems good on petrol, doesn't look bad either.

A mate has recently got a MK5 GTi but the build quality/interior isn't as nice and his already complaining about wind noise coming through the tops of the doors..... none of that in the Audi

john banks

Still shares many of the same parts that break though unfortunately, I'll bet you have the same time bomb Teves ABS unit that will sting you for £1500 unless you have a full dealer service history if it fails out of warranty, but that isn't just a VAG problem.. At least the VW dealer means well, Audi dealers seem to be up their own bottoms and sell a rubbish product, obviously varies locally.

Wondering about the 175 PS 2.2 TDCI Mondeo, maybe in modest Zetec trim so it has only 17" wheels. Would be manual though as we'd be looking at something lightly used.

S40 could be interesting, but it is a saloon.

The D5 engine sounds a bit old tech compared to the latest four cylinders which have similar outputs, better economy and less CO2 and all that tosh.

Any thoughts on reliability of the 2.2 TDCI?

Simon C

They aint slouches let me put it that way. Equal performace to any other car in that catagory.

SPEN555

Plus 4WD

Matteeboy

147bhp, 258lbs ft, 60m in 8.7s - not bad.

T-uk

discovery4 with 3litre v6 . I know a few folk with them and you need to try one . I would love to have one sitting outside .