Anybody got any experiences?

Anything would be good!

Is the old more comfortable as a cruiser?

Reliability?

Cheers!

Nick

 

golf is more powerfull and has confert but the focus has so much more room when we had chikd seat in golf the passengers seat was so far forward could hardly get in the car but with the focus was loads of room but seats get bit stiff after a while plus golf would hold its money better

 

Golf.

 

Thanks guys.

What are the VWs like for reliability?

Anything to llok out for?

Cheers

 

Golf handles like a pile of ****. Focus handles well. End of.

 

I'm not to fussed about handling to be honest. I just want something comfortable and good MPG.

I'm coming from a supercharged Honda S2000 so I'm after the complete opposite!

 

Had a golf pd150 for 8 years. Routine servicing was all it ever needed in 93k

 

Focus, but then im bias.... VW are expensive for what they are, servicing is also expensive...

More room in the focus then a golf, cheaper, and service is fairly cheap.

 

VW = Overpriced german car, seriously over rated reliability.
I would go with the focus

Tony

 

Thats an understatement! It amazes me that VW and reliability are mentioned in the same sentence, unless it has '=bad' written between them.

Mind you the Focus TDCI can't be said to be the most reliable either, but between the two it would be the Focus every time for me.

 

i got the wife a 2002 gt tdi golf four years ago bought if from a dealer had 41k on the clock the car now has 130k on the clock service it my self other than wear and tear its been a great car had to put full disc and pads on it last year and 2 weeks ago it had a vacum/fuel pump thats all its had other than tyres i would defo buy her another one

 

I would try doing the lottery next if I was you.

 

The wife is on her 4th golf, only problem we had had was a blown fuse.
Her mother owned three Golf's with no problems at all.
So in our experiance i would say they are reliable, more so than the mini the wife had before going back to a Golf.
Nik.

 

Of course there will be people who have had no problems but I have read numerous reports on their poor reliability which I can only confirm with my own experience...and 2 of my brother in laws and 3 other people I know. In fact I personally dont know anyone who hasnt had trouble with their VW and not the odd single fault either.

 

1.8focus is a pile , ours at work has done 82000 08 plate , it has 4 buckled wheels its had a new fuel pump , head gasket went at 71000 . if you insist on having a focus get the 6speed 2ltr its a mile better car and only 2-3mpg less

 

Maybe you should have spread the word before your family, friends and collegues all went out and bought one

 

My opinion has been based on these experiences.

 

Any issues with the DPF yet or does yours not have one?

I have to admit to looking into getting a diesel for a while but the newer ones just seem to have so many issues, due to trying to meet euro emissions regulations, that they seem to be more susceptible to faults, offsetting any savings made at the pumps.

 

the dpfl filter was cleaned out only lasr week (full of water ) dealer admited its the fault of the newer fuels , so many parts bio , when it happens its funny as . foot to the floor no more than 2500rpm in any gear kangarooing down the road like a learner . fair play to it though it does about 150miles a day delivering all over ****ty country roads and has never broken down , in fact when the head gasket went it still ran perfect just used water lol

 

What's the Astra 1.7 DTi like?

 

TDCi are not too refined and are not as quick as the VW Unit but i would not buy a golf due to the "Golf" tax. Have a Fabia VRS, quicker, lighter, better mpg, and a hoot to drive while returning 48 - 55mpg

Just to add - my daily hack is a Mondy TDCi and the Wife has a VRS.

 

VRS is outta my price range though!

Any comments on the Vauxhall 1.7DTi engine? Seems to return c.60mpg in the Corsa and Astra?

 

my dads got the Astra eco4 (?) with the 1.7DTi
gutless to drive as you;d imagine, but hes never had any problems with it (apart from being told off he hadnt given a bit of stick to clear it out when mot came up) in about 7 years

i found it fairly relaxing to drive in the end tbh

he's always going on about his good mpg too heh

 

I have a choice of the 1.7 DTI Astra 06 plate, an 06 Focus TDCI and 2 facelift Focus TDCI 59 and 60 plate at work. The Astra is really noisy at idle, even when warm. The older Focus is even noisier. The facelifted Focus is light years ahead in terms of refinement compared to the earlier Ford and Vauxhall. At idle the clutter in minimal.

 

id prefer the facelift focus out of that lot personally
but then im abit of a ford fanboy at heart

 

That OP question is so vague its like comparing a big mac vs. a whopper.

Model years/versions. please. MK1 focus or Mk2? MK3, MK4 MK5 or MK6 Golf?

As those relate to which sepcific engines they have:

Ford's 1.8 8-valve clatter banger in mk1 focus form is the most dire and most unresposnive turbo diesel engine ever made. Hateful thing that should have been left in the 1980s where it was dragged from.

The later version of the same 1980's engine can also be found in the MK2 focus. BUT with a modern variable geometry turbo (nicked off the PSA 1.6) and common rail fueling. As a result is far far far far better to drive than any of the older versions of that engine.

Having said that the 110ps 1.6tdci performs equally as well. Mainly because its a modern engine; All aluminium alloy block and head (as opposed to cast iron), 16valve, variable geometry turbo, common rail. Its much lighter, better on fuel, nicer and smoother power band and has near enough same power and torque as the 1.8.

As for VW: PD 8valve? PD 16valve? prePD? or Common rail?


As for chassis? Focus or MK5 Golf, MK4 and older are far too wallowy.

 

The 1.9CDTi unit is WAY more refined. Still clatters like a tractor but much nicer when on the move. It's the reason we chose and Astra over a Focus back on 2005. The Focus had the handling edge but the Astra had a much nicer (and pokier) engine. Still a crap interior though!

 

I'll second that, not the Mondy TDCI bit, but the vRS bit.

Mines got 120k up it. Remapped, does mid 50mpg and goes well. Had no major issues either apart from normal servicing and a MAF.

 

Ali-B - It's the Mk4 Golf (MY1999ish) 1.9 TDi 90bhp model. The Focus is again around a 2000 model and it's the Mk1 Focus with the 1.8 TDCi engine (115 bhp). It's not the very early 1.8 TDi engine, it's the TDCi engine I want.

I hope that helps!

Parts for the Golf seem quite a bit higher than the Focus!

CDTi engines are out of my price range as well.

Am I better off buying a small petrol engine?

 

MK1 focus will have the 1.8 WITHOUT the variable geometry turbo. Its pants.

Only the MK2 focus has the decent 1.8 unit.

I'd have the Golf and fit uprated springs/shocks on it.