Hesitating between a late mk3 highline, Mk4 V6, and perhaps a mk5.
Which has better build quality etc??
Thanks
|
I've a MkIV Bora - bulletproof build quality, yet the MkV Golf is supposedly even better...:-)
Based on the longevity of the marque, I would think that the MkIV would be the best all round choice for a combination of overall condition and value for money.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
|
PS
The MkIV V6 is a cracking drive. Once spent a day on the north Yorkshire moors in one...:-)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
|
|
I've had a Mk III Highline since new and am never going to sell it.
|
Do you have any budget and/or use in mind?
Without going any further, I think the best VW Golf is the Seat Leon 180 bhp Cupra...
|
|
The one I have at present - and my first VW Golf. Mind you I don't know whether there will be another one unless VW improve their customer service etc.
Mine is the new Golf MKV 1.6FSI SE which I've now had 12 months and for the first time today, since new, have filled up with regular 95RON unleaded petrol, having used super-unleaded petrol since new. There seems to be a paucity of super-unleaded at the moment. Should be an interesting, the next 500 mile tankful of petrol.
|
|
|
I had a Golf MK4 GTI PD150. It was superb to drive but it was the most unreliable car I have ever owned. By the time the car had covered 22K it had a replacement gearbox, tandem oil seals (whatever they are), steering rack, trim kept falling off as soon as the heater got warm, screen washers failed and it leaked water through drivers door.
I guess I was unlucky as it was probably a Friday afternoon car. My previous MK2 Golf was faultless.
|
|
|
I am biased & would say the MKV 2.0 TDI. It has the much livelier tdi engine (140ps), firmer suspension and is great to drive. People will say the MkV is less well built than the Mk IV, but compared to rival hatches it is still leagues ahead of everything else with great detailing, everything well screwed together etc.
If you don't like diesel, then go for the GTI!
MM
|
Having had a Mk 3 and 2 Mk 4s the interior quality in both was very good, as was the mechanical reliabillity. It was the electrics that were so bad they drove me into the arms of a different manufacturer. Also the fact that the Mk5 interior looked and felt really cheap. They've cheapened the interior of the new Passat - you only have to read reviews to confirm that. Obviously, cost cutting is afoot.
I personally wouldn't trust anything VW make as far as I could throw it. There also seem to be plenty of negative threads on here. But then again it's personal experience I suppose. And I so nearly bought a Mk5 GTi 'cos it was gorgeous when I drove it. I just kept remembering all the electrical faults...
|
Having had a Mk 3 and 2 Mk 4s the interior quality in both was very good, as was the mechanical reliabillity. It was the electrics that were so bad they drove me into the arms of a different manufacturer. Also the fact that the Mk5 interior looked and felt really cheap. They've cheapened the interior of the new Passat - you only have to read reviews to confirm that. Obviously, cost cutting is afoot. I personally wouldn't trust anything VW make as far as I could throw it. There also seem to be plenty of negative threads on here. But then again it's personal experience I suppose. And I so nearly bought a Mk5 GTi 'cos it was gorgeous when I drove it. I just kept remembering all the electrical faults...
Same here. I broke the bank a couple of years ago to buy a Passat. I believed the hype, thinking I was going to get a car with rock solid build and reliability.
The electrics were constantly failing, necessitating removal of the dash. The consequent squeaks and rattles and continuing problems led me to get rid at considerable loss.
|
|
|
|
My MkV 105bhp TDi is streets ahead of my MKIV 110bhp TDi in terms of handling, space, performance and refinement. Its 'semi-automatic' aircon is more 'set and forget' that the MKIV's Climatronic climate control. Any reduction in interior quality is marginal and has not stopped it from being a nice place to live in (at 40k per year, I sometimes think I do live in it).
After 7.5 months and 25k miles, the only fault (frantically touching wood!) has been an intermittantly faulty external temp display, fixed under warranty.
The most obvious cost-cutting that I have noticed is that with the 'swivelling-badge' tailgate opening, there no longer is the ability to lock the tailgate with a key (ie lock independant of the central locking), also that the rear seat squabs don't fold, so that there is more of a step when the backs are folded down. However, with the bigger cabin, you no longer have to mess about removing the headrests before folding the seat backs...
|
The most obvious cost-cutting that I have noticed ...., also that the rear seat squabs don't fold, so that there is more of a step when the backs are folded down. However, with the bigger cabin, you no longer have to mess about removing the headrests before folding the seat backs...
So you don't get a flat floor in a Golf with the rear seats down? That is cheap and nasty.
|
This does seem an odd question, you are asking which car to chose from a potential budget of between £500 and £23000 - just how much have you got to spend?
Should it be 'Mk5 Golf v Focus v Whatever' rather than Mk3 Golf v Mk4 v Mk5?
|
|
That's my question - Focus 1.6 or Golf 1.6?? But I'll start a new thread!
|
|
|
This does seem an odd question, you are asking which car to chose from a potential budget of between £500 and £23000 - just how much have you got to spend? Should it be 'Mk5 Golf v Focus v Whatever' rather than Mk3 Golf v Mk4 v Mk5?
He he true. very true.
Well there isn't a set budget as long as it's reliable. We're talking £5k to £15k.
I'm not too bothered about loads of creature conforts, but I do like my leather seats (heated) and air con.
Many thanks for all your replies, keep them coming in!
|
Buy a nice BMW 5 Series for £10-£15k. Best car you'll ever have and look after it the only one you'll ever need ;)
Proper prestige car as well, unlike the Golf which is a mid-range hatch full of its own importance ;)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The best ones are those built in the Fatherland rather than in South Africa or anywhere else.
Mark IV estates were German-built (mine was excellent in every way), and I think I read somewhere that Mark Vs are mostly German as well. Someone may be able to confirm or deny.
|
Best Golf is definitely the Mk2 GTi 8v, I have owned 2, one was a 1984 one I bought on 92,000 miles and 11 years later, on 201,000 miles (same engine, recon gearbox) and still running like a dream it was written off in an accident.
The 1986 year replacement I bought on 150,000 miles for £400, I sold it to my brother 3 years ago on 185,000 miles, it is now on 235,000 miles and still running well on the original engine and gearbox! That sort of build/longivety cannot be beaten...
|
Best Golf is definitely the Mk2 GTi 8v, I have owned 2, one was a 1984 one I bought on 92,000 miles and 11 years later, on 201,000 miles (same engine, recon gearbox) and still running like a dream it was written off in an accident. The 1986 year replacement I bought on 150,000 miles for £400, I sold it to my brother 3 years ago on 185,000 miles, it is now on 235,000 miles and still running well on the original engine and gearbox! That sort of build/longivety cannot be beaten...
Wow!! Thats fantastic mileage!! They are a bit too old for me now though!
|
|
|
|
