Well at first glance, I'd have thought I wouldn't get a MkV Golf as well, so I can see both sides of that exchange.
Dealer today says he has one arriving later which I can drive tomorrow. 1.6 Match, 2 years old and less than 10K on clock... just squeezing into my price range. Stupidly I didn't clarify that was a Mk5 - not sure exactly when the change over was? Will have to research! Didn't get all the low down on the spec today, will see how it feels to drive tomorrow.
Also, able to drive a 1.6 LX Focus tomorrow prior to Golf. Even less miles on the clock - like hardly any! - registered at start of year and a grand cheaper. Possibly higher specd - but again, I thought after all the advice and help on here, I'd wait until I drove them both and then see what I fancy...
Thanks again!
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PS I DID notice some awful paintwork on some of the other Focus at dealership ... bumper and body not matching. Yuk!! Will look carefully at the one I'm driving tomorrow!
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The mark 2's suffer from a laughable problem whereby the bumpers don't match the rest of the car.
The mark 1s are ok in this respect but like any other car can have had a Ford monkey repsraying it at some point in it's life so your thoughts on checking it carefully are wise.
Good luck in your search.
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I don't think the Mk5 has been out 2 years yet so i would imagine the car the delearship are getting is a last of the mine mk4 - probably a tarted up special edition judging by the name.
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If it's a Match, it's a Mark IV, albeit one of the last and with decent specification including alloys, CD player, air con and all the basics (but not that much else).
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This isn't the one I'm driving tomorrow, but says Match and MkV
www.breeze-volkswagen.co.uk/sales/used_car_sales/u...9
I can't find when the MkV came in. Can anyone advise? Thanks!
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Ignore me! I see it says reg in 2004. And there's another one on the site that was reg 2003 - also a Match, but MkV not stated. So, I guess the Match ran across both versions??? Guessing change was March 2004?
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The change was in spring 2004 (possibly March) but I've just done an AutoTrader search here: tinyurl.com/dq6rr and every Golf Match that shows up is a Mk IV with the exception of one, which appears to be a 1.4S anyway.
There are also two Mk Vs where the word "match" appears to have been used in the text.
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I know RF will jump in but, after three VWs in 13 years which have proved satisfyingly virtually trouble free, I obviously say the Golf.
It will also be worth more at the end of the day, whatever its age.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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By the way, forget the 1.4 Golf - it's just too well built and engineered for such a small engine...:-)
I wouldn't fancy that engine in my MkIV Bora if I wanted to get anywhere in a reasonable time.
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What\'s for you won\'t pass you by
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I think thats a mistake. There was no Golf Mk 5 Match, or yet there hasnt been of yet. The changeover for the models was spring 2004, and the match version was a special edition for the last year or so of mark 4 production. Another giveaway is the 105bhp 1.6 litre engine. The Mk 5 is powered by the new 1.6 FSI, 115BHP. The link you posted cornflake has got it wrong i think. I reckon its a mark 4.
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Okay thanks. So looks like I'm comparing a MkIV Golf with the newest Focus tomorrow. I'll see how it goes!
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be interested in the results of your testdrive,whatever at the end of the day the Focus will suffer a large percentage depreciation compared to the Golf--the Golf has the name and reputation.
Most automag reports and test drives always place the Focus at Nr 1 and then the Golf ,it should be Golf Nr 1 imo
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Given that steve is quite right in how much the Focus depreciates, I would STRONGLY suggest you look to the mk 1, which is much more fun to drive IMHO. It'll be cheaper and have had the big depreciation hit already.
I only say this since you say you are driving one of the newest (which I assume means mk2) Focus...
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I remember talking to the Manageress of am Avis car rental depot whilst she was " off duty ". I asked her which car she found the most reliable , she told she never had any problems with the Ford Focus.
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If the choice is between either a MK1 Focus that come in well under budget, a Mk2 Focus at top of budget, or a MkIV Golf that comes in at top of budget I would say only the first two are viable options!
As for the Focus seats, there is a big difference between Zetec and Ghia seats, the Zetec have side bolsters that offer a lot of support if you are the right size for them, if you aren't then they're uncomfortable, the Ghia seats have far less bolstering and are a bit softer.
MKV Golfs handles well, but no better than the Mk2 Focus in my experience, just around about the same.
Blue
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Well, I made a decision - though not the one I was expecting after reading all the comments from here!
Focus first. LX model and one of the last old models. Only regd in Jan 05 and had only done just over 2K miles. Not local though, so hasn?t been looked after by local dealer. Checked the paint - all looked fine! Very roomy - seems a lot bigger than perhaps it is. At first glance, the cabin seemed okay, but having to manually adjust mirrors was a step down from my current car and it amazed me how annoying this was! No front fog lights (again, have on current car). Electric windows on front only, but nice front screen heat thing for de-misting! No alarm, just immobilser. To drive: well, it was okay. Corners relatively nicely I agree - felt solid enough, but was a bit bumpy suspension wise down the country lanes and I think after a while, I may have got sea-sick! Seats and steering column adjustable enough to get a reasonable position, but seats seem to lack support - maybe cos I'm small framed - I felt like I was sitting in a bucket. It was quite "flat" - maybe that's cos the engine is not properly run in?? Didn't seem half as nippy as I was expecting. Car seemed quite heavy actually. After a while, the plasticy aspect of the dash became more noticeable and well... plasticy! Especially the front cup holders ? a magnet for dust if you ask me! But then, I don?t drink and drive! I get the feeling this car would be great for lots of motorway or good A road driving - but I live out in the sticks! Nice smooth gears, easy to manoeuvre to reverse park though, which I was surprised at considering size.... okay, but.. missing something?
Golf. It's a 53 reg ? Nov 03 - so MkIV. By most accounts then, I should have been veering towards the Focus. Sold new from dealer and just been serviced. Only 4K miles! Much better internal spec - electric everything, front fogs etc. Neither model had sunroof, but to be honest, I don't use current one much anyway. The inside instantly felt better and more refined. More closed in perhaps, but as a driver, I felt this gave me the impression all the bits were ready to hand. (In the Focus, it seemed such a reach to get stuff). The seats were far more comfortable for me - but again, I can see how they might be uncomfortable for someone not as small as me. It feels smaller than the Focus ? and if you wanted a car for a big family, I can see why the Focus would get the vote. However, the drive in the Golf was just ... more fun! Acceleration felt smoother and quicker. Maybe it doesn?t corner quite so solidly at speed, but the suspension was more even on the potholed country lanes... though I wonder how much of this was due to my perception that the seats fitted me better so I didn?t bounce around as much. Adjustable points for seatbelt helps too! It FELT lighter ? though I know it?s not meant to be!
With only £900 between them, (and admittedly an extra year warranty for the Focus), I?m afraid I went for the Golf! The better residual value swung me this way too. If I?d gone for the Focus, it would have been fine... but... not spirited!
A big thankyou to all your help on this forum though. It?s the first time I?ve bought a car without someone in the family to advise me ? and I feel happier that I?ve made the right decision for me ? though in two months time when it breaks down you can all shout ?we told you so!? I?m still grinning from the drive at the mo though :)
Cheers,
Cornflake
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Welcome to being a vdub owner.
Hopefully things will be good for you as are many owners.
If you believe the storys on this forum then used prices would not be so high!
You will soon make up your own mind about the tank(built like a brick but doesnt drive like one)that is the mkiv golf.
unlike this forum
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>>You will soon make up your own mind about the tank(built like a brick but doesnt drive like one)that is the mkiv golf.
unlike this forum<<
The 3 Golfs I drove drove like bricks. No need for the barbed comments.
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Cornflake, thanks for updating us with the outcome. Its always good to read the "results" of a question being posted.
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You don't seriously mean you viewed ONE Focus LX and ONE Golf and then bought the Golf based on that?
Didn't you think to... try a higher spec Focus if the spec of the bottom of the range one wasn't to your liking?
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congratulations cornflake to the vw lub.
Check out this dedicated to vw and golfds too
www.uk-mkivs.net/forums
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And thanks for the link stevegolf :)
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You don't seriously mean you viewed ONE Focus LX and ONE Golf and then bought the Golf based on that? Didn't you think to... try a higher spec Focus if the spec of the bottom of the range one wasn't to your liking?
Michael - You seen what I've asked you in the last thread you did on Auction prices yet? (sorry to go off topic mods)
Cornflake - Congrats on the choice of car, i have to be honest, whilst I prefer the Focus (I own one so yes, I'm biased ;) I think you made the right decision to go for the Golf. The Focus LX is just too bargain basement as far as the seats, interior ambience and exterior appearance are concerned. The Golf has a much more solid feel.
Hope you enjoy the Golf, and I hope it proves to be reliable!
Blue
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Michael: no. I didn't view only 2 cars. I spent a fair amount of time prior to finding this board considering lots of options - including other cars - but came to the point when I had to make a decision quickly. As luck would have it, 2 models within my budget and desire for a newish car happened to come into 2 dealers on the same day. Nothing else as good available locally - many searches through websites/dealers etc confirmed. Next closest cars from franchise dealers involved an hour and a half drive to see - and you know what? I aint that fussed. It's just a car! Life's too short to spend months trailing after some wheels! And even if the Focus had been specd exactly as the VW, I still would have gone for the Golf. It suited me and my driving preferences better.
Blue (and others): thanks for the good wishes. I hope it does prove to be reliable too! If it isn't, I know I'll be after a Focus!!
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