Quote about the Golf MK 5:-
"Good: Far greater feeling of genuine quality than Mk IV, decent handling, engine innovations. Bad: Generally hard ride."
What utter nonsense, in my humble opinion, of course. The ride is superb and is acknowleged as being so, by the majority of well informed car hacks and magazines.
Edited by Honestjohn on 30/12/2008 at 10:56
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Following on from your post about your potential purchase of a Mk VI, I guess. What have you decided? As for the ride - firm I think too, but then I have GT TDi and that's the way I want it. However I can see a long running trend for much more firmly sprung cars, brought about by car reviews in the main motoring press. Not sure that everyone rates firmness (generally a by product of seeking better 'handling') above comfort, and I'm sure there are plenty of people who would prefer comfort in a wider range of cars.
Edited by Honestjohn on 30/12/2008 at 10:57
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Following on from your post about your potential purchase of a Mk VI I guess.
SQ
It's too early for me to make any decision yet. I know many people on that enthusiasts VW website who have already placed orders without seeing the car, apparently.
However, I accept that the ride of anything designated as GT or GTi would have perhaps a lowered suspension and a 'harder' ride especially on large alloys with with very low profiles and that is why I, personally, would never have any car that purports to to be 'sporty' or a GT etc. and unfortunatley this rules out a Ford Focus Zetec, which although better speccd than lowlier grades, has the sportier suspension set up etc. Yuk!!!
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 29/12/2008 at 18:32
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Have to admit I agree with you about the ride on the Golf Mk5, og. I've driven lots of them and the ride is way better than any other small hatchback I've tried. Audi A3s feel like they're fitted with square wheels by comparison, presumably to give them a "sporty" feel.
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I also agree. The Golf is a far better riding car than its Leon sister. A friend has the FR version of that car, and the ride is just appalling. It has no suspension travel at all that I can detect.
I've driven a couple of mkV 2.0 GT TDis, and they're firm, but not uncomfortably so.
A lot of German or German derived cars are set up on the firm side, in my experience. The Golf is probably one of the best for suppleness.
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One particularly good thing about the Mark VI is that VW have at last seen the light and produce the 2.0 TDI 140 bhp hatchback in SE trim. With the Mark V you had to have it as a GT Sport - unless you had the estate, as I have.
My SE estate seems to have an excellent balance between ride and handling, and the steering is delfinitely more direct than an Audi A4's.
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There are a few things where HJ sometimes misses the point on but that is like any review written by a single person. I personally find the ride on the MK4 Golf on par with a 1990 Mini City with a leaking suspension never been in a new Golf but the Octavias have always been lovely.
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Off topic but HJ is likely to look back here and saves making another thread:
HJ was your Focus ECOnetic road test shot at a car park in Chobham by any chance?! This bit vids.honestjohn.co.uk/343-FocusEconetic.jpg
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I know the one, on the left if you go right out of the M3 one.
Thought I recognised that bit of grass and shingle... :-/ I must go running at Chobham far too often!
Back on topic then!
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Its a well known xxxxxx too mss1tw.........
Edited by rtj70 on 29/12/2008 at 20:49
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Its a well known xxxxxxx too mss1tw.........
To some, it seems! :-P
Edited by rtj70 on 29/12/2008 at 20:50
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A slightly seditious thought -
HJ's rubric for the top 10 says:
"To make your vote count have your say simply visit a road test or car-by-car breakdown for your favourite model today."
So imagine a really bad car is put on the market.
HJ rightly pillories it as his tests always tell it as it is.
This generates a lot of interest and lots of people read the test and the entry in CBCB.
The bad car leaps to the top of the top 10.
Is there a safeguard, or is the bad car there by rights as it's generated the most interest?
I think I'm safe in asking this here as Backroomers are too sensible to do anything like spending all night clicking on the CBCB entry for the Austin Maestro..... ;)
Edited by Honestjohn on 30/12/2008 at 10:57
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I think I'm safe in asking this here as Backroomers are too sensible to do anything like spending all night clicking on the CBCB entry for the Austin Maestro..... ;)
Maestro? Luxury, lad.
Try one of these: www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=184
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I agree with HJ regarding the better ride quality of the Focus compared with the Golf, although there is scope for improvement.
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Worth clicking on this one for the gloriously appropriate (Oxfordshire) registration number on the car pictured.
Oops - that's two votes for the Lada already.....
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"A slightly seditious thought - "
Your theory appears reasonable Avant. I have, in times less egregious, searched the internet for pictures of...rubbish cars. But not very much. I'm looking for new wheels and, while rubbish cars do have an interest, it's not as much as the ones I lie in bed at night thinking about. I look at those all the time.
Plus, there isn't a 'rubbish car' on HJ's list.
I think you should think about what you've said and apologise for your thought-crime.
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Whilst on the subjec of HJ car reviews, am I the only one to wonder why he tests so many cars that are unavailable in the UK or even Europe? I know t'internet is a world wide wonder, but the heading to the Car-by-Car Breakdown Section says it is the "Full story of all popular models on sale in the UK since 1990". And then currently lists a thing called a Chevrolet Colorado pick-up. ? .
I also can't see Honda ever selling the subject of the current Road Test, the City (booted Jazz) if they have any sense.
Are these of any relevance to 99% of us?
Edited by Honestjohn on 30/12/2008 at 10:58
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boxsterboy i have to disagree. Why NOT have those reviews available? All the others are there, including ones sourced in the UK.
I like the wide range of reviews on offer. If a car isn't relevant to me I'll tend to overlook it in favour of ones I am looking for...
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