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Having just been through a similar exercise to replace our tdi which was written off:
You've chosen 3 fairly high image marques, fine, but you will get a later lower mileage car for 5K if you look at petrol and other makes, as Avant states. Focus, Leon, Auris, Octavia, Mazda3 etc- all good cars.
ON average mileage there really isn't any advantage cost-wise or indeed reliability wise in running a diesel these days.
The earlier VAG FSI engines are complex direct injection units, there's plenty of forum talk about poor running, need for high octane petrol, gummed up valves etc. The a3 and Leon are available with the much simpler 1.6 mpi conventional engine which might be a better bet second-hand.
Also look out for the ABS/ESP issue on VAG vehicles, costing a fortune to fix the module - lots of info on this site about how to avoid big bills etc.
The Auris seems to be an adequate car but with not quite the reliability typically associated with Toyotas - but your budget will get a nice one.
What about Hyundai i30/Kia Ceed? Decent enough cars but no badge credibility if that's important. However, 5/7 year warranties should give you peace of mind. I hired a 1.4 recently and it was entirely acceptable, sharp to drive and quick enough, if a little noisy at speed.
Hope that helps, let us know what you settle on.
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I may add more productive advice later but for now all ill say is putting super unleaded in a mid range Golf is like a fat bird wearing leggings. Pointless.
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Now there's a pretty image!
I know I don't need a diesel, but if one comes up at a good price, then I would buy it.
Badge wise, I will look at other makes, but looks / feel is important.
Mazda 3 is nice, but too big, (don't bother arguing, I've been there!) I'll have a look at the Toyotas, Leon, don't see the point in comparison to the A3 or Golf.
Will have a look for that 1.6 engine, and I had also read about the ABS/ESP issue, that's another concern to add to the list.
I'd be interested to know what percentage of VW Audi owners have had these problems, but looks like it might not be worth the risk for me, unless i get a car where they have had the problem and fixed it?
1 Series is moving into pole position for me
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Leon, don't see the point in comparison to the A3 or Golf.............
Mentioned the Leon as it's basically the same car and the 1.6 FSi was never fitted to it as far as i know. I looked into this recently in a bid to avoid the fsi myself, the a3 is also available without it. The fsi has been superceded by the tsi range, which is turbo DI, I don't know in detail what problems are cropping up except that it's a very complicated motor and a search on here reveals some early reliability issues. But it's probably too new to be included in your budget.
Don't know much about the 1 series, except the 118d I borrowed had very un-comfortable seats, but was nice to drive in other respects. There are some turbo problems I believe.
The Teves issue seems to have been resolved after about 2009-ish, and cheaper fixes are available through specialist companies.
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Got a 118d, had it nearly 4 years and other than a battery that was replaced under warranty not a single issue. Servicing is cheap, every 2 years/19,000 miles, cost me £250 so far. Tried the Golf and Civic before buying but preferred the 1 series by far. If you don't do much mileage buy a petrol but beware, some of them are rubish. When we bought ours we tried 4 cars before deciding, 116, 118, 118d and 120d. The 116 at the time was a 1600 and was totally crap, the 118 was actually quite good but the 118d was only £300 more and was better, the 120d was very similar and not worth the extra £1,200. Last year I had a 116 loan car while mine was being serviced and it was a revelation, I loved it, checked with the dealer and the asmatic 1600 had been replaced with a 2 litre similar to the 118. Virtually the same power as the earlier 1600 but loads more torque at much lower revs, if I had been changing I would have been tempted. Bet the new turbo 116 and 118 are crackers, hope to try one when mine is servieced in Feb.
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1 series is a good car, it would be my choice out of these too (but i also would be looking at cars with less badge status), there is some issue with timing chains on the 4 cylinder petrol engines, you'll have to research to find that problem.
Diesels are excellent and with the proper auto box makes for a lovely compact driver, given your budget you will be looking at some high miles though.
Need good history, those ridiculously long oil service intervals don't lead to long turbo life IMO, but that goes for many non Japanese cars these days.
Would you consider a low mileage 3 series compact instead, these were very decent cars indeed.
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Ok, so I'll look into the Leon as well,
Size wise, it needs to be a hatchback, so unfortunately the 3 series is out, if the car was for me, I would probably go for the newer A4's but there you go.
I still want the A3 or Golf, even with reading about these problems, my preference actually being the Golf.
Have driven the 1 series a few years back, and really liked it, haven't driven the A3 or Golf yet, so that's next on the list.
Would I be foolish to think that if I stuck with the Audi/VW I could cover myself with an aftermarket warranty? or is that a new thread completely :)
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I would avoid the 1 series personally especially as you say 'size wise, it needs to be a hatchback' because not only is a 1 series quite expensive for what it is, its not very big inside. The boot is small and the rear is tiny, partly due to the RWD layout which is rare on a hatchback. If spacious practical hatchback is what you're after then the 1 series is nowhere near the Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra or possibly even the Kia Cee'd. Dont just think because its a 5 door hatchback that its going to be super practical.
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Only consider a 3 door 1 series, that way you won't be annoyed every time you open a rear door and realise what a waste they are as you can't sit in the back seats.
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I still want the A3 or Golf,......
In which case, a nice 1.9 tdi Golf, avoiding the 2.0 tdi which apparently is more problematic . The 1.9 tdi has a fine reputation, although there are common troublespots such as flywheel and turbo. But that applies to most turbodiesels anyway. Find one with a good service history and a decent warranty. And the 1.9 was by and large not fitted with with the diesel particle filter that is causing a lot of problems with the latest diesels.
Most petrol Golfs are either the 1.6 fsi or the slow 1.4 mpi. I would probably go with 1.9 tdi. given the choice.
But do try a Focus or Astra or i30 before you commit, you may be pleasantly suprised! VW are masters at making their cars seem more desirable and better built but the reliability especially as they get older is no better than average, particularly electrics and rain water leaks. Every VAG car I've owned has leaked rain water at some point!
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Thanks for the advice all, especially bazza, & I know what you mean about perception.
I think the 1.9 could be a good choice, and in the meantime, I'll take a look at the others, phew, i'm gonna be busy.
Re the size requirement, small is good, the car will only be used a runaround, kids in the back, shopping type thing, so don't mind if it's a bit cramped for when the occasional adult gets in the back. Although, I did sit in the back of a 1 series yesterday, and golf, and a3, admitedly only for a few minutes, but it seemed fine. The Golf actually felt the most spacious
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Was the front seat of the 1 series set so you could drive it and your passenger was comfortable? Our A3 sportback was changed as the back seat was cramped for our daughter when the passenger seat was set for the passenger to have enough legroom. If the passenger seat was pulled forward to make more room the handbrake couldn't be applied!
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I would still advise the OP to at least consider a Focus. Better value for money and does everything a family hatchback should do better than the 1-series. The 1-series is a strange car as its too expensive to start with, you wouldnt buy it if you wanted a spacious hatchback and nor would you buy it for how it drives or goes because for that money you could do better. Out of the OP's list the Golf is the best option but its such a depressingly boring purchase, even when stacked against a Focus.
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'Was the front seat of the 1 series set so you could drive it'
Urm, I think so, but can't be sure, but I can't imagine it worse than previous car, '98 Polo.
Jamie745, I'll have a look at the focus, never been a Ford fan, although I know it's rated as a very good car.
Drove an old one the other day, another '98, it was alright, got me from A to B.
I haven't looked at the more recent model, 2005 onwards, but just had a quick look through Parkers, def. good value for money in comparison.
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I haven't looked at the more recent model, 2005 onwards, but just had a quick look through Parkers, def. good value for money in comparison.
I keep seeing posts waxing lyrical about Focii, had reason to drive a pool Diesel Focus this week, oh dear me, underwhelmed is the understatement, nearly as underwhelming as the recent Mondeo experience was.
Hadn't driven one for much distance since we hired a petrol Focus in Ireland, underpowered boneshaker, wouldn't give you a thankyou for one.
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They're not the magnificent 'drivers car' the hacks at Auto Express make out, you'd think it was a 5 door Ferrari the way they go on but its still probably the best value hatchback around on the used market, only an idiot would buy a brand new one. Although i would heavily advise to steer clear of the smaller engines in the mk2 as the car is heavier than the original and i'd also advise avoiding Zetec trim as it crashes about like a wheelbarrow on crazy paving.
2.0litre petrol in Ghia guise would be lovely!
Edited by jamie745 on 30/12/2011 at 01:12
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but its still probably the best value hatchback around on the used market,..................
Exactly, it does everything a 5 door hatch should do and a bargain price used. Massively overpriced new but who ever buys a new one?
The hacks seem to have certain pre-conceived ideas, you're right. Forever banging on about Fords as drivers cars, while waxing lyrical every time they sit in a VW about cabin build quality and the feel of the buttons and switches. i sat in a Golf GTI recently at Motorpoint expecting to be carried away with it all, but have to admit I didn;t think it was any better than a Ford, Vauxhall etc etc. Same with the 1 series, ok but not earth shattering. But did enjoy the fluid steering of the 118d and relaxed feel of it .
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I loved my old Focus! I had the bog standard LX on a 52 plate. It was mightily good fun to drive (especially on country lanes), comfortable and surprisingly large inside. They can be a bit plasticky I suppose. I drove a brand new Fiesta as a hire car (to Sellafield) and, while it could not drag itself up the Cumbrian hills very well, it wasn't uncomfortable and I was surprised at the size of it.
My M-i-L has a Golf. It's 9/10 years old and it still looks new and it drives very smoothly. Still worth a decent amount in the used market as well.
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I drove a brand new Fiesta as a hire car (to Sellafield) and, while it could not drag itself up the Cumbrian hills very well,
Didn't need to use the headlights on the return journey either then, was the glow enough..;)
I used to take materials there by truck many years ago fully stickered up with 'radioactive' signs, amazing really i could park in the middle of a full truck park for a break and when i came back to the truck there wasn't another vehicle within 50 ft.
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No glow - but I was warned (with a smile) not to let any of the local seagulls 'decorate' the car as they like to scavenge on the main site :-D
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