Focus or Golf?

redman

Hi All

I am looking for opinions from Golf or Focus Drivers, especially those who have driven both.

As I am trying to by a second hand Golf at the moment and have noticed what good value the Focus is compared to the Golf. It is for my wife and aesthetically we both prefer the Golf, but you seem to get more for less when it comes to the Focus and the reviews seem great.

Whats you view/comments?

Thanks

Redman

Big Nelly

redman wrote:

Hi All

I am looking for opinions from Golf or Focus Drivers, especially those who have driven both.

As I am trying to by a second hand Golf at the moment and have noticed what good value the Focus is compared to the Golf. It is for my wife and aesthetically we both prefer the Golf, but you seem to get more for less when it comes to the Focus and the reviews seem great.

Whats you view/comments?

Thanks

Redman

Golf is overpriced and everyone has one, the Focus is good value for money but again everyone has one as well. Drove both, didnt like either. Golf was very boucy on road and Focus was a bore to drive, no fun.

Resell value on Golf would be better with them holding there value, the Focus because there is so many for sale second hand you need to drop the price to try and get rid of it

Henry Ford III

I'd say avoid base models in either. 1.4 engines are underpowered also.

Both are fine all round cars.

Have a look at www.parkers.co.uk and www.honestjohn.co.uk and after that
test drive both.

p.s. Service costs opn VW's sound horrific btw.

I have a 1.4 focus. It feels a bit underpowered at this engine size, but then again the golf will be too at this engne size. Go for a 1.6 or higher if you want a bit more zip.

I would disagree with Big Nelly about its handling, its alot of fun in the corners thanks to its multi-link rear suspension. The Focus was widely acclaimed to be the best handeling car in its class. The Golf didn't get this setup until the new Mk5 Golf.

My advice go for the cheaper and more fun Focus. (And seemingly more reliable than the golf!)

redman

Great feedback, Yes the 1.6 will be the engine we'll go for.

We have restricted it to these two models now primarily for seating position for my petit wife. ;-)

maidhc

I drive a 1.8 TDCi zetec focus. It is fantastic to drive and I dont know where Nelly is coming from. I drive an Avensis a lot, and in comparison to the focus the toyota is like a boat of some description.

The golf apparently has a squishy dash that causes english motoring journalists to salivate, but apart from that it is very plain. The resale value of the focus was very high for a long time, but the new model has softened things up a lot I think.

There does not appear to be any reason to suspect the focus will be less reliable than a golf.

Big Nelly

maidhc wrote:

I drive a 1.8 TDCi zetec focus. It is fantastic to drive and I dont know where Nelly is coming from. I drive an Avensis a lot, and in comparison to the focus the toyota is like a boat of some description.

The golf apparently has a squishy dash that causes english motoring journalists to salivate, but apart from that it is very plain. The resale value of the focus was very high for a long time, but the new model has softened things up a lot I think.

There does not appear to be any reason to suspect the focus will be less reliable than a golf.

the 1.8 petrol? havent a clue what TDCi means....lol....I was in the 1.6 version and I nearly fell asleep....hated it to drive

sneakyST

If you are worried about resale dont buy an LX focus. I am selling my 02 focus ghia (paid 17k) ... getting 12k for it. Great to drive and very comfortable. very reliable also

Henry Ford III

Big Nelly wrote:

the 1.8 petrol? havent a clue what TDCi means....lol....I was in the 1.6 version and I nearly fell asleep....hated it to drive

TDCI is a diesel engine, and they are excellent.

Focus is the undisputed class leader as regards handling btw.

The Zetec series has sports seats, and suspension with better wheels and tyres. A 1.6 Zetec petrol is a good fun car on a limited budget.

Big Nelly

Henry Ford III wrote:

TDCI is a diesel engine, and they are excellent.

Focus is the undisputed class leader as regards handling btw.

The Zetec series has sports seats, and suspension with better wheels and tyres. A 1.6 Zetec petrol is a good fun car on a limited budget.

I will stick with my 1.9Tdi 130Bhp:D

Vegeta

Golf = not as nice to drive and overpriced, newer models not as reliable as focus

Focus = cheaper nicer to drive but not as good looking as the golf.

Top gear reviewed all these type of cars on one of their shows last season and said even though the new focus was the ugliest it was by far the class leader.

I drvie a toyota but my brother had a focus, the only thing that ever needed replacing was the tyres from normal wear.

maidhc

Big Nelly wrote:

I will stick with my 1.9Tdi 130Bhp:D

The TDCi puts out 115bhp according to ford, although anyone who has had one tested has found the engine to put out at least 125bhp! Very close match for the slightly heavier Golf GT TDI 130 on the straight!

The TDCi might be an option for the OP, it is very "petrol like" to drive, and although as rare as hens teeth, they dont seem to have a massive premium over the petrols.

Big Nelly

maidhc wrote:

The TDCi puts out 115bhp according to ford, although anyone who has had one tested has found the engine to put out at least 125bhp! Very close match for the slightly heavier Golf GT TDI 130 on the straight!

The TDCi might be an option for the OP, it is very "petrol like" to drive, and although as rare as hens teeth, they dont seem to have a massive premium over the petrols.

I dont drive a Golf, as you see above I hate them, I like my Passat........not sure why Ford would say 115Bhp and you think it is 125Bhp, they wouldnt down scale the Bhp in a car

Táck

get a beelte with 18's

now thats fun to drive

Vegeta

Big Nelly wrote:

I dont drive a Golf, as you see above I hate them, I like my Passat........not sure why Ford would say 115Bhp and you think it is 125Bhp, they wouldnt down scale the Bhp in a car

To be honest i'd love to test every new car i bought for bhp as I never trust those figures, on a side note i don't think 15bhp should be a deciding factor as it is going to be driven by a petite lady. I doubt she is a nutter on the road and would ever end up saying "Damn if only I had bought the golf that extra 15bhp, I would have showed that boy racer a thing or two"

Henry Ford III

Big Nelly wrote:

I will stick with my 1.9Tdi 130Bhp:D

My Mum is bigger than your Dad!

My new Focus, being delivered on Monday next, has almost 100bhp more than that!

redman

Vegeta wrote:

To be honest i'd love to test every new car i bought for bhp as I never trust those figures, on a side note i don't think 15bhp should be a deciding factor as it is going to be driven by a petite lady. I doubt she is a nutter on the road and would ever end up saying "Damn if only I had bought the golf that extra 15bhp, I would have showed that boy racer a thing or two"

She certainly is a good calm driver, it's just that she used to 1.25 in a fiesta and we found the 1.4 sluggish in the Golf when driving on the M50 as a comparison.
But we do want to stick to Petrol though...

The Focus is tempting us now....

conor_mc

Last two cars were a Golf TDi 100bhp and before that a 1.4 Focus.

The Focus is a much better car for handling back roads etc, but I was doing a good bit of motorway driving and it crucified me on petrol. Then again, I have a heavy right foot and tended to cruise at a few mph above the speed limit.

The Golf is great for motorways/main roads, and the torque is just fantastic. A bit too soft for back roads though - but man, that torque! Went from getting 370 miles to a tank in the Focus to 550 in the Golf (roughly same size tank), and probably pushed the Golf a bit more than the Focus.

Focus TDCi may be the best of both worlds. I've only had a test drive in an older Focus TDDi and wasn't overly impressed with the delivery of power, the Golf was much more impressive.

Good luck either way, both good cars with pro's and cons, and definitely the class leaders imho.

Vegeta

conor_mc wrote:

Last two cars were a Golf TDi 100bhp and before that a 1.4 Focus.

The Focus is a much better car for handling back roads etc, but I was doing a good bit of motorway driving and it crucified me on petrol. Then again, I have a heavy right foot and tended to cruise at a few mph above the speed limit.

The Golf is great for motorways/main roads, and the torque is just fantastic. A bit too soft for back roads though - but man, that torque! Went from getting 370 miles to a tank in the Focus to 550 in the Golf (roughly same size tank), and probably pushed the Golf a bit more than the Focus.

Focus TDCi may be the best of both worlds. I've only had a test drive in an older Focus TDDi and wasn't overly impressed with the delivery of power, the Golf was much more impressive.

Good luck either way, both good cars with pro's and cons, and definitely the class leaders imho.

Conor MC is right TDCI if you could get it but as already stated they are rare. Defo test drive both if ya have the chance

tw0nk

I have a focus 1.6 zetec 01(old model) , great car so far, handling is brilliant and its quite quick, i looked at golfs too when i was buying and went for focus, you get more for less, cheaper to service, and imo just as reliable if not more so than a golf.

Tiger Jim

I have a TDCi 115 Focus and it is way better than any VAG TDI in every department. End of story.

is_that_so

I have a 01 Focus 1.4 and it is a dream to drive. I seem to recall that anythimg apart from fours doors and the seats, is an extra in the Golf.

Rudolph Claus

I have a 01 Focus 1.4 and it is a dream to drive.

So you dont find it as slow as fook then, cause a 1.4focus or golf are both dead engined and boring to drive. Far from a dream drive i found.

maidhc

Nuttzy wrote:

So you dont find it as slow as fook then, cause a 1.4focus or golf are both dead engined and boring to drive. Far from a dream drive i found.

I disagree there. A car doesnt need to bury you in the back seat to be a dream to drive. Indeed the only way I can fault the TDCi is it can be a bit hyper in comparison to the my mondeo TD. The mondeo was slow, but lovely to drive when you were in no rush anywhere.

Roy16

I was in the same situation myself after x-mas. I was going to by a Volkswagen Golf, but i started to like the Ford Focus hatchback and i decided to go test drive it before i made a decision. I have to say the Focus i thought was great for comfort and handling. I decided i would wait a couple of weeks, but after bringing the VW GOLF ( my first choice ) i knew i was making the right decision. I know everyone seems to have them, but i think they look great, handle well and and the comfort is just as good + i thought the Focus was more a female version of the Golf ( my Opion ). I bought a Volkswagen Golf 1.6 back in february and i have no regrets at all only i wish i had bought it sooner. Im already thinking of changing to a GTI, but not until this time next year..

is_that_so

Duplicate -deleted

is_that_so

Nuttzy wrote:

So you dont find it as slow as fook then, cause a 1.4focus or golf are both dead engined and boring to drive. Far from a dream drive i found.

Not a boy racer model nor a Jeremy Clarkson pleaser. I would agree it doesn't have the fastest acceleration but on longer trips it has served me well.
Like any car you enjoy, you're sold on it two minutes after sitting into it.

Big Balls

The only thing I'll say to you as regards the points people are making about handling is yes of course it's important but you need to remember that it's a 1.4/1.6 and there's only so much you can push it with an engine that size and as a result, handling should not be the final diciding factor when buying a car like the ones being mentioned here.

I'm not sure of which model you are talking about but yes in the last models, the Focus handled much better than the Golf but with the new models, they are both pretty much the same.

lomb

ive driven both, the focus 1.6 and a string of golfs. id go golf personally, the dash is FAR FAR better, the one in the focus is made of recycled toilet seats probably. the focus handles great when u are pushing it in the 1.6 unquestionably though. the vw 1.6s were mostly 8valve engines, so if it was a focus 1.6 or golf 1.6 8valve id go focus. also take into account initial price and of course residuals. in this case i reakon the focus comes out ahead, once the mk5 golf gets a few years old ,late mk4 will drop in value. the focus is also very reliable but so then again is the golf with the exception of some minor repetitive annoying faults.

Henry Ford III

What about these scary VW service costs?

maidhc

lomb wrote:

id go golf personally, the dash is FAR FAR better, the one in the focus is made of recycled toilet seats probably.

You will either love or hate the focus dash, although it isnt made of squishy plastic, it doesn't rattle and is well put together.

lomb

Henry Ford III wrote:

What about these scary VW service costs?

what about them? oil costs the same as any other car, i cant see per hour labour rates in vw dealers as higher than fords. vw parts are pricey though without question.

lomb

maidhc wrote:

You will either love or hate the focus dash, although it isnt made of squishy plastic, it doesn't rattle and is well put together.

vws interior is very classy though as if it had been lifted from a class above. damped door pulls, glove box and rubber inserts in various places make for a great interior. fords by contrast seems cheap and nasty imho.

maidhc

lomb wrote:

vws interior is very classy though as if it had been lifted from a class above. damped door pulls, glove box and rubber inserts in various places make for a great interior. fords by contrast seems cheap and nasty imho.

I like sweeping curves the weird angles and the silver trim in the focus, and the fact they either put a lot of thought into it or just drew weird lines at random.

It is more plasticy than the golf, I wont deny that, the door handles are not damped, nor is the glovebox is lined with furry stuff. But all that said it is very well put together, everything is in the right place, and it is a nice place to be.

junkyard

There's no doubt that VW's were great many years ago but they've taken a nose dive lately when it comes to build quality and reliability. In fairness to Ford they were no great shakes in the 80's and 90's but they certainly got their act together with the first Focus which changed my view of them. I switched sides from VW, of which I owned many, to Ford which think are probably one of the best car manufacturers out there at the moment. I'd go with the Focus anyday.

Big Balls

The new Golf does not have an 8 valve 1.6 engine!! :rolleyes:

I don't think you can make the assumption that Fords are now flawlessly reliable and VWs are gone to sh1t either. I've owned one Focus and two Golf GTIs and they've all had minor problems.

lomb

Big Balls wrote:

The new Golf does not have an 8 valve 1.6 engine!! :rolleyes:

It does !! i paid extra on behalf of my mother for the 115bhp 1.6 fsi engine, the standard 1.6 in the golf and the a3 is DEFINATELY 8valve and is a bag of dirt.

Big Balls

Apologies.. I assumed you were talking about the FSI engine. I wouldn't touch the other one.

lomb

Big Balls wrote:

Apologies.. I assumed you were talking about the FSI engine. I wouldn't touch the other one.

no probs,
nor would i;) i drove it in an a3 auto and it was like stepping back to the early eighties except the car cost over 30 grand. i think vag are loosing the plot using it, funnily enough only the fsi engine is sold in the uk where reporters would absolutely have a field day with the 1.6 8valver

redman

Wow what a response guys.

How much would it costs to do a cambelt change and a service in either a Golf or a Focus in your experiences?

Thanks

Redman

Big Nelly

Henry Ford III wrote:

My Mum is bigger than your Dad!

My new Focus, being delivered on Monday next, has almost 100bhp more than that!

Ahh children

I have a TDCi 115 Focus and it is way better than any VAG TDI in every department. End of story

.

Your driving the wrong one so, what Tdi have you drove?

Henry Ford III

My comment was supposed to be humorous B.N.;)

Regarding service costs. VAG appear (from threads on Boards) to be horrendous.

€1000 for a major service :eek:

Also what's all this about high oil consumption on some of their new petrol engines?

Big Nelly

Henry Ford III wrote:

My comment was supposed to be humorous B.N.;)

Regarding service costs. VAG appear (from threads on Boards) to be horrendous.

€1000 for a major service :eek:

Also what's all this about high oil consumption on some of their new petrol engines?

So where mine:D

I have no probs with service, anyone paying a grand for a service seriously need there head read, last service on old Passat cost me 50 quid and then costs of filters etc. Not too bad???

Havent a clue about Petrol engines because I don't drive petrol anymore and prob will never again, love the milage I get from Diesel

Cyrus

Tiger Jim wrote:

I have a TDCi 115 Focus and it is way better than any VAG TDI in every department. End of story.

hmmm, i doubt youd be able to get close enough to the pd150 to make any judgement, it'd eat that 115bhp focus engine for brekky

Henry Ford III

Big Nelly wrote:

So where mine:D

I have no probs with service, anyone paying a grand for a service seriously need there head read, last service on old Passat cost me 50 quid and then costs of filters etc. Not too bad???

Havent a clue about Petrol engines because I don't drive petrol anymore and prob will never again, love the milage I get from Diesel

Timing belts apparently cost a fortune to change.

1st service on a petrol Golf cost €450 :eek:

Just reposting what's been said here before (not by me).

Big Balls

Tiger Jim wrote:

I have a TDCi 115 Focus and it is way better than any VAG TDI in every department. End of story.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Jesus that's made my Monday!!

I'm not sure where the story on the engines drinking oil has come from, I've done nearly 15,000 kms and the 2.0T hasn't used a drop.

The long life service costs are higher than 'normal' services but then, VAG claim the intervals are much bigger by using them.

If you opt for the 'normal' type of service it is on a par with Ford etc.

maidhc

Big Balls wrote:

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Jesus that's made my Monday!!

While Cyrus is right in saying the PD 150 will smoke a TDCi 115, that is about the only diesel engine in the Golf IV range which is appreciably faster.

The TDCi is quieter, smoother and revs far more freely, although I admit I am comparing it to a PD 105 here.

The one thing though is that you cannot chip a TDCI like a VAG TDi.

Big Balls

Exactly.. so how can you compare it to a 150? The 150 would wipe the floor with the Focus and the PD105 has totally different driving characteristics also..you just can't compare them.

And if you look back, he said the VAG range.. there is even a 2.5 TDI Transporter with similar performance figures to the MKI GTI pushing 170bhp which I can assure you when unloaded, is bloody quick as vans go!!!

I won't mention the VAG TDI engine with 275 bhp at 3750 rpm and which produces 650 Nm of torque between 1800 and 2500 rpm!!

lomb

maidhc wrote:

While Cyrus is right in saying the PD 150 will smoke a TDCi 115, that is about the only diesel engine in the Golf IV range which is appreciably faster.

The TDCi is quieter, smoother and revs far more freely, although I admit I am comparing it to a PD 105 here.

The one thing though is that you cannot chip a TDCI like a VAG TDi.

the pd150 vag engine has 4 valves per cylinder as opposed to the 105 pd vag unit that has 2. the pd150 revs almost like a petrol engine. both chip and produce tremendous amounts of power after a few quid of mods.

the ford tdci engines cant really compare although i must admit they are very impressive. i drove a 1.6 90bhp in a new focus recently and it felt more or less like a petrol. very sweet. its amazing how far diesel technology has come, so far that the uk government has made sure diesel is dearer than petrol as their tax base is eroding as everyone is switching to diesel.