Focus vs Golf Mark5

Mc Love

Just looking for some opinions.

Have in mind the 1.4 TSI Golf (140 or 170) which is edging it for me or a 08 focus zetec (either 1.8 (if i can afford it) or 1.6). The thing is Focus has the reliability compared to the golf, any golf owners out there like to comment on the reliability of their motors. Def going for more power than what i have at present.

Given that at the moment i am driving a "very reliable" 206 (touches wood)!

Been on CarZone and ukdirect has popped up, seems like its too good to be true, has anyone dealings with them? Or would it be better to shop over the water as opposed the Irish market?

colm_mcm

What's your budget?

Mc Love

Suppose i could stretch to 14 or so

AugustusMaximus

The 1.4 Turbo in the Golf is supposed to be a fantastic engine. Won something like world engine of the year.

Those Golf GTs (170bhp) aren't far off GTi territory.

colm_mcm

Here's an 08 Leon TDI 130 for 15700.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/SEAT/Leon/DIESEL-1/200909191995355/advert?channel=CARS

There's loads of 1.4 TSI's for arond 13k too.
The 130 TDI would have bags of power, and would be more usable than a TSI.

Mc Love

Yeah thats partly the reason I want to get one of the golf's - the engine is unreal and to offer that amount of power from a 1.4 is deadly!

few steps up from the 206

colm_mcm

a 1.9 TDI would be a much safer bet reliability wise than a 1.4 TSI. Personally I wouldn't touch a 1.4 TSI

AugustusMaximus

sparkysrovers wrote: »

Yeah thats partly the reason I want to get one of the golf's - the engine is unreal and to offer that amount of power from a 1.4 is deadly!

few steps up from the 206

If its the Golf GT you are getting then its a very nice car. Certainly looks better than the standard Golf. I'm guessing it prob has a bit extra on the inside too.

Mc Love

Any reasons why you wouldnt touch the 1.4TSI?

AugustusMaximus

colm_mcm wrote: »

a 1.9 TDI would be a much safer bet reliability wise than a 1.4 TSI. Personally I wouldn't touch a 1.4 TSI

Turbo giving trouble ?

colm_mcm

I'd have huge reservations about quality and reliability on TSI engines, particularly the higher hp ones.
The 1.9 TDI for all it's rattly oldness is pretty much tried and tested. It's not perfect but parts availability is huge and every mechanic knows them inside out. They're also hugely tunable and even a 130bhp will feel quicker than most diesels and will make overtaking a breeze.

Mc Love

colm_mcm wrote: »

I'd have huge reservations about quality and reliability on TSI engines, particularly the higher hp ones.
The 1.9 TDI for all it's rattly oldness is pretty much tried and tested. It's not perfect but parts availability is huge and every mechanic knows them inside out. They're also hugely tunable and even a 130bhp will feel quicker than most diesels and will make overtaking a breeze.

Sound for the feedback colm!

Just may wait for the release of this to bring the focus down in price:

bazz26

14k would get you a 2008 or possibly early 2009 Focus Zetec 1.6 TDCi from the UK including VRT. €156 to tax per year.

AugustusMaximus

sparkysrovers wrote: »

Sound for the feedback colm!

Just may wait for the release of this to bring the focus down in price:

Someones been busy with photoshop. That's just the front end of a Mondeo.

mondeo

I would love to drive a TSi, sounds like a cracking car

Mc Love

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

Someones been busy with photoshop. That's just the front end of a Mondeo.

Maybe, maybe not:

Mc Love

bazz26 wrote: »

14k would get you a 2008 or possibly early 2009 Focus Zetec 1.6 TDCi from the UK including VRT. €156 to tax per year.

Thanks Bazz

EPM

colm_mcm wrote: »

Here's an 08 Leon TDI 130 for 15700.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/SEAT/Leon/DIESEL-1/200909191995355/advert?channel=CARS

There's loads of 1.4 TSI's for arond 13k too.
The 130 TDI would have bags of power, and would be more usable than a TSI.

Unless that's been remapped its 105. But Colm is right, for all its noise it is hard to beat long term. The 1.4 turbo is nice but I have this thought in my mind that the 125 brake in the Leon is enough for a small capacity turbo. It's not tried and tested enough imo. Also look at an econetic focus. 110 brake and €104 road tax but they are harder to find than a zetec

colm_mcm

Didn't spot that it was base spec EPM. even a 105 would keep up with a 122 TSI in real life.

He's had it in stock for a while too

EPM

colm_mcm wrote: »

Didn't spot that it was base spec EPM. even a 105 would keep up with a 122 TSI in real life.

He's had it in stock for a while too

Haven driven both there's not a lot in it really. Think the petrol gives the sensation of speed for the most part. I hate saying it for fear that I sound like a fan boy (I'm not) but those tdi's are putting out more than the 105 anyway

Mc Love

Seems the focus is the one to go for. Diesel anyway

Like this one even though its petrol. Prob have to pay old tax rates though

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Ford/Focus/Zetec-St/200937195144921/advert?channel=CARS&featuredListingClickThru=true

AugustusMaximus

sparkysrovers wrote: »

Maybe, maybe not:

The top photo is def a mangeled Mondeo. Its got the rear light cluster and all lifted from a Mondeo.


The bottom photo looks something like the Iosis Max concept and IMO, is much closer to what the Mark III will look like.

Mc Love

Found more pics from:
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/234878/new_focus_on_horizon.html

bazz26

I wouldn't pay much attention to the pictures Auto Express dream up, they are the News of the World of motor magazines.

Mc Love

Still looks good though. Late 2010 i'd say they will start selling?

EPM

sparkysrovers wrote: »

Still looks good though. Late 2010 i'd say they will start selling?

Thats just their guess at what it will look like. They are usually way off the mark

Henry Ford III

2 decent cars. Avoid n/a 1.4's in both if you are in any way a keen driver.

Focus handles better. Golf has a prestige image and higher prices.

Servicing and parts are way cheaper in a Focus and it probably has the edge on reliability too. 2 peeps on here have 1.4 TSI Golfs that have been troublesome.

alexmcred

Hi sparks have the 140 golf tsi and love the car buts it's breaking my heart with diff problems since I bought it new. Am currently waiting in the garage again waiting to find out what has gone wrong this time!

Will update when I get further info on new prob.

Update: A fuel valve is gone in the car. I am looking at getting an extended warranty for it.