Golf vs Focus

Boardwatcher

Hi ALL

Am new to this board so bear with me.

I am looking to change my car. Currently I drive a 1.6 petrol Nissan Primera from 2002 (new model). It is getting on in terms of mileage so time for a change.

I am hoping to change to a car with a much lower road tax. Therefore will likely go for a 2008 model (can't afford to buy new). I am hoping mine will make about 2 and a half thousand and with that i would have about another 13k to put into upgrading. So looking to pay 15 to 16k.

I do like the Golf GT sport models. I have heard the straight 1.4 petrol is a bit lacklustre. Was thinking of the 1.4 TSI model though i believe the tax on them is almost as much as i'm paying now (445 a year). The 1.9tdi has a road tax of 156 i believe but the GT edition is probably out of my price range, even for a 2008 model.

The other car i was thinking of was the Ford Focus new model (2008). Was thinking of the 1.8 tdci or even the 1.6 (is there any difference aside from the road tax).

Anybody got any advice. Both the Focus and the Golf seem a bit bland inside. Are there other viable options?

Any advice greatly appreciated!

colm_mcm

new Kia Cee'd or ProCee'd might fall into budget. nice 110bhp diesel on them.

Atlantic Dawn

You have to ask yourself is the tax saving really worth paying the extra for when essentially the Golf from 2004-2008 is pretty much the same car. The Golf changed to Mk6 in 2009 so best to avoid the 2008 model as your paying a premium for something that will depreciate heavily compared to the 2009 model.

Mc Love

started a thread on this before.

http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055775451&highlight=focus+golf

Focus seems to better car. 1.6 TDCI zetec or 1.8TDCI seem to be best models in terms of fuel economy/tax

Zonda999

Boardwatcher wrote: »

I have heard the straight 1.4 petrol is a bit 'avoid at all costs'.

Fixed your post!

I would agree with colm, try and stretch to a cee'd, should be a good buy at the moment. True anough about the golf as well, a 09 makes much more sense because of the MK6 effect, unfortunately the only ones within range for you would be those awful 1.4's. A focus might be an option if you're able to find a 1.6tdci one, be sure to go for a 1.6 tdci over a 1.8 tdci, far more modern engine. A brand new cee'd diesel sounds more appealing than a 08 or so focus though, IMO

bazz26

OP I know you were looking at the Golf and Focus but would you consider a new shape Laguna III 1.5 dci? I know the previous model Laguna was a disaster but the new one seems to be decent enough with no nightmare stories and the spec on them is pretty high considering the money they are going for. 1.5 dci will not win any races but it costs €156 to tax per year and the Laguna III has alot more refinement than a similar year Golf or Focus:

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201008197013099

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201007196979961

daveharnett

Of the Irish options, Focus 1.8 tdci is my favorite. Engine is a little noisy when pressed, but otherwise sweet. Responsive even before the turbo gets going. Cruises very comfortably at motorway speeds. Handling is best in class.

I'd try to avoid the LX - the trim is a little disappointing. Xetec trim is significantly better, on a par with the golf.

If you are prepared to do the legwork, you can import a 109bhp 1.6tdci xetec (get one with a DPF - diesel particulate filter) for 14% vrt, 100 in tax, and 68mpg. €12-14k for RAC inspection, currency exchange, flight, ferry and vrt.

Repolho

daveharnett wrote: »

get one with a DPF - diesel particulate filter

How can you tell if a car has a DPF or not?? Thanks.

Leonard Hofstadter

DON'T get one with a DPF, this is just adding complication to an already very complicated diesel engine.

They can give a lot of bother in any car fitted with the Peugoet diesel, especially on cars used for mostly short distance runs.

There are no tax advantages or anything like that for having a DPF so why buy a car with one unless you like spending lots of money in a car garage? If it is because of a faux concern for the environment then use public transport or cycle or something.

The 1.8 TDCI is a very solid reliable engine, the 1.6 is not as reliable by a long shot so I cannot see any reason to choose the 1.6 over the 1.8. I know the 1.6 is meant to be nicer to drive but that's FA good when it is more likely to give trouble than the 1.8, especially one with a DPF.

The LX lacks aircon so is best avoided.

Zetecs are well equipped though so try find one of these. A Ghia is better yet but is rare.

Henry Ford III

Petrol Foci are good too. The 1.6 and 1.6 TI-VCT units are sweet, willing, and reasonable on fuel.

cantdecide

OP you seem like a lot of other people- allergic to road tax.

Ask yourself how much difference in your total annual motoring spend you can save by chosing any one car vs another. I'll give you a clue- the answer begins with 'n' and ends with ...'o discernible difference, all things considered'.

A speccy/ quick Golf is a pretty cool car. A focus is virtually always a dull car, IMO.

Mc Love

Usually get better spec in focus for lesser money. If i had to pick, i would go for focus over golf

Ryan T

Would go for golf over focus for reslae value.
Also new focus due this year so old model will have greater depreciation

Mc Love

New focus isnt due in Ireland/UK until late next year

Leonard Hofstadter

A Focus is a far surperior car to a Golf, it may not appear to be as well put together as a Golf inside and that may lead one to thinking it is not as well made and therefore will be less reliable but in fact nothing could be further from the truth, the Focus is a far superior car in terms of build quality and reliability, and that's just the start of why it is better(cheaper to buy and run and what the Focus is famous for... the way it drives).

Mc Love

Again the question is popping up, why are irish people so obsessed about golfs?

PaulKK

Mc Love wrote: »

Again the question is popping up, why are irish people so obsessed about golfs?

Probably because of

Residuals
Quality
Range of engines

Mc Love

Quality?

PaulKK

Mc Love wrote: »

Quality?

Yes?

Henry Ford III

Mc Love wrote: »

New focus isnt due in Ireland/UK until late next year

Actually it's early next year.

Mc Love

PaulKK wrote: »

Yes?

In what sense?

cantdecide

Mc Love wrote: »

In what sense?

Is reliability the only measure of how good a car is?

PaulKK

Mc Love wrote: »

In what sense?

Materials used and general build quality.

IMO its probably one of the better looking hatches available too,
particularly in 3 door form.

bazz26

cantdecide wrote: »

Is reliability the only measure of how good a car is?

Well wasn't that VW's whole philosophy at one time though? Obviously not these days however as VW's reliability is average at best but alot of people still regard high quality plastics and a clunk sound when closing the door as a measure of how a car should be.

BTW the Focus is well known among genuine motoring circles to be the best handling car in it's class. In fact VW used the Focus as a bench mark to design the Golf MkV suspension setup.

Boardwatcher

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

You have to ask yourself is the tax saving really worth paying the extra for when essentially the Golf from 2004-2008 is pretty much the same car. The Golf changed to Mk6 in 2009 so best to avoid the 2008 model as your paying a premium for something that will depreciate heavily compared to the 2009 model.

Actually there are 2008 Mk6 Golfs about, I've been a passenger in one. It really comes down to my budget, i do not think it would stretch to the newer golf.

If i want that I may have to wait up to another year for them to come down in value and for my savings to go up!

Boardwatcher

bazz26 wrote: »

OP I know you were looking at the Golf and Focus but would you consider a new shape Laguna III 1.5 dci?

Sorry i just find the laguna 3 plain ugly.

I dont think i need a car of that size anymore as i am on my own in it most of the time. Hence why i am going from a Primera to a smaller car like a Golf or Focus.

Boardwatcher

daveharnett wrote: »

If you are prepared to do the legwork, you can import a 109bhp 1.6tdci xetec (get one with a DPF - diesel particulate filter) for 14% vrt, 100 in tax, and 68mpg. €12-14k for RAC inspection, currency exchange, flight, ferry and vrt.

I already have people i know who import them looking into that. I thought there'd be loads out there. But the feedback is they are hard to pin down.

Boardwatcher

cantdecide wrote: »

OP you seem like a lot of other people- allergic to road tax.

Ask yourself how much difference in your total annual motoring spend you can save by chosing any one car vs another. I'll give you a clue- the answer begins with 'n' and ends with ...'o discernible difference, all things considered'.

A speccy/ quick Golf is a pretty cool car. A focus is virtually always a dull car, IMO.

Actually IMO the interior of the Golf is one of the least imaginative i have ever come across. The Focus, while not a whole lot better, is still more pleasing on the eye.

I do not understand your first point. Which would you prefer to be paying- 156 tax per year or 500 per year on lets say a focus versus a honda civic. Taken over a few years thats quite a saving. Hardly insignificant!

Boardwatcher

Hmmmm today i was thinking if my car passes the NCT tomorrow which it should, and i wait/save another year, how about a 2010 Skoda Octavia 1.6TDI with the common rail diesel engine??

Looks good to me but can i wait that long!!