1.6 Mark 4 Golf

Amtmann

Just wondering whether this is a superior car in all ways to the 1.4 of the same mark. I had a 1.4 before and I hated it. It had no guts and was clunky and slow, and although well maintained, the head gasket went. The experience put me off Golfs. Is the 1.6 a different beast altogether?

Woofstuff

Tremelo wrote: »

Just wondering whether this is a superior car in all ways to the 1.4 of the same mark. I had a 1.4 before and I hated it. It had no guts and was clunky and slow, and although well maintained, the head gasket went. The experience put me off Golfs. Is the 1.6 a different beast altogether?

Its defo more powerful, uses more fuel tho.

I had a 1.4 and 1.6 before.. although the 1.6 was automatic which i liked at first but didnt like after a while...it was vibrating a bit...dunno why...so got rid of it for something more frugal altogether...

but the 1.6 defo more powerfull and the manual would be even better.

I think i prefered the 1.4 alto the 1.6 manual would have been interesting.

bazz26

1.6 petrol is an older unit but it is alot more reliable than the 1.4 in the MkIV. It will still win no races but will be alot easier to overtake in too.

Amtmann

What do you think of this? http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volkswagen/Golf/GOLF-1.6/201140204883951/advert?channel=CARS

Rolli

Tremelo wrote: »

What do you think of this? http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volkswagen/Golf/GOLF-1.6/201140204883951/advert?channel=CARS

Looks well, colour combination is nice. Although I don't think I'd pay almost €4K for a MK4 Golf. What about an A4 ?

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A4/1.6--SPO/201147205792577/advert?channel=CARS

bazz26

Stupid money for that car that is almost 9 years old but then again Golfs always seem to fetch stupid money for some crazy reason.

sean1141

buy a diesel one

chinwag

bazz26 wrote: »

1.6 petrol is an older unit but it is alot more reliable than the 1.4 in the MkIV. It will still win no races but will be alot easier to overtake in too.

Do you really think the golf 1.4 has such a reliability problem? As far as I know, the MkIV and V are the same engine(?). Why is it that the golf (especially the 1.4) is hammered so much on boards (apart from it being a bit more expensive to buy)? Do other cars not have their own problems? I am merely posing the question and respect your opinions on this forum.

lomb

sean1141 wrote: »

buy a diesel one

I wouldn't!
The main reason is by now the diesels are mostly clocked or have intergalactic miles, are dearer, have heavier engines and wear out the suspension more whereas most 1.4s are bought as runabouts or are now second cars.

My 1.4 is a good car and although it has only 75bhp, the only time I notice is when overtaking ( and I dont drive slow although I have the accelerator permanently welded to the floor). The 1.4 is a smooth revvy engine which the 1.6 isnt as that one is an ancient 8 valver. Over the 8 years Ive owned it it has saved me at least 5000 over a bigger engined or diesel version ( the diesel having been about 5000 sterling more at the time)

I think gearboxes let go on the 1.6 also so all in go for a 1.4. Having said that why not look at something better value for the year?

Skuxx

lomb wrote: »

I wouldn't!
The main reason is by now the diesels are mostly clocked or have intergalactic miles, are dearer, have heavier engines and wear out the suspension more whereas most 1.4s are bought as runabouts or are now second cars.


I think gearboxes let go on the 1.6 also so all in go for a 1.4. Having said that why not look at something better value for the year?

No way I'd go for a 1.4 over a tdi diesel golf, regardless of milage!! The tdi engine is a bulletproof engine, my 01 golf has 130k miles and hasnt given a days trouble, and tbh I would consider that small milage on that engine!!

The 1.4 gearboxes are awful soft, friend of mine has a mk4 with 160k miles and he's on gearbox no. 3!! I don't know about the box in the 1.6 but I havnt heard any horror stories!!

lomb

alan1990 wrote: »

No way I'd go for a 1.4 over a tdi diesel golf, regardless of milage!! The tdi engine is a bulletproof engine, my 01 golf has 130k miles and hasnt given a days trouble, and tbh I would consider that small milage on that engine!!

The 1.4 gearboxes are awful soft, friend of mine has a mk4 with 160k miles and he's on gearbox no. 3!! I don't know about the box in the 1.6 but I havnt heard any horror stories!!

High miles+heavy engine = suspension wear. Ive bought parts from mine from cars written off due to high miles and suspension wear.

Road tax is quite a bit higher on the diesel and also the turbos do give trouble.

I havent had any gearbox trouble and dont really expect any, although mine is one of the last MKIVs so Im sure the problems were ironed out.

Amtmann

Thanks Bazz. This forum is great for getting a good idea about what's a bad price vs a good price.

sean1141

lomb wrote: »

I wouldn't!
The main reason is by now the diesels are mostly clocked or have intergalactic miles, are dearer, have heavier engines and wear out the suspension more whereas most 1.4s are bought as runabouts or are now second cars.

My 1.4 is a good car and although it has only 75bhp, the only time I notice is when overtaking ( and I dont drive slow although I have the accelerator permanently welded to the floor). The 1.4 is a smooth revvy engine which the 1.6 isnt as that one is an ancient 8 valver. Over the 8 years Ive owned it it has saved me at least 5000 over a bigger engined or diesel version ( the diesel having been about 5000 sterling more at the time)

I think gearboxes let go on the 1.6 also so all in go for a 1.4. Having said that why not look at something better value for the year?

lomb wrote: »

High miles+heavy engine = suspension wear. Ive bought parts from mine from cars written off due to high miles and suspension wear.

Road tax is quite a bit higher on the diesel and also the turbos do give trouble.

I havent had any gearbox trouble and dont really expect any, although mine is one of the last MKIVs so Im sure the problems were ironed out.

how much heavier do you think a tdi is over a 1.4?
i have a mk4 tdi with almost 100k miles on it and its still on its original wishbone bushings, wheel bearings and ball joints. i also know a good few guys running mk4 tdi's with close to 200k on them..

i have owned both a 1.4 petrol and a tdi mk4. i would never go near the petrol again. the 1.4 may be cheaper to buy but if you do 15000 miles a year or more and plan to keep the car a few years you will make up the differance in buying price. the mpg from the diesel will pay the differance in tax in about 10k miles..

servicing prices are similar. oil will be slightly more expencive for the pd tdi.


op take a look at a seat leon as a cheaper alternative to the golf. or a vw bora or seat tolledo if you dont mind a saloon