Ford Focus 2003 vs Golf TDI 2001

forevertwisted

Looking to buy one of these this week, both private sellers,

Ford Focus 1.8 TDCI ZETEC 5DR
Diesel
2003
95,000 miles
Uk Reg
£1700
Seller sells cars privately, has a mechanic working for him apparently and will stand over it if anything goes awry. Could be potential sales talk? Did request bringing to my mechanic and he tried talking me out of the idea.

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 1900 (92 ON) GL TD 5DR 1896cc 5DR
Diesel
2001
121,000 Miles
£1850
Female owner is heading off to Australia soon. Concerned about the miles. Thinking I will get better value with the Ford?

Don't know much about cars so getting my mechanic to give it a once over would be a given right? Anyone have an opinion on which would be a better deal?

Have driven both and they drive pretty well, solid. Both look in great condition too, inside and out. Insurance is about £200 cheaper for the Focus too

bazz26

What would you consider average mileage for a nearly 12 year old diesel car? I would consider the mileage on both diesel cars to be pretty low for their respective years, do either have any service history especially if they are UK cars?

forevertwisted

Never really thought about the miles for the age in that respect. First time buying a car so most likely a lot of things I haven't thought of. The Golf has a full service history.

Caliden

I picked up a 01 golf with 135k miles on it and it's fine.

Talking you out of bringing you own mechanic is concerning.
Both cars shouldn't give any trouble if properly looked after so I'd be bringing a mechanic either way if I were you.

Golf may have more resale value down the road

bazz26

We are talking about 10 - 12 year old cars so resale value is a mute point imo. There is no advantage to buying the Golf from a resale value point of view, paying more for th Golf to sell it on for more is the same as paying less for the Focus and selling it on cheap.

I'd go for the one that is in the best condition and with a verified service history.

sanbrafyffe

golf mate,,,,,,can think of too many things that can go wrong with the focus,,,hape of scrape

corkgsxr

golf.

ford has the most ridiculous and expensive common problems

Plug

The focus is more reliable and cheaper to run than the golf. Don't know what the last few comments are about. complete pub talk.

sanbrafyffe

theres 3 around me here,not including my sisters that are all having terrible trouble,,,my sisters i dont know where to start,,,and trying to keep petrol in it,,,omg,,,,its a 1,4 and i hear the 1.6 is lighter,,,wtf,,,,anyway its going next year and not going back

if you have half and hour,,,flick back here in the motor section and take note of all the fords especially the focus's problems...

Plug wrote: »

The focus is more reliable and cheaper to run than the golf. Don't know what the last few comments are about. complete pub talk.

JJJJNR

If a mechanic tried to talk you out of bringing your own mechanic to view the car, why are you even considering buying it.. ?

RUN AWAY !!!

AugustusMinimus

Focus Mk 1 is a far superior car to a Golf Mk 4.

And igonore what the other have said, the Mk 1 Focus is a very reliable car.

forevertwisted

Appreciate all the input chaps. Going for the Golf in the end, has a verified service history and have been looking at a Golf for this past while (once you get something in your head right?) Family mechanic has looked over it and gave it the a-ok. Was pretty off putting the Focus owner trying to talk me out of bringing my own mechanic to it, also made a few dodgy remarks about how the miles are genuine and in no way could they be clocked as they can't do that anymore, fairly dodgy seeing as I hadn't mentioned anything about the miles being clocked in any way.

Time will tell, first car so expecting to run into a few amateur mistakes. Asked as many people as I could anyway. Last thing is to pick it up this eve and get the change of ownership V5C form filled out. Presuming she will have that with the Log book? If not do I wait for her to get one before giving over any money?