Opinions on this car

Asporadic

Im looking to get a new car for the wife (and next year at some point the daughter will be looking to start sharing) Im considering this:

http://www.carsireland.ie/912765

Any thoughts about this type of car (not necessarily that exact one) but basically that model/year of golf

Its small car, handy on tax, at 1.4 Id imagine she'll be handy on juice... will be mainly country driving. With some town and motorway few times a week. And that model in black keeps the two girls happy... as we all know looks are the most important thing to look out for when buying a car

So what be the opinion of boardsies

Karl Stein

Meh.

Consider something like this.

Honda Civic Saloon.
138 BHP (great for safe overtaking compared to that 80HP pig)
40+ MPG combined.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/5096381


full service history
NCT 02/14
TAX 08/13.
electric sunroof,
cruise control.
Air Conditioning,
Central Locking,
Sunroof,
Centre Armrest,
Multi-function steering wheel,
Traction Control
3 month warranty
2008

Price: € 7,650

Frankie Lee

What Cathal Cloch said. The Golf has very little going for it, even a 1.4 Civic would be superior in almost every way.

The Pontiac

Have those 1.4 petrol engines been revised in the latter years?

On the MKIV they were just terrible. Very unreliable and drank oil.

Asporadic

Thanks for the advice lads... but half the reason I was considering that car is because its small isnt overly powerful and isnt full of gadgets etc... I kinda thought it would be a perfect beginner car for the daughter and it would do the wife for spinning about doing whatever bits and peices or am I missing something here?

Matthewjohn

The Golf is a good generally reliable, nice to drive, comfortable and solid.But the one you link has the dreadfully slow 1.4 with 80bhp a 1.4 TSI would be a lot better.


http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/5102140

Frankie Lee

The Pontiac wrote: »

Have those 1.4 petrol engines been revised in the latter years?

On the MKIV they were just terrible. Very unreliable and drank oil.

They sorted out the oil burning from around 02, reasonably reliable with ignition coils being the main problem with them and timing belts being an extra expense with most of its competitors having chains. Still underpowered and uninspiring to drive.

The Pontiac

Matthewjohn wrote: »

The Golf is a good generally reliable, nice to drive, comfortable and solid.But the one you link has the dreadfully slow 1.4 with 80bhp a 1.4 TSI would be a lot better.


http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/5102140

A lot less mileage too. 122bhp nice!

Are these good engines? I remember my sister's old 1999 Golf 1.4 piece of shíte of an engine. Replaced at less than 80k. Newer one with less mileage and it went bang too. Loads of other parts also replaced - steering rack, cat, etc. etc. Brutal cars!

The Pontiac

Frankie Lee wrote: »

They sorted out the oil burning from around 02, reasonably reliable with ignition coils being the main problem with them and timing belts being an extra expense with most of its competitors having chains. Still underpowered and uninspiring to drive.

Cheers. They were really bad.

bazz26

That's hefty enough mileage for a 5 year old 1.4 litre Golf. I'd rather spend a little less on something like this:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Hyundai/i30/*DELUXE-1.4/34413642209776290/

Or it sister car the Ceed:

http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/KIA/Ceed/1.4-EX/33913663839961120/

Of course neither will carry the same kudos factor amongst ones peers like a Golf would but they are less likely to give you grief down the road.

Karl Stein

Asporadic wrote: »

Thanks for the advice lads... but half the reason I was considering that car is because its small isnt overly powerful and isnt full of gadgets etc... I kinda thought it would be a perfect beginner car for the daughter and it would do the wife for spinning about doing whatever bits and peices or am I missing something here?

Power isn't a bad thing. Actually, I think a bit of power makes for a safer car because overtaking, when needed, is nice and quick.

My Brother has a saloon 1.8i Civic and I can only say the thing feels unbelievably well screwed together, it's a nice drive, and the engine does pootering around, overtaking, and motorway cruising all very well.

One of the best naturally aspirated cars out there imo.

The Pontiac

I'd be going with a Civic too. Sleep better at night.

holdmybeer

Whats wrong with a Corolla H/B 1.4? Very reliable ,even the new models, and their well built. Better than the golf anyway.

Supergurrier

That civic all day long.

Japanese reliability and not as boring or poorly specced as a corolla/auris