VW Golf?

NYCityBabe

Hi guys,

I'm hoping to buy a 1.4 Petrol VW Golf, my first car!

I have seen one advertised, it's 04 with 137,000 miles. To me this is very heavy mileage, but the car looks awesome and has just passed it's NCT.

My budget is €3,800 so I guess that will mean I'll be looking at the cars with the higher mileage.

Just wondering should I go look at it or just forget about anything in that mileage bracket? Anything else I should be aware of in a car like this?

Thanks a mill

JohnBoy26

NYCityBabe wrote: »

Hi guys,

I'm hoping to buy a 1.4 Petrol VW Golf, my first car!

I have seen one advertised, it's 04 with 137,000 miles. To me this is very heavy mileage, but the car looks awesome and has just passed it's NCT.

My budget is €3,800 so I guess that will mean I'll be looking at the cars with the higher mileage.

Just wondering should I go look at it or just forget about anything in that mileage bracket? Anything else I should be aware of in a car like this?

Thanks a mill

The 1.4 in the golf is a soft engine which can start drinking oil and end up a money pit. It's also an underpowered engine, though I don't know if that will matter much to you with it being your first car.

tbh something like a corolla would be a far more reliable option whilst also being a more than adequate performer in day to day driving.

colm_mcm

Agree with johnboy.

Something like this
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla/6905864

Or this if it isn't destroyed
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla/6907600

Or this
http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-corolla-1-4-5dr-terra/6899285

NYCityBabe

Cheers guys!

Wow, always thought the Golf would be the best option! Would a 1.6 Diesel be better? Probably a lot more expensive though.

Funny enough, there is an 04 Corolla for sale in my area, will have a look at it instead!

Thanks for the links, gotta be a five door though

colm_mcm

The 1.6 diesel in the Golf only came out in the last few years, so they'd be well out of your price range, they do a 1.9 TDI but you'd either be going back further in the years or getting a well worn one.
Good thing about the Corolla is that you'll get back a fair chunk of the purchase price if you decide to sell it again.

NYCityBabe

Thanks a mill Colm!

I'm gonna check out the Corolla tomorrow, let's hope it's in nice condition

bazz26

If looking at 10 year old cars then 130,000 miles is going to be the average mileage on such cars as that works out at 13,000 per year.

Agree with the rest of what the others say though, 1.4 litre engine in the Golf is not VW's finest moment.

Along with the Corolla have a look at the Mazda 3, good little car and tend to be cheaper to buy than similar Corollas.

izzy2014

Hi I have a similar query.. I'm looking at a 2006 1.4 sport petrol golf (mkV I think?) .However I've ran a check on the car and it says 2004 model. What does this mean? Does it mean that it's actually a 2004 model but was just registered in 2006?
Also Mileage is roughly 82000. Timing belt replaced in last say 3000m.
I have done some research . Main pointers were possibly burning oil? And timing belt issues? And speed change slow? Can someone please confirm/expand any of these?
Is there any truth to the burning oil issue or is that just certain dealers possibly trying to scare you?
P.s. its a 'first car' so I don't think the soft engine would be such a problem as I'm not really a fan of speed anyway.

colm_mcm

It probably just means its a model that launched in 04.
They're usually described as "1.4 SPORT 75BHP 3/5DR"

By "soft" people mean its not particularly well made out of particularly good parts.

I'd have a Corolla uk import every time

JohnBoy26

Plenty of threads on boards, including this one, about the 1.4 engine in the golf and it's woes.

You'd be better off looking at something else tbh, something Japanese.

Moneymaker

Heavy body, 74bhp.

Wouldnt touch a 1.4 Golf with a barge pole.

The 1.6(113bhp) is a better buy. Or the Toyota Corolla.

izzy2014

So the sport aspect doesn't change the reviews of this golf? Does the sport label just refer to things like the bucket seats?
The previous owner has kept it in immaculate condition for 3yrs. He was obviously very proud of it.

colm_mcm

Its "sport" in the way sheep shearing is a sport.

izzy2014

colm_mcm wrote: »

Its "sport" in the way sheep shearing is a sport.

Ha ok ok I get the message.. I think I'll stay away from it so. Jeez back to the drawing board.
Renault Megane w as another model I was looking at but diesel engine? Any opinions there?

MuppetCheck

It's just a spec level. The 6 speed 1.6 fsi is a much better option.

izzy2014

Thanks to all who have replied and speedy response . Much appreciated.

izzy2014

MuppetCheck wrote: »

It's just a spec level. The 6 speed 1.6 fsi is a much better option.

Apparently the 6 gears are woeful looking at other reviews? I could be wrong though. Would I be robbed with petrol money for that model? Tax and ins may be higher too?

bazz26

What sort of budget do you have for buying the car?

MuppetCheck

Is better than the 1.4, tax is difference is small and insurance shouldn't be madly different. Should be more efficient.

izzy2014

bazz26 wrote: »

What sort of budget do you have for buying the car?

5000 pushing 5500 (not incl. Tax +ins)

robertxxx

Better off getting a smaller car as it's your first.

izzy2014

robertxxx wrote: »

Better off getting a smaller car as it's your first.

Can you expand smaller? Smaller engine? Or generally smaller car size?

meathstevie

izzy2014 wrote: »

Apparently the 6 gears are woeful looking at other reviews? I could be wrong though. Would I be robbed with petrol money for that model? Tax and ins may be higher too?

No, the extra few cc's in a far more modern and performing engine means that you will be using less petrol to cover the same driving. The 1.4 will be working at it's limits nearly all the time while the 1.6 FSI will be cruising comfortably. If you want a Golf buy a diesel. With the exception of the early 2.0 TDI they're sound and good for loads of fairly economical mileage.

bazz26

izzy2014 wrote: »

5000 pushing 5500 (not incl. Tax +ins)

On that budget then it is difficult to recommend anything in that class other than a Corolla.

For example:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Toyota/Corolla/1.4-LUNA/51914018904224690/

They are very reliable, 1.4 litre engine is nippy and good on fuel.

Moneymaker

They often get classed as "boring" but they don't drive any worse then anything else in the class. Their 1.4 unit is a much better unit then Fords or VAGs too.

Also the build quality is second to none.

colm_mcm

bazz26 wrote: »

On that budget then it is difficult to recommend anything in that class other than a Corolla.

For example:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/Toyota/Corolla/1.4-LUNA/51914018904224690/

They are very reliable, 1.4 litre engine is nippy and good on fuel.

To be fair toyota got it spot on with the Luna 06 spec. They sold like hot cakes too. Where up to then you might sell 10 basic Terra models for every Luna, it was nearly 50:50 with those models.

JohnBoy26

colm_mcm wrote: »

To be fair toyota got it spot on with the Luna 06 spec. They sold like hot cakes too. Where up to then you might sell 10 basic Terra models for every Luna, it was nearly 50:50 with those models.

The facelift and bodykit transformed the look of them imo.

izzy2014

Hi colm

Could you verify the difference between a colour collection model and Luna model?
Is "colour collection" just an english label?
I see limited edition is written alongside colour collection also.

bazz26

Yes the "Colours" collection was a UK limited edition similar to the LUNA introduced over here. Specs are very similar in both.

izzy2014

So either of the 2006 models would be a good purchase? Is there any set backs or problems with the colour collection models? They seem to be cheaper?
What kind of differences exist exactly between the spec in the '06 Luna and the '06 colour collection?

bazz26

Don't know the exact differences in spec if many but if it is a UK car and going a lot cheaper than similar cars then make sure to verify the mileage. As with any used car make sure to do a car history check on it.

izzy2014

Don't worry i'm checkimg 'em all.. the colour collection model is listed as 1.6 (think it's 1.5 but just falls under the 1.6 bracket). Any suggestions on whether the 1.4 is more suitable than the 1.6?

JohnBoy26

izzy2014 wrote: »

Don't worry i'm checkimg 'em all.. the colour collection model is listed as 1.6 (think it's 1.5 but just falls under the 1.6 bracket). Any suggestions on whether the 1.4 is more suitable than the 1.6?

The 1.6's small power advantage doesn't justify the extra €129 in tax over the 1.4 IMO.

If I got the choice of two in the same condition I'd choose the 1.4 for this very reason.

However if I came across a good 1.6 for a good price I wouldn't pass it up.

Beware of UK imports though, especially examples from north UK and Scotland as they can have rust underneath due to road salt.

bazz26

In Ireland the 1.4 litre would sell a lot quicker than the 1.6 litre.

colm_mcm

izzy2014 wrote: »

Hi colm

Could you verify the difference between a colour collection model and Luna model?
Is "colour collection" just an english label?
I see limited edition is written alongside colour collection also.

Colour Collection is slightly higher spec than Luna in that it has curtain airbags (a €350 option on the Irish spec that nobody ordered)
It also comes with locking wheel nuts and etched windows(as all uk toyotas do)
Other than that, they're pretty much identically specced.
These were run-out models before the Auris came out in the end of 2006.




Irish specs are as follows
Terra 02-04 (3/5 dr Hatch, Estate or Saloon) : Elec wins, elec mirrors, abs, 2 airbags, cd,

Terra 04-06 (3/5 dr Hatch, Estate or Saloon) : Remote locking, Elec wins, elec mirrors, abs, 4 airbags, cd,

Strata 04-06 (3/5 dr hatch only) adds to Terra: Alloys, Fogs, rear and side skirts, leather wheel & gearknob, and audio switches

06 Luna (1.4 VVT-i 5dr Hatch only) adds to Strata: Cimate Control, rear elec wins, armrest.

06 Luna (petrol or diesel, Saloon only) adds to Terra: Air Conditioning, Heated Mirrors, Alloys, Fogs. Rear elec windows.

02-05 Luna (3/5 door hatch and Saloon) adds to Terra; Aircon, Remote locking alloys, Fogs.

izzy2014

sounds like the colour collection is better value if even more spec is added in comparison to the luna models. cheers for all info lads!