Golf or Mazda 3?

Fiskar

Opinions on Golf 1.2 Tsi (110 ps) versus the 1.5 petrol Mazda 3.

in terms of

1. Reliability (I don't want a POS and want reliability)

2. Residuals (Golf speaks for itself but what about the Mazda 3?)

3. Real world economy (what do TSI and Mazda 3 owners really get)

colm_mcm

Safe to say the 3 will be more reliable yet worth less second hand.

MuppetCheck

The spec of either makes a huge difference. I'm presuming the basic version of each? In that case the Golf.

bazz26

Why limit yourself to just those two? Hyundai i30, Honda Civic and Kia Ceed are worth looking at too.

kay 9

From those two the mazda all day everyday.

bazz26

Golf would definitely be easier to sell on and keep it's value more. The Mazda would probably be more less likely to give you trouble though.

Fiskar

bazz26 wrote: »

Why limit yourself to just those two? Hyundai i30, Honda Civic and Kia Ceed are worth looking at too.

Because I'm trading a Golf. Whilst they have good residuals I am not so sure anymore that they are reliable. Had a Civic before, might look at that.

I think if you look to the other two mentioned you move too far down the residual chain.

MuppetCheck

The ceed/i30 aren't a patch on the Golf bar possibly reliability although in my experience they ain't all that either.

colm_mcm

3/5 year old Mazda3 is worth less than or the same as the equivelant i30 /ceed usually.

Fiskar

Think it will the Golf again, Anyone know what the TSI 1.2 litre is like power and economy wise? This one supposed to be 110PS for 2015.

bazz26

What about the Focus 1.0 Ecoboost? The Focus has just got a facelift too which improves the looks dramatically.

Bpmull

I'd be going for the golf. It's easily as reliable as anything else listed above. They without doubt will have the best resale value and easiest to sell. From being in my dads new they are ridiculously quite inside to the point where you would genuinely here a pin drop. They got best seats in their class so nothing is going to be as comfortable. I personally prefer the interior finish they are 100 times nicer than any i30 or ceed I've been in even in basic spec.

For the downsides well there is only ever one with any golf new or secondhand they are generally a good bit more expensive than the competition. So that's just the way it is with a golf they are painful to buy in terms of price but once you've bought it you will never regret paying the extra.

NIMAN

Golf all day long.

There will be the usual haters on here saying they aren't in the same class as a Ceed or i30, but they don't get 5 star reviews off most of the motoring press for nothing.

They are good, solid well built and reliable cars that are desirable and which will be easy to sell.

bazz26

NIMAN wrote: »

Golf all day long.

There will be the usual haters on here saying they aren't in the same class as a Ceed or i30, but they don't get 5 star reviews off most of the motoring press for nothing.

They are good, solid well built and reliable cars that are desirable and which will be easy to sell.

I don't know, the number of fan boys seems to be just as balanced as haters around here.

I had a loan of a Mk VII Golf for a week earlier this year and being honest, imo it was nothing to write home about. Styling both outside and inside is very conservative which is something personally I'd get bored of very quickly. Now it's definitely not a bad car and I'm not claiming a Hyundai or Kia are better but I just don't see why some people get a semi for them.

Anyway I'm not going to turn this thread into a Golf versus the rest of the world thread, I've given my opinion on the cars originally mentioned.

MuppetCheck

If it was a highline Golf Vs a GT Mazda 3, both 150 ish diesel I'd be choosing the Mazda. I've seen a basic Mazda 3 and it's nothing at all like the higher spec models. Motor reviews are usually related to advertising revenue.

There are other options too, the revised Focus is a good call, there's the Leon too and a few others.

Lex Luthor

C'eed petrols are as rare as hens teeth used and they dont sell them new anymore in Ireland...think I got the last one

JohnBoy26

NIMAN wrote: »

Golf all day long.

There will be the usual haters on here saying they aren't in the same class as a Ceed or i30, but they don't get 5 star reviews off most of the motoring press for nothing.

They are good, solid well built and reliable cars that are desirable and which will be easy to sell.

Golf's are overrated by the motoring press, just like they've always been. The Golf mk4 was rated very highly too and that was hardly that well built or reliable. The same goes for the mk5 and mk6, very highly rated by the motoring press but from my experience nothing at all to right home about.

My neighbor has an 2011 mk6 and that has given it's fair share of issues over the past year or so.

Not saying golfs are a bad car, just massively overrated. It's a bit too soon for you to call the mk7 a solid well built reliable car imo.

JohnBoy26

Fiskar wrote: »

Opinions on Golf 1.2 Tsi (110 ps) versus the 1.5 petrol Mazda 3.

in terms of

1. Reliability (I don't want a POS and want reliability)

2. Residuals (Golf speaks for itself but what about the Mazda 3?)

3. Real world economy (what do TSI and Mazda 3 owners really get)

For your criteria I'd probably choose an Auris. It's got well proven reliable engines, resale value is very good and it's got good economy too.

NIMAN

bazz26 wrote: »

I don't know, the number of fan boys seems to be just as balanced as haters around here.

I had a loan of a Mk VII Golf for a week earlier this year and being honest, imo it was nothing to write home about. Styling both outside and inside is very conservative which is something personally I'd get bored of very quickly. Now it's definitely not a bad car and I'm not claiming a Hyundai or Kia are better but I just don't see why some people get a semi for them.

Anyway I'm not going to turn this thread into a Golf versus the rest of the world thread, I've given my opinion on the cars originally mentioned.

Of course I respect your opinion, but why do so many professional car reviewers rave so much about the Golf then?

http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/volkswagen/golf-hatchback/summary/26158-5

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/volkswagen/golf

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/volkswagen/golf-vii-2013/

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/

http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/reviews/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/volkswagen/golf


Thats all the main websites and all have next to nothing bad to say about the Golf. In fact most are 5 star reviews.

Fiskar

NIMAN wrote: »

Of course I respect your opinion, but why do so many professional car reviewers rave so much about the Golf then?

http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/volkswagen/golf-hatchback/summary/26158-5

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/volkswagen/golf

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/volkswagen/golf-vii-2013/

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/

http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/reviews/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/volkswagen/golf


Thats all the main websites and all have next to nothing bad to say about the Golf. In fact most are 5 star reviews.

Thanks, just the links I am looking for!
While I would not be a fan of VW in particular the dealer tactics, I do think they hold their residuals and look a rock solid car

bazz26

NIMAN wrote: »

Of course I respect your opinion, but why do so many professional car reviewers rave so much about the Golf then?

http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/volkswagen/golf-hatchback/summary/26158-5

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/volkswagen/golf

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/volkswagen/golf-vii-2013/

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/

http://www.carbuyer.co.uk/reviews/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/volkswagen/golf


Thats all the main websites and all have next to nothing bad to say about the Golf. In fact most are 5 star reviews.

I'm sure you will find similar reviews about the likes of the Focus, etc too. Some reviews can be more or less impartial than others depending on the source.

As I've said I don't see what all the fuss is about with the Golf, its a bit like an iPhone to me. Certain people rave about them and pay silly money for them but at the end of the day there are other cheaper smart phones that will do the same thing but don't carry the same brand desirability factor. Product branding is a very powerful marketing tool.

NIMAN

It sure is, but the Golf hasn't been around for 40yrs and sold tens of millions for no reason other than its well marketed. If it was a rubbish car that was well marketed it wouldn't have survived this long.

I think you have to assume that across so many websites and media outlets, they can't all be biased towards the Golf.

As for the Focus, it too is generally considered a very good car by most media outlets and reviewers. They seem to be hated by a large number of people too, but rubbish cars don't sell in big numbers imho.

If you are talking about marketing, do you not think the likes of Kia and Hyaundai are in marketing overdrive the last few years? They'd put VW and Ford to shame.

moleyv

The 2014 Mazda 3 is a serious looker. The 2.2 diesel can throw you back in your seat or toddle along like ms daisy.

That said, either top tier or third tier is needed to have good spec. Going up the specs I think is a bit expensive relatively. But the dealer would obviously do a deal.

The red metallic is my choice.

Golf is a bit dull, even the GTD wouldn't change my mind.

NIMAN

I agree that the new Mazda is a looker, and nicer to look at than the Golf.

But sometimes looks aren't the main thing people use when deciding what car to buy.

HandsomeDan

Have to say the new Mazda three looks awesome inside and out:



The Golfs do in fairness get good reviews, but VAG reliability is awful - I once owned a B6 Passat - enough said :pac:

Had a rental I30 and thought it was the most cheap n nasty car I'd been in in a while.

I think the new 308 in estate form looks the biz:



Good review too:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/peugeot/308/first-drives/2014-peugeot-308-sw-e-thp-130-first-drive-review

NIMAN

That image does make it look nice inside, but manufacturers will always show the most expensive, top of the range photo which will cost the earth to own.

As for VAG reliability, do the stats prove its 'awful'?

As for the new 308, love the hatchback in it, think its classy and understated. I was considering getting a test drive, but I've never owned a French car before, if you know what I mean.

HandsomeDan

NIMAN wrote: »

That image does make it look nice inside, but manufacturers will always show the most expensive, top of the range photo which will cost the earth to own.

As for VAG reliability, do the stats prove its 'awful'?

Breakdown/warranty company stats like Warranty Direct/ AA/ German ADAC all place VAG pruducts bottom of the table.

Owners opinion surveys like JD Power, however, rate them highly for reliability.

Figure that one out.

moleyv

My father has one, and I have driven it a good bit. gearbox is a bit lighter than previous models, but still feels precise, much more than any VW I have driven.

As for reliability, too early to judge on this car, but no issues. Father has had Mazda's for 20 years now. and not one had any big issues, that said he hasn't had them more than 3 years.

The interior for the new model is a serious step up. Competing with higher level cars.

Very efficient, due to big engine, obviously if you drive it right.

Sub 200e tax.

Insurance for a 'high powered' car. This is probably a big negative because they are only available in a 1.5 petrol or a 2.2 diesel.

The previous model was a 1.6 diesel.

The one thing I think that let's it down look wise is the size of the alloys on third tier spec. I think they are 16 inch with chunky fuel efficient tyres. I would like a little less efficiency for 17 inches like the previous model.

seats are comfy and supportive. The driving position is far better than a Golf.

Although performance wise I can only go on the diesel engine, not a clue about the petrol.

Noccy_Mondy

The thing around here is that each of the following makes has a loyal fanboiii following (myself incl.) who tend to clash more often than not, each claiming that their chosen make is THE best. Quite funny at times

VW
FORD
TOYOTA
BMW
HYUNDAI/KIA
AUDI (Not so much)
Suppose I'm missing one or two






Oh yeah




alfa's........ :pac:

colm_mcm

I don't think anyone here seriously thinks Fords are any good.

bazz26

NIMAN wrote: »

It sure is, but the Golf hasn't been around for 40yrs and sold tens of millions for no reason other than its well marketed. If it was a rubbish car that was well marketed it wouldn't have survived this long.

I think you have to assume that across so many websites and media outlets, they can't all be biased towards the Golf.

As for the Focus, it too is generally considered a very good car by most media outlets and reviewers. They seem to be hated by a large number of people too, but rubbish cars don't sell in big numbers imho.

If you are talking about marketing, do you not think the likes of Kia and Hyaundai are in marketing overdrive the last few years? They'd put VW and Ford to shame.

But I never said or implied the Golf was rubbish. I just don't think that the majority of models in the range do anything vastly superior to some of it's rivals, to justify the euphoria some people have for them. The Seat Leon for example is pretty much the same car yet it doesn't receive half the attention that the Golf does.

NIMAN

To be fair though, if you check those car sites I listed, most also say the Seat Leon is a great car.

NIMAN

colm_mcm wrote: »

I don't think anyone here seriously thinks Fords are any good.

I quite like them;)

I love Alfa's too, just never had the balls to buy one.

bazz26

Yet lots of people don't put the Leon on their "aspire to have" list but do the Golf. The power of marketing and branding at work me thinks.

colm_mcm

The Leon is deliberately styled to be less obviously well proportioned than the Golf. Its a more challenging design to take in. I don't think Seat would be allowed to build a direct Golf rival in the real sense of the word.

noelf

In the real mpg section of honestjohn the golf 1.2 tsi does best at 55 mpg the civic 1.4 is 46.7 the focus 1.0 litre only does 40.9 for 100 bhp engine the 125 is 42.3 .. www.anusedcar.com tuv car testing reports 2013 of 2 to 3 year old cars yes the mazda 3 is ranked in 2nd place fault rate of 2.7 % golf ranked 16 fault rate of 4% the civic is only ranked in 75 position fault rate 6.2% !! The Hyundai i30 is in the same position as the civic ..

NIMAN

So a fault rate of 4%, I'm guessing a 1 in 25 chance of having a major issue with a Golf. Decent odds.

Good odds on all the cars to be fair.

Re: Mpg. Really surprised to hear you can get 55mpg off a 1.2TSi engine. If thats true I'd nearly consider one.

braddun

mazda will last longer and gets great reviews

noelf

NIMAN wrote: »

So a fault rate of 4%, I'm guessing a 1 in 25 chance of having a major issue with a Golf. Decent odds.

Good odds on all the cars to be fair.

Re: Mpg. Really surprised to hear you can get 55mpg off a 1.2TSi engine. If thats true I'd nearly consider one.

And they are quiet lively too .. yea 55mpg does sound a bit high I get about 58 with my 1.6 tdi golf mark 7 highline

Noccy_Mondy

colm_mcm wrote: »

I don't think anyone here seriously thinks Fords are any good.

Jaysus don't get me riled up :P

bazz26

Going back to the original choice, the Mazda 3 is a fine car but unfortunately in 1.5 petrol form you get the entry level model with a pretty mundane engine with mediocre performance by today's standards. The plus side to the Golf is that at least you have more choice in spec when it comes to petrol engine options if your willing to pay for it.

Fiskar

Yeah, thinking the Golf and the 1,000 euro free pack they are offering as the Golf is 40 years old will be the deal breaker.
Not too keen on a 1.2 but the Golf is 100 kg lighter than the mark 6 so the 110 bhp 1.2 tsi should be lively enough.

Subotai

I have owned a 2002 golf previously, and i currently own a 2005 mazda 3, which i've had since 2007. I'll be changing it next year for a different make of car, but only because i want to drive something different.

Of the two, the mazda is far surperior. The golf gave me awful trouble. The electric window on the passanger side broke, all the lights on the dashboard failed, the starter mortor broke at only 60,000 km, and it leaked water in through the seals on the front doors. The only fault i got with the mazda in 7 years was the abs sensor went. So if you want reliability go with the mazda, and avoid the golf. Personally I'd only buy a japanese car now.

Oafley Jones

NIMAN wrote: »

Golf all day long.

There will be the usual haters on here saying they aren't in the same class as a Ceed or i30, but they don't get 5 star reviews off most of the motoring press for nothing.

They are good, solid well built and reliable cars that are desirable and which will be easy to sell.

VAG's absolutely massive advertising spend has of course nothing to do with that. Only the gaming press are more rotten as a whole.

Definitely better residuals on the golf and I'd bet the Mazda is more reliable. Really like the look of the new 3, the new Golf is one of the blandest designs on the road - it's okay from the front, but that arse is shocking. Coma inducing stuff. Would love the whole group to have a clear out of their designers.

George Dalton

Subotai wrote: »

I have owned a 2002 golf previously, and i currently own a 2005 mazda 3, which i've had since 2007. I'll be changing it next year for a different make of car, but only because i want to drive something different.

Of the two, the mazda is far surperior. The golf gave me awful trouble. The electric window on the passanger side broke, all the lights on the dashboard failed, the starter mortor broke at only 60,000 km, and it leaked water in through the seals on the front doors. The only fault i got with the mazda in 7 years was the abs sensor went. So if you want reliability go with the mazda, and avoid the golf. Personally I'd only buy a japanese car now.

And yet the Golf is worth far more than the Mazda secondhand. Personally I would rather spend a couple of hundred quid on a window regulator and then save a 4 figure sum come trade in time.

For someone spending their own money (rather than a company car situation) and looking at things from a purely rational standpoint the Golf is the only sensible choice. They look good, they drive well, they are about average in terms of reliability but the main thing is they beat everything else in terms of resale value.

That is the objective view.

Now for the subjective view :pac:

In my opinion they are also the nicest car in their class. If I was in the market for a brand new Golf segment car the only other car I would even bother looking at would be the Leon. People like to put the Ceed and I30 up on a pedestal but the reality is that if VW had released the I30 and put a Golf badge on it then it would have been slated, and rightly so.

Casati

colm_mcm wrote: »

Safe to say the 3 will be more reliable yet worth less second hand.

I would have thought so, but I had a quick look at dealer asking prices on Carzone and was shocked at how expensive the Mazda's are - the cheapest one is post 2011 is 12950 and is a bog standard old model 1.6 Diesel - imported too

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/mazda/mazda3/used-2011-mazda-mazda3-1-6d-115ps-galway-fpa-55214027527921820

With Mazda generally a couple of grand cheaper spec on spec versus a Golf they might be a wise buy new

colm_mcm

Carzone isn't really that representative of anything.

road_high

George Dalton wrote: »

And yet the Golf is worth far more than the Mazda secondhand. Personally I would rather spend a couple of hundred quid on a window regulator and then save a 4 figure sum come trade in time.

For someone spending their own money (rather than a company car situation) and looking at things from a purely rational standpoint the Golf is the only sensible choice. They look good, they drive well, they are about average in terms of reliability but the main thing is they beat everything else in terms of resale value.

That is the objective view.

Now for the subjective view :pac:

In my opinion they are also the nicest car in their class. If I was in the market for a brand new Golf segment car the only other car I would even bother looking at would be the Leon. People like to put the Ceed and I30 up on a pedestal but the reality is that if VW had released the I30 and put a Golf badge on it then it would have been slated, and rightly so.

Sat in the I30 and the new Golf last year test driving and there is just no comparison. Much much better seats in the Golf as well as feeling a far more substantial and robust place to be. Lovely soft touch plastics and materials, a total contrast to the Korean flimsiness of the I30.
Only one the I30 has up on the Golf is the comparable diesel so-called "Deluxe" has a 6 speed box vs the Golf's 5 speed.
Unless an I30 was 5k cheaper it would be Golf all day long.

Casati

colm_mcm wrote: »

Carzone isn't really that representative of anything.

Where should I look to get an idea of pricing? Donegal is showing the same - cheapest 2011 Mazda 3 is 13k private, with Golfs at cheaper or similar money

Maybe all the VW UK imports are bringing down the prices on the second-hand market here?

Fiskar

Having decided on the Golf 1.2 Tsi 110Bhp 5 dr I now have to make a choice between Trendline and Comfortline. The Car we are trading in is a Comfortline with cruise control and rear electric windows.

If we go for the Trendline we get rear window winders (haven't seen those in years), no cruise control and an OTR price of €22,760 or Comfortline €24,485. With the Comfortline we get those rear electric windows, alloys, front fogs, cruise control and a few other bits and pieces. However I see nowhere which spec would have rain sensing wipers or auto dimming rear mirror?

Basically want the car to have the best spec for trade in purposes as was told by one garage that our trade in was not a comfort line (as it has no alloys!), service handbook indicates it is with cruise and electrics.

Could also look at an A1 Sportback 1.4 TSI with 125 BHP but you are up in €26k range.

MuppetCheck

road_high wrote: »

Sat in the I30 and the new Golf last year test driving and there is just no comparison. Much much better seats in the Golf as well as feeling a far more substantial and robust place to be. Lovely soft touch plastics and materials, a total contrast to the Korean flimsiness of the I30.
Only one the I30 has up on the Golf is the comparable diesel so-called "Deluxe" has a 6 speed box vs the Golf's 5 speed.
Unless an I30 was 5k cheaper it would be Golf all day long.

You should take a spin in my father's Ceed. 30k km and EVERYTHING rattles and squeaks. The Golf with a lower peg interior Leon I have with more mileage is silent. But people will swear there's no difference in quality.

I had one minor issue, he's contemplating selling his it's let him down so often with issues that have made it immobile and no one seems to have a clue how to sort it either, even Kia themselves who have sent people down a few times.

I thought it was grand when he was buying it I'll admit - have some of my hat stuck in my tooth.