Car options

chocolate boy123

Hi I'm 22 years old and want to save up and get a different car I have it down to either a golf or Audi A4 ... Has to be 1.6 and my budget won't let me go newer than 2005. What are yer opinions? I hear the Audi is very underpowered? Also take into consideration I'm coming from a 1.2L car. Thank you

Nuw

The 1.6 in the A4 is indeed underpowered, in the golf, it's more acceptable (it's no rocket but it does the job).

However, in my opinion, restricting yourself to 2 models (well, one really) might be a mistake, if you give us a budget and what you need from a car, we may be able to come up with something that'll suit and that won't break the bank on repairs, and most likely as good to drive and with better fuel economy.

colm_mcm

I dunno, I reckon this is an image thing, there are of course better cars but I get the feeling that won't matter.

Pugzilla

There's more to engine choice than displacement. It's a very crude measurement.

You should be looking at the power, torque, fuel economy, reliability etc.

bazz26

It's the same engine used in both cars, will feel less under powered in the lighter Golf though. Runt of the litter old engine left over from the 1990s.

chocolate boy123

Thanks for the replys. Has to be a golf or Audi as they are my two favourite budget is around €2800. I see in the golf I can get 1.6 FSI which is 115 horsepower

ironclaw

chocolate boy123 wrote: »

Thanks for the replys. Has to be a golf or Audi as they are my two favourite budget is around €2800. I see in the golf I can get 1.6 FSI which is 115 horsepower

Are you after power? Then the figure you should be looking at is the BHP figure as you can compare like for like. Anything north of 150bhp is going to be expensive for you.

At 22 years old, either of those cars is likely going to cost you the same as your budget in insurance. Add tax to that, and you'll need more than you are spending on the car. Audi A4, VW Bora's & Golfs are heavily loaded by insurance companies as they are the car of choice for those with poor intentions.

I'm not much older than you, but an A3 2.0 TFSI is about €1200 to insure, rising to €2800 / €3k on a Porsche Boxster. Thats with trackers, optional excess and having a license close to 10 years with no points or claims. Anything remotely 'fast' or indeed over 10 years old will level you cost wise

chocolate boy123

Yes after mostly power both are 102 unless I get a FSI golf which is 115bhp but with my budget I can't really be picky but I hear the Audi is to heavy and is terrible on peteol. Will I notice a big difference between 102 and my current 64?

ironclaw

chocolate boy123 wrote: »

Yes after mostly power both are 102 unless I get a FSI golf which is 115bhp but with my budget I can't really be picky but I hear the Audi is to heavy and is terrible on peteol. Will I notice a big difference between 102 and my current 64?

It will have a little more poke, but it won't be neck snapping quick. 200BHP (Golf GTI) will give you a nice push into the back of the seat, 300BHP (Audi S3) will be even more so. If you want to be pinned, you want well north of 350BHP (Audi S4) and when you hit GTR territory (700BHP) you won't really be able to move on launch, it actually almost hurts.

The advantage you will have will be a little more go on overtaking versus 64. That's about it, you won't reduce your acceleration times all that much and I doubt you will even notice much tangible difference.

Have you priced insurance and factored it into your budget?

chocolate boy123

Ya I'm just sick of almost dieing every time I over take. Ya it's not much more expensive and tax is only like 200 extra too!

bazz26

Just for comparison a 2002 to 2007 Toyota Corolla 1.4 litre has 97 bhp and has no problem overtaking if that's what your concern is.

chocolate boy123

Thanks, what would ye pick? The golf or Audi and why

crusha101

you could pick up a decent 2007 opel astra 3dr for the same price as the 05 golf or a4 and they are a nice looking car

crusha101

chocolate boy123 wrote: »

Thanks, what would ye pick? The golf or Audi and why

The Golf , 1.6 audi is under powered, a mate of mine had an 04 1.6 golf and it was nippy for what it is.

bmwguy

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/facts-and-figures/audi/a4/saloon-2000/21676/

That says the a4 you are looking at has a 0-60 time of 12.2 seconds, the golf with the same engine might be marginally quicker.

It will seem slow too as you are in quite a refined car.

I reckon you are in something like a 1.2 Clio now, which has an official time of 14.5 seconds according to same site. I have driven them and they are painfully slow, 12.2 might not be much better

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/facts-and-figures/renault/clio/hatchback-2001/32734/

Wrong car to be after if you want power. Nice cars though but cars got too big and heavy for 100bhp engines to be fast

Years ago, the 4 cylinder e46 BMW 3 series was slated almost daily for being underpowered and dangerous!! I had one and it wasn't it was fine, 118 bhp but no rocketship either.

It has a time of 10.1 for the same acceleration

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/facts-and-figures/bmw/3-series/saloon-1998/

People now pick on the 520d which has 0-60 of 8.1 seconds or something, faster than 90% of things out there almost equivalent to the e39 530d which was seen as a great car and engine. So its all relative.


The thing about these cars (1.6 A4 etc) is they are well engineered, great chassis, nice build quality but then a little engine unsuited to the car goes in and they are not nice to drive anymore. Its our tax regime that facilitates this, these cars should be no less than a 2.0 really and even more if possible.Your insurance will not allow that though