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Original poster

VW Golf v Ford Focus

16 replies

sophierosie · 23/02/2008 17:04

Am looking for a new car and have narrowed it down to either a golf gti or focus 2.0 ghia. DH wants a golf but I think a focus gives you a bit more for the money. I know that VW's are supposed to be good, in fact have had a polo for the last 5 years - just need a bit more power and space!

Any pro's or con's for either please!

OP posts:
schneebly · 23/02/2008 17:07

I know nothing of these things but dh says VW gives better build quality and reliability over ford focus - oh and a golf would be faster! Men!

missingtheaction · 23/02/2008 17:10

have experience of both golf and focus - golf definitely a bit snazzier and more street cred but focus is a brilliant little car and I think excellent value for money. A difficult choice - toss a coin!

pobletsmum · 23/02/2008 17:12

I loved my Golf. Really, really loved it. Have you tried both? You will probably get more gadgets for your money in a Ford Ghia but a much better car in a VW, and as schneebly said, they have better reliability. The resale value will be significantly higher in the VW too. They just keep going & going! For me there's no contest.

Egg · 23/02/2008 17:12

We have a Golf (had it new two years ago) and I love it. It is too small now and I will be gutted when we trade it in. We have the 1.9 TDI I think and can honestly say I have no complaints whatsoever, not does DH. However we do not drive all that much really. It has been up and down from London to Devon and Winchester a fair few times though and does well on motorway and has six gears. Very economic on fuel. Never had any probs with it. However is not ideal if you have three small children .

Have never tried Focus to compare though...

pobletsmum · 23/02/2008 17:13

Hi egg!

needmorecoffee · 23/02/2008 17:13

which one has lower emissions and uses less petrol?

NomDePlume · 23/02/2008 17:16

We have had both, though admittedly very different specs - Focus was a mid range 1.8 LX (with air-con) and the Golf was the (then top of the range) 2.8 4Motion. I have also had a 1.8 Gti turbo (it was new on a T-reg)

VW customer service were AWFUL. Though reliability was good on the whole and the interior was a nice place to be. You don't get a lot of equipment for your money and you have to spend a LOT to get the spec (GTI was £18k and 4motion was £25k, I think). I can only comment on the mark 5 Golf (I think latest is MK6), interior space was dire and the boot was abysmal. Also parts, servicing and general running costs were high compared to my Focus.

Focus was cheap to run, nippy, very reliable, great to drive and the interior space was massively superior to that of the Golf. Admittedly, the interior of the golf was a little nicer but on the whole the Focus is a great option.

If you want badge prestige and are prepared to pay thousands more then go for the golf. If you are looking for a great family car then go for the Focus.

Both are good cars but I would go for the Focus.

I know the new Golf is bigger than the old one so the space issues may well have been resolved.

Egg · 23/02/2008 17:17

Hello poblet

NomDePlume · 23/02/2008 17:18

Oh, and the new Focus has really upped the ante with the interior too. I would say that really, there is very little between the 2. The best thing to do is drive them and see for yourself.

FWIW, We had more reliability issues with our Golfs than we did with our Focus (and the Focus was older).

Original poster
sophierosie · 23/02/2008 17:30

Ooh lovely - lots of responses!

Am not going to be getting brand new - looking at about 4-5 years old with less than 60k on the clock.

DH drives a focus at work so I can understand that he wants to drive something different and that he wants to get home quicker and in more comfort!

We would be looking at the Mark 5 GTI and they do look quite small inside - not much bigger than the polo.

Running costs for both would probably be about the same running cost although maybe more tax for the golf?

OP posts:
VictorianSqualor · 23/02/2008 17:35

Our focus eats petrol, it actually uses roughly the same amoutn as our BMW 330 sport!!
Could be the way DP drives it though.
Apart from that I like it, but I do prefer BiL's golf.

VictorianSqualor · 23/02/2008 17:36

Oh also DP used to work for VW and has always said the customer service of German companies is much better.

NomDePlume · 23/02/2008 17:37

My Golf GTI was group 18, i think (but it was the turbo version). Leg room in the back of a MK5 is terrible.

needmorecoffee · 23/02/2008 17:38

gosh. I feel very car-thick. I picked mine by the colour
a car is a car is a car

NomDePlume · 23/02/2008 17:38

not in my experience, VS ! We have had a Merc and a VW and the customer experience was not ideal on either.

Original poster
sophierosie · 25/02/2008 13:30

OK - I have given in - DH reallywants a Golf GTI and I guess he would never be happy with a focus! Boys and their toys!

Anyone know anyone who's selling one?

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