I know its a ford site but I also know alot of you have golfs and focus's

I am on the lookout for a diesel car and got it dow to the focus 1.8tdci or a golf tdi , only got about 2.5k to spend and that will roughly get me a 2002-03 plate focus ,been to look at a few (missed out on a bargain)
And now want to look at a few golfs , what would you say would be the best to go for ? Golf or Focus?

 

golf tdi more reliable and hold money better
focus is a better drive imo golf would be the sensible choice although for that money high miles

 

golf for me too

 

Focus chassis with the golf engine!

I would take the golf out of the 2, go for the 130 bhp and don't worry about mileage, they go forever!

 

Agreed, though Golf's aren't bombproof. They particlarly like lunching cv's

 

Every golf ive seen and for the money I have to spend have all done at least 120,000 , is that mileage still ok for one of these ?

Where as you can get a focus for the same money with around 70,000 miles

 

My dad's passat 1.9tdi 130 is approaching 300k and drives like new. He has owned it from new and is mostly original. It's had an alternator, 2 rear shocks and a brake light switch. Cambelts are due every 60k so make sure It's been done if you are looking at golfs with 120k on them. My dad's is due It's 5th cambelt soon!

 

Golf tdi

 

I was in the same position as yourself 2 years ago and ended up buying a focus tdci sport. A mate of mine bought a golf tdi at the same time and has had to spend money on various issues.
Everybody seems to bang on about VW reliability but they seem to go wrong like every other modern car on the road.
I drove both and the focus drives alot better.

 

just got a ibiza tdi pd130, 90k with fssh, for that money, lovely car getting 60mpg on a good run, sticks to the road well

 

golf, boring to drive though compared to the ford

 

Not too bothered about how boring they are , just want something more economical than something that does 22mpg

Ive got the escort for excitement

 

I have drove both and loved the focus but after a remap the golf was awesome

 

I've had 3 vag Pd derv engined cars matey

100pd passat, yep even the 100 ps model could shift

130 pd bora ( miss this car badly) seriously nice drive, econemy was amazing and went like shit of a shovel

last was 150 pd Leon Fr again went like hell but not as nice a drive as the 130 engine....... most thats had both will confirm this

Vag derv piss on ford derv mate TDCI = Trouble, cheap reliable focus derv is the TDDI engine

get a 130 you will love it

my passat had 122k on the clock when i bought it, 1 previous owner and fully serviced stamped book..... drove like it had done 30-40k you wont get that in a ford lol

 

I am a ford man to the core, but its got to be a golf! Have had a focus, they are weak on the electric diesel pumps, mine went, and I know of a few more that packed up. You can see them on ebay as spares or repair as non runners!
Golf will be good for 200k plus miles!
Same engine as the transt connect, firend of mines went in december, cast him a grand to fix!

 

How can anybody say the focus is better to drive than the golf...... seriously?

Golf all the way, better in every department

 

i love fords, but you cant even compare the 2 i got a tdi golf remapped had it 8 years and been awsome car

 

ive got a golf mk4 130 tdi, had it six years now just turned 100k only problems have been a central locking motor on drivers door and a window mechanism on pass front door( common faults on golfs) other wise hasnt missed a beat. serviced every 15k cam belt at 60k.was looking at a170st focus but glad we got the golf instead.

 

Just a normal 1.6 Focus feels better round the twisties than a mk4 Golf GTI! The Focus had the best handling chassis in it's class when it came out. The Golf is better in pretty much any other dept. though

 

Focus chassis humps the Golf, driven both on a number of occasions. However the Golf is just better everywhere else.

 

golf

cant beat a bit of german build quality

 

the things i hate about the golf is the footwells are small and the rear has no legroom also the suspention is harsh

 

I actually think they're pretty decent for rear leg room. Certainly loads more than in my Audi A4

 

golf for me too, i wont buy a tdci ford, seen to many problems, ive a tddi mondeo and its good but its not as good in anyway bar mpg to my mates bora 130 tdi,that feels far more refined and i feel the vw is a better built car too, vw for me next

 

Golf for me too gaz my mate has had loads he bought a focus tdci sport and sold it after 2 weeks that was 3 years ago he's had a derv doctor remapped gttdi 130 since then

 

go very well a tdi 130 when mapped there quick out the box

 

vw all the way mate iv got a bora pd130 lovely cars and have got a pd150 bora and a mates just bought a 03 plate golf gt150 tdi thats just covered 180k full vwsh he paid £2000 and the way it looks it will do another 200k lol dont buy a focus there basically not comperable to a vw pal

 

Agree on Focus chassis...Look under a mk5 Golf and you see pretty much a Focus rear suspension other than ARB location. They head hunted a Ford chassis designer to design the mk5 Golf suspension, apparently!

Bora TDI eh Mo??

 

I must admit, a Golf mk5 does feel very Focus-ish to drive

 

The suspension is really soft, hence why they don't handle amazingly out of the box IME

 

The focus is built in Germany,I've been to the factory in cologne.

I'd say build quality is easily up there with the golf but the pd motor is much better,so reliable,tuneable and capable of huge mileages so golf overall for me as the DERV pumps etc on the focii are just too unpredictable.

I saw a pd passat up here in Scotland one owner with 40k genuine miles,looked an old mans car with ambers,mudflaps and the obligatory aa badge scuffs and dents all over it touched up badly by the old boy.

I fancied it as a keep forever with those miles but he wasn't going below £1800 on an r-reg and I shit out,think that was a bad move now but never mind.

 

vw all day long i have a remaped bora sport it has 197k on the clock 6 speed box 37to 42 mpg around town and had 64mpg on a long run down to cornwall

 

Well I've got a mk4 gt tdi - had it for 2 years, had a steering rack and rear caliper and your usual service parts.
Mine only does 30-35mpg urban and upto 46mpg on long run
It is a 115 chipped, by who I don't know. Fuel economy has gone down so I think the egr valve & inlet needs cleaning out.
Ride is a bit harsh but I have anniversary GTi suspension.

Check the rear wiper works fine as they pre 04 models has a bad design and the pipe unclips above the roof lining and pisses out down passenger c pillar and can cause rust
I think they are pretty strong but check the clutch

 

I sold my pd150 golf a little while back, they are a good car, I have a 90ps Connect tdci, the running gear dosn't seem anything on the vag set up, we have a pd115 galaxy and as standard it's a lot faster and better on fuel than the tdci ford, which surprised me as the galaxy is a heavy bus.

 

R reg. would would be a NONE PD engine