VW Golf - The most hated car on boards

rs

TychoCaine wrote:

A certain type of Golf owner percieve them as being a better car because they were more expensive, which is a joke. They've been ripped off, and think they should be envied because of it. It's these drivers I can't stand, not the cars they drive.

It depends on how you look at it. I don't perceive the Golf to be a better car than it's rivals because it's more expensive.

Yes, I could have bought a cheaper car. And I could watch that cheaper car plummet in value over the two or three years that I own it.

Example, based on CBG's car valuer thing

I buy an 03 Golf today, average price on cbg €14,000
I sell it in two years time, average price on cbg of 01 golf, €10,150

You buy a corolla 03 model - avg price on cbg €12,600
You sell it in 2 years time - avg price on cbg for 01 Corolla - €7,786

You buy a civic 03 - avg price on cbg 14,000
Sell in 2 years time - avg price 01 civic 9,000

The golf lost 3,850
The corolla lost 4,814
The civic lost 5,000

And I got ripped off? I didn't buy a golf because I think it's expensive or some sort of brand status. I bought it because I'm an incredibly cheap b*stard, and I'm proud of it too

siralfalot

Right, I've owned a 1.4 mk IV golf, it was overpriced, over rated and very poorly specced, It didn't even have central feckin locking as standard. it was also not very reliable and the brakes were absolute rubbish.

but worse, so much worse than all the above, it was boring, really truly boring as a driving experiance

the 1.2 Fiat Bravo I replaced it with is surprisingly far far superior, at least you feel like the wheels are connected to the steering wheel!!

far2gud

1.4 Golf's are just plain boring, way too many of them around. Its like everyone going to dunnes stores and buying the same jumper..not good.

rs

far2gud wrote:

1.4 Golf's are just plain boring, way too many of them around. Its like everyone going to dunnes stores and buying the same jumper..not good.

I have to admit, I do look at the license plate in public car parks before I try to get into my car, just to make sure it really is mine one

Vegeta

Robbo wrote:

Isn't it about time someone made a set of motors board specific gathering cards? Ragging on Golfs would certainly warrant one.

I'll start the ball rolling:

• The Awesome power of the VAG TDI
• "It's not a fast lane, it's an overtaking lane"
• "It's a speed limit not a target"
• A Honda fanboy quoting engine codes and dyno plots for an obscure import Civic that they were only allowed sell on Japanese bank holidays
• "I've just run over a herd of nuns whilst hammered, any chance I can get off?"
• The trials and tribulations of Cormie's van

Perhaps someone with access to Photoshop could do a series of cat images to illustrate them?

genius

JHMEG

rs wrote:

The golf lost 3,850
The corolla lost 4,814
The civic lost 5,000

So an '01 Golf is an even worse buy!

I agree with MarkN... it's been a while since I drove a 1.4 Golf (around '00), but the handling was dreadful. It was almost boat-like, and reminded me of holidays on the Shannon in Emerald Star cabin cruisers. The previous model was as bad (the good ole 60bhp CL).

Power was lacking, combined with a heavy body made overtaking something I didn't feel comfortable trying.

Still tho, the doors made a nice "clunk" when closed.

.Longshanks.

far2gud wrote:

1.4 Golf's are just plain boring, way too many of them around. Its like everyone going to dunnes stores and buying the same jumper..not good.

Except that this 1.4 has either 140 or 170 bhp:
[/QUOTE]
(even thou it was only in the film for about 4 seconds)

Altreab

JHMEG wrote:

Still tho, the doors made a nice "clunk" when closed.

oh that has to be up there with .."did ya see the size of the boot in the Octavia"

JHMEG

Altreab wrote:

oh that has to be up there with .."did ya see the size of the boot in the Octavia"

Believe or not I know people where the quality of the "clunk" was the deciding factor when it came to buying a car. I think certain manufacturers have twigged this.

Altreab

JHMEG wrote:

Believe or not I know people where the quality of the "clunk" was the deciding factor when it came to buying a car. I think certain manufacturers have twigged this.

i know a few like that too just as some i know have bought cars cos they have big boots. This despite only using them once in a blue moon.

bazz26

I don't particularly hate the Golf, the MkV GTi and R32 are great cars by all accounts. I just don't see what is so great about the lesser models to warranty spending extra on what other manufacturers sell that is as good if not better.

Imo your average model Golf, not the GTi or R32, is just that, average.
I couldn't justify the additional premium price and perception that VW tend to market them as. It seems to have started in the mid 1980s where they became the favorite toy of the yuppie to announce the dizzy heights of their social status. Something the VW marketing department seems to have been spinning ever since.

Just to summarise imho the Golf is not a bad car by any means but the main stream bread and butter models are nothing special, nothing special enough imo to warrant spending the extra dosh on anyway.

rs

JHMEG wrote:

Believe or not I know people where the quality of the "clunk" was the deciding factor when it came to buying a car. I think certain manufacturers have twigged this.

I used to have a 1979 Volvo 240 many years ago. Now those doors made a nice clunk!

whippet

I was never a big fan of the Golf, my last car was a SEAT as I thought it offered better value to the VW, I realised then when I was selling that it was a false economy as the resale of the VW was far more attractive than the SEAT.

The true cost of a car is the price between purchase and resale (factoring in financing costs too)

Then this year I got the new GTI and the amount of people who will say that its a great car etc .. will always try to get a dig in about either a) over priced b) the ST or OPC has more horses c) they are common as muck etc d) the Ocatvia VRS is much better value and has a boot ....

Now the majority of these people are driving in corrollas, standard focus', volvo s40s making these comments.

On a drive to cork recently, I spotted 5 (yes 5) Bently Cont GTs on the road and only 3 GTIs .. while this isn't scientific on this run the GTI was rarer than the Bentley. As for price, 40k is quite a lot of money to spend on a hatch back, but own one for a few months and you won't regret a thing.

As for the OPC, ST, VRS arguments, yes they are great cars but to me the GTI was more attractive on every level, looks, DSG gear box and some irrational sense of belonging to the original GTI.

It is just amazing the amount of people who talk a car up and then as soon as they see someone driving it .. begrudgery sets in .. 'Look at yer man in the Boxter he couldn't afford the 911' as you point from the window of your 'chipped' TD(red)i Bora.

Theboinkmaster

bazz26 wrote:

I don't particularly hate the Golf, the MkV GTi and R32 are great cars by all accounts. I just don't see what is so great about the lesser models to warranty spending extra on what other manufacturers sell that is as good if not better.

Imo your average model Golf, not the GTi or R32, is just that, average.
I couldn't justify the additional premium price and perception that VW tend to market them as. It seems to have started in the mid 1980s where they became the favorite toy of the yuppie to announce the dizzy heights of their social status. Something the VW marketing department seems to have been spinning ever since.

Just to summarise imho the Golf is not a bad car by any means but the main stream bread and butter models are nothing special, nothing special enough imo to warrant spending the extra dosh on anyway.

IMHO the average golf is worth the extra money compared to it's competitors. For example I think it looks far better than a focus and when sitting in the drivers seat for both I much prefer the look and feel of the golf's cabin - the focus just seems cheep in comparison.

I do agree however that there is a 'yuppie' thing going on with it but I couldn't care less - I just prefer the golf.

Theboinkmaster

whippet wrote:

I was never a big fan of the Golf, my last car was a SEAT as I thought it offered better value to the VW, I realised then when I was selling that it was a false economy as the resale of the VW was far more attractive than the SEAT.

The true cost of a car is the price between purchase and resale (factoring in financing costs too)

Then this year I got the new GTI and the amount of people who will say that its a great car etc .. will always try to get a dig in about either a) over priced b) the ST or OPC has more horses c) they are common as muck etc d) the Ocatvia VRS is much better value and has a boot ....

Now the majority of these people are driving in corrollas, standard focus', volvo s40s making these comments.

On a drive to cork recently, I spotted 5 (yes 5) Bently Cont GTs on the road and only 3 GTIs .. while this isn't scientific on this run the GTI was rarer than the Bentley. As for price, 40k is quite a lot of money to spend on a hatch back, but own one for a few months and you won't regret a thing.

As for the OPC, ST, VRS arguments, yes they are great cars but to me the GTI was more attractive on every level, looks, DSG gear box and some irrational sense of belonging to the original GTI.

It is just amazing the amount of people who talk a car up and then as soon as they see someone driving it .. begrudgery sets in .. 'Look at yer man in the Boxter he couldn't afford the 911' as you point from the window of your 'chipped' TD(red)i Bora.

Very well said - couldn't agree more

TechnoFreek

I'm looking to buy my first car. I've been driving for a few years, full license etc but never had a car to call my own!

I'm not a driver, i dont know anything about engines etc however there is something about the look of the Golf Mark 5 that really appeals to me. So much so that I want to try pick one up second-hand.

Is it wrong to wish for a car based on looks alone?

I make no demands on a car other than it gets me from A to B and I like the look of! I'm not a label whore. If Kia released a car that I liked the design of then I would also consider it.

rs

TechnoFreek wrote:

Is it wrong to wish for a car based on looks alone?

Yes, it's probably a bad idea to buy a car only for its looks. But looks do factor very heavily in most people's decision to buy a car (including mine). I would not buy a car that I consider ugly, no matter how fast, reliable, etc it is.

Best thing to do is take one for a test drive and see how it feels to drive. If you still want one a few days later then maybe it's the car for you.

The Golf isn't the best car in the world but that's not the most important thing really. How you feel about it is what's important. It's certainly not a 'bad' car.

At least of you buy a Golf and don't like it, you can always sell it and not lose too much

JHMEG

Theboinkmaster wrote:

Very well said - couldn't agree more

In fairness the MkV Golf GTI by all accounts is a very good car, and would be the pick of the crop in the last 20 years.

layke

Longshanks100 wrote:

Except that this 1.4 has either 140 or 170 bhp:

(even thou it was only in the film for about 4 seconds)

AND IT HAS LASERS!

JoeA3

I saw the Bourne Ultimatum last night, the Golf TSI appears for all of about 10 seconds! There's a good chase involving a Toureg later on, and several Audi's are used - I guess VW/Audi doing a bit of product placement.
Great film by the way!

MarkN

In fairness, the MKV GTI and R32 are fantastic cars - the MKIV R32 was also excellent and I don't think any of them deserve to be tarred with the generic 1.4 Golf brush but I don't think anyone is saying they do. Although I've owned 3 Golfs, they've all been GTIs and I also would not buy a 1.4 Golf as I feel it's just to own the badge - a bit like a BMW with a 4 pot engine.

BTW, I think VW sell more cars than Ford in Ireland now.

Henry Ford III

VW = Volkswagen = Peoples car. Nothing prestigous about that.

p.s. SIMI stats have VW just ahead of Ford year to date.

layke

JoeA3 wrote:

I saw the Bourne Ultimatum last night, the Golf TSI appears for all of about 10 seconds! There's a good chase involving a Toureg later on, and several Audi's are used - I guess VW/Audi doing a bit of product placement.
Great film by the way!

They use Audi's in a lot of films. Apparantly it's a 'fast car' like they said in Ocreans 13.

rs

rs wrote:

Also, the golf is not a cheap car to buy, but it does hold it's value well
so the cost of owning one for a couple of years is not too bad.
You just end up having a bit more money tied up in.

To me the cost of owning a car for a few years is much more important than the cost to buy it.

After 12 months I have to say the Golf has grown on me quite a bit. Never given me any trouble at all, handles well, solid build quality, big boot, decent on petrol. Most importantly it's comfortable an very, very, very easy to drive. With an hour commute in and out to work these things have become significantly more important than the boring interior, slightly higher up front cost and lack of features.

So why do people think the golf is such a terrible car. It has it's faults and I'm the first to admit it. But when I change this car I have to say I'd certainly consider getting another one.

*Yawn* that about sums up the golf for me.
But horses for courses etc its a matter of personal taste, there is no right or wrong car. Go with what you like. In your case you don't want a car that looks the nuts or breaks a tonne. But you don't need it.

Me being young and with disposable income I went for something more expensive with a bigger engine (2.5l). but circumstances differing I might have gone for something else.

whippet

JoeA3 wrote:

I saw the Bourne Ultimatum last night, the Golf TSI appears for all of about 10 seconds! There's a good chase involving a Toureg later on, and several Audi's are used - I guess VW/Audi doing a bit of product placement.
Great film by the way!

not as much as Ford did in Casino Royale !!!

Mr. Presentable

As has been pointed out, the VW brand is just above average

http://www.whatcar.com/NonCar/166652852.jpg

As a model, the Golf comes in 34th

http://www.whatcar.com/NonCar/8666102471.jpg

It's horses for courses, and taste (or lack of), one man's meat etc. I always thought Alfa got the dog's abuse on boards, not the Golf.

Mine? A Golf TDI, mk 4. I like it, but it's just a car and I'm no petrolhead.

Zaph

I bought a Mark V 1.6 automatic two weeks ago. I've a dodgy left knee so I wanted an automatic to take some of the pressure off it, but beyond that I had no other specific requirements. I agree, the Golf is probably overpriced, I had initially discounted it as I reckoned it would be outside my budget, but I got lucky with a good deal on mine. However, I know that I'll get a decent enough resale price on it when I get rid of it. The interior is basic, but at the same time it has everything I need so what more do people want? As for performance, if I wanted something faster I would have looked at different cars, but if like me you want a solid, reliable car to go from A to B in comfort (and the seats are very comfortable) then the Golf ticks all the boxes. If that's not what you want well then you're not going to be looking at that type of car in the first place, so why slag them off?

colm_mcm

When comparing the depreciation of a 04 golf and Corolla vs. 01 Corolla, it should be noted that the 01 Corolla is the older generation, the 02 on models can easily keep up with the Golf for depreciation. Also, hatchback models make more than saloon models on the Corolla, so to level the playing field it would be fair to include average prices for Boras in with the Golf figures.

unkel

colm_mcm wrote:

When comparing the depreciation of a 04 golf and Corolla vs. 01 Corolla, it should be noted that the 01 Corolla is the older generation

Good point. It's unfair to just compare years

colm_mcm wrote:

hatchback models make more than saloon models on the Corolla, so to level the playing field it would be fair to include average prices for Boras in with the Golf figures.

Is that true for the Golf too? I thought that a same spec / condition Bora would be worth more than a Golf, but I might very well be wrong

Melion

How much would you all consider over-priced?

I just paid 8k for a 01 1.4 Golf. Very happy with it so far

Quick edit, its my first car.