Non-GTI Golfs - what's the best option?

[DubFan]

I'm looking at getting a smaller car. Obviously Golfs are my first choice, but given a £3k budget (and a learner driver), it'll have to be a non-GTI model. Also need to be 5dr, manual and petrol.

So I'm looking at:
Mk4 Golf 1.6 16v
Mk4 Golf 2.0 8v (fake GTI)
Mk5 Golf 1.6 FSI
Mk5 Golf 2.0 FSI (not easy to find in budget)

Or, I could look at Audi A3s.
A3 1.6 8v (older model)
A3 1.6 FSI (2004 + model)

Looked at Seat Leons, but not a fan of the looks.

So what do people think?
I already have a Skoda Octavia with the 1.6 FSI engine in it, so I'm used to that level of power. Yes I'd love GTI, but budget is strict and most GTIs in that budget would be dogs.

I think my best options are the Mk4 1.6 16v or the Mk4 2.0 8v (fake GTI, surely it should have been called the Driver?), or if I could find one, a Mk5 1.6 FSI.
Obviously I'd like the newest, lowest mileage car I could find, but what would be best?

Thoughts?

[Toby]

Mk4 golf 1.8t! A real gti! And with £3000 you will get a decent one!!

Or bora!, passat! Audi a4

[leigh_harty]

Any reason why your not looking at a mk4 sdi? cracking car for the learner and should want for nothing

[CM690]

Any reason why your not looking at a mk4 sdi? cracking car for the learner and should want for nothing

I've always been heavily put off by the SDI models, they return decent MPG estimated 53MPG by VW, which is good but you have to sacrifice several things for that fuel economy. They are hideously slow, 0-60 you're looking at 16 seconds,  low top speed of just under 100mph which I feel would probably be running out of puff at the national speed limit of 70mph.

I believe they are only 70bhp too with just under 100 lb-ft of torque. That's just the engine, then there are the trim disadvantages, VW only made the SDI model available in the 'E' level. I don't have that much knowledge on trim package E but I'm sure they had very little extras. Manual door mirrors(?), manual windows and no A/C etc.

I would never recommend an SDI to anyone really if you had that kind of money, even for a learner the 1.4/1.6 would be better providing insurance isn't an issue.

Compare this to a 1.6 16v MK4, they came in various levels of trim and I'm sure you could pick up an SE model for that money. The MPG is of course lower at 35MPG (est.) but you'll have a much perkier engine with 105bhp and 109 lb-ft of torque which will more than happily cruise on the motorways and not feel out of it's comfort zone. 0-60 is significantly faster at 10.5 seconds and the top speed is 120mph so it will be more than capable.

The SE models came with a lot more extras, my SE 1.6 8v has electric mirrors, A/C (or a sunroof), heated door mirrors, electric windows front and back (while some cars of similar spec have electric front and manual back), the trip computer with multiple functions and usually alloy wheels (though not an issue).

I do know that the MK4 1.6 8v's have weak gearbox issues, I've owned mine since July this year (76k miles) and haven't had any problems yet though the gear changes are a little stiff sometimes. I would stay clear of an 8v MK4 and possibly the 8v Audi A3 as well though I'm unsure if they had the same issues, sure someone can clear that up for you.

Another model to consider is the 1.9 TDI SE MK4 which has the MPG of the SDI (53mpg) and pretty similar performance to the 1.6 16v.

 

[Diamond Hell]

I've had the mis-fortune of driving an SDI badged car.

Don't do it.

Why does it have to be petrol?  Why not a TDI? 

[DubFan]

I've never driven a diesel that I liked, I don't like the noise for one. And I keep hearing about turbos going.
Definitely no to an SDI too.
And I don't do enough miles to make it work out cheaper on fuel. I do about 7k miles a year.

It needs to be a hatchback, because my learner wife finds the estates too big and we no longer need an enormous boot for carrying a big buggy/pram.
I had already considered Passats and A4s but discounted them for that reason.

I have spotted some Mk4 1.8T GTIs, but a) they mostly seem to be high mileage and b) the insurance will be too much.

[F17BAD]

Why look at 1.8t if you are scared about turbos going

Tbh it's only the crap mk5 that has a dodgey blower on one of the models ( can't remember the engine code but its BK?? Something or other )

Would avoid the 2.0 engines found in mk4s etc.. Really poor engine

[DubFan]

Why look at 1.8t if you are scared about turbos going

Tbh it's only the crap mk5 that has a dodgey blower on one of the models ( can't remember the engine code but its BK?? Something or other )

Would avoid the 2.0 engines found in mk4s etc.. Really poor engine

I'm not looking for a 1.8T, I've spotted them when searching on autotrader and the like, but I wouldn't really consider them.

Isn't the 2.0 8v petrol engine in the Mk4 basically the same as the 2.0 8v in the Mk3 GTI ?

[Bellend]

I have an SDI.

The other day I timed over 20 seconds to get to 60. Very slight incline. It won't do more than 70 on some hills on the motorway on diesel.

However, put veg oil in it and once warmed up it will do 80 on the hills and is a bit more torquey.

It's slow as hell, has nothing on it, no electric anything, loud and annoying engine.

BUT it costs ME just under 600 quid to insure, it returns 65MPG no matter how you drive it, I throw neat veg oil in it and starts in the minus after a few turns.

I'm going to buy an inline fuel heater so it thins the veg and possibly a small diesel tank to purge the lines out.

It annoyed the hell out of me at first, but TBH boring work journeys, it costs me next to nothing to run and I've got a TDI Passat for everything else.

For a learner, could be okay. DOESN'T keep up with a 1l Micra round town but it's alright on the motorway once you get used to it. Tops out at 110 on the gauge down a STEEP hill, on a straight you're looking at 90.

[mcgee9t2]

looked at the mk4 1.8n/a

i got one as my first car.

faster than the 2.0, uses less oil, slightly better economy, always a winner in my books if you cant afford a 1.8t.


also might be one up for sale soon