Golfist Question

[beko1987]

Her fookin indoors has decided the Meriva is too large, and announced she would like a 5 door golf NOT IN RED!!!1111 (expertly justified by her in that I've had 2 cars in a year and she's had the Meriva for 2... she has me over a barrel...)

 

ok, i thought, shouldnt be too hard for £5-600 for a 12-15 year old one in good nick - how fucking wrong can you be?

 

So far, the best thing we have seen is this bucket of sick near us:

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201309088686875/sort/default/usedcars/price-to/1000/model/golf/make/volkswagen/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/page/2/radius/20/postcode/hp143ta/quicksearch/true?logcode=p

 

Pondering going to see it tonight, if all else just to get her in one and check that she likes it. Could throw the Meriva in as a part ex, but for that money/car I'd expect to see cash my way as well (my54, 68ish k in ok nick meriva), but I know that's not how it works.

 

So, does anyone have any hints or tips for these sort of cars? Put off by the above due to the stupid lights, but if everything turns out ok then hopefully I can swap them with some scene twat for some nice stock lights.

 

What else should I be looking for apart from the usual?

[Rocket88]

That's a lot for a Mk3, as any fule no, they were the crappiest Golf of all.

[Cavcraft]

£890 for a bleeding S reg Golf? Frightening.

[skattrd]

If I was you I'd check out the other VAG optiions, SEAT Leon & Skoda octavia are built on the same platform as a mk4 Golf. The Bora, which is just a booted Golf often seems cheaper as well.

The only thing I'd mention, apart from the usual with any car, is knocking from the rear suspension. This can be rear beam bushes, the bushes aren't expensive, but removing the rear beam to fit them is a PITA.

 

Colc - thats a mk4 mate

[Sigmund Fraud]

Buy ex-taxi Octavia for £300, swap badges, job done !

[beko1987]

It's the best I've found! Go on then, try and find me soemthing golfey, for no more than £1200, with a p/x ability. Can be as filthy as you like, as long as its solid!

[Cavcraft]

In all honestly it'd be difficult to think of a worse (similar sized) car for that money. If it was a diesel it'd probably at least slightly easier to swallow for that money, but a petrol on that year with those back lights is mental.

 

To put it in one sentence: you're buying a badge. And it's not even an especially good one.

[beko1987]

I've tried:

 

Ibiza

Leon

Octavia (she's driven a freinds VRS one and liked it, but apparently not enough to own one)

Just sent her a bora link, no verdict yet

She said she used to like Laguna 1's - threw lots of bargains at her and she said she doesnt like them anymore

Golf estate (even I laughed at that one)

 

A quick flick through gumtree shows up some nicer Mk 4's though

[cort16]

Mk4's are much nicer in everyway than the Mk3's. They're still shit to drive but at least they're pleasant to be in. I drove a 1.4 ages ago and from memory it wasn't too bad.

[skattrd]

£1200 should get you a decent mk4 if thats what she wants.

My 1999 tdi bora cost me £800 2 years ago with 160k on the clock and a couple of dents on the body.

If a Golf(ish) is definitely what she wants though try VW forums as well as autotrader/gumtree etc.

[Bobthebeard]

Meriva too large?

Aren't they just the standard Euro car size? Is a Golf really that much smaller?

Or is she just fed up with it?

[cort16]

Diesel seem to attract a bit of a premium but I'd go for a 1.6 pez. I think the main weak point on them are failing coil packs but at least you've no turbos or anything to deal with.

[cort16]

The Meriva's based on the Corsa Platform.

[Bobthebeard]

The Meriva's based on the Corsa Platform.

So clearly huge then!

[Sigmund Fraud]

I drove a 1.4 ages ago and from memory it wasn't too bad.

 

I'm afraid I must disagree with this... The Golf IV 1.4 is the absolutely dullest car I've ever driven... And this comes from someone with a vast experience in dull cars !

[Junkman]

I don't know much. But I know exactly what I'd say to mine if she told me she wants a fuggin Golf.

And it's gonna be a rather short sentence, lemme tellya.

[Bobthebeard]

I'm afraid I must disagree with this... The Golf IV 1.4 is the absolutely dullest car I've ever driven... And this comes from someone with a vast experience in dull cars !

Apart from a Meriva it seems? Cough...

[Sigmund Fraud]

Apart from a Meriva it seems? Cough...

 

I've driven a Meriva 1.4 to Belgium and back ! It was a rocketship compared to the Golf ! Contrary to my expectations, it also felt better screwed together

[Bobthebeard]

Possibly the opening for a new thread here.

'Lady logic. What are good cars'

 

My wife likes 'silver cars' and dislikes 'red cars'.

Where do you even start...

[beko1987]

I think she's bored of the Meriva, I don't blame her.

 

Found a few 1.6 S reggers for £500 on gummertree, may be worth a shout. She's been put off seeing that first one tonight though thanks to you guys (cheers!)

 

A 1.4 golf sounds dreadful. The ZX was ok everywhere apart from hills and motorways, but I imagine it was alot lighter than a fatty golf! 

 

Apparently she has a freind who owns a mk4, so I;ve suggested she blag a quick drive in that first before we go saving up money. Decided the meriva is worth more than a shitty part ex value, some new trims and a wash should see it worth the nice side of £1500 if it came to it.

 

Cheers for the ideas and pro's/cons though, appreciate them!

[Rocket88]

Colc - thats a mk4 mate

 

 

Err yes, so it is. My crap interweb connection refused to show me the picture. It's still bloody steep for a 15 year old Golf in an undesirable spec. Get an Octavia. That money should get you a 2000 ish 1.9 tdi saloon, although it will have done a few miles. Autos are a bit marginal at big miles, 1.8t should be about the same money.

[Junkman]

I think she's bored of the Meriva, I don't blame her.

 

I don't either, but now women's logic kicks in: If I'm bored of something, I replace it with something much more boring?

[Bobthebeard]

I don't either, but now women's logic kicks in: If I'm bored of something, I replace it with something much more boring?

Just as long as it is the right colour nothing else matters.....

Until it breaks. Then it becomes your responsibility until it is mended... And you don't spray it red....

[beko1987]

Most certainly not red, which is a shame as there's been some bloody good metal recently in red! I offered to rattlecan it black for her but that was responded to with 2 words, 1 sylable each etc

[Bobthebeard]

Most certainly not red, which is a shame as there's been some bloody good metal recently in red! I offered to rattlecan it black for her but that was responded to with 2 words, 1 sylable each etc

" Want Golf " presumably?

[Angrydicky]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rover-600-620-SLi-PART-EX-TO-CLEAR-PETROL-AUTOMATIC-1999-V-/111167227730?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item19e2154752

[hairnet]

citroen

 

compression ignition

 

golf pheh

[Hendry]

Of all the VAG stuff of that size it'd have to be a mk1 Leon, far nicer looking car than the Golf, nicer interior and I'm pretty certain it has the same dash as an Audi A3 (potential selling point to your mrs, knowing what women are like) and for similar money to your Merivas value you'd get a 2004 1.6 SX (climate control, 6 disc CD changer, all round electric windows Etc) or a 2002 1.8 20VT Cupra.

 

Could also try and persuade her into a late mk1 Focus or a mk5 Astra for that money (again a tidy 2004 decent spec one could be had for about £1500, 1.6 SXi/Design etc)

 

Octavias hold money too well now, saw an a4 Octavia 1.9 tdi, 04 plate, 80K with history on a 2nd hand pitch the other day, £3495!!!!!!!!

[Vince70]

If you don't mind a bigger engine look at a V5 Golf Mk4 you can get a lot more golf for your money with the 5pot.

 

My father has one which we picked up on ebay which is fully loaded and with a full service history and had only done 45000 and is really as new for £1350.

 

It achieves 30/35 mpg and has a lovely sound and the auto box really makes driving a real pleasure, he doesn't really go mad in the old girl so I guess if your heavy footed the mpg would drop.

 

I can highly recommend the Mk4 V5

[Junkman]

Is there really nothing available in beige?