2011 VW Golf - opinions

240

My mother is sort of considering replacing her 04 Subaru Outback. It's been a great car - it's never broken down and has rarely needed much more than regular oil changes and normal service items. She wants something smaller though.
I quite like Golfs - this one stood out to me:
http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Volkswagen-Golf-2011/SSE-AD-4140145/?Cr=12
How much do these cost to run? Do they have common problems etc?
In the end, the question is, will it cost much more than the Subaru to run?

How long do they last? She'd be keeping it for at least 5 years probably.

Finally, petrol vs diesel Golfs? I've driven a friend's diesel Golf and was impressed but have no experience with petrol.

Ex850R

@Vee_Que is yer Man! Alex?

Vee_Que

That car will be a great, safe appliance. The dsg has more issues on the higher power engines, particularly the diesels. If its for city driving and under 10k a year distance, the petrol will do the job well. They do need regular servicing due to being turbocharged, and try not to turn them off straight away.

Philia_Bear

Manual 77tsi is fine
Just needs servicing every 6 months or 5000km

Serviced right, I don't see an issue with getting 150k and another 10 years from the one listed

240

She typically does up to 20k a year - worth seeking out a diesel?

Now just to work out if it's worth actually replacing the Subaru, it has over 250k so not worth heaps anymore.

Philia_Bear

Which motor and trans does the outback have?

240

EJ25, 5 speed manual.

Philia_Bear

240;83899 wroteEJ25, 5 speed manual.

Im amazed it hasnt blown a set of head gaskets

Would a later year 2.0 impreza manual work within her budget? They are pretty much indestructible

Still the vw u picked out looks like a really good option

240

Yeah I'm surprised too. Although I think it was around 04 that they started to improve them a bit. (It's also one of these ones not the older ones from the early 2000s).

Impreza an option maybe, what sort of years were you thinking?
Golf probably more economical though, and I'd assume nicer to drive

240

Is it worth finding a 90TSI for more power or is the 77 zippy enough as is?

Philia_Bear

77 is fine on the zip side as with the forced induction it has enough torque

90tsi manual is nicer though
The 90 should have some nicer add on features as well for the interior

240

There is a 90 local to me, but with more km - worth it?

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/_/SSE-AD-4172761

Philia_Bear

Selling reasons sounds more like the car is a maitenance nightmare and he just wants it gone

240

Time to revive an old thread...
The Subaru, although still perfect mechanically (and just got a brand new clutch!) was in an accident and will likely be written off.
She wants something a bit smaller, fuel efficient, and modern enough to have Bluetooth/hands free etc. Also needs to be a nice place to be - ie no crappy plastics - as she tends to do north of 20k a year.

At the moment, still leaning towards Golf (manual not DSG). Probably the 90TSI for a bit more power and equipment over the 77.
There seem to be some good 118's around too but people seem to think they have issues - is that because the higher power kills DSG boxes or do the engines have issues?

Opinion of the internet seems to be either "walk away, it will cost you a million dollars per year and murder your family" or "they're great cars".
Not sure which to believe!

Petrol vs diesel? As I said she does a lot of driving but almost all is city.

Competitors? I'm thinking of Ford Focus or Honda Civic (neither of which are as nice) or Mazda 3 maybe but I've never been in a Mazda that had a comfortable ride...
Impreza too maybe but it would probably feel like a downgrade from the Outback!

Philia_Bear

Hyundai i30 auto.... the origional version (08)
I regret ever selling mine

Philia_Bear

Manual golf are generically solid as long as not twincharge motor

Philia_Bear

Skoda rapid within price range?

Chris

As a good drive the Focus rivals the Golf, but must be manual. Plastics not as good, drive slightly better. Servicing is cheaper than VW. No significant issues with my 2012 Focus in the four years I had it.

Chris

Oh yeah and the 118 Golf is the infamous twincharger, engine of much death and nastiness. Check out VWwatercooled to see what a miserable POS that engine is.

Tzantushka

No end of issues with the wife's VW Golf 118TSI wagon under warranty:
- DSG twice
- new supercharger
- new turbocharger
- multiple rear window leaks
- drank oil like Charlie Sheen

Admittedly it was a wagon out of Mexico, plus the poor response from the VW stealership didn't help.
But it was zippy and great on fuel.

Originally cross-shopped the Golf with the V50 at the time.
In hindsight would have been fiscally better off with the V50 to begin with.