New car time. Civic, Focus or Golf?

strtdv

If it's petrol you're going for I'd get the Civic then. A 1.6 Golf will feel slow (the mk5 is heavier than the new mk7).
The 1.8 Honda is a VTEC, and should be dead reliable.
Only known fault (other than Honda making crap diesels) is the power steering can give trouble.

I'd still get the diesel Golf though but that's just me.

Flink_Poyd

strtdv said:

If it's petrol you're going for I'd get the Civic then. A 1.6 Golf will feel slow (the mk5 is heavier than the new mk7).
The 1.8 Honda is a VTEC, and should be dead reliable.
Only known fault (other than Honda making crap diesels) is the power steering can give trouble.

I'd still get the diesel Golf though but that's just me.

Even though I said I'm not looking for a diesel I'm curious to hear why. 

Richardj

We have an '08 Mk.V Golf with the 140hp 2.0 diesel and six speed DSG auto 'box. It's now done 175,000 kms and has only needed tyres, servicing and a battery.

Reasonably comfortable, goes like stink if needed and great fuel economy.

I haven't driven one of the petrol TSi's so can't compare. Have however had Focuses as loan/hire cars and they have been oh so dull and I didn't like the visibility or ergonomics.

strtdv

Better mpg, by a wide margin in this case (the 1.8 VTEC is fairly thirsty), and, in the long run, reliability.
When was the last time you saw a petrol engine with 200+k miles on the clock?
I've seen several VW diesels with more like 400k on the clock and still running well.

I also like the torque of a diesel. The 1.9Tdi isn't hugely powerful but it pulls extremely well.

Motorhate

I'd go for the Civic every time. I owned one a while back and now own an Accord. Reliable, comfortable and you get more extras for your money.

thomasross20

I'm not sure about the civic interior.
My focus has needed next to to repairs, very cheap.
Golf looks cool but I think other two are more reliable.

If I had to make a snap decision, it'd be another focus, probably.

Flink_Poyd

So far it's 
1. Civic
2. Focus
3. Golf

Civic ticks the boxes, Focus is the devil I know, VW is the complete unknown. 

ennspek

If you actually enjoy driving I'd go for the Focus.
If it's just a A to B machine I would get the Golf. It'll never set your parents to on fire but it has a depth of competency beyond the others I think.

BRISTOL86

Another happy Focus owner here, has been solid as a rock for me and cost me nothing but tyres and routine stuff. 

HAL9000

Civic for me. I used to drive Fords, and as soon as I owned a non-Ford I vowed that I would never ever buy another Ford. 

crunchman

Based on my experience with 2 Fords a few years back, and now owning a Toyota, I would probably go Japanese.

Sporky

Octavia.

shoodurs

I've had 4 Hondas, 1 FRV, 2 Civics and now have a Civic Tourer which has the biggest boot in its class, rear wiper, rear seats split, fold up and also totaly flat down making it very versatile. The best bit they have never gave me any problem so reliability is brilliant. Cant fault Honda.

shuikit

I've got a 2010 Civic 1.8 petrol which I've had for a couple years and would echo the previous comments about boot space and how great the folding back seats are. Also the floor in the back is flat so you can slide guitars in the back footwell easily.  The 1.8 is pretty economical and smooth.

There are a few little things that I find annoying about it though, mainly the ergonomics, the controls seem to be randomly splattered across the dashboard. Due to the positioning of the speedo and the main instrument display the steering wheel height adjustment is a bit pointless. Then for me the steering wheel is in the way of some of the fan/heater controls.

Like most I got it as it ticked all the main boxes but it's not particularly enjoyable to drive or own. 

When I was car shopping I also looked at the equivalent golf but the boot looked tiny.  Smaller than the mk2 Leon than I had previously.

ESBlonde

I'm told that because Honda don't break down there are fewer 'pattern parts' available, thus body repair costs push up the insurance premiums as you see. That said Honda holds it's used value very very well and the reliability is legendary. Also they are seen as boring and owned by 'older' drivers so tend not to be thrashed daily.
Golfs deserve thier rep, but the other VAG makers are doing better in the annual reliability ratings these last few years (SEAT, Skoda etc). Also the other brands again are ofton less thrashed for similar reasons to the Hondas.
Fords are cheap to repair and copy/pattern parts help keep service and repair costs down as well as insurance premioums.
In the end a well cared for (ex lady driver) low milage car will set you up for a long time, don't forget the mpg in your cost of ownership calcs.

boogieman

ESBlonde said:

I'm told that because Honda don't break down there are fewer 'pattern parts' available, thus body repair costs push up the insurance premiums as you see. That said Honda holds it's used value very very well and the reliability is legendary. Also they are seen as boring and owned by 'older' drivers so tend not to be thrashed daily.
Golfs deserve thier rep, but the other VAG makers are doing better in the annual reliability ratings these last few years (SEAT, Skoda etc). Also the other brands again are ofton less thrashed for similar reasons to the Hondas.
Fords are cheap to repair and copy/pattern parts help keep service and repair costs down as well as insurance premioums.
In the end a well cared for (ex lady driver) low milage car will set you up for a long time, don't forget the mpg in your cost of ownership calcs.

I'm not sure that just because a car has come from a lady driver it's necessarily a good thing. My ex wife once drove around with red warning lights on the dash for months before eventually mentioning them to me. The brake fluid had virtually all leaked away. Gulp She also completely wrecked the brakes on another car because she didn't recognise that the horrible metallic grinding noise meant that the pads were down to the metal on metal. She'd also regularly ride the clutch: she burnt out the first one in her heap of crap Matiz in less than 14,000 miles. Low mileage isn't necessarily  a good thing either: if it's been used for lots of short trips to the shops it really doesn't do the engine any favours as it never warms up properly. 

Deadman

Honda VTEC engines are designed to rev to 7000+ rpm. Hence why they don't go wrong. Who regularly takes an engine to that? They're virtually bullet proof.

Motorhate

You'll notice the difference in the Civic as soon as you sit in one. The comfort factor is way above the Focus and VW and they drive really nice, whether it be a manual or automatic.

Flink_Poyd

Motorhate said:

You'll notice the difference in the Civic as soon as you sit in one. The comfort factor is way above the Focus and VW and they drive really nice, whether it be a manual or automatic.

I just need to get behind the wheel of one now. The Golf is pretty much off the list so it's Civic or Focus

Motorhate

The older model ones (mine was a 2002) really was way above anything that was around at the time. I test drove an Audi A3 and aside from becoming an instant bellend for even driving an Audi, I noticed that the comfort factor just wasn't anywhere near the Honda. VTEC engines too are pretty much bulletproof. One that thing Honda get right (even more so on their bikes) are superb, reliable engines. They just go on and on. The diesels have been known to have some teething problems, but the petrol engines are second to none.