MK5 Golf GTI

General => Random Chat => Topic started by: mackit on January 12, 2011, 08:15:49 am

Title: Car Advice Needed
Post by: mackit on January 12, 2011, 08:15:49 am
Right…I was wondering if you guys could give me some advice in regards to my car situation.  Broad outline is I currently have a wonderful Edition 30, 5dr, DSG, Sat Nav, 33k miles, black diamond pearl.  Currently a 1 car family as my wife works in London so I can afford to run the ED30 no problem.

We are now expecting a child and although the ED30 in 5 door guise is more than adequate to be a family car I think we need to become a 2 car family.  I drive to work, my wife will probably not return to work for a few years so ultimately I think she will need a car to run, and one that is big enough for buggies, bags, etc.

I also had to make a claim last year as some very kind person decided to hit my car and failed to leave any note.  A new rear bumper later and I am looking at a substantial increase in my insurance premium.

So….i am now looking in the next several months to look at buying 2 cars and unfortunately selling the ED30.  One would be for me to drive to work so could be a 2/3 door and the other a family sized car with at least 4/5 doors for my wife.  She has no claims so her insurance is an issue while I have 10 years no claims.  Given that I will have to pay to run two cars now I would prefer to reduce the running costs in terms of fuel, road tax and insurance on both cars, so I would say at least 40mpg and not higher than group insurance 16 for me.  I would prefer to get both cars that have some sort of warranty left to reduce any potential costs.

Budget is broadly £20-24k as an overall spend on 2 cars. 

Initial thoughts were a 59/10 plate VW Golf GT TDi (140) for me and perhaps a 59/10 plate VW Polo for my wife.  The only issue with the 5dr Polo is I think the boot is pretty small and the TDI for me is a little slow in that engine spec plus they are not cheap.  I wish I could afford the GTD!!

Another combo was a Fiat Abarth 500 for me and say a Ford Mondeo for my wife, but I’m unsure being 6ft 2 if I would look an idiot in the Fiat and whether my wife could park the Mondeo!!  I do love those Abarth’s though and pretty cheap to run.

Any advice based on your experiences would be hugely appreciated. 

 :drinking:
Title: Re: Car Advice Needed
Post by: andrewparker on January 12, 2011, 09:17:57 am
Yes, I'd love an Abarth too!

Presuming you'll go back to a 1 car family when your wife goes back to work you could lease a car for 3 years, a Renaultsport Clio 200 Cup for example :evilgrin: That way you'll cut down on maintenance costs, plus avoid any substantial depreciation when you hand it back.
Title: Re: Car Advice Needed
Post by: VC on January 12, 2011, 09:28:51 am
i'll be captain practical for you

your family car will need to be big enough in the boot to fit a pushchair easily with a baby bag, then allow a bit more for a tesco's spree etc.

does it have to be a 'car'? how about a touran? sensible money, good residuals too and well specced


i  had one for a few weeks and theyre fab

...and with a little modding you wont feel like youve sacrificed style for substance eg:

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tunner.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F09%2FVW-Touran-Sporty-Tuned-by-MR-Car-Design-Front-Side-View-800x533.jpg&hash=46c56f79985e7be02aaab6a112ab442c0cf11238)

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tunner.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F09%2FVW-Touran-Sporty-Tuned-by-MR-Car-Design-Front-View-800x533.jpg&hash=eab576b06eb3cd603a1eeb468960812fd7b2df88)

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tunner.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F09%2FVW-Touran-Sporty-Tuned-by-MR-Car-Design-Rear-Angle-View-800x533.jpg&hash=c7595f99198e31937ff0d8f4f67f0ea508c8bb86)

that would leave you a good sized budget for your car... and the arbath is a cool car... but its for the ladies to do school runs and shopping not for a 6ft 2 bloke to feel manly in  :signLOL:

how about an Audi A4?

Title: Re: Car Advice Needed
Post by: andrewparker on January 12, 2011, 09:35:48 am
An A4? Could you not think of anything more boring? :laugh:

Tourans look marvelous value for money though. Seems like £9-10K buys you a decent one, leaving £15K for a toy.
Title: Re: Car Advice Needed
Post by: mackit on January 12, 2011, 09:40:25 am
Hmm...Touran.....certainly a good car but i don't know whether i could deal with the abuse from my friends as that certainly is a family car, i fyou know what i mean.  Was hoping for something that was still practical but not too much towards the family car classification.  Hope that makes sense.

Audi A4...very nice....but i'm unsure if i could get one new enough with resonable spec for the money i'm looking at.  Will take a look on Autotrader now.

Thought about the Clio 200 for me....i think it is an acceptable hot hatch for a man rather than the Abarth, as much as i love it.  The only issue is tax and insurance would still be quite high.  Great car though.
Title: Re: Car Advice Needed
Post by: andrewparker on January 12, 2011, 09:42:14 am
Hmm...Touran.....certainly a good car but i don't know whether i could deal with the abuse from my friends as that certainly is a family car, if you know what i mean.

For the man that has given up :signLOL:
Title: Re: Car Advice Needed
Post by: mackit on January 12, 2011, 09:58:48 am
 :signLOL:

I'm sure it's a great car and if this was my 2nd or 3rd child....it would be hugely practical but in the meantime i would love to try and stick to a hatchback or saloon.

I guess i could start wearing a dress and shave my legs.  That way i might look ok in the Abarth!!!  :P

Is the Abarth really a ladies car?  Was really interested in one of these....around £12k, good mpg, reasonable insurance and tax and i'm sure fun to drive.
Title: Re: Car Advice Needed
Post by: andrewparker on January 12, 2011, 10:07:42 am
I don't think so, far from it. It's the same as saying a Mini Cooper JCW is a ladies car.

Wasn't there a member on here who had an Abarth with a Milltek exhaust?
Title: Re: Car Advice Needed
Post by: andrewparker on January 12, 2011, 10:12:46 am
http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,14473.0.html (http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,14473.0.html)
Title: Re: Car Advice Needed
Post by: mackit on January 12, 2011, 11:23:07 am
Looks good.

Been thinking of maybe a Golf GTD and then by a Focus or Kia C'eed as a second car for around £5000.  Would push my budget but i would imagine the GTD is a fun car to drive and fairly cheap to run.  Insurance is over £150 cheaper that the ED30.

Any views on the GTD?
Title: Re: Car Advice Needed
Post by: NB07 on January 12, 2011, 11:44:28 am
i like the GTD they are really quite fast too some guy merked me at the lights in one the other day wasnt expecting it at all!  :laugh:
Title: Re: Car Advice Needed
Post by: VC on January 12, 2011, 11:59:27 am
If I were your mrs and you bought me a KIA I'd slap you  :grin:
Title: Re: Car Advice Needed
Post by: mackit on January 12, 2011, 12:13:22 pm
Yes...once on the move i think the GTD would be plenty entertaining.

I know...Kia...not the best image but 7 year warranty so added piece of mind.  It's a to the friend, to the shops kind of car which is not much money and cheap to run.  Problem is would find it hard to have to drive but at least something like a GTD would give me added comfort.

Problem with the GTD is they are still very new and thus expensive.  More i spend on something like the GTD reduces the justification of getting rid of the ED30 as the return on savings would take a few years.
Title: Re: Car Advice Needed
Post by: Poverty on January 12, 2011, 02:16:37 pm
Just me then who thinks there is no gain to be had for you by selling the ed30 only to then buy two cars with a combined value of 24k. I mean you will get 16k or so for the eddy if you sold, better off keeping it and lettingnyour wife use that as a family car and get yourself a 197 for 8k, then you have the best of both worlds.
Title: Re: Car Advice Needed
Post by: mackit on January 12, 2011, 04:23:36 pm
Yes...it's true....although the second car would have to be something like a Focus as my wife has 0 no claims.

Need to really find something for the same price as the ED30 with low running costs to make it worthwhile.
Title: Re: Car Advice Needed
Post by: Poverty on January 12, 2011, 04:29:19 pm
How old is the wife and how long has she had her license. The insurance shouldn't be am issue as long as she isn't 19 or something like that.
Title: Re: Car Advice Needed
Post by: NB07 on January 12, 2011, 04:34:59 pm
why not try and just get a 140 diesel 5 door as a second car and keep the ED30  :happy2:

much cheaper than a GTD 170, you can always map it!  :grin:


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/volkswagen/golf/postcode/ub81dj/radius/1501/keywords/140/sort/priceasc/fuel-type/diesel/quantity-of-doors/5/maximum-age/up_to_1_year_old
Title: Re: Car Advice Needed
Post by: mackit on January 12, 2011, 04:39:55 pm
Wife is 30 this year and been driving for 12 years.  Her insurance on the ED30 would be around £1000 and for the Clio around £800.  Just too much really.  This is the problem of having no claims discount at all.

Gt Tdi 140 is a nice car....need to go and test drive one of these.  I thought of perhaps one of these and one of the new Polos however i am unsure if buggies would fit in the boot of a Polo!! Doh!
Title: Re: Car Advice Needed
Post by: Poverty on January 12, 2011, 05:47:28 pm
There are insurance companies who will take her clean record as a named driver into account and give her the relevant Ncb on a policy of her own. Your current insurance company will probably be able to do also.
Title: Re: Car Advice Needed
Post by: mackit on January 12, 2011, 06:58:36 pm
I'm with Greenlight so will check that out.  Thanks for that.
Title: Re: Car Advice Needed
Post by: Janner_Sy on January 12, 2011, 07:13:23 pm
Dont get a mondeo, get a 1-2 year old vRS for the wife.  the boot is immense (prob not to far of being double the size of the golf), then you get the same VAG build quality, the TFSI engine and you can get DSG on the newer TSI models as well.  Also available in deisel as well, if your into the dirty stuff
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jkm.org.uk%2Fperformance%2FMisc%2FMisc_Performance_pictures%2FTSI-images%2FJKM%2520Skoda%2FCastlecombebig.jpg&hash=6a96fc3c578c59f78c0942067622e1e4e0074678)  this was chasing downtuned RS4s with only a stage 1 remap and intake, so it aint slow either

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201045372650635/sort/priceasc/usedcars/fuel-type/petrol/model/octavia/make/skoda/radius/1500/keywords/dsg/page/2/postcode/me75df/image-id/1523437742?logcode=p (http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201045372650635/sort/priceasc/usedcars/fuel-type/petrol/model/octavia/make/skoda/radius/1500/keywords/dsg/page/2/postcode/me75df/image-id/1523437742?logcode=p)
2010 DSG, fully loaded