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Got a mk5 golf gt tdi which i have just spent £1100 getting the power steering repaired (complete failure), enginebtrmp sensor replaced, abs sendor replaced, new glow plugs and a rear hub. The abs sensor change has completely stopped the warning light coming on occassionally so i am thinking more cost to sort this out. On top of that it is due a service and cam belt change and tax in the next two months. I have seen a impreza wrx estate for the same price as mine will fetch trade in with a fsh, cambelt cange recently and taxed for 6 mths. Not sure what to do stick with the golf with sn idea of what needs doing or go for a change. Wondering what the singletrack population think?
GTTDI to WRX estate?
How many miles do you do is the obvious question...
I'd stick with what I had.
If you can justify the crazy running costs of a Subaru then go for it.
Personally I'd like to think its better the devil you know. You always run a risk with any car you buy second hand (presuming the Subaru will be used).
Mileage is about 7,000 a year nothing major. Should be less if a get my act together and get the bike out more
Stick with it. You know its history. They are good cars.
I would keep it, as above. I've only ever got rid of a car when was at end of life or my requirements changed.
Besides, getting shot can be bad for you.
If you've had the Golf for a while and it's previously been a reliable car, then I'd keep it.
There is every chance that you could buy the Subaru and get hit with a big bill just a few miles down the road.
Don't forget Subaru needs servicing every 7000 miles or 6 months and eats fuel for fun appart from that their great cars
Stick with the golf, absolutely bombproof. The mileage for the cambelt change is only recommended.
Subaru service and repair costs are high as well. Mate needed a gearbox in his Outback. Quoted £2500. Scrapped it and got £400 and went and bought a newer one for £3000.
You only live once. If it won't bankrupt you get the wrx. Mate has just got the sti. Wow.
my experience with VAG products is the opposite of most posters here, in general I find them to not wear the miles well, and parts wear out sooner than they should, but I'm aware my view is contrary to a lot of people.
having said that, in general terms, its usually cheaper to stick with the car you have than to change.
The wrx will not be cheap to run, fuel, insurance ,tyres, tax and servicing will all be a lot more than the golf, so in pure economic terms probably not worth changing for. but I gurantee it'll be a lot more fun than the tedious diesel golf
The WRX only needs servicing every 12k - I had one. It was the old Turbo that needed every 7.5k
The WRX will be a hugely fun car and surprisingly practical, too. TBH petrol will cost you a fair bit (I used to *just* be able to get from Cambridge to Carlisle on a full tank of 98) but servicing and so on didn't seem that bad at all. Might even have been cheaper than the diesel Octavia I had and I guess that's basically the same as the Golf?
edit - if it is old enough, even the tax will be restricted to £250, as well!
The WRX will give you a smile each and every time you drive it, honestly.
Rachel
Don't forget Subaru needs servicing every 7000 miles or 6 months and eats fuel for fun appart from that their great cars
The older Subarus 2003 onwards it is 10K -12K service intervals. I ran a 2003 WRX but did mega mileage. Great cars just servicing and front brake pads and discs.
fuel can be a killer but at 7000 miles per year i would go for it
Kick the golf into touch
If your going to have a money pit at least get something that makes you smile
PS that garage your using is riding the pants off you
Never understood why people spend a shit load on a car and then sell it. Keep what you know.
1) how much are the expected bills
2) how much is the Golf [i]worth[/i]
3) how much is the Subaru
4) what's the difference between 1,2 & 3?
5) what does your heart tell you?
You'll look cooler in a Subaru, there, that was easy wasn't it
Get the impreza. I've got a wrx wagon and its 10x better built than the golf gt tdi I just sold. Not too thirsty on a decent run either, likes a drink around town though. Certainly not 'crazy' running costs and from a drivers viewpoint it'll blow a diesel golf out of the water!
Get the WRX.
It'll be vastly less dull.
The fuel bills will get you out on your bike more.
No downside.
He'll look cooler in a WRX?! No, he'll look like a ned/chav Impreza driver.
At least a Golf doesn't have such a soiled image, even if the experience of owning a VW Golf doesn't seem to measure up to the level of reliability they are meant to have (had an '03 Golf as a new car once upon a time).
WRX's being cool went the same way as McRae, crashed and burned 😉
At least a Golf doesn't have such a soiled image
Really? Nothing says "I have no motoring soul" louder than choosing a diesel VW Golf. Also, the new style Subarus don't have anything like the chav factor of the old-school '555'-liveried rally reps.
OP: look at your Golf with the phrase "throwing good money after bad" running through your mind, and then get the WRX.
I reckon you should rely on the bike (motor?) that you have for the wow factor and stick with the diesel. You aren't buying a wrx for economy.. and its not as a cheap to run motor even if nothing went wrong with it. Is it for the looks it has? The speed it'll have over the golf?*
You have your heart set on the idea of the subaru (I had once too) but first things first, does it have full FSH with receipts and stamps that match up,also for that recent timing belt change? If it doesn't and you buy it with all this in the back of your mind that everything's going to be o.k. and it has a massive problem not long after.. you'll be sick. I'm guessing brake pads and discs in the subaru could be crazy money too if they are nearly half shot at the time of buying. Can you look into this subaru a bit more to find out if you'll be running into any of these probs straight after buying it?
Sorry, its the way I think when looking at binning my car and going for something else!
*I came to the conclusion after being a passenger/driving some cars that were classed as pretty nippy, (evo 4, rs4 etc) that as amazed as I was with what they could do, I couldn't afford to spend the amount of money needed to get that type of car and be able to run it/repair it so for the wow factor, it had to be a motorbike and I kept the diesel for doing what it's best at.
You think youve brought the Golf backupto new? There will always be something that needs doing around the corner.
The Subaru will eat fuel but it will be like night and day. VAG, like Toyota produces products that moves people. Subaru produces cars.
I'd prefer the Subaru but if I'd spent money on the Golf I'd get some use out of it at least. There will always be cars to buy & you can change it at a later date if you feel that's the right way to go.
The Subaru will eat fuel but it will be like night and day. VAG, like Toyota produces products that moves people. Subaru produces cars.
?? Don't really get what is being said here? Are you saying VAG's and Toyotas are dull by comparison?
Stuart 1100 isnt bad for that work . Rack alone ( common failure on golf) is 600 quid .....
We did ours last year . This year terminal engine failire. Damnit
I'd keep the golf, you know its history. You could have a horror story with the scooby. Unless you really don't like the golf changing or for running cost issues to a fast petrol car seems like a false economy.
What difference tax and insurance?
Don't try and justify the WRX on a practical level, it just isn't possible.
However, life is about more than practicalities. If you want a WRX then go get one, they are so much fun and stuff everything else!
Ar some of you lot on hallucinogenic drugs?
"Stick with the golf, absolutely bombproof"
Have you actually READ the OP?
Modern VWs are pretty shittty reliability wise these days.
We had a 150 GTTDI mk4 Golf. Once the problems started, it was one after another. The car was of average mileage, was looked after and serviced correctly.
If you can afford the running costs go with the WRX
The WRX isnt practical?
Have you actually driven one?
The wrx will cost you 15 quid a week extra on fuel. You will be blown away by how much better it is to drive. The grip is unreal.
my experience with VAG products
*s****s*
Anyway, sounds like you want rid of the Golf so flog it before it costs you any more. Regard the money you've just spent as the cost of your previously owning it. If that makes sense.
I'd have the Subaru, VAG's seem to be some of the most niggly unreliable cars around once they hit three yrs old, they've taken French car reliability and stuck German price tags on repairing em..