Creating a new classic car

[2cams70]

Hate to throw the cat amongst the pigeons here but VW Golf really? DSG transmission really? This past week or so in between lease cars I've been driving the latest VW Polo GTI model with the 6 speed manual transmission. The 1.8 litre turbo motor provides a lot of poke under the right foot but I very quickly became bored with the car. My thoughts on it as follows:

1. Quickly became used to the poke under the right foot and it didn't seem special anymore.
2. Engine (like most turbo engines) doesn't sound anything special. Radio sounded better. Probably the reason why the poke under the right foot didn't mean much to me after a while.
3. Bland and boring visually both inside and outside (like most current VW's) They really need to get someone with an artistic sense in their design team.
4. Handles and steers very well and quite a good ride especially considering the level of grip available
5. Fuel consumption no where near as claimed even when driven gently (unlike the Honda City which regardless of whether it is driven gently or flat out delivers good fuel economy on 91RON unleaded consistent with manufacturer's claims). Honesty and VW? Think Dieselgate!
6. Average gearshift quality. Honda is better and Escort is much better.

Maybe your son should try a few cars before making a decision. I'd suggest maybe Honda Integra "R" (early 90's model), Honda S2000, Early BMW M3, Peugeot 205 GTI, Peugeot 306 GTI-6. The "go faster" Ford Fiesta and Focus variants are well worth a look at too.

[jimj]

Autocar magazine voted the Golf R the 4th best car in Britain. 1st was the 911gts at 3 times the price, second was a McLaren and third the Alfa Quadriobogeylo (whatever) at twice the price. Value for money would make the Golf 1st, they said, but what do they know? They didn`t mention the Polo. Maybe the pigeons ate the cat.
We`re loyal fans of the VW V6, Corrado VR6, then Golf 4 motion, then the R32, each the best car available for what we want at what we can afford. The DSG `box is faster and more economical and the exhaust note in the R32 as it dips in milliseconds is lurrvely. Not so much the 2 litre turbo, I agree, but it is rather quick.
The R32 is definitely a future Classic Car, to get back on track, and a great affordable choice. It is thirsty but fuel is not the big expense, depreciation is often 10 or 20 times greater. A thousand? saving buys a lot of petrol.
Rowan`s choice of the less complex MK 4 R32 is understandable but the MK 5 is a better car, dynamically, all round. I`d worry about an 18 year old`s restraint though.
Jim

[661]

My wife has a new Golf R estate as the family wagon. Does everything we want of it. It's fun but I do get the 'boring' comment. It's just too Teutonic. It lacks character ( it has few faults , perhaps?).
As for fuel consumption. The quoted figures are utter VW garbage. Ours averages 25mpg with the wife in 'Eco' mode nearly all the time.

[paddy]

Ours averages 25mpg with the wife in 'Eco' mode nearly all the time.

Your wife has an Eco mode?

Paddy

[rgh0]

Hahahha it says "may post to Australia" I would hate to see the postage cost

cheers
Rohan

[2cams70]

Wives are always in "Eco" mode. It's girlfriends that are in "Power/Sport" mode. Depending on age and fitness "Launch Control" may be the ultimate problem though.

[collins_dan]

Rohan, the MK4 R32 is a good option. Be aware that there is a really large global community of modifiers to this car, of which my son is sadly a member. They can be made scary fast and the engine mounts, drive shafts... can't keep up. If he goes this route, just set some ground rules, which I mistakenly didn't do. I drove the car as my daily for years with no issue, once he modified it, it has been nothing but trouble. All the best, Dan
PS. I think you are doing the right thing with the Land Cruiser.