The big question. Do i want another Golf?

[Degudodger]

After falling out with the TDi Golf (bonnet catch went AGAIN and the washer bottle cracked) in what can only be described as a drunken moment put it on Autotrader. Now just over 24 hours later i find myself with out a car but with £6k in cash. So with a pressing need to buy a car this weekend or it's public transport to work on Monday the question is what do i get next. Don't get me wrong the Mk5 Golf platform is a massive step up from the Mk4 and in terms of specification most used cars come pretty well equipped but after owning three Golf's and a Jetta over in four years i feel like i should at least look at other platforms.

But what do i get?

My main requirements are:
My daily commute is approximately 90 miles so Diesel is the only viable option.
less than 90k on the clock
Less than 7 years old
Needs to be five doors
Needs to be fairly economical
Heated seats
Dual Zone Air Con

So far i have been looking at Audi A3/A4 2.0 Tdi Sport and S Line but am struggling to find a decent one with less than 90k on the clock under £6k. I would be temped to get a BMW if it were not for the known issues with the chocolate turbo.

If you had £6k and had to get a Diesel what would you get?

[john87]

Before the golf, I owned a 2009 civic 2.2 ctdi - 140 bhp, a very nice engine, albeit sounding slightly strange at low speeds!

Should be plenty of them on the market...

[GrayMK5GTI]

Ford Focus 1.8tdci?

Rated as a better drive than the golf (numerous magazines), interior is OK and it fetches good MPG. Zetec or titanium models are best spec (some with built in bluetooth).

I had an 08reg one for work, did 50k hard miles in just over a year and it was faultless 

Gray

[Degudodger]

Test a Ford Focus this afternoon and couldn't really fault it but it lacks a certain something. It was enough for me to walk away so i am now back to square 1 :(

[Degudodger]

Right.

What do you guys think of these

Seems pretty tidy.
http://tinyurl.com/cuf7pd7

Looks ok but not sure about the R32 alloys.
http://tinyurl.com/cvdnatn

Lower mileage
http://tinyurl.com/cpj5prs

[simonp]

Hold out for one with xenons if going with an A3, as the halogen headlights are like candles.

[Janner_Sy]

Octavia vRS TDI.  Sporty, economical, loads of room......perfect setup and more importantly, loads of car for your money.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/skoda/octavia/postcode/ng95gx/radius/1500/keywords/vRS/price-to/6000/sort/default/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/fuel-type/diesel/maximum-mileage/up_to_100000_miles

[Degudodger]

Hold out for one with xenons if going with an A3, as the halogen headlights are like candles.

Simon.

The wait proved too much, looks like i'll be reftro fitting :)

[Degudodger]

Octavia vRS TDI.  Sporty, economical, loads of room......perfect setup and more importantly, loads of car for your money.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/skoda/octavia/postcode/ng95gx/radius/1500/keywords/vRS/price-to/6000/sort/default/onesearchad/used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew/fuel-type/diesel/maximum-mileage/up_to_100000_miles

Well i had a look at a VRS 170 Tdi first thing this morning near Wembley and i kid you not i started the engine and the cambelt snapped  What gutted me the most was that it ticked most of the boxes for me. Well apart for the obvious!

So at 9.30am i found myself in MacDonald's sampling the finest Sausage and Egg Muffin found on the East of London browsing Autotrader and i thought i would drop into and have a look at one of the cars i short listed. Well long story short i bought a 2006 2.0 TDi Sportback in Phantom Black with 80k on the clock and full Audi service history including a recent Cambelt change with a new Audi windscreen, radiator, Bosch starter motor and aircon compressor fitted by Audi in Swindon. The bill was nearly £3k 

Just needs a bloody DEEP clean inside and out 

[simonp]

Hold out for one with xenons if going with an A3, as the halogen headlights are like candles.

Simon.

The wait proved too much, looks like i'll be reftro fitting :)

Just drive around with the high beams on all the time. No one will notice!

[Mk5 GTian]

Right.

What do you guys think of these

Seems pretty tidy.
http://tinyurl.com/cuf7pd7

Looks ok but not sure about the R32 alloys.
http://tinyurl.com/cvdnatn

Lower mileage
http://tinyurl.com/cpj5prs

I'd go for the the first one, as it doesn't have R32 alloys (nasty on an R32, let alone an A3! The later Mk5 R32's had lovely alloys., these look very Halfords IMO).
Storm Developments in Aldermaston (VAG forced Induction specialists) will remap the 140 TDI lump for 200 quid, with little impact on mpg, and giving a useful 185-190 bhp. And 96 K is nothing on a VAG as long as the history is spot on.

[Degudodger]

In the end i went for the Black Sportback with 84k on the clock, managed to beat the price down to £5,600 as well. Full Audi service history including recent cambelt change and new Cam shaft replaced under warranty. It needs a proper clean so guess i'll be don't that over the weekend.

Not the best photo but i don't have much time to take any decent photos.

[Mk5 GTian]

Looks good, age, history and miles wise. Presumably the 'Dinky Toy' alloys will be swapped out soonish! 

[simonp]

Guessing SE by the wheels? Do you have wood?

[Mk5 GTian]

Do you have wood?

That's a bit personal, isn't it Simon?