Toyota Verso vs Golf SV: thoughts?

SouthLondonUser

My preference for petrol and automatic limits the choice somewhat, as it rules out a number of cars - either because an automatic petrol engine was never made, or because it was never too popular so I can't find much in the used market: Kia Carens, Fiat 500L Wagon (ugly, but had it been cheap I might have considered it), Ford C-Max and Grand C-max, Renault Scenic, Citroen C4 Picasso.

I wouldn't mind hybrid, but the Verso doesn't come with a hybrid engine; the Auris estate does, but it's much longer than the Verso; we don't really need a car bigger than the Verso - I'm afraid parking one (bigger than the Verso) in London would then become too much of a nightmare.

knightstyle

Hi again, interesting that youhave considered cars we have owned or nearly owned. We have to have autos as my DW has a dodgy leg, and we had an Auris with the MMt auto box which we didn't have any problems with, we now have a Cmax with the powershift box, lovely drive and for me the best auto ever! BUT some reports say avoid as it can give expensive faults.
I see you are going for an almost new car but I would say look for a three year old low milage one. We nearly always end up with an ex-motability car, well maintained usually low miles and have not bought a duff one yet plus you will save a bit of money.

SouthLondonUser

Yes, for one reason or another most of the used cars I have seen seem to be ex-motability, too. Maybe motability drivers value/need an automatic transmission and a big boot space more than the average driver.

daveyjp

The German manufacturer main dealer giving grief is Mercedes.

8 weeks to source a part and return the car. The car was also in for another job which they haven!!!8217;t sorted.

They have also managed to lose a bolt and simply not replace it, thankfully its not safety critical.

I have had similar grief from Audi in the past.

Now auto is mentioned the VW definately comes second. A DSG gearbox is not something to own out of warranty.

All these taxi drivers with Toyotas can!!!8217;t be wrong. Our local Toyota dealer can!!!8217;t get his hands on enough Auris and Prius hybrids as cabbies move over from diesel they snap them up.

Clive_Woody

If you like the Golf and want a big boot have you considered a Skoda Octavia? Same range of engines and VW parts but cheaper to buy and service and usually they come with more bells and whistles from lower down the range.

SouthLondonUser

Thanks, but we wouldn't want it any longer than the Verso - lots of small parking spots in our neck of the woods!
The Octavias (estate and saloon) are about 20cm longer than the Verso and 30cm longer than the Golf SV.

SouthLondonUser

@Daveyjp, what do you mean about the DSG gearbox? I understand there are multiple times of DSG gearboxes but I'm not sure if/how they differ in terms of reliability.

daveyjp

SouthLondonUser wrote: »

@Daveyjp, what do you mean about the DSG gearbox? I understand there are multiple times of DSG gearboxes but I'm not sure if/how they differ in terms of reliability.

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/73577/how-reliable-is-the-dsg-gearbox

There are indeed multiple types. This is how VAG now appear to design products.

They design, launch, notice high failure rate, redesign and continue until they get to a point where they aren’t paying out thousands in warranty work.

The early 1.4TSi engines were exactly the same. 4-5 major redesigns over 10-12 years due to unacceptable failure rates. With the latest TSi engines they seem to have something which now works, but DSG boxes are still a potential expensive option.