New (Used) Car Advice - Golf Again?

OwlishAgain

Hello all, I'm hoping to get some thoughts on a new used car - 2019 model or later. We have a 2014 Golf 1.2 manual but my husband is doing more long journeys (2 hours each way in a day). He likes the size and build quality of the Golf (we have a camper van, so this is our nippy daily drive), and it's SO economical (£30 tax a year, runs at about 40mpg, cheap to ensure, good residuals, etc) but could really do with something that's a bit easier for the drives he does - cruise control and auto transmission being the main things we'd want. We've had Golfs for years and I know they're expensive, having just been on the used car configurator! Before we plan to simply switch, are there any other vehicles you'd recommend that are a similar size with the spec we want, but where we might be able to get more car for our money? Ideally we'd spend £10k, but could possibly go up to £15k. Thank you!

OwlishAgain

(Incidentally, I've been an infrequent poster here for donkey's years under the name Owlish, but got locked out of my old account!)

mgfvvc

Possibly one of the higher spec Peugots. I have a 2011 207CC GT and that is very comfortable as a motorway cruiser. I think the 207 is a bit smaller than a golf, so you might want the next size up which would have been the 307, but is now probably the 308.

gord115

For those miles I'd go for a golf diesel GTD with DSG. These tend to come with adaptive cruise control (speeds up and slows down with the traffic.)
 This will make a 2 hour commute much easier.
Often the main dealers have a good offers with free servicing etc.
Hope this helps

AdrianC

As soon as you get a badge that laymen look at and go "Ooh, yes, they're reliable", you're paying a premium. And Golfs are the default for that in the middle of the market.

Outside those defaults, everybody will have a bunch of entrenched national-stereotype prejudices - French rubbish, Japanese dull-but-reliable, etc etc. They have as much basis in reality as any other prejudices and national stereotypes. Strangely, the "German" stereotypes that are applied to VW/Audi/BMW/Mercedes never get applied to Ford or Vauxhall, despite the fact that both are just as much "German" as any other car brand on the UK market.

If you want the same basic ingredients, then look elsewhere in the VW brands - Skoda Octavia is the same thing under the (larger) skin, as is Seat Leon. Then there's lots of VW/Seat/Skoda sprogbuses and softroaders which are also the same thing, just taller/inflated. Audi, of course, is also the same base but "posher".

There are a lot of automatic Golfs(/Octavias/Leons) out there - but bear in mind most modern "automatics" aren't what we always used to think about as automatics. They're semi-autos, and are far more complex, which can mean more efficient and economical - but can also mean more unreliable. VW's "automatics" are what they call DSG - and are basically two manual gearboxes strapped together all controlled by computer. Cruise control is fairly ubiquitous on anything bar entry-level trim specs, simply because it's so easy to integrate to modern electronics, literally just the physical controls and telling the software to provide it.

daveyjp

Do plenty of research into DSG gearbox, which has had issues ever since it was introduced and then decide if it is for you.

If auto was a pre requisite I'd go for either a conventional torque converter or a very reliable CVT as fitted to Toyotas.

AdrianC

"very reliable CVT" - words you never thought you'd hear this side of DAF/Volvo, who are about the only people who ever managed to get belt CVTs right in cars.

I think you must mean hybrid Toyotas, which use a planetary transmission.

JustAnotherSaver

While I understand the comments above, it's all the same really, so on and so forth. 

Beans are beans, but Heinz are watery and Branston are just right. 
Sometimes people want what they just want. 

I've heard about this VW reliability. I imagine it's something that was possibly true in the 70s or 80s and its still being thrown around today. We've had Vauxhalls and Volkswagens. While the VWs felt like they were more solid, the Vauxhalls were more reliable.

But at the same time I could ask the next man and he'd say he'll have never experienced a money pit like his Vauxhall. Cars are cars. Some will be reliable, others not due to many variables. 

Grumpy_chap

There is a lot to be said for "wanting" a car and that can trump any of the practical / financial reasons to choose one car or another.  If the OP "wants" a Golf, then that is the way to go.
By all means, consider the alternatives, within and without the VAG brands, but the OP will probably then decide on a Golf.

mobileron

Why not the skoda octavia, bigger,cheaper, more features and car of the year again

noclaf

One thing I am curious about...VW, Seat and Skoda all fall under the VAG umbrella and share engines and in some cases the platform I believe..e.g: MQB?
So why is that there seem to be so many more issues reported with the VW's Vs Skoda or Seat? Is this simply down to the Golf for example being more popular than a Octavia/Fabia or Leon? 
I'm still not convinced personally on the long term reliability of a DSG mated to the smaller petrol engines ( sub 1.8l), it seems the higher powered engines have a more reliable variant but not certain. If you have the car on PCP or lease and have some warranty cover then some peace of mind I guess.
For example if there are known issues with the engine or gearbox in a 1.4 TSI DSG I would expect it to impact Goldfs, Leon's, Octavia's in fairly similar numbers unless there are other variables I am missing e.g: country or production of origin for different models