2006 Suzuki Swift or 2007 VW Golf GT

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#2873383 23-Feb-2022 16:57

robjg63:

dt:

Not sure if much has changed with swift over the years but but I remember reading some years back about swifts having one of the worst crash safety ratings on the market

if it's your little lads first car the safety rating should be a strong consideration when deciding!

2005 - 2010 Suzuki Swift got 4 out of 5 stars for an ANCAP rating:

https://www.ancap.com.au/safety-ratings/suzuki/swift/c24ecc

showing my age.. :) >2004 they were 2/5 stars!

scuwp

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#2873396 23-Feb-2022 17:29

Avoid any euro car in that age bracket for a first car. Not sure about the swift at that age either, they had a low crash rating at some point. Stick with Japanese or Korean offerings: Hyundai I20 or I30, Kia Rio, Toyota Corolla. My pick would be the I30, late 2000 models easily in that price bracket.

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#2873398 23-Feb-2022 17:31

You're on the right track with VW Golf, but take a look at the TDi model. The 2.0l Turbo-diesel has very different power delivery to the combination super/turbo charged 1.4l GT, putting the emphasis on low-down torque - grunt where you want it. You'll get 1000km from a tank of diesel & they're bone reliable as well as full of safety features.

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lxsw20

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#2873407 23-Feb-2022 18:07

WyleECoyoteNZ:

What gearbox is in the VW Golf GT ?

Is it a flappy paddle DSG (Dual clutch) gearbox ? If it is a DSG gearbox, i believe they require a major service at around 100,000Kms, and I've heard it can be costly. Being a 2007 probably puts it as a Mark 5 VW Golf, if you want to research it more.

If you do go for the Golf, make sure to have it looked over by either the local VW dealer or a reputable independent.

I wouldn't trust a DSG as far as I could throw it. Once they die, it's worth more than the car is to replace for what you're looking at.

ben28

190 posts

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#2873409 23-Feb-2022 18:19

WyleECoyoteNZ:

What gearbox is in the VW Golf GT ?

Is it a flappy paddle DSG (Dual clutch) gearbox ? If it is a DSG gearbox, i believe they require a major service at around 100,000Kms, and I've heard it can be costly. Being a 2007 probably puts it as a Mark 5 VW Golf, if you want to research it more.

If you do go for the Golf, make sure to have it looked over by either the local VW dealer or a reputable independent.

Be careful when checking out safety ratings as you need to find the near the exact car that was tested , eg Jap imports may only have 2 airbags vs NZ new which have 4 or 5. You should aim to buy a car with as good a safety rating as you can afford, but definitely 4 star. Research what makes a 3 star vc 4 star vs 5 star - and make a decision based on risk you are prepared to tolerate

Hammerer

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#2873562 23-Feb-2022 22:55

The 2004-2010 Swift is only 2-star equivalent safety. We have the variant below the Sport with mag wheels and 7 airbags (special for a fleet deal). It has been very reliable (one oil leak) and we’ll keep it until it dies - 230K km so far. Around town it is easy to park and drive but a longer wheelbase would be better if travelling the highways. Sound insulation is not good because it is a light vehicle with cheaper trim. Bad stereo including no aux input.

I’d expect the VW to be quieter, more comfortable and better on the open road but much more expensive to keep running.

maoriboy

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#2873611 24-Feb-2022 08:28

I've always remembered a quote I read somewhere that goes along the lines of "If you can't afford a brand new European car, you can't afford a second hand one".

Out of the 2, I would lean towards the Suzuki. Cheaper to maintain and run and they are quite a bit of fun to drive as well. An ideal first car IMO. Boy racers would of course look at the Golf as it has better street cred.

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alasta

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#2873621 24-Feb-2022 08:59

Two things are pretty much certain:

He will want the Golf.
He is better off with the Swift.

robjg63

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#2873637 24-Feb-2022 09:26

alasta:

Two things are pretty much certain:

He will want the Golf.
He is better off with the Swift.

and he wont be able to pay for the repairs to the Golf himself....

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Rodimvs

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#2873640 24-Feb-2022 09:29

I had a 2005 Golf GTI - it was the least reliable car I've ever owned, and cost crazy money to keep it working.

Batman

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#2873652 24-Feb-2022 09:48

there are 2 issues with European cars

1. there are some things that are more prone to failure because of their complexity and poor design and poor engineering. there are components that are known and there are things that can fail randomly. this applies to Japanese cars as well, but the complexity means the cost is higher to fix

2. tight tolerance in components and people don't look after their cars. so if you happen to inherit a car that has been driven like it's stolen and never had any preventative maintenance the car is shot. this happens in Japanese cars as well but as their stuff is more basic the tolerance in the components are not as tight and there are fewer issues arising but still depends on how it was looked after.

let's pick 2 examples

Toyota Corolla. boring no features huge tolerance in everything. driven by slow boring people and moved like a gran. so naturally nothing breaks.

BMW 3 series. lots of complex features, engine has tight tolerance, manufacturer says 30,000km for oil change interval (i kid you not), and who do you think drives it? young people with aggressive right foot and very little protective instincts. so naturally everything breaks esp the engine.

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#2873656 24-Feb-2022 09:53

re the golf - i know some Euro engines are prone to failure so if someone says a particular engine is prone to failure google it and find out why and if it's worth your hassle. not all Euro engines are prone to failure but some like clockwork will give up from the exact same weakness. or feature.

it's ok to buy a Euro if you know who's driven it and what preventative maintenance has been done.

unbelievably when i enquire on trademe no euro cars have any written service history. "my friend is a mechanic" is the common answer. YMMV.

wratterus

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#2873666 24-Feb-2022 10:23

Wouldn't touch the Golf for a first car, unless you want to put your son off car ownership altogether due to the high maintenance costs & probable random issues.

Much better off with the Swift IMO.

1101

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#2873848 24-Feb-2022 11:56

I had a few Euro cars when I was much younger
I quickly learnt how to do roadside repairs.

Theres a reason Euro cars have their reputation .

Also, he's much less likely to be a boy racer & get up to stupidity in an uncool Suzuki .

axxaa

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#2874526 25-Feb-2022 08:38

Do not buy the Golf 1.4 GT unless you know its full service history and the timing chains have been replaced. These engines are notorious for timing chain stretch causing all sorts of expensive issues. We have a 110k golf gt and the engine repairs alone cost over 5k under warranty. Without that the car would have been scrapped.

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