Decisions, early days. VW, Skoda etc

[Dave73]

Hi guys, really glad to have stumbled across this forum!
Current owner of '95 T4 transporter with 320,000k's. All good but city life has taken it's toll on it.

The wife drives a little Mirage and every panel has a story to tell

Our family will grow in April, 1st baby due soon. Looking for the new family car, pram, carseat etc. We both love Golfs but admit they are just a bit too small for our needs, (carrying stuff and weekends away).

Not too many options around which I like and can afford ($20k' budget). A small wagon with space and better vision for parking seems much more appealing than a sedan option (Honda Euro, Bora perhaps).
I've seen the new Golf Wagons have recently been launched - so these will be out of reach, maybe 18 months wait till the $'s are right.
The Skoda 1.8 looks great also, could even be my first choice, love to find one of these come up at the right price but very few come up as a private sale, and dealers prices are still out of reach.

We've driven a couple of Suburu's that will surely do the job ok, this is where momentum will take us if we go with the flow.

THinking maybe get a $15k vehicle for 12 months and keep looking until the Skoda/Golf 1.8 tsi option presents itself. It would be nice to hold off and get something we enjoy...

Any advice welcome!?

Cheers David

[team_v]

Pre-facelift Octavia?
Otherwise maybe an older passat?

The previous Subies were pretty decent, it is only the recent model's that have really gone off the rails.

[anthony]

I would get a Jetta if you love Golfs,as its basically the sedan version,with a MASSIVE boot,making it very practical.

Very safe,well equiped,and great to drive,as well as being classically styled.

That would get my vote...

[SilvrFoxX]

Gen 4 Subaru Liberty Wagon would do you proud. definitely in the right money for a 2004 - 2005 model. They go forever and are pretty cheap to maintain. They are not the most exciting car but for what you need will nail it

[RSOK]

Gday Dave, mate of mine just bought a brand new 118 TSI Octavia (manual) liftback for $30K driveaway... I test drove a Golf wagon back to back with the Octavia wagon and preferred the Octavia to be honest, if you could wait til mid-year you might get a 2009 Octavia 118 wagon for close to $20K, it'd suit you to a tea, I bought my Octavia wagon when our second child came along 10 months ago, perfect size car for 2 kids in the back and 2 adults up front, huge boot for all your gear, superb drive, always smile when I drive it, I highly recommend it.

[antone_86]

This look ok?

2006 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI DSG 1KM MY07 Cars For Sale in QLD - CarPoint Australia

[Dave73]

Thankyou for all the help, much appreciated. I managed to take a Skoda 1.8 out today for a test, however it was the liftback sedan in auto. Impressive car, refined with an excellent finish & feel, engine is very responsive. Brakes were a negative for us. On this car (having done 36,000k's) they were soooo touchy and the most sensitive I've ever come accross. Very little travel and hard to get used to, the slightest touch had the passenger feeling car sick and the driver apologising.. Is this normal??
I hope it is isolated to this car alone, will give a manual wagon a test to compare.

Also drove a forester, outback & liberty which were all ok in their own ways.
It's funny the trade offs and logic we use in making the car buying selection, my criteria and budget seems to be changing....

Cheers David

[RSOK]

Dave, the brakes are definitely sensitive, but this seems to be a Volkswagen trait, I've test driven Golfs and Octavias and the brakes are sensitive, it's just something you'll get used to. I came from 7 years in a Mitsubishi and was used to having a more 'relaxed' brake pedal feel, but every car is different. I've been driving my Octavia now for almost a year, and you get used to the brakes within the first week.

I'm not sure why you consider the brakes to be a negative, on my very first test drive I'll admit I was taken by surprise as to how little effort was required on the brake pedal, it really does catch you out how sensitive the brake pedal is, but now I think nothing of it, if anything I prefer to have responsive brakes rather than have to bury my foot to the firewall to get some braking action happening.

I can understand why your first impression is that they're sensitive, but that's hardly a negative in my books. If your passenger was feeling car sick I'd seriously consider you adjust your brake pedal applications a little!