i would not recommend a golf (i have a mk6). i have two major technical issues they cant and dont want to resolve and the overall quality doesn't match the price tag.
and stay away from the dual clutch (DSG). after a few years it will start to make loud rattling noises whenever you hit a bump.
It will? Assuredly? Cause my nearly 7 year old DSG GTI has never done that. Stay away from one of the best driving experiences you can get in the segment for an auto? Sounds like great advice! Sounds more like you had some issues, got pissed, and decided to make it out to be a horribly common affair for some sort of crusade against them. Not a single person I know with an MK5 or MK6 (and that really is quite a few...) have had
any bizarre issues or significant problems with their cars. Overall quality definitely matches the price tag.
I'm not saying it doesn't happen, or that you're lying, but I can find someone who's had a bad experience with
every model out there if I want to. It's just the way it is with mass produced items. Doesn't make them unreliable overall. One person is unlucky and has a few issues = shit car, shit brand! Same person has a smooth experience, rather unremarkable = omg I totally recommend it they're SO reliable. And no, I'm not a raging VW fanboi. I have no brand obsession either way.
Golf is more expensive though.
I test drove everything but the focus today since they don't apparently stock them since they don't sell enough manuals so they have to special order it?
Mazda 3 still feels the best and the update for 2014 seems absolutely insane so I'm going to try my best to wait until year's end if I can to buy it for a decent deal.
Yeah I'd wait for the new Mazda 3 and the MK7 Golf. Obviously the Golf will be the pricier of the two so it'll be preference and budget. My gf wants the MK7, but I really wanna go check the Mazda 3 for her as well. I think it looks great. The only issue is that everyone will be buying it here. It will quite literally become the most common car on the road. The previous gen is already hugely common and it's not nearly as nice.