Faults:

What didn't go wrong! The check engine light of doom was almost always on.

Lights - burned out regularly.

Replaced the following:

Water pump.

Radiator.

Main computer.

Glow plugs and harness.

Blower motor for heater fan.

Turbo (VERY EXPENSIVE fix) etc etc.

In the end I felt I'd totally rebuilt the car from the ground up.

General Comments:

Truth, you want the truth about this car. HAVE VERY DEEP POCKETS!!!

VW needs to improve their quality control and stop worrying about buying Porsche. These cars have a great ride, but they will break your heart and the bank. Sold it off and went back to Honda.

Good luck VW, but you better start listening to your customers.

The one tease was good mileage when it was working.

Faults:

Had a fire in the cab after the engine malfunctioned.

General Comments:

A car like this with relatively low mileage and excellent maintenance record should not have malfunctioned with a fire. If you have had any experience like the one I have described, please post a comment.

Faults:

Around 180000 km, the back door lock stopped working. Repaired for 80 C$.

At 220000 km, the catalytic converter was replaced. Cost me 450 C$.

At 225000 km, one of the ignition coils was replaced; 100 C$.

I mostly serviced my car at a special VW/Audi mechanic, not at a VW dealership (they charge so much), and also my glove box, when I bought the car as second hand, was already broken. But I still feel that is normal for an over 200k car.

I feel like maybe I am the lucky one without so many problems, as I've read so many nightmare review stories about VW cars. Maybe just because mine was German built, one not Mexican or Brazilian.

General Comments:

I like the looks of the car (mine was metallic silver) and the interior was great, excellent dashboard illuminated with red and blue color. This car design seems never gets old.

1.8T 20v engine (150hp) with 5 speed manual transmission was one of the best performing engines I've ever driven. Only 1 second of turbo lag is the bad part I can say. But engine pump power is exceptionally good at very low RPM, and just around 1500 RPM you can feel the high pulling power.

The Golf GLS is also very stable at road handling, is equipped with full ABS with vented discs, ASR (anti slip regulation), traction control and EDL. I like my car's braking performance (installed Pagid pads). And also it comes with 4 airbags; rare for a small car, even for a recent cars.

Faults:

Not much has gone wrong. The issue was the previous owner was not doing regular maintenance. So after purchasing it I did the following:

- Replaced the glove box door and it has a broken hinge already after 3 months.

- Replaced front and rear struts and strut mounts

- Replaced rear springs

- Replaced tires

- Wheel Alignment

- Replaced lower engine

- Installed an AMSOIL EaBP by-pass Filter kit

- Installed a Evolution Atlas Skid Plate to replace the piece of crap VW has form factory.

- Replaced the power window switch (broken)

So I have done a lot of upgrading...

General Comments:

Great handling car.

Fun to drive.

Great economy.

The parts manager at a VW dealer gave me this tip:

To prevent carbon build-up during normal driving, add a diesel additive with every fill. You can get it at VW or Wal-mart, etc.

I find that the quality of the interior materials is cheap - my glove box door hinge was broken when I bought it and I replaced it. Three months go by and it broke again. Cheap plastic.