Faults:

A chip in the transmission failed at 2,228 kilometres.

The lever that controls the front seat (makes it pop up so you can gain access to the rear) kept popping off in my hand.

That was it. I owned the car for 16 months and that was all that went wrong. Excellent reliability.

General Comments:

Unfortunately, the car is very uncomfortable for someone who has had back problems like myself. The cloth seats were very unsupportive and hard, it was like riding on cardboard.

There was a decent amount of kick out of the 2.0 litre powerplant, but it probably didn't compare to that of the GTI's base 1.8T.

Handling was terrific for a car in this price range.

The fuel economy was average, but not great, I usually got around 500 kilometres to a tank if I drove exclusively on the highway, and around 400 if I drove in the city.

The CD player (not standard on mine - $500 option!) provided decent sound.

My car came with A/C, power door locks, alloy wheels, and I added a CD player, and it came to about $23,200 in total.

It was a great car, but it was destroying my back, so I traded it in for a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am GT with the SC/T performance package, which thus far has been much better on my back.

Faults:

Window motors went bad and replaced. Sun roof malfunctioned. Brakes fell apart. General problems with terrible quality of interior items. Transmission went at 60000 miles. Many more problems.

General Comments:

This car received great reviews, but was a total mess for me.

It was constantly broke with many expensive repairs.

The replacement transmission was $5700 and could only be done by the dealer.

Many garages will not touch the diesels.

Faults:

Nothing! I'm just coming up on my one year anniversary, and haven't had a single mechanical problem. [scans other reviews] Yet.

My only complaint lies with the CD player which, despite being a $500+ option, skips more frequently than the $100 clunker I had shoved in my old '81 Honda.

General Comments:

Mechanically, she's been problem-free so far.

The interior trim and finish is superb compared to comparable entry-level models. Lots of headroom for such a small car. Sound system is quite good (Monsoon).

Solid feel on the road - 100mph doesn't feel unsafe (well, except for the radar!). Certainly she's a little gutless (particularly at high revs), but let's keep in mind we're talking about an economy-oriented hatchback, now.

Compared to other entry-level cars I've pseudo-experienced, I'd give the Golf the nod.

Faults:

The Driver's inside door handle has a thin rubber coating on it that peels away after a few months.

A water leak on the passenger side floor was traced back to the drainage tubes for the moon roof. The carpets were replaced after many weeks of haggling the dealer (Princeton, NJ - Don't recommend them).

The car seems to use a lot of oil... dealer says this is normal. There are no leaks, there are no signs of significant burn off either.

General Comments:

All in all I love the car. I just don't like the dealership that conducts the service. The dealer is in Princeton, NJ on route 206. It takes weeks to get an appointment, they almost never have jobs done the same day, and then they try to charge you for a loaner car. It's a bit shady. I must say that when the work does get done, it is done well. The problems seem to be with the management staff and not the actual technicians in the shop.

Faults:

An oil line needed to be tightened down in the first week I had the car-- a little nerve-wracking, but no big deal.

The drain from my sunroof became misaligned approximately 6 months after I bought the car. I noticed the problem with a slight sloshing sound behind the passenger seat. My local Seattle dealer (University VW) gave me a loaner and took it in immediately, fixed the problem, then cleaned the carpet and dried it out in the shop for a day or two. This was mildly annoying, but the positive experience with my dealership (and the fact that I totally abuse the sunroof) made me satisfied overall.

General Comments:

This car is a lot of fun. With the TDI engine, I can rocket up hills and down highways and still get more than 500 miles to the tank. I can only imagine what kind of mileage I'd get if I drove responsibly...

Diesel costs less than gas, the engine lasts a lot longer than its 1.8T brother, oil changes are more infrequent, and tuneups are a non-issue due to the lack of spark plugs on a compression engine. I've also managed to brew my own biodiesel for even less than diesel at the pump.

It has excellent braking and handling ability, though I strongly suggest replacing the original tires. Of course I would suggest this on any car.

I feel like I'm driving a luxury car. Sure, I could have gotten a Neon for less, but it wouldn't have wrapped me in a curtain of airbags, a great stereo, trip lights everywhere you could think of, intelligent storage options, cool dash lighting, heated seats, enough torque to tow a boat, comfortable seats, and a million other little perks.

As you can tell, I'm less than objective about my car. I should point out that my last car was a Plymouth Sundance, however I also prefer this to the sporty Acura Integra, the powerful Chevy Suburban, or any of the other cars I've driven regularily.

I just can't quit praising the low cost of ownership with this little beauty. Now only if they'd release the 150HP Pump Deuse in the US...