General Comments:

I have just got a VW Golf GLI 2.0 Litre. Driving the car is very pleasant and comfortable.

I have driven several cars from various manufacturers with engine capacities ranging from 1.8 to 2.4 litres. In all these cars I used to drive 80 Km/hr at 2000 rpm and 120 Km/hr at 3000 rpm. However when driving the Golf I noticed that when driving at 80 Km/hr the engine operates at 2500 rpm and when driving at 120 Km/hr the engine reaches 4000 rpm. I'm thinking that this rpm rate is a bit high and considering to take the car back to the dealer. Especially that the fuel consumption seems to be a little higher than expected from 2.0 litre engine.

I'm still not very familiar with VW and I'm wondering if this is normal for VW engines or it needs to be tuned up?

I wonder if any body else experienced the same thing?

Thanks.

Faults:

Rear Suspension has a problem some garages still don't know what the problem is, even after changing the rear Shock Absorbers.

Sunroof, leaks (weeks after I got it)

(seals)

Glove Box Catch.

HT Coil (Common Problem) Expensive!

General Comments:

The car drives well it handles well the performance is OK 0 - 60 in about 8 sec not bad for a 2L 8v, this car looks well even in the 21st centery this car is a good all rounder, on a good day you can get about 34 MPG when you thrash it you still will get about 30 MPG, Good Engine !

Faults:

Just wear and tear and some rust.

General Comments:

It's overpriced given the lack of equipment you get.

Performance is acceptable, but the 1.6 engine would be better.

Driving position is too high with not enough adjustment and pedals are too close together.

Its roomy and comfortable and the interior plastics are excellent. They feel completely robust and are nice to use. It's refined and solid.

Not a fan of the styling, only bought because of reliability and quality, which is actually a big improvment over the next Golf 1998 onwards.

Buy an equivalent age/size Japanese car and the whole driving experience is lighter, easier and more driver friendly.

Fuel economy is okay and general running costs low.

Faults:

Over 7 years and nearly 90,000 miles, very little.

Rear exhaust section fell off last year. Remaining exhaust original - or, at least, has been there since 1998.

Thermostat housing broke and the car lost water slowly - apparently this is a design fault. Water loss wasn't spotted in time and the head gasket blew. Repairs cost £400 - approximately 60% of the value of the car - but it's been fine ever since.

Clutch release bearing noisy.

Driver's seat frame began to crack - not surprising after the mileage. Sourced an identical whole interior from eBay for £50.

General Comments:

Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are taking a bit of a hammering about quality these days, but this particular Golf proves that their earlier reputation for quality and reliability was justified.

Over the mileage (of which at least 40,000 has been added in the last 18 months), it has been supremely reliable, not requiring anything other than routine servicing and the items noted above. Oil and filter now changed every 5,000 miles due to mileage.

1400 engine is slightly rough, but the low level of tune (60bhp - compare that to Rover, who get 103bhp from a similar-sized K series) has probably contributed to longevity. Spirited use of the gearbox will let you keep up with traffic. Cruising on the motorway at 90mph will still bring you 42mpg. Gearbox light to shift, but sometimes needs a firm hand to get into reverse.

Handling good, but needs firmer suspension and wider tyres if you like to press on. Buy a GTI if you want fun in the bends. Ride is firm, but compliant. Power steering quite light and lacking road feel. Brakes are good.

Interior plastics are of good quality, but this one displays some very un-VWlike fit of parts like the glovebox in relation to the airvent. No rattles or squeaks though. Seat trim incredibly hardwearing - no tears, rips or wear in 138k miles. Reasonable leg and headroom in the back. Good-sized boot.

Styling still looks good. Black plastic bumpers don't show the knocks. Still largely rust-free after 11 years - some surface rust developing from stone chips, scratches and the like, and under the window rubbers on the doors and tailgate.

The car has worked hard for it's living - it still drives at least 75 miles each workday - but still comes back for more.

How much longer we keep it will be dependent on whether the need for an air-conditioned car becomes more pressing.