Faults:

The heater core had been disconnected when I bought the car, as it was leaking.

3 of the electric window regulators had stopped working.

Head lining had started to sag and droop down.

And lastly, the air flow sensor has stopped working.

General Comments:

This car is really quick for the size of it, and has a lot of power, which is also great for towing.

But the handling isn't the best, as it is really nose heavy, so is not so great for tight twisting roads, but is excellent on the open road.

This car is really comfortable, and is great for long trips, as it has a lot of leg room for all passengers, and the front seats raise and lower.

Very very good car for the money, and I definitely would buy another.

Faults:

Rear shock absorbers.

Oil dipstick - the plastic handle.

Ignition system coil.

General Comments:

Good car, and few faults.

Very good heat in the car. Very warm in winter. Good A/C in summer.

Well nothing more has happened. It just goes and goes..

I am very satisfied with the car.

Faults:

When I purchased the car, I had these done:

Both front springs replaced at 184 208km.

Both front brakes replaced at 184 208km.

Muffler replaced at 184 208km.

Ball joints replaced at 184 208km.

Additional things done up until now:

All struts replaced at 215 000km.

Tie rods replaced at 230 000km.

Starter replaced at 255 000km.

Belt tensioner replaced at 215 000km and 260 000km.

Glow plugs replaced at 245 000km.

All tires replaced at 250 000km (after 85k).

Clutch replaced at 260 000km (original).

Fuel filter changed before start of every winter as a precaution.

General Comments:

It looks like this car needed a lot of stuff done, but when it's spread out over a 5 year period, it's not too bad. I've been very happy with the reliability overall. My Golf is the base model and it lacks ABS, AC, airbags, power options etc. It is very simple. It performs reasonably well, it is no racing car, but great as a daily commuter, and I've even done long distance travel - 2 people (over 2000 km one way) with no significant fatigue.

Economy is pretty good, and I average between 5.3L/100km on the highway and 6.5L/100km in the city. Usually within 5.7L/100km - 6.2L/100km range. Usually can get over 900km a tank (970km most) and hardly under 800 km/tank.

Faults:

Idle stabilisation valve.

Faded paint.

General Comments:

Having had VW Golf's in my family since growing up, I have always wanted one. Going from a 250hp+ MR2 Turbo to a Mk3 GTI, 8v I was expecting it to be extremely lethargic, but was pleasantly surprised by the performance! By no means a 'ballistic missile', but bags of torque for a quick drive with little effort.

As many people say it does feel like a grown up GTI, meaning it feels a little 'softer' than previous incarnations. The softer suspension and heavier weight mean it is designed for those covering a variety of roads and motorways rather than a back-road blaster. It does, however, still retain the old GTI's fine neutral balance when pushed to the limit; good to know with the dangers of modern roads.

A lot of these cars are available as people go for newer models, I believe I got myself a bargain, £500 got me a 95 GTI 8v, MOT'd, with FSH and the important belt changes. Take your time when buying as there are a lot about so you can be choosy. Look for a good history on the car with evidence of timing belt changes on cars over 80k. A well serviced VW engine can easily top 200k. Check panel gaps, front panels and boot (trunk) for signs of previous crash damage. Also check for oil leakages from the head gasket or leaks from parts such as the radiator hoses.

A common problem on older VW's is the Idle Stabilisation Valve. This part is an easy fix, but is over £200 for a new one. There are some around on auction houses and owners clubs from as little as £15 if you want to take a gamble.

Electrics seem to be a problem on some cars, so it may be wiser to budget a couple of hundred pound's for new plugs, leads, dizzy if you are unsure of the age of them on your purchase.

Another problem, as on my car, is the fading of paint on area's such as the front wing and boot lid. This is a common problem on older paint's so always view in good light. Rust can be a problem too although the body protection is a lot better than the older mk1/2 cars, check around sill's, arches and rear boot for sign's.

All in all this is a lovely little runabout that can handle long distances as well as the shopping run with little effort. It has good build quality and dash that still looks fairly modern by today's standards. It can hold it's own with a lot of modern machinery, but is not quite a GTI; for that you want the VR6.