1999 Volkswagen Golf Reviews - Page 3 of 15

Do not purchase this vehicle... very unhappy at the reliability of such a lemon. Since I purchased it, it has been nothing, but a money pit... problems with the check engine light, the radio, the engine in general, the brakes, the steering wheel, the heating system...etc.

A 2/10, not a good car and will NEVER drive a VW again. It looks good from far, but is far from good!

Airbag warning light at about 15,000 k's fixed under warranty. Same thing just after expiry of warranty cost A$400. Cup holder fell apart at about 30,000 km. Fixed it with a paper clip as replacement cost prohibitive. Exterior rear view mirror control snapped at 45,000 km. Replacement cost about A$150 for part. Put it in myself as dealer quoted a ridiculous price. Bottom of car scraped over normal height speed bumps when more than one person in car. Front air dam came off several time as too low for car park wheel bump barriers. Developed wheel wobble which dealer mechanic said was due to tyre fault. Replaced tyres, wobble still there. First major service cost A$1,800 as timing belt needed replacement.

On initial inspection, this car seemed a fantastic package. Solid, well built, lots of creature comforts and features. Add to that, great styling and the promise of German engineering. I thought that it was worth the extra few thousand $$$.

I was wrong.

Very high fuel consumption (premium unleaded) as auto box has only 4 speeds (revs at 3,500 at 100 kph). Sluggish performance and very expensive servicing costs. The paint marked very easily (seemed to have white undercoat). Luckily, sold it for good price.

Now happily drive 1983 Volvo 240 wagon.

Window regulator broke at 40,000 miles, VW known problem yet they only offer the same replacement part even thought they are too weak to hold the glass.

Gear Box broke at 42,000 miles shattering bell housing and socking clutch in oil.

Brake lights have to be replaced every 3 months if your lucky...!

Central locking failed at 55,000 miles.

Drivers seat worn out on right hand side by 45,000 miles.

Gear Box Failed AGAIN! at 56,000 miles Oh Joy!

This car has got some good points, it is very nice to drive, when the gear box works, it feels safe and handles very well. The car is however plagued with known faults, the gear box spits bearing out and shatters the housing, this has happened twice to me. The window regulator's are guaranteed to break, £175 to replace each. VW service was terrible to say the least and they quoted over £1750 to replace the box, well is it worth it... I think not, I also wrote to VW and got NO reply I wrote again still no reply, I guess they just don't care very much.

Would I have another Golf? NO, would I have another VW? NO... Not because I do not like the car, but because of the way I was spoken too and the serious lack of customer service from both the main dealers and VW its-self.

VW have not even attempted to correct known faults on cars they design, £1750 might not be a lot of money to one of VW's main people, but I can ensure you that it is a lot of money to the average person buying your cars VW.