1999 Volkswagen Golf Reviews - Page 4 of 15

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1999 Volkswagen Golf GTi Turbo 1.8 petrol turbo from UK and Ireland

Year of manufacture1999
First year of ownership1999
Most recent year of ownership2004
Engine and transmission 1.8 petrol turbo Manual
Performance marks 8 / 10
Reliability marks 8 / 10
Comfort marks 9 / 10
Dealer Service marks 8 / 10
Running Costs (higher is cheaper) 4 / 10
Overall marks (average of all marks)
7.4 / 10
Distance when acquired0 miles
Most recent distance66000 miles
Previous carRenault Clio

Summary:

Hot hatchback, but not as hot as the earlier Golf GTI

Faults:

Brake pads needed replacing at 15,000 miles, again at 33,000 miles and last of all at 56,000 miles.

Clutch lacked durability and needed replacing twice, first at 30,000 miles and again at 52,000 miles.

Driver's side window motor failed at 47,000 miles.

Tyres wore very quickly.

General Comments:

Expensive to run.

Well built, reliable and comfortable.

Had an upmarket feel, but wasn't as sporty as the GTI badge might suggest.

A reasonable buy at £16,000 for a very fast hatchback with high equipment levels.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 16th April, 2006

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1999 Volkswagen Golf GTi 1.8T from UK and Ireland

Model year1999
Year of manufacture1999
First year of ownership2004
Most recent year of ownership2005
Engine and transmission 1.8T Manual
Performance marks 6 / 10
Reliability marks 8 / 10
Comfort marks 7 / 10
Running Costs (higher is cheaper) 4 / 10
Overall marks (average of all marks)
6.3 / 10
Distance when acquired78000 miles
Most recent distance85000 miles
Previous carMitsubishi Colt

Summary:

A quality motor, but not a real GTI

Faults:

Coil Pack failed which also took out the ignition amplifier, car run on three cylinders and felt like a bag of spanners, fortunatly a well documented failure and parts where cheap, plentiful and easy to change.

Gear linkage adjuster snapped and left me with 3 & 4 gear only, cheap bit of plastic and an hours labour fixed it.

Interior rattles a bit.

General Comments:

I find the golf a refined quick motor with plenty of mid range omph.

However it's just far too boring to have the GTI badge.

Don't get me wrong it's a cracking car, but just lacking in that top end zing and crisp handling that the best hot hatches enjoy.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th December, 2005

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18th Mar 2007, 19:55

You say the zing etc the best hot hatches enjoy what is better all rounder than this people are hard to please.

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In reply to 18th Mar 2007, 19:55

19th Mar 2007, 06:52

Hot hatches aren't meant to be 'all rounders', they're meant to be fast & fun to drive, so if it doesn't have these qualities in his opinion, then he's right to be disappointed.

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In reply to 19th Mar 2007, 06:52

18th May 2011, 12:46

I have one and would agree with your comments re: it not being the sharpest tool in the box.

However, there is something about it I reckon. Lovely seats and interior, beautifully smooth, torquey engine, and styling which has aged far better than its contemporaries. Golfs always have aged gracefully, and the MK4 is no exception.

We have grown quite attached to it, to the extent it now has 143,000 miles on the clock and we have no yearn to sell it.

It still goes as well as it ever did, and feels surprisingly tight, apart from a baggy gear linkage, which I seem to recall affected these from pretty much new. It's reliable too, despite the miles. The alternator packed up a few months ago, and the gear linkage seems to need regular adjustment to avoid obstinate 1st and 2nd gears, but otherwise it's been literally servicing and consumables. Very easy / cheap to look after, and easy enough to work on yourself. VAG COM can read and reset fault codes, and quality pattern parts are available from numerous sources at prices comparable to those for a Ford or Vauxhall.

I service it once a year using the best 5W/40 fully synth I can find at the time, with plugs and air filter every 3rd service, and it just keeps on going. We will keep it until it dies, or the rust gets it.

The quality complaints for this model elsewhere simply do not match my own experiences. Mine has been exactly what the VW reputation suggests it would be.

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1999 Volkswagen Golf GTi Turbo 1.8 petrol from UK and Ireland

Year of manufacture1999
First year of ownership2002
Most recent year of ownership2005
Engine and transmission 1.8 petrol Manual
Performance marks 9 / 10
Reliability marks 9 / 10
Comfort marks 9 / 10
Dealer Service marks 9 / 10
Running Costs (higher is cheaper) 6 / 10
Overall marks (average of all marks)
8.4 / 10
Distance when acquired38000 miles
Most recent distance79000 miles
Previous carVolkswagen Golf

Faults:

Air conditioning failed after 46,000 miles.

CD player ejection button stopped working after 50,000 miles.

Front passenger electric window motor failed after 59,000 miles.

Side airbags failed to work in collision with a lamp-post after 64,000 miles.

Brake cable snapped after 71,000 miles.

General Comments:

The Golf GTI Turbo suffered a few electrical problems, but apart from that it was a great car.

Huge fun to drive and comfortable, but fuel bills were a bit on the high side. It was good value at £9,000.

I kept the Golf for three years before I sold it to my sister-in-law for £4,000. She says that it is a great car and hopes to keep it for years to come.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 11th December, 2005

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Average review marks: 6.4 / 10, based on 48 reviews