Faults:

Lots but mostly wear and tear. The car never had any serious issues. There was a rattle from the engine in its final years with me (but it did have well over 100K on it at this point!).

Oil leak, never investigated. No significant loss.

Clutch judder.

Alternator + battery failed.

Entire exhaust system was replaced over the years. Ditto for brakes/suspension.

Passenger door handle/lock broke. Glove box broke.

Rust on wheel arches.

The car was serviced on time, and any belt changes, it had them done.

General Comments:

A reliable and comfortable car, the Golf was always a safe choice for family motoring. Could be expensive to fix, but the car always returned on that with reliability.

This was the most basic 1.4 S model. Not much equipment, and dull looking wheel trims. My car was silver as most of them seem to have been, a very popular color in the mid 2000's.

Inside the seats were actually nice to sit in for long journeys. The car was quiet and smooth.

Biggest gripe was the engine - not very fast (14 seconds to 60 mph!) and not that economical either. Yes you could get 40 mpg from it, but that is only when cruising very slow on A-Roads. Most of the time it did 34 - 36 mpg, not that good for a small hatchback. I have heard the diesels of this generation are much better - more economical and simple to maintain before diesels got complicated. But in fairness this petrol engine was OK - with proper maintenance it lasted to nearly 180K, and still had some life in it.

I've since moved on to a more modern Seat Toledo - in all honesty it is identical to the Golf and seems cheaper to run so far. But if you like VW of this generation, there are still plenty around, don't pay too much for one at this age or mileage, run it for a year then scrap it before it becomes a money pit.

Faults:

1. Front discs replaced. They were too noisy.

2. Central locking button stopped working; replaced under warranty.

3. Around 140.000 Km, the clutch pedal after driving for hours on the highway without pressure. It happened 3 or 4 times, and after pressing it several times, normal behaviour.

General Comments:

Great car, low fuel burner, low maintenance - a combat car!

Faults:

Water leak next to left hand sun visor.

Metal trim around the gear stick came off, exposing a very sharp aluminium sheet.

Pain peeling from the steering wheel.

Bubbles on plastic sheet for the gear stick plate.

Front windows don't auto close when the switch is clicked one.

Screen holding the plastic cover on the under tray came off.

Back cupholder mechanism disintegrated totally.

Airbag indicator lights up when there's nothing wrong with it.

General Comments:

The engine is great, and mates wonderfully to the DSG.

The car has plenty of torque and is responsive.

I am very disappointed with the quality of the materials used.

Car dealer service is very expensive.

You can read about my review here:

http://ontargetreviews.blogspot.com/2010/09/2005-vw-golf-tdi-20-comfortline.html

Faults:

Clutch burnt out rather early, right at 48,000 miles. This is odd considering my father and I are the only two drivers, and we are both very gentle and experienced drivers on a manual transmission. The dealership would not replace it under warranty as it is not a part that is covered. This was a $1,300 fix.

Some of the matte finish on the interior bits has started to rub off. It has only happened on the steering column trim and is therefore easy to miss.

Recently, the car had developed a rattling and squeaking noise from the engine, however this is just the result of one of the pulleys, which needs a tightening.

There was a recall on the cars with the Pumpe Duse engine (2004 - 2006 TDI models), however this was covered under warranty.

General Comments:

We have owned this car for five and a half years, and there is very little to indicate that the car isn't still brand new. It's been used for city commutes, long distance road trips, and for hauling music equipment and the car just soaks it all up. Even for a small car, it feels just as rock solid as any German car should.

The interior is functional and efficient, yet a little classier than what you'd find in a Civic or a Sentra. The materials are much nicer and everything just shows a great attention to detail. The factory sound system is impressive, with controls for bass, mids, and treble and great sound throughout. The seats are firm, yet comfortable though I wish leather was available. The velour upholstery is durable and comfortable enough though. Storage space is quite good, and grows tremendously if you fold the seats flat.

Steering effort is just heavy enough to be communicative and the ride is extremely comfortable, however those looking to carve corners will find too much body roll for their tastes.

The best part about the vehicle however, has to be the fuel economy. The best we've averaged was 50 miles per gallon on a trip from Atlanta to Washington D.C. In mixed driving, including a bit of spirited driving, we've averaged an easy 38 miles per gallon. The best part is that it does this without feeling like a slouch. It may only have 100 bhp, however the 177 lb.ft. of torque makes this car extremely peppy. It's easy to pull over and pass on the highway without having to drop down a gear. I won't go as far as to say it is a performance car or a hot hatch, but it certainly does a good job of feeling like it's quick.

I feel this car will go well over 200,000 miles. It offers great fuel economy, decent performance, a comfortable ride, all in a solidly engineered package. For those looking to save on fuel, I'd certainly recommend it over a Prius or one of those other econoboxes. The Golf TDI has quite a lot to offer!