Faults:

Being a naturally aspirated diesel engine, acceleration is poor, making it slow on the highway or when loaded.

Hard cold starts and unstable idling, often related to the temperature sensor, injectors or wear of the Bosch VP37 injection pump.

Diesel leaks or loss of pressure over the years.

Occasional crankshaft sensor failures.

The EGR valve tends to accumulate carbon deposits, especially if used mainly in the city, leading to loss of power and smoke.

General Comments:

It's probably one of the slowest Golfs in history (maybe some diesel Golfs from the 80s or 90s are faster), but in terms of reliability and basic, cheap maintenance, I practically only have good things to say.

The car is dominated by very straight lines, especially on the dashboard, which is clearly inspired by the Volkswagen Passat (B5). The large size of the switches and buttons, making them easy to use, was a positive feature, as was their build quality. While the design is somewhat bland, the overall quality is above average for the segment.

The engine is a naturally aspirated diesel (the last one Volkswagen made, if I'm not mistaken), a four-cylinder unit in a transverse front position with a displacement of 2,000 cc, producing an "exorbitant" maximum power of 68 hp at 4,200 RPM, and a maximum torque of 133 Nm at 2,200-2,600 RPM. There's no error in these figures; they are correct, keeping in mind that it was a naturally aspirated engine.

The engine is slow and makes overtaking difficult on the highway, although it doesn't hinder traffic at all and it performs more than well in the city.

The Golf I have isn't the most basic version, but it only has air conditioning and electric front windows (what more could you want in a car like this?). The suspension is good, the brakes are excellent, and like almost all VWs, the seats are a bit firm, but you get used to them once you warm up to them.

For anyone wanting a cheap and reliable option for mostly urban use, this car is ideal. If you drive it sensibly, fuel consumption can be incredibly low. That, combined with its great reliability and easy maintenance, makes it my second car to this day.

Faults:

Driver's side window got stuck and wouldn't go up; fixed with a bit of silicone spray.

A couple of bulbs have failed.

The car wasn't idling with the air con turned on. Eventually found out that it needed a new throttle body.

The carpets unfortunately seem to get wet at times; have yet to figure out where water is getting into the car.

General Comments:

Cheap to maintain and cheap to buy.

If you cannot afford to spend much on buying a car and you're looking for simple transport to get from point A to point B, and a car that you can easily maintain yourself at home, then I would definitely recommend a Citi Golf. Just make sure you get one with a working air conditioner.

Faults:

Air-con failure, common on MkV Golfs, fixed under warranty.

Electronic sensor issue, engine in limp home mode, fixed under warranty.

General Comments:

Excellent car to drive. DSG is a great thing, intuitive, super-fast shifts, excellent paddle shift function.

Sharp steering, slightly void of feel, but very nice to use.

Beautifully made interior, great sound system, just all-round excellence.

Running costs, however, for something meant to be the "people's car," were ridiculous. Dealer servicing was immensely expensive, non-dealer servicing was slightly less immensely expensive, but still expensive. The only downside to the ownership experience was service time, watching the wallet empty.