1991 Volkswagen Golf 4+E review from UK and Ireland

Work that needed doing was carried out before I bought the car, I will include this as a point of interest- it had a new head gasket at 100,000 miles and new pair of front struts. all I've done to it is service it.

From the last year of mk2 golf production, the car shows its age compared to contemporary 1991 vehicles- the mk2 is basically a development of the mk1 of 1974-it betrays its age by the high upright driving position and the tall boxy shape. I do not find this a problem as the car is an absolute doddle to park, you can tell where the outer extremities are unlike the slippery jellymould shapes of today.

Not a performance car and you wouldn't expect it to be with only a 1300 engine, but it gives a good account of itself, only really struggling with the high fifth gear on hills. at all other times it keeps up with traffic no problem.

I was initially dissapointed with the handling, its not really what I would expect from a small FWD wheel at each corner design, with body roll evident and understeer present. accepted as just a bog standard grocery getter, the car is a great all rounder with the advantage of 40 mpg fuel consumption. just don't convince yourself that it's a GTi and you'll get along fine.

Luggage and passenger accomadation is not bad for such a small car, again a virtue of the upright design.

mine's just gone past 115000 miles and still runs as sweet as a nut, with no oil burning or rattles etc. I can see why these were so popular for so many years, its just an amazingly competant car.