2006 Volkswagen Golf TDI Comfortline review from Australia and New Zealand

Nothing.

I've had my 2.0 TDI Comfort-line for a year now and it was a good choice. The only thing that takes some getting used to is how the DSG works with the diesel right off the line. Because there is no torque converter, and you can't gun the engine and drop the clutch, the first 10 feet of progress are very sedate vs a petrol engine. Something to consider when trying to rush across a busy road, especially if you're on a hill start.

After you're moving the torque comes in big chunks and low revs, which makes the car very quiet and easy for long distance driving.

I don't bother trying to drive in a sporty manner though, as the cloud of diesel particulate left behind from 1st gear is a little embarrassing for a car that is so easy on CO2 and MPG in general (particularly visible at night).

Ride is german firm but compliant, not the slightest bit of crash or bang.

It has been fun to try to stretch a tank to the max, but the KMs predictor on the dash is very optimistic with a full tank, but perversely turns pessimistic half way through. Shrug. I get at least 650 kms out of a full tank with terribly inefficient city/shopping trip drives (hilly and short). Well over 1000 kms from a tank is doable on a long trip. Going to a gas station is literally a once a month event for us.

Long trips are not tiring in the Golf, I don't know why. Some/most cars are soporific after an hour but this isn't one of them. Maybe it is a personal thing, maybe the low revs and deeper sound of the diesel isn't as wearing to the brain? It just feels like it has long legs.

If I struggle to find something negative it would be that the wipers (front and rear) in their struggle to be intelligent and rain sensing can be difficult to turn off unless you've memorized the off position of the stalks! Knock them into some random setting - then turn them off, and they do a delayed sweep to "help" and so you try another position, which might squirt water, and the cycle repeats. OK so I'm stupid I should just memorize the off positions, but that isn't great ergonomic design..

..Same with the light sensing headlights and follow-me-home lights. Did I turn the lights off? really? I end up watching the car to make sure they time out. Doh! Maybe if I read the manual I could reassure myself that I won't come back to a flat battery.. but again, that isn't good ergonomics.

These are quibbles, though. This diesel mark V has been a reliable semi-luxurious flexible family car, looks good (although why do they push so many silver examples out?), lazy torque, quiet, good climate control..