1999 Volkswagen Golf GTI Turbo review from UK and Ireland

The car has been completely reliable. This is despite driving it around London every day, stopping and starting in traffic and an enthusiasm for flooring it from the lights.

The performance is enjoyable, although not electrifying. The car is a bit too big to feel like a genuine hot hatch. In fact the handling feels a lot better than the acceleration.

I love the interior - black leather, blue dial lights and black wood make for a very comfortable ride.

I was amazed by so many other reviews complaining about rattles and dealer servicing - I have never had any problems with these. The only dealer in London (Scott's) seems to do the job well, even if it costs a fortune to have parts replaced (some idiot kicked my wing mirror off, and it cost around £500 to replace which I thought was ridiculous).

If it's out and out performance you want this is not the boy, but if you want a comfortable car that, when pushed, responds with some serious sparkle, then this is the one for you.

I would also add that I chose a Golf as London attracts distinctly dodgy people to anything resembling a "prestige" car (break-ins, keys down the paintwork etc). My Golf (no GTI badges) allows for a hassle-free experience, while sitting in it provides every mod/con you would get in a top-end vehicle.