2001 Volkswagen Golf GLS review from North America
"It's better than both North American and Japanese cars in its class"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The keys lost their programming shortly after purchasing the car. This of course is a little annoying, as it doesn't allow you to start the car.
The bulb that lights the climate control burnt out prematurely. Driver side mirror started to rust - this was replaced under warranty. Door hinges started to knock - Dealer tightened the hinges. During the winter, shifting gears is a nightmare - very stiff. 1st gear intermittently locks when trying to engage from a stop up-hill.
General comments?
Oil consumption was the absolute worst I had ever seen, until I realized that the dealer was putting in the WRONG oil. VW recommends 5w-40 (pure synthetic) oil as mentioned in the service manual. The dealer was putting in 10w-30 petroleum based. Once switching to 5w-40 (painfully expensive), oil consumption was normal. Apparently, 5w-40 is made exclusively for the new VW's!
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| You'd be better off taking the bus |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Year of manufacture | 2001 |
| First year of ownership | 2002 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0 petrol Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 9 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 10400 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 39800 kilometres |
| Previous car | Pontiac Firebird |
| Date of Entry | 22nd April, 2003 |