2003 Volkswagen Golf SE review from UK and Ireland

Leaking washer bottle

Intermittent fault with nearside indicator quitting for several seconds at a time.

Several dash warning lights sometimes come on dimly when reverse gear is engaged with the headlights on. Needless to say never when the dealer looks at it.

One of the heater vents has gone "floppy" and won't stay in position.

Central locking doesn't work properly - rear door sometimes unlocks instead of the drivers door.

Trim around the C-pillars and the centre console squeaks like a demented mouse.

Engine consumes oil at the rate of a litre every 1,000 miles

Ignition coil burned out leaving me stranded.

I was so disgusted with this car and with VW that after several letters back and forth to VW, the dealer service manager, and my solicitor, a deal was agreed for the car to be taken off my hands, less 11,000 miles worth of depreciation. I still wait to hear about being compensated for my inconvenience.

This is my fourth new-purchased Golf (two mk2's and a mk3) and all have been faultless, but this mk4 was a joke. It's a lovely car to drive, but what has happened to VW's build quality? How do they dare continue to charge their traditional premium prices when their products have, on this evidence, degraded into such junk?

I now drive a Ford Focus, with which I am delighted so far. The same outlay bought a bigger 1.8 litre engine and a higher specification. Moreover after 3 months it has not had a single thing go wrong with it which immediately puts it in my good graces. Whether I choose to stick with Ford for my next car remains to be seen, but I will certainly never buy another VW.