2003 Volkswagen Golf GTi review from UK and Ireland

Central locking fault

Loose trim on B pillars

Poor idle quality when the engine gets warm

Damp patches on boot carpet after heavy rain.

After a promotion at work, I was so excited to change my car from a Focus 1.8 Zetec to this gorgeous looking turbocharged Golf. But 9 months on, I feel a bit short changed. Where the Focus was ten times better in reality than I was expecting, the Golf was nowhere near as good as I thought it would be.

It's not a bad car to drive. In fact, it's a very nice car to drive, being extremely comfortable and with a beautifully designed interior. The turbo engine is torquey and performs well, and delivers a wave of smooth, punchy acceleration in the midrange.

Here's the "but". It's no fun whatsoever. The steering and handling are not a patch on the Focus's, and despite the Golf being a sizeable amount quicker, I reckon the Focus would leave it for dead on a twisty road. The Golf feels nice when ambling, but up the pace on a typical British B-road and it quickly feels out of its depth. It wallows, bucks and understeers if you press it in the twisty bits. By comparison, the Focus felt alive and composed when driven enthusiastically.

Build and reliability have also transpired to be disappointing. For a car which initially appears so lovingly crafted, it's been a real let down. There are several squeaks and rattles inside, the central locking intermittently goes mad, the engine idles like a top fuel dragster in traffic, and the boot appears to have sprung a leak. Pretty shabby on a 9 month old car really, especially one on which the quality reputation is so hyped.

The biggest disappointment of all this though, is that despite that emotive combination of VW, Golf and GTI badges on the tailgate, and decent outright performance, the car is really quite boring to drive. Combined with the indifferent quality, and truly woeful dealers, it adds up to an unsatisfying disappointment. If I'd spent my own money on it, I would be depressed beyond words.