2003 Volkswagen Golf GLS review from North America
"A miserly highway cruiser"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The radio (Premium Monsoon) decided to die at about 15,000 miles, luckily it was under warranty and was fixed for no charge.
General comments?
For a diesel, this baby is really a blast to drive!
The steering is nice and firm, but when you push her hard, she understeers like a pig (safe, but boring). There is also a fair amount of body roll present, but it is controlled and acceptable (much like that of an Alfa Romeo.)
The 5-speed transmission also felt very notchy at first, especailly when the car was cold. It has improved vastly however, and now feels just about "perfect."
On the freeway is where this car really starts to shine, I can get 65+ miles to the gallon if I drive it like an old person and pump up the tires a fair bit. Why buy a boring hybrid when you can have one of these?
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| 2002 - Golf 4-door w/sport package 1.7 TDI turbo diesel Snappy speed and handling, but MASSIVE fuel economy!!! |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 2003 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2004 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.9L TDI Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 9 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 0 miles |
| Most recent distance | 30000 miles |
| Previous car | Volkswagen Golf |
| Date of Entry | 11th February, 2004 |