Generally very rattly esp passenger side dash and front doors.
Front brake Discs warped and replaced by 12 000 miles.
Like every other vw I know, had 2 ignition coil packs fail resulting in 2 seperate breakdowns.
Central locking not unlocking all doors.
Rear wash wipe water pipe fell off 4 separate times resulting in water leaking into boot lock and setting the Cat1 alarm off continually every 15 - 20 minutes regardless of it being armed or not. (ongoing issue)
Rear thumping noise when on uneven road surfaces, sounds like a hollow knock.
Car makes some weird squeek/mild grinding noises when cornering anything, but lightest corners.
Basically I think the car likes to go back to the dealers on average every 2 to 3 months.
I am on my 3rd vw, after having a lupo sport (complete lemon) for a year. It was exchanged (free of charge) for a new 1, great customer service. Only to have the same problems with that 1 to exchange it for this golf... hmmm why did I bother I ask myself??
Engine seems quite noisy on motorway on any speeds above 60mph.
On a good note when the car is working with no faults it's a great drive, very smooth, great dials, competent 1.6 engine, and very good brakes and ABS.
Seems to get better with age, but don't think ill keep it long enough to find out if all the bugs disappear for good.
Residuals are good, but new mk5 could change that a bit.
Build quality seems to have slipped a bit from previous mk2's and mk3's.
Original author review.
Well after owning the vw golf for 18months, today I have had the joy of saying BYE BY after trading it in for a Ford Focus. (which has out done it in every aspect so far) its taken me along time to make this decision buts its one that has to be made for such an unreliable motor. (Another coil pack blew after I started the car for the first time after a two week holiday (that makes three, after I was told all 4 were replaced the last time!). That was the final straw!! The replacement car is cheaper, same insurance for a 1.8 engine compared to golfs 1.6, comes with more standard kit, fair enough it gets replaced next year, but hey the mk iv golf has elready been replaced!!! oh and the residuals are droppping, and fast amongst the retailers as they too now know the unreliability problems that vw/audi have has for the past couple of years! (my 1.6 se got 7.2k on trade in 02 reg 24.5k on the clock and that price came from a vw dealer!) Well I'm off to enjoy (fingers crossed) some much happier motoring. Hopefully no gripes will be in the ford section from this customer :P.
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