1995 Volkswagen Golf GTi from UK and Ireland - Comments

The electronic ABS controller went ballistic at 13,000 miles and was over-riding the normal braking system which was pretty hairy. VW sent two replacement controllers to the dealer which were also wrong.

The part cost over £400 without labour. VW would not accept that this was a whole-of-vehicle life, safety critical item and insisted on a token payment of some £23 to get a measly 1 year warranty on the part. I refused and the dealer paid it, bless him as he was as embarrassed with the VW attitude as I was angry.

Apart from the above, not much has gone wrong, but pretty boring all round.

I do not know what kind of cars you are used to, but unless you have driven Ferraris all your life, I don't know how can you say that a VW GTI is "pretty boring all round"...

I'm a Spanish rallye racer and, amongst others I own a VW Golf GTI (8v - 115CV), and even though it's not the best car I have driven/owned, nobody that has a minimum idea about cars, can say that is a boring car.

So long..

Try driving an Alfa 145 Cloverleaf, eats Golf GTIs for breakfast and has loads and loads of character. Gorgeous sound when you hit the high revs, great alt. to the Golf ;)

I have a good friend who has changed from a heavily modified, but getting old, Mk1 GTi to a tidy Mk3 Golf GTi 8v (for practical considerations).

Suffice it to say that he laments the sale of his Mk1 every time we go down the pub, and hankers after a decent Mk2 GTi as a possible replacement! Clearly the Mk3 has got a bit lardy.

I've got a '99 T reg Mk4 2.0 Golf GTI which as done just over 151000 and is still going strong on the original clutch, engine and even exhaust! This car may not be the fastest of the bunch by any means, but I am very impressed with its build quality. It hasn't been totally without its problems though, the water pump went at 82000 miles and I've had problems with the cooling fan wiring corroding, but nothing too serious yet.