Volkswagen Golf consumer car reviews and road tests

Volkswagen Golf 1.2 tsi s 2012

I bought my wife the 1.2 tsi s , 85 bhp on a 2012 plate. We were both very surprised at how well it drove as it was very nimble through the gears and as solid a ride as we would expect from a quality German car. We previously owned a 2006 BMW 318 and were shocked that we felt no difference in power and our BMW was a very low mileage car with full BMW service history. There are not a great deal of extras with the Golf, but we are happy with the extras it came with for a car that has 10000 miles on the clock but still feels like it’s come straight out of the showroom. We only cover about 40000 miles a year so were told by our VW dealership that this car would suit us. We would highly recommend this car to anybody that is thinking of buying a VW Golf, you will very surprised, as we were when we first drove it. A great car.

Volkswagen Golf 2.0 gt tdi 16v 2005

Bought my car when it was a year old and had 17000miles on the clock. The leather interior is good, comfortable and still looks sharp for 8 years old. It now has done 115,000 miles. I have replaced the timing belt, alarm siren, egr valve and flap motor, rear brake pads, number plate bulb and one brake light bulb. VW recommend servicing at 20,000miles. I change the oil and filter three times a year and so far mine seems to have avoided turbo problems. I had the car remapped with bluefin (170 bhp) three years ago. I’m happy with my purchase and would buy within the VAG group again.

Volkswagen Golf GT Tdi 140bhp 2004

Felt I needed to provide an alternative review to the doom and gloom I have just read. I bought my car from new from Spirit in Banbury. It has now done 145,000 miles and up until the last service had been serviced exclusively by them. Services come up on a variable basis, but tend to be every 18,000 miles and roughly every year. Aside from scheduled work the only two things I have had to replace are a turbo at 90,000 (this replacement from Turbo Technics has been quietly whining now for the last 40,000 miles and still going strong so not necessarily a sign its going to go!) and a fuel pump at 143,000 miles. That to me says this is a reliable car. Next things to replace are the shocks, roll bar bushes and springs, but at this mileage you would expect that. I find the seats the most comfortable next to Recaros I have sat in, the handling very precise and predictable (would recommend always use Continental Sport Contact 2 to get the best all weather performance - I get about 18,000 out of a front set) and even now, with the shocks and bushes well past it, the only thing I get is a little under steer and movement on bumps. No Dual Mass Flywheel replacement as yet, so given that back in my days of owning my first cars you were lucky if a clutch made it to 80,000 this feels very robust to me. I did have to replace one in my Alhambrah recently at 120,000 miles, but that was after 10 years of hauling 2 adults and 4 children around including numerous trips to France and camping in the UK, so again I feel that was good reliability from a VW part and not something I would expect a recall on. The whole package is just a dream to drive and live with. I would recommend this car to anyone.

Volkswagen Golf 1.9tdi sport 2006

Having just got a low mileage golf at 40k. I hope that it will keep going for a few more miles yet as it seems a very comfortable car to drive and a lot quicker and less gear changing than my previous Vauxhall Astra 1.3 cdti, which expired in a big way. To date I am quite pleased with the Golf. I will change the cam belt very soon and 10 k servicing. This is the first VW I have owned in 40 years of motoring, I also run a Morris Minor and a 1957 Wolseley 1500, which give no problems. Will the VW last as long?

Volkswagen Golf 1.6 tdi match 105 2012

Had the car since June 2012. My old Golf was 1.9 tdi 90 bop, this new Golf mk6 is so so much better to drive. The cornering is great, it holds the road well and it’s now fun to drive, I love it. Don’t get me wrong, the 2 litre is a better engine and quicker, but I wanted better mpg and the road tax is only £30 a year. I can’t fault this cat at all the only niggle is the mpg; I used to get 62mpg easy on my old 2001 diesel Golf, but with this new 1.6 I’m lucky to get 52mpg, which is really disappointing to me as this is 11 years younger than my old golf. I suppose the fun I have driving it makes up fo that. I’ve gone for the blackened glass, looks good and gives a sporty look. Please look at the reveiws though on the new VW mk7 it looks even better. Wow, those Germans are very clever. Also a mate showed me his new Seat car; same engine, but when I closed the door no way did it sound like a golf!

Volkswagen Golf TDi 100bhp 2003

Hi all. I’m another owner of a 100bhp Golf and these things just seem to be bomb proof!! I’ve read a lot of horror reviews on the mk5 Golfs with no amount of problems that owners seem to have had with them, whereas these Mk4`s certainly seem better made and in 9 years I’ve had no problems whatsoever! Goodness knows what they’re made of, but I’ve owned lots of cars since 1971 and this thing seems to chug on forever and ever, and ever...and ever! For instance the battery; most of us have had to replace these at some time or another and usually after 3 years, but the thing in mine is 9 years old with a car that’s done 120,000 miles and it’s still going!! How on earth is that possible?? I think the biggest problem us owners of these tanks is going to be, what on earth are we going to do when we come to replace them?? If you’re browsing these forums to do your homework on these because youre looking to buy one, find as low a milage one that you can and pay whatever they’re asking for it! You won’t regret it and if you can find one like mine with the 20,000 ml / 2 years between servicing you’ll be laughing!

Volkswagen Golf Match 1.6 diesel 2011

I have been getting condensation inside the car in frosty weather and I’m having to scrape ice from inside the windows!

Responses to this review

Sounds like the same problem I have with my MK6 2.0TDi Bluemotion. I have to sit for quarter of an hour with aircon on, de-mister running full blast and it still doesn’t clear it. Kind of defeats the point of having a super economical car. VW say there’s nothing wrong but never had a car as bad as this for this problem. Also generally disappointed with build quality and the economy isn’t that great either. It’s a company car so I’m stuck with it now for a few more years, wish I had my BMW back - Graham Booth from Yorkshire

Volkswagen Golf GT TDi 1998

Bought from a friend in 2008 with 120,000 miles on the clock and a well-worn interior. I paid £500 intending to keep it a year, chuck it in the skip, then buy another cheapo, since the only thing I use a car for is a 40 mile daily commute. Pleasure driving is a thing of the past. I had it serviced when I bought it, but the oil filter wasn’t put on properly (not that I knew at the time). A few months later, the engine became noisy and we discovered that there was less than a litre of oil in it. I changed the filter, topped it up with oil and waited for it to die. It’s now at 170,000 miles, has had all of four tyres, front brake pads and two more oil changes, and still it refuses to die. It returns a tank average of 62mpg if the onboard computer is to believed, although my maths puts it at nearer 55mpg (50mph commute in single lane traffic tops). I absolutely cannot fault this car. The acceleration is pokey enough on the rare occasion there isn’t a HGV in front of me. Some bloke hit the mirror assembly while I was parked, and it flew into pieces - but nothing broke. It was just a case of clicking everything back into place. Looks well-worn, sounds hideous thanks to the engine damage from running low on oil, but continues to chug along without a problem.

Volkswagen Golf TDi 100bhp 2003

Hi! I’ve been running this for 8 years now and it’s cost me absolutely nothing except for two headlight bulbs! It’s the 20,000 mile or two years servicing model, so even those costs have been kept to a minimum! Seriously, I don`t know if the build quality was better on these variants or what, because I’m reading the horror stories of fly wheels and turbos going wrong on the Mk5’s and the costs of the parts are seriously worrying! I’ve done 110,000 trouble free miles and averaged 50mpg (I did get 68.7 once) in what feels like a Tiger tank it’s so well built! Just a little tip about cam belt renewal and pricing: Apparently when you do change it replace the rollers and the water pump at the same time. Now the interesting part: I was quoted by 3 local garages £425.00 to £469.00 to do this work and supply the parts. The VW main agents quoted £399.00 in Jan 2012, obviously cheaper and this is exactly what they charged me at 60,000mls in 2007!

Volkswagen Golf 2.0TDI Bluemotion Tech Match 2011

No problem giving it 5 stars as it is such a nice place to be, especially when I sometimes top a 1,000 miles in a week. The average economy since new is showing as 64.4, and no I don’t drive like a granny just sensibly. It surprises people just how big the interior is and comfortably seats 5 adults, the boot for me is adequate. Things that have gone wrong: The horn is down to just the high pitch and it is unfortunately easy to stall, but the stop-start mech minimises embarrassment.

Volkswagen Golf 1986

I love this car, it’s easy to work on and gets around 46-65 mpg. The only thing is people need to remember is to add some kind of diesel fuel additive to the fuel. The new age fuel doesn’t have oil that the fuel injectors need and it will burn them up. I paid 600 bucks for my Golf in June ’11 and put over 8k on the clock. A very low maintenance car.

Volkswagen Golf golf 2.0 tdi se 2009

I got this VW through motability and have now had it for nearly 3 yrs. It is so good that I have decided to keep it another 2yrs rather than get a new car, which I am due in March 2012. The reason being, it gives me 55mpg around town and I have had 70mpg on the motorway. I also tow a caravan and it regularly gives me 47.4mpg when towing. It is so quiet and comfortable, also the power it delivers is outstanding (thumbs up VW ideal).

Volkswagen Golf bluemotion 1.6tdi automatic 2011

I have had my car since mid-sept 2011. VW say the mpg should be 72mpg, but I am only getting 46mpg. The car has been in to VW twice, they took the car for a test drive and said they can only get 46mpg and then said the car is running ok. So why are they selling golf 1.6tdi automatic bluemotion tecs at 72mpg when their own tests can not get that mpg? They say it’s down to bad roads and poor weather and bad driving. Well if that is the case then don’t sell VW in England. One good point is the car is great to drive and the road tax is low. My advice is to stay away from eco cars as they’re a waste of money.

Volkswagen Golf TDi GT 2008

Best car I’ve ever owned, it’s my first venture with VW after 10+ years with several Ford Focus and I just can’t fault it. The 2L TDi pulls like a train with the six-speed box averaging 52mpg; if I’m really careful I’ve had it up to 65mpg. It took a long time to find one with the GT spec but worth the wait, especially as I didn’t want leather upholstery. The only trouble I had was getting insurance for it as I’m an advanced driving instructor working for the police. I’ll buy another next time around.

Volkswagen Golf Tdi SE 2001

I brought my Golf in 2003, it had already done 90,000 miles but good advice from my dad convinced me to buy it and I have never looked back. A great drive, pulls like a train, sounds like a diesel. I drove it through drift snow in the highlands, black ice, heavy rain in the heat of summer, up hills, down valleys. I service every 6,000 miles half and full service. Fuel consumption is 55 to the gallon straight roads and 45 to the gallon around town. I have drove in one run over 700 miles in this car very comfortable and bomb proof reliability on the road. Only downside is VW garages have total rubbish service. My Golf is now at 170,000 miles and still going and just past its 5th out of 8 faults three MOTs in. All in all, an absolutely fantastic car.

Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion 2011

Excellent car and no road tax with 59 mpg, I cannot see myself buying any other car from a Volkswagen.

Volkswagen Golf GT TDi 170 2008

I am a driving instructor and I use my Golf as my driving school’s teaching car. The first thing I can say about this car is that it certainly does pull like a train, only when you have it in the appropriate gear though because it does lag for 1-2 seconds. But, on the downside, the Recaro bucket seats in the front can become uncomfortable if you’ve been driving for more than 1 hour. Because of the high mileage and the number of students that have driven this car, it has developed a few problems such as; when the car is in 2nd gear, the gear stick will rattle and bounce about. Also, the clutch has a high biting point which is very difficult to find and hold. Contrary to some reviews, the clutch does need to be replaced quite regularly.

Volkswagen Golf Match 1.4 TSi 122 2011

I actually work for Volkswagen so it almost goes without saying that I think they’re great. But I genuinely believe this car is the best I have ever driven. I’ve driven nearly our whole range of cars from the Polo to the Toureg and yet I can’t get over how well this car performs! I love it. It pulls very well from any gear with the supercharger and turbo working in perfect harmony to give you a real buzz when driving it. The comfort of the car is outstanding as well. You can drive for endless miles, yet you don’t start feeling uncomfortable after sitting in the same position for hours on end like you do in other cars. Personally I love this car and would recommend it to anyone.

Responses to this review

If you work for VW, you should know that the 122bhp version does not have a supercharger - Boris Blank from England

What a wally! It does have a turbo supercharger. The 80 ps are direct injection. Do your homework - Rob from Dorset

Volkswagen Golf GT TDI 180 2004

I bought my Golf from a salvage yard with no damage just needed a new lock and engine as it had been stolen then thrashed to the point of engine blowing up! So I put new engine in and have now been driving it for over 6 months now! The only issue I have had is with changing the brake discs and pads! She drives fantastic, pulls like a train, great on fuel and motorway journeys are a dream! I’ve read a few bad reviews and it appears the main gripes are with dealers and their poor customer service, and I have to say that it doesn’t surprise me. I had a 1.6 mk5 Golf petrol that had a gearbox issue and the local dealer was crap! Never once took responsibility and the service received was very below par! However my MK5 TDI has been great and I avoid dealers now as much as possible as they are all as bad as each other!

Volkswagen Golf 1.6 FSI 2007

This is my third Gold 1.6 FSI. It is only four years old, but the gearbox sounds like a washing machine with loose change rattling around. Not happy! 

Responses to this review

I too had trouble with my Golf plus 2007 gearbox. The VW dealer said that the gearbox needed replacing which was rubbish. Local garage fixed problem. Adjusted gear linkage/cables & replaced gear oil cost £88 - Anne Troughton from Hertfordshire

Volkswagen Golf Bluemotion 2010

I have had the first service done at 29500 km according to the service indicator in the dash. Car is running well mechanically but interior buzzes and vibrations are ruining my ownership experience of the car. Have complained to dealer and I am waiting for their response.

Responses to this review

Issues with car are resolved, speed and rev counter unit replaced creaking from doors cured with WD40 - Noel Freeman from Ireland

Volkswagen Golf 2009

Very disappointed after all the hype from the motoring journals telling me how good the car was. Seems solid and well built however dreadful road noise on coarse surfaces, woolly gearchange and far too easy to stall the car - no power just off idle. After 19k miles the timing chain jumped seven teeth (!) and blew the engine. Would I get another? No.

Responses to this review

I completely agree with this review. We’ve had two of the 1.6 tdi BlueMotions for nearly two years now on lease and the usual average with steady driving would be approx 50 mpg. Glad we hadn’t bought them  - Stewart Collinson from England

Volkswagen Golf Bluemotion 2010

Have done about 24000 km in the last 8 months car is very easy on diesel showing an average of 4.4 liters per 100km now that the weather is getting warmer. Have had 2 punctures which fortunately the pump supplied with the car was able to inflate. There is no spare tyre. Apart from a stone getting caught in a front brake disc the only thing that has broken was one of the stays supporting the rear parcel shelf they are a bit flimsy. Overall very happy with the car.

Volkswagen Golf 2011

This is a top car, good quality all-round with a great range of technology and gadgets. Great sturdy car drive, very quiet engine.

Volkswagen Golf tsi 1.4 match 2011

Got my first VW ever 3 weeks ago, a brand new Tsi 1.4 match, which I was able to get under motability and so far I am very pleased with it. It has all the toys parking sensors, dab radio, 6 speed gearbox etc, and is a very smooth quiet driving car, in fact at traffic lights I found that sometimes I had to look at the rev counter to make sure the engine was actually running!! I’m not doing big mileage, but on a run to my brothers last week of 230 miles it showed how refined it was with the cruise control making for a very relaxing drive. When I picked up the car at the dealers and the salesman was showing me how it all worked he mentioned the glove box being cooled when the aircon was on, I jokingly said it will keep my bottles of beer cool and he opened the tray between the seats and showed me the VW marked bottle opener inside!! Any gripes? Few that are VW’s fault; the seating is much lower that my old Focus C-Max, but the golf’s seats are supremely comfortable for my spine, in fact the only irritating thing is the light on the dash that shows an arrow telling you when to change up or down gear, but a small sticker over it cured that. would I recommend one? Absolutely although not cheap by any means, mine came out at over £18,000, but the quality is very much there and well worth the wait.

Volkswagen Golf 2007

It’s a 57 plate and is amazing! Lots of low down torque and mated to a 6spd manual. It’s a sexual car.

Volkswagen Golf TDI GT SPORT 170 DPF 2008

Great car when it’s working as it should. Lots of power and torque in every gear. The Diesel Particle Filter DPF is useless especially when driving around town. At an urban speed 30-40mph the exhaust doesn’t get up to the correct temperature for the carbon deposits to burn away so after a while it blocks and a sensor sets off a dash warning light and you either drive like a mad person to ’solve’ the problem or go to VW to resinate it for you £109+ vat. Even a VW tech told me the DPF is not designed for city driving or low speed driving!! My pal has this problem with his 2011 Golf too!! overall 3/5 is being nice Probably wouldn’t buy another VW especially a diesel.

Volkswagen Golf 1.9 TDi 2007

In all my years of driving I have always (but of one Ford) driven a VW. This was because I held viewpoint that German enginering is tops and German cars have no match for reliability and solid engineering. How wrong was I with this car! At 83,000 miles the dual mass flywheel has gone and requires a replacement, only 4 months after the dealer warranty ran out (how do they time that so well?). To say that I am grievously disappointed would be understatement of note - a reliability catastrophe of this magnitude on something as basic as a flywheel? The dealer garage said its a common fault on the 1.9TDi models and manifest after a few years. Great! So who knows what faults manifest on the new VWs that you buy today? With my wife’s Mercedes suffering an aircon failure (£1000 plus repair bill) I am deeply disappointed in German cars and I am wondering where to turn to next.

Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTTDi 140 2008

Bought my ex-demo Golf 2.0 TDi 140 on December 2008, by December 2009 it had a new clutch, flywheel, air con unit and instrument unit for speed ometer etc.. I wish I never bought it in the first place, VW customer services are apalling! I found the dealer quite rude/ in your face when I confronted them about the problems. I know a few people who have bought a Mk5 Golf and have also experienced problems but after reading all the reviews and videos on What Car I thought it would be a good choice, HOW WRONG WAS I! It makes my old Renault Megane look reliable, and that didn’t ever have problems as big as the Golf! After reading reviews and hearing problems from other I will most definitely never buy a VW again.

Volkswagen Golf 2005

Hi, I have a mark 5 golf gt tdi 140 all (mark 5 golf tdi) these cars suffer really terribly for turbo failures. Spoke to a vw tech and he said they were fitting 3 to 4 turbos a week and also they keep the parts in stock. What I have being told is you get a police siren sort of noise and then it eventually goes, very expensive job. The turbo is not big enough for the car, this should be a recall and all fitted foc by VW UK.

Responses to this review

I have a VW Golf 1.9tdi 150,000kms 2006 model. Pull 2.5 ton on a nugent trailer, I have never had a problem yet. Also have caddy van pulls heavy loads also. No problems - Thomas Carr from Ireland

Volkswagen Golf 140 GT SPORT TDI DSG 2008

Having considered a Honda Civic Ctdi, I bought a Golf GT Sport with DSG gearbox, since the car felt more solid and heavier. The doors close with a satisfying cluck. Centre console has an armrest, large cup holders, and the door bins are massive. Large enough to hold a 1.5 litre mineral water bottle. The leather seats are very comfortable and the heated seats a godsend in cold weather. The gearbox is amazingly slick under full acceleration and the gear changes are lighting quick. However when the car is coming to a rest, the change down is less smooth, and you feel a sudden jolt. Same same jolt is felt when pulling off, this is overcome only by a very gentle left foot, so much so would be a nuisance to other drivers following you. The diesel engine is unrefined, noisy, intrusive, not too different to a transit van. The constant drone of the diesel is somewhat overwhelming. I normally arrive at destination rather flustered, I wish I had bought a Honda Civic.

Responses to this review

Sounds like the mechatronic control unit in the dsg gearbox is on its way out. There really shouldn’t be any real jolts, I would have that looked at when you get the time - Phil Allcroft from Nottinghamshire

Volkswagen Golf 140 gtd 2006

Bought an ex-demo 140 GTD Golf, well spec’d. Bought as a car to keep after a few Afla’s which didnt last. On the plus side, quick enough, good MPG (60). On the down side, alloys are peeling and blistering. Last service found leaking front shock, lipped rear discs, air bag fault in passenger seat (seat out, cover off to fix). worst of all broken air con pump £1.5k to fix!!! VW will not even cover the cost of the parts, yet this is a common fault. Disappionting for the money. Not sure I would buy another one.

Volkswagen Golf Blue Motion 2009

Quiet and comfy. Solidly built. Typical Golf! Fuel economy - the main sales pitch - was a total letdown. The manufacturer could not improve it and insisted there was no fault with it. Over 7500 miles of gentle driving it averaged only 48 mpg and most disappointingly on long runs seldom got significantly over 50. Overall I thought it failed to do what the ads said and sold it within 9 months.

Volkswagen Golf 2L TDI 140 2008

Excellent car. Had for 3 years. Yes, the alloys can - not always - go "milky". It needs man handling in diesel form but repays with gutsy performance and when needed, amazingly good fuel consumption, 70+ mpg easily available when driven sensibly. Handling also very confident and B roads can be real fun. Good on the motorway, cruises very smoothly and quietly.

Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GT Tdi 2010

Having driven Toyota cars for the last 4 years, which were very reliable, I’ve just changed to a Golf 2.0 GT Tdi and cannot believe its excellence in every respect. It is comfortable, easy to drive and economical with all the extras I require. This is the first car that I actually enjoy driving, and my partner now has to be passenger most of the time!

Volkswagen Golf TDI 140 2010

Potentially a very good car, engine and chassis very good. Lots of silly gimmicks like the chrome bezel round the air vent reflecting in the RH outside mirror. Circular dials ok but the ’computer’ area between them is a jumbled mess. Main and very serious fault is the terrible road roar on coarse surfaces. V tiring on a long journey. Needs some damping in the roof, which of course one cannot do easily. Would a change of tyres help??? The nearly-new market dominated by ex-VW vehicles, all of which seem to be black or silver with black interiors. Forecourts look like undertakers’ car parks. My eight year old TDI 130 had much better quality interior trim and was more comfortable.

Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDi GTD 2006

I have recently bought a 56 plate 2.0 TDi GTD and I love it, the car is in immaculate condition and I am a very proud owner. The Golf in general is a great car and VW seem to hold onto their value well. The only annoying thing about it is that the automatic windscreen wipers seem to have a mind of their own, they even attacked a lad trying to wash my car, that certainly woke him up.

Responses to this review

There is no such car as a 2006 GTD you must have the MK5 GT Sport - John Jameson from England

Well John, Aaron obviously means he has a 2006 2.0 GT TDI Golf! - Ciaran from County Armagh

Volkswagen Golf gti 2.0l 1996

In 2 years/12k miles of ownership the car has been the epitome of reliablity. Keep it serviced and it’s a solid motor. Can’t fault it.

Volkswagen Golf 2.0 Tdi 2006

Something I’ve wanted for the last 10 years probably so bought it second hand with low mileage and a good service history. It drives like a dream, I especially like the 6 gears and the way it accelerates out of tight spots/away from the traffic lights! Apparently I look quite menacing when following someone as it’s black but it suits me perfectly - the only annoying thing it has a single slot cd and the variable speed (automatic) windscreen wipers. Hopefully though the music system will soon be upgraded........

Volkswagen Golf 2003

Having had 2 brand new Ka’s in recent years I needed something bigger and more sturdy, so due to finances, opted for a second hand VW Golf DTi this time. The man at the garage said it would be the best car I would ever own and he was right. She is diesel fuelled for a start, having never owned a diesel I am amazed how economic she is. The 4 door design is spot on for getting my twin grandsons in and out with ample boot space for their paraphenalia. She handles well and I feel safe even when driving in some of the poor weather conditions we have experienced of late. There are a couple of areas on the paintwok that need touching up due to bubbles but otherwise she is a cracking little car. The only complaints I have are that the heater takes a good five minutes to get the car warm inside and the windscreen takes a while to clear on cold mornings (why manufacturers don’t put in heated front windscreens is beyond me!). In all, a good reliable car and if I ever was in the position to buy new again, a Golf DTi would be my first choice by far!

Responses to this review

What’s all this "she" nonsense. That description is reserved for ships and women - David Wood from Durham

Volkswagen Golf 2005

I bought a VW Golf gt tdi 1 year ago. I took it to the dealer who told me my clutch and flywheel has gone and is gonna cost me £1250. I know this is a common fault and VW should recall all Mark 5 Golfs. Anybody who has a Mark 5 Golf should make sure VW UK are aware and I think this is could be a watch dog issue.

Responses to this review

Same with me mate. Bought a 2007 2.0 tdi sport 140. Flywheel and clutch at over £1,200! Trying to get a goodwill payment with no success - Mark Cunningham from County Tyrone

If you don’t watch your turbo will go aswell! I had to replace mine because apparently you’re not allowed to drive a sport slow or you’ll clog up the turbo. And as the same as you I’ll have to replace the flywheel and gear box. but it’s not too bad yet! It just had a really crap last owner who drove the car real slow and was sh*t at changing gears and now I am paying for it! - Dermot Brennan from County Londonderry

I would never buy an mk5 Golf again! Had a new gearbox, while they had it out, the garage saw it needed a new clutch and flywheel (flywheel was replaced on a recall in 2006). Two months on, just been told it sounds like my turbo is on its way out. VW didn’t want to know regarding the gearbox, they said it’s unlucky, more like people aren’t going through the dealership to fix these high priced problems! - Kelly R from Cambridgeshire

Volkswagen Golf GT TDI 170 2006

I have had this car 2 weeks now as a company car,it was used by a colleague at head office previously and has done 36000 miles. Fuel economy seems poor as it is hard work to get over 40mpg and I don’t thrash it. Also when stationary and in slow moving traffic exhaust fumes can be smelt in the cabin and from outside when standing near the car, anyone with any ideas as to what is the problem?

Responses to this review

Did you ever find out the answer to this? My girlfriend seems to have the same problem with her Polo - Carlos Fidel from England

My 2010 Golf BlueMotion has the same problem with exhaust fumes when idle. Volkswagen looked at the problem and called me a liar! It’s still happening - Micky White from England

Volkswagen Golf Motion 4 TD 2.0 2005

This has to be one of the most boring and annoying cars to live with. When i test drove it i loved it, that soon changed after i bought one!!. The cabin area must be one of the most boring places to sit in, the seats are as comfortable as sitting on the road and the the plastics look so drab and boring. There’s a huge gap lower down the dashboard that really looks awful, when driving on a motorway the wind and road noise is deafening, i can’t hear myself think. Don’t be taken in by the drive when you first drive it and the looks, it will feel and looks dated in no time. Finally the Motion 4 system is horrendous, last christmas I stopped on my steep driveway covered on snow and tried to drive up it hoping the systme would kick in and get me up it but it didn’t. Instead, a few weeks later when I was on my way home from work and it decided to kick in when I was doing 70, it made the biggest clunk/ bang i have ever heard. Stay away, no matter how much you like this car.

Responses to this review

I bought a Golf 2-litre tdi 4 motion (’06 model) in July 11. 43,000 miles on the clock, full VW service history. Purchased a very expensive warrantly from warranty direct (over £400 to cover all eventualities). ECU light and a light on the clock came on. took it into the VW garage (as warranty was for franchised dealer), Haldex pump gone - over £500 to fix (for some reason the warranty covers the transmission/gears but not this particular item). Worse to come, today VW garage back on to say that the pump had not sorted the problem & now needs an ecu, additional cost again of over £500. This car has only done 46,000 miles, (3,000 miles since its last VW service) is this a common fault on the 4 motion Golf. I note the previous owner had to have a new clutch in at 40,000 miles. Have I just been unlucky or is the Golf now an unreliable car? - Colin Benn from Cumberland

Volkswagen Golf 1.9tdi dsg 2008

Having previously owned a VW Polo, which had been 100% reliable I chose a VW Golf TDI DSG for it’s replacement at my driving school. Now I’m wondering what the hell just hit me! And im stuck with it for 3years! I’ve not the time to list all the problems I’ve had with it. I’ve owned it just over a year and it has already cost me over £1500 in repairs and then there is VW main dealer service - wow that’s painful! VW, what happend? You need to spend money to build a good car. I think I will look at a Ford Focus next.

Responses to this review

Main VW dealer screwing me for replacement clutch. Had a problem selecting reverse gear so booked it into dealer. 3 days before it was due to go in I had difficulty selecting rest of the gears. Gearbox went totally kaput while giving a driving lesson. The dealer checked the gearbox and claims the clutch worn to rivits; funny though, never had any clutch slip and the bite never moved a fraction up,always thought the bite changed and clutch slipped when clutch begins to wear? Will never trust VW again marks out of 10? Eff all!! - Gavin Paterson from Lanarkshire

Volkswagen Golf SE 1.4 TSI DSG 2009

Volkswagen engineering is rather special. There’s something that manifests itself in all their products. It is something that implies a meticulous attention to detail and to finish - an innate compulsion to be absolutely thorough. The painstaking design and workmanship produces very convincing models indeed - and none more so than the new Golf SE Mk6 in 1.4litre TSi form. Looking impressively solid in steel grey metallic, the test Golf was dressed as expensively,soberly and inconspicuously as any Brummel could desire. There were no splashes of meretricious plastic chrome and stick-on decals or other trumpery tricks from the merchandising departments armoury of deceptions.The car endowed dignity upon its users through the absence of puffed up glitter. Fondly supposed to need little improvement, VW has undoubtedly kept the Golf to the highest standards,refusing in any way to compromise the ’gentleman that it has become after six generations - unlike other manufacturers who think it’s much more fun to become a rake.VW has carefully controlled the Golf’s evolution and built on the best of previous models to take the Golf to a level where it is a better car than most supposed ’prestige’ rivals. Having established itself over many years as the very apotheosis of the dependable and inspiring hatchback, this archetypal model has much to live up to.Now in a ’derived’ form that is clearly related, the Golf must surely go down in history as one of the noblest cars in the Volkswagen saga, where subtle change to shape and substance reflect consumate virtues and an air of timeless ’rightness’. It is, to put it mildly, a most accomplished car and I’m pleased to report to you that the virtues of the Golf are still inimitable and indispensable. No wonder twenty six million have been sold since 1974. The SE 1.4 TSI 122PS 5dr with 7speed DSG transmission tested,(with a basic price of £17,885.). certainly perpetuates the Golf Stream in whose balmy benevolence we lucky motorists have basked for many a year now. This TSI engine variant is turbocharged only, but more powerful units have both supercharging and turbocharging. It’s a jewel of an engine that gives effortless performance from any revs. Creamy smooth and driving through that remarkable DSG gearbox with its imperceptible changes, the linear nature of the acceleration all the way to the 124mph top speed, is turbine like - but without the lag one would get with a turbine. With this engine VW have taken the reciprocating engine to new heights of sophistication and refinement. It makes for good economy too, with nearly 50mpg achievable overall. Smooth and quiet motorway cruising is a strong point and with the incredible overall composure of the car you drive easy and relaxed. Off the motorway it’s the same story and if you’re so disposed, you can set to a cracking pace on A and B roads when it snaps to attention. Utterly ’together’, it is so beautifully balanced and poised that driving can once again become a pleasure. Inside it’s typically Teutonic with all the sturdiness of a Black Forest oak tree and you just know that it’s as tough as a Tiger Tank and as robust as lederhosen and will give you aeons of good service. Thankfully it’s more comfy, with an excellent driving position that can be ajusted to suit all from the fattest Burgomeister to a Leprechaun without a licence. There’s more than enough room for four adults to travel in relaxed style and rear passengers aren’t compromised by ’racy’ sloping rooflines. With solid residual values a Golf is always a wise choice and the initial extra outlay to buy quality is worthwhile. Certainly one of the most complete cars available today, the Golf is a car that looks good because of what it is and not what it aspires to be. It will flatter any driver from the chic to the bucolic, transferring upon owners an aura of the proper prestige that comes without trying.

Responses to this review

Best wishes and get well soon to Syd, the perpetrator of this review, who appears to have swallowed Mr Stephen Fry - Longbow Oz from Suffolk

Volkswagen Golf 1.4fsi 2004

After owning VW golfs for over 25 years I’ve always found them reliable easy to maintain and a pleasure to drive, well I’ll never buy another one and advise people to read below before purchasing one. Two weeks ago I had trouble starting my VW 04 1.4FSI golf MK 5 , so I phoned the vw dealers and got it towed to their workshop to diagnose the fault, they told me they were not sure but they thought the cambelt had slipped and would need 6 hours investigation time to confirm it, I gave them the go ahead but said I was surprised because the service book says the cambelt did not need to be checked till 60000 miles and my car had only done 35000 miles. Anyway they checked and informed me that the cambelt had faulted and done considerable damage £1705.65 to be exact. I told them to fix it as I did not have much option, I asked if it was a common occurance on this model they told me that they had seen it happen but not on a car with such low mileage. I got in touch with VW customer relations and they told me that information in their service book can be changed at any time so they can state 60000 mile cambelt inspection but can then change it to 4 years or 60000 mile at a later date without informing anyone but their dealers, they say they won’t reimburse me or show a measure of goodwill so I’ve no option but to go to a small claims court. So beware before you purchase any new or used golf in the future it won’t affect me because I won’t buy another.

Responses to this review

Golden rule is don’t mess about with cambelts. They wear out over time regardless of mileage. Always change the cambelt at least one year before its due and never run it up to its max. mileage. It’s far cheaper to change early as you have found out. Once the belt goes, the engine is usually goosed - Rob from Dorset

Volkswagen Golf 2007

I have driven VW’s for a number of years. I bought my lastest golf in 2007, a 1.6 automatic comfort line. Within the last 3 months I have had a lot of trouble with the car. Firstly all the dash clocks packed up and had to be replaced (luckily under warranty). My door speakers in the front have an intermittent problem, they go on and off for no reason. And just this week the central locking on the two front doors started playing up and had to be replaced. VW covered the parts and 50% of the labour cost but I was still well out of pocket. I have spoken to a VW mechanic and was told that both the problem with clocks and door locks are not just a one off as he has had to replace same in several Golf’s. I paid £26,000 for this car and have only put 24,000 km on the clock so I really don’t find this situation acceptable. Has anyone else had these problems?

Responses to this review

Just had the exact problem, you need to replace the stalk - Kevin Jacobs from England

Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GT TDI 140bhp 2008

Bought Volkswagen 2.0 GT TDI 140bhp in April 2008. Current mileage 33500 which I think is quite remarkable for FOUR YEAR OLD CAR. ESP light can’t be cancelled and I’ve been told I require a brake pump. I was also told this is a manufacturers fault but I’m still expected to pay total of £577. Volkswagen have offered to pay 40% of the total cost. I liased with Consumer Care Scotland who advised me to quote Sale of Goods Act. The original cost quoted for me to pay was approximately £1000 plus VAT and Volkswagen would pay the remainder 40%. There is a huge difference between what was originally quoted but I still think it’s outrageous and I will liaise with Trading Standards. When I contacted Volkwagen Customer Care Team I was asked about my loyalty as a customer. I’ve had many Volkswagen’s but I was asked for registration numbers and when I couldn’t remember ALL OF THEM I was then asked for chassis numbers! My idea would be if they are saying this is a manufactureres fault then I should not be paying anything! The retailing garage have been very supportive and I could not fault them BUT I’m very disappointed with Volkswagen and I would certainly have to consider whether to continue as a customer.

Volkswagen Golf 2 litre TDI SE 2009

Test drove the new Golf prior to purchasing my Nissan Qashqai. In true Golf style the subdued interior oozed a classiness that is lacking in most competitors, and the understated (some may say boring) exterior is inoffensive. All controls and switches operated with a nicely weighted feel and as with the previous model interior space was impressive given its compact size. Good all round visibility meant driving through London was a doddle, and you had a feeling that this is a car that people respect. So why did I choose the Qashqai over the Golf? As already mentioned in other posts it came down to dealer service (or lack of ). The salesman showed no genuine interest in firming up a deal, I got the feeling that he felt the product is so good, so why bother? I have no regrets in buying the QQ as it really suits my needs and everyone loves its funky, youthful, adventurous image. The Golf still remains a great car, but others are not that far behind and VW have to address some of their reliability issues and stuck up staff!

Volkswagen Golf 2005

Bought a low mileage 2005 Golf as I thought being a Volkswagen there would be no problems. Dual Mass Flywheel and Clutch had to be replaced at a cost of £1200. Volkswagen deny there is a problem with 2005 plates but I was told different by a Volkswagen employee. They tell you they will give you a goodwill payment towards the cost once they have checked it out in thier garages at a cost of £50. Once you get your car there they then go back on the offer and deny they ever said it. They have no interest in helping with the situation. I will never buy a volkswagen again. Awful service.

Volkswagen Golf GT Sport 1.4 TSI 170

Having bought this car from new in 2007, the car has developed what I can only describe as a ’squeak’ as you accelerate in all 6 gears. The car has been in to the garage several times from mid 2008. They have replaced a water pump and also installed a software upgrade which has not solved the problem. The garage have been excellent and supportive, however whilst the problem has been reported to VW Germany, their technical team have not come up with a solution. They have acknowledged there is a problem but have no answers. We have complained to VW UK about the issue, but they are trying to fob us off with the noise is a ’characteristic of the car!". The car did not have this noise when we bought the car and they have even tried to imply that the noise will be coming from the turbo or supercharger! We do love the car, but when you spend £18k on a car with a noise that is audible in and out of the car as you change gears it is rather irritating and VW so far are trying very hard to fob us off. Big mistake as we will not give up. I would be very interested to hear from anyone else has/is experiencing this.

Responses to this review

I bought my 06 plate 1.4 TSI 170 back in February this year - I too have the irritating "squeak" which as you say is very audible both inside and outside of the car. I was concerned as it sounds like a belt slipping momenteraly as you accelerate. My local VW told me it was a known problem form a solanoid and there was nothing they could do and it doesn’t inhibit performance. So it looks as if VW know there is a problem but have issued a "fob off" statement to anyone who complains. I love the car but do find the "squeak" a little hard to live with. Another problem to look out for which I have just had repaired under warranty is the gearbox. I noticed when the engine was hot second gear "crunched", VW promptly changed the second gear cog (5th and 6th). This is due to the coating coming off the cogs - VW did the work under warranty and it has solved the problem and I was assured it won’t now reoccur - Mike Blackford from Suffolk

Volkswagen Golf TDI 1.9 2004

I am a Golf fan, got mine over a year and a half ago. Couldn’t afford much so I opted for a 1.9 TDI, it was few years old and the clock had already hit 80,000. Didnt stop me though because I reckoned the diesel engine could handle that. Been fantastic so far, it’s had a service and MOT since I’ve owned it and all I’ve had to do is replace a bulb and replace oil filters... pennies! Just your luck with cars but overall I think VW have done a grand job. Its proves itself as there are sooo many on the road!! and they have now built the new one on the same chassis. Oh, and my boyfriend has a GT and its a brilliant drive, much more sporty with great road handling. I drove it round the roads at the top of Scotland (single track/narrow) and it was the best drive I’ve ever had. On the roads up there I could keep up with everything else... i.e. all you nice Volvo sport drivers out there :~)

Volkswagen Golf GTi DSG 2008

This is our third Golf and our second GTi, the first being the Golf GTi 180 (on a 53 plate and the second one a GT TDi 140 on a 55 plate). We have had no problems whatsoever with any of the above cars and especially our new one in white and with 18 inch rims and a host of other extras really turns heads! Its very comfy and the dsg gearbox is fantastic, covered just over 10,000 miles now and I think its just about run in as we’re getting over 36 to the gallon and we were worried when we picked it up we couldn’t get much more than 28 to the gallon. The satnav is a hoot to use and stereo with the 30 gig hard drive is a must when we travel to Devon from Leeds, it is full of over 80 cds. Anyone wanting to buy one should do so as the build quality and reliability are second to none.

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI 2009

I changed to the new Mk 6 Golf from an Audi A3 2.0 litre FSI Sportback and I am thrilled with it. Although the engine is only 1.4 litre, it performs as well as the A3. Loads of torque at low revs (max from 1500 rpm). Flies at 6000 rpm but still delivers 45 mpg if you keep a light right foot (cf. 35 mpg for the Audi). Very quiet at motorway speed. Easy to get caught speeding - I got my first ticket in >40 years of driving just a few days after I bought the Golf, so beware. Build quality just as good as the Audi (so why pay more?).

Responses to this review

Glad you are enjoying your Mk6 Golf. I looked at the same model as you purchased to replace my wife’s 2007 Honda Civic. We had a test drive in the 1.4 TFSi and were really impressed with all levels of refinement, fit, finish an performance. The sticking point was with the dealer. My experience of VW dealers most recently is that they are making a habit of being "snobby" and "obnoxious" just like BMW, Mercedes and Audi used to be like 10 years ago! (look what it has done for their sales). It appears more evident due to the fact they have a car like the Mk6 Golf which is selling itself! The VW dealer in question could not be bothered to contact us in relation to a PX price on the wife’s Civic, in fact he failed to follow up any contact whatsoever. As I was driving a Audi Q7 and had struck up a good relationship with the dealership staff I looked at purchasing an Audi A3 Sportback. Audi could not of been any better in customer care. We subsequently ordered an A3 Sportback "Black Edition" . I cannot sing praises high enough for this car, it has been faultless. The best part was the price. For the price I would have paid for the Golf. My wife ended up with a factory ordered higher spec A3, which came with Bluetooth, Xenons, 18" alloys, Metallic Paint, Bose Sound, Part Leather Seats and Rear Parking Sensors to name a few. So in response to your comment "Why pay more"? We did not pay more, in fact we purchased a premium Audi at a price less than a VW! - Dave from Warwickshire

Hi Kevin, I’m in a dilem,a as I’m torn between a Golf 1.4 and an Audi A3 1.4 Sport or 1.6 Technik. My problem is the price of the A3. You mentioned that you bought your Audi at a lower price than the Golf, but the Audi dealerships I’ve been to have quoted a thousand pounds more than the Golf. Where did you get such a price ? Ken Cook from Lancashire

Volkswagen Golf TDI Match 2009

Nice car - good driver’s seat, excellent engine and handling. However it has a few design problems compared with the Mk5: - chrome surrounding instrument dials are very distracting; chrome surrounding right-hand air vent reflects in the driver’s window right where the door mirror is: don’t they test these things? - like the Mk5, the rear seat bases do not remove or even tip up, so the best you’ll achieve is the seat backs leaning at about 30 degrees - not exactly a level load space! What a great wasted opportunity, VW - you could have fixed this in the Mk6 and you didn’t. - compared with my Peugeot 306 HDi, it’s very easy to stall the engine when setting off from rest: it needs nearly as much throttle as a petrol engine would - rear seats are very primitive and don’t give much lateral support - as with so many modern cars it has a "toy" spacesaver spare wheel which is b*gger-all use if you get a puncture on a Sunday when you are about to start a 200-mile journey and can’t get the real tyre repaired. All my punctures seem to happen out of hours. I wish it was a legal requirement for every car to be fitted with a fully-serviceable, fully-interchangeable spare wheel.

Volkswagen Golf TDi Sport 2005

Without doubt the worst car I’ve ever owned. Chose a VW Golf for reliability after previously owning an Audi A3, and a MK4 Golf TDi and boy what a mistake. Bought the car back in January 09, it’s a 55 plate Golf TDi Sport, done 42k miles. Had the radiator, centre brake light, flywheel and clutch all fail and replaced by VW within 6 months. Including a service, total cost of repairs for 6 months ownership of a 3 year old Golf TDi is £2,300. Not what I’d call reliable. Although after further reading I see loads of MK5 Golf owners have had the flywheel/clutch replaced so obviously a major problem. AVOID A MK5 GOLF!

Responses to this review

Hi Rob, I know this is a common fault on the mark 5, was your car under warrany when it was replaced or did vw pay for this as a goodwill gesture? - Mohammed Sarwar from Scotland

Volkswagen Golf GT 170 Tdi 2008

Excellent car; loads of power and good on fuel too! Why bother with boring slow petrol engines when you can have a car like this?

Volkswagen Golf Golf TDI SE PD 2004

I bought the mk5 Golf after I had had a VW Passat for more than 12 years - it has never let me down. At first I was very pleased with the Golf... then after 1 year, during the warranty, the radio broke. I had to wait 3 months for a replacement, got stainless steel door-trims as compensation. I had to fight for compensation!!! After 42000 miles the dual mass flywheel broke. I had it replaced with a solid flywheel replacement-kit. VW is denying that there is a problem. At the moment I am looking to buy a van for my business. I was planning to purchase a VW Transporter, but the Transporter suffers also from Flywheel failure, and we know VW do not help. The customer service is very bad. The prices are too high. The quality is going down. In addition, as a German citizen, with more than 15 years ownership of VW-cars, it is time to make a change and buy a Japanese product.

Volkswagen Golf Blue Motion 2008

Best company car that I have ever had. Very economical on a run, 65 plus to gallon, around town mid 50s Last 2 company cars have both been French; this puts them to shame. Very comfortable and full of lots of toys that all work not like last 2 cars. At first had noise from door seals at any speed but dealer has fixed this has been my only problem.

Volkswagen Golf 1.9TDi 2003

This car is great at all kinds of driving, from city to town to country road and motorways. It has great full efficiency around 48mpg. It is nippy and fast to accelerate and is smooth on the bumpy roads and the motorway. Okay, it is slightly noisy inside at speed compared to a BMW 3 series diesel but it is a lot cheaper. I have driven it in heavy rain, ice and snow and with care it handles well and I feel confident at the wheel. The air conditioning is great but I try not to use it too much and the heated leather seats are luxury in the cold weather. I’d definitely have another.

Volkswagen Golf VR6 1990

Pulls like a train and is great fun to drive! But very thirsty and hard on finances during these tight days! Should go for miles and miles if well maintained but maintenance costs are quite high.

Volkswagen Golf 2.0 Tdi GT Sport 2007

I love this car! My company were able to buy it for me as a fleet car, as it is economical enough to do so, and it’s great to have a fun car for work. I do high mileage in it, pounding up and down motorways a lot, and it is comfortable, quality, sweet to drive, with crisp gears and excellent handling. The diesel engine seems as responsive and quick as any petrol engine I’ve had, and has a pleasant, ’growly’ note, so it doesn’t sound as much like a tractor as other diesels, and sounds like it means business. It does. The acceleration is reliable (Wheeeee!) and good for overtaking and getting out of the way (of other overtakers) if necessary. I get good mpg out of it, so fill-ups are not too frequent. Love the Rocaro seats - had some ordinary ones in a hire car recently, and felt I was slithering around on cornering! I hope they let me buy it at the end of its term......

Volkswagen Golf 1.9 tdi se 2006

I have had a Golf most of my life, got the new mk5 model and recently been getting a humming noise like an owl. I took it to the dealers who were too busy too look at so took another half day too bring down but same excuse, too busy. This went on for ages and I made a complaint as I was unable too book an appointment so they wanted me too keep bringing the car back until it suited them. At the end of it all I took another half day off and person sat in car and said that was normal. Now I’m driving about with this owl noise coming from my car, when I drop my girlfriend off she can hear it the whole way down the road. VW say that it’s normal in some Golfs. Also, it’s getting worse so what else can I do? I tried selling the car and 2 people have looked at it but was put off by the noise so it looks like I’m stuck with it. After service is really bad, stay away.

Responses to this review

Have you checked your tyres? I had a similar problem to you and it ended up being the tyres slanting inwards and wearing the tread off on the inner tyre as opposed to being flat to the ground. The tyres were getting bold on the inner side and it’s the tread that give the sound effect - Angela Nicholson from England

Volkswagen Golf 1.6 Sport 2006

We purchased the Golf because although we were paying a little more than comparable models from other manufacturers, we thought we were buying a quality-build vehicle, how wrong we were. We have had the following problems, rear door window winder mechanism jammed, milking on three of the alloy wheels, three complete sets of alloy wheel trim centres replaced due to milking, rear hatch badge replaced due to milking, faulty radio replaced, door seals on both rear doors fell off and had to be replaced, radiator leaking and replaced, and lastly the drivers interior door panel replaced due to poor finish. Most of the aforementioned faults were within the first year or so and were rectified under warranty. The question is, would I recommend anyone buy a VW Golf, most definitely not.

Volkswagen Golf 1.9 TDI 105 S 2008

I first bought a Golf in 2002, it was the Mk 4 and it gave me 5 years of reliable, pleasurable driving. I had never been so happy with a car so I did not hesitate in moving onto the Mk 5 when I felt it was time to upgrade my motor. The Gold now looks even better and every aspect has been improved upon. It is a fantastic all-rounder that gives sublime performance, reliability and practical for a busy lifestyle. I like to be able to make adjustments to get the best driving position and the Gold allows me to get the seat and steering wheel just right (until my girlfriend borrows the car and then I’m back to square one again...). I know that the residual values are extremely strong and although I plan to keep for car for at least 5 years it’s good to know that it will still be worth a decent amount even then. Green cars are very much in vogue at the moment and my variant has low emissions of 132g/km and high fuel economy of 56 miles per gallon. The Golf is a car that can fit into any household, it does everything you need from a car. 5 stars*****

Volkswagen Golf 1.6-litre FSI 2007

Everything about the Golf is quality. It offers a smooth and refined ride and is the most comfortable and quietest car that I have ever taken onto the motorway, road and wind noise are almost non-existent. This is the best car in its class and the attention to detail shown in the interior makes being in the cabin a complete joy. Everything works well, reliability is second to none and the fuel economy is pretty good. The icing on the cake are the excellent residual values which makes the Gold attractive to buy new, or as in my case, lease. The best small family car / hatchback.

Volkswagen Golf TDI Sport 5dr 2007

This car is excellent, roomy, great handling and can cope on country roads and busy motorways. The fuel economy is good and everything is where you would expect to find it within a well-ordered cabin. The TDI engine is very, very good and a good choice of engine, I went for for the TDI Sport. The main reason I went for a Volkswagen was the reliability and that is what it has given me. Very, very pleased.

Volkswagen Golf 1.2 Urban 2007

Great car, roomier than the Polo and the Toyota Aygo which I test drove before settling with this one. Cheap to buy, low insurance and good fuel economy. Good, comfortable drive too.

Volkswagen Golf 1.9TDI

Great car, when me and mey mates get together, I am the envy of all, and it helps me pull the girls. Top lads car. Would give it 6 stars if I could.

Volkswagen Golf Match TDi 100

Superb car. Quick enough when I need it but 50+ mpg in normal driving. Am lucky enough to be offered a GT Sport 170 company car, will be sorry to see the Match go.

Volkswagen Golf Gti Tdi

Volkswagen’s are renowned for their reliabilty and this, plus the obvious quality and attention to detail make this the best car that I have ever owned. My Golf is very comfortable a wonderfully quiet. I know that the depreciation on this car will be very good but that is not really an issue as I don’t see any reason to change for many years. Quality, comfort and reliability are the three words that I would use to describe my Golf.

Volkswagen Golf 1.9 TDI SE

Great car - does approximately 45 miles to the gallon. I spend a lot of time travelling in it but have (touch wood) not had any physical complaints as the ergonomincs are excellent. Quality car.

Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTi

All time favourite hot hatchback. Solid, economical, fun to drive. Just a good all rounder.

Volkswagen Golf 1.9 TDI

Great car, roomy, nice looking vehicle and if you are in the market for this type of car, you can’t go wrong.

Responses to this review

Well you can unfortunately! When you buy a VW you play the flywheel failure lottery, I hope it doesn’t happen to you mate, because it’s over a grand’s replacement cost. Little niggles here and there I can take but something as catastrophic and costly as a flywheel failure? That’s one too far for me - Dan from England

Volkswagen Golf 1.9 TDI 105 SE 5 dr

This is my second Golf and I can’t ever see me changing to anything else. Fuel economy is excellent, as you would expect from a golf, on an average of 60mph for my daily work journeys. It's a very comfortable car, no problem on long journeys. There's plenty space for rear passengers, too, and excellent storage pockets all over the place. Not a bad word to say about it.