Faults:

When I first bought the car I had the timing belt replaced, the transmission flushed, and the coolant serviced all based on mechanic's suggestion.

General Comments:

I bought this car for 700 dollars and what I got out of it was incredible. This was my first car and I was really only looking for a cheap, fun vehicle that I could use for my last 2 years of high school. It was nothing short of fantastic from the day I bought it until the day I sold it. After those things I replaced when I bought the car I never had to replace a single item other than windshield wiper blades! This car was extremely fun to abuse. My friends and I had so much fun taking it out to the gravel pit and just sliding all over the place. That little car took a major beating from how we would drive it and yet nothing broke. In fact I never even changed the oil once! It never burned oil or anything. Overall I think that anyone who is looking for a super fun car (but not a luxury car) should just go out and find a one of these and just buy it. Trust me, it's AWESOME!

Faults:

The passenger's door failed to open due to a faulty opening mechanism.

The auto failed to start thanks to a fouled fuel injector.

General Comments:

The car was sprightly in lieu of the three speed automatic transmission.

It handled tremendously well, as is expected from a German car.

The paint was mediocre, at best, and a degree of seam rust was appearent.

Faults:

Alternator needed to be replaced.

Slight oil leak.

General Comments:

This car still has great amount of torque making it very quick out of traffic lights.

Great around corners - just seems to stick.

Lack of power steering combined with fat tyres makes it tiring during long commutes, especially rush hour.

Air conditioning bogs down the engine if idling.

Surprisingly good mileage - averaged 32 mpg without driving especially hard.

Faults:

Battery replaced at 240,000 KM.

Rear hatch lock broken at 245,000 KM.

Fuel Pump went at 290,000 KM.

Alternator went at 330,000 KM.

Struts replaced at 240,000 KM.

Struts replaced at 310,000 KM.

Heat Core replaced at 340,000 KM.

General Comments:

My Golf Diesel was a nice cheap car to operate.

Performance was very good and I don't baby a car.

Full synthetic oils were used and made a big difference.

Interior held up beautifully (my BMW 528e interior is just pathetic compared to the Golf at 230,000 KM)

One weakness is the suspension. Always needs attention every few years.

Second weakness is body hardware - latches, locks and door hinges.

Third weakness was rust. Rear hatch fell apart.

Faults:

This car has 289k on the clock and has very few and very low cost repairs. I have done 1 brake job and 1 clutch engine & transmission etc all factory, still runs like new, uses NO oil.

General Comments:

This is the cheapest car to operate I have had. It just keeps on going. It also is very fun to drive. It can still leave BMW's in the dust.