Faults:

I bought this car off my uncle for $500. The body is in immaculate condition with barely any rust on it, I really got a good deal on it.

However! It is a Volkswagen, and as we all know, old Volkswagens tend to break down and steal your wallet, which is what this one started to do.

When I received it, the starter was faulty and one of the wheels needed the parking brake cable attached to it (those I already knew.) A few weeks later, the headgasket blew and the timing was off. I don't really have any time to fix it so I'm going to tow it to the VW dealership and have them fix those two things, then drive it back myself, and I shall replace the starter and the one parking brake cable.

The stereo was also no good, but I wasn't alarmed about that because I already have a new CD deck and 4 Sony Xplod speakers :)

General Comments:

Other than the problems I had with it, for the little time that I drove it, it is a very quick car even though the hp/torque numbers aren't very high. It surprised me while I was driving it!

It is also very comfortable - a lot more comfortable than the seats in my mother's 2004 Hyundai Accent.

It's standard! Stick is a lot of fun while driving.

I'm a 19 year old college student and this car is great for me. Excellent mileage!

Just be prepared to fork over some money to fix it!

General Comments:

VW makes great cars!

Always owned them, and always will!

Faults:

After I brought the car home, about 5000 km later, the front left wheel bearing went. It cost $200 CDN to fix.

I replaced the alternator. The cost was $180 CDN. In the process of replacing the alternator, I broke the bolt off the starter solenoid because it was so horribly rusted. The rebuilt starter cost me $180. I replaced the starter myself and it was surprisingly easy to do--The motor mount mounts on the starter, so the engine will drop if not properly supported.

General Comments:

Okay. So I bought the car for $3500 CDN. New alternator/starter $360 and new wheel bearing $200. So some money is sunk into it-but, I still love this car! Here is why:

1. Extremely well built. This car is very solid.

2. Easy to work on. There is no air conditioning. It's a non-turbo diesel. No power steering. Manual transmission. Simple. Luxurious? No. But simple.

3. Cheap cheap cheap. Parts are not as pricey as everyone says import cars are.

4. Excellent mileage. I get anywhere from 850 to 950 km's per tank-depending how I drive (hard&leadfooted or conservative)

5. Diesel is cheaper than regular in Canada. Currently, diesel is 10 cents cheaper per litre and the last time I filled up I paid 54 cents/ltr.

6. Biodiesel. Hey I'm not a tree-hugger extremist, but humankind really needs to get way more aggressive with alternative fuels and environmental impact.

7. Very little maintenance. Oil changes, air/fuel filters, empty water in the fuel tank. No tuneups.

8. When my alternator died, I could still drive home and start the car! Hey no spark, no engine computer. Without an alternator, a gas engine stops dead!

9. Starts in winter. Even the coldest days without the block heater plugged in. May take a few cranks, but it always starts.

10. 52 Horsepower. Okay, so 52 is embarrassingly little, but 71lbs of torque at only 2000 rpm. I climbed a steep hill in 2nd gear and never touched the gas pedal. The car didn't stall or even struggle. Try that with a gas engine.