2002 Volkswagen Golf GLS 2.0

Summary:

I think it's a great car

Faults:

Everything that goes bad on these cars with this mileage was bad when I got it; I got ripped by the used car dealership. He had the sales pitch and spreadsheet showing everything he had replaced. Well either he lied to me or the auto shop ripped him off, I don't know; everything on the car was original worn out parts. It broke down and he told me to take it to his shop; yeah right. I see why though every time I take it to any shop it's $1000 plus for any repair. I've now learned this, so I bought a temporary car so I can take my time doing every repair it needed, so now several hours and $500 in parts. I probably saved myself $5000 from a shop.

General Comments:

I kept the car because I love how the car drives. I will not take it to a shop unless I need to; their prices are ridiculous for this car. It's not hard at all to work on and prices on parts eBay are bottom dollar (probably cheaper then a domestic). I plan on keeping it now. Bottom line is it's great cheap fun to drive car; if you plan on buying one, be mechanically inclined or have it checked out by a mechanic before buying one, since it's 20 years old.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th September, 2021

14th Sep 2021, 20:19

Lesson well learned and I went through that myself at one time. Always get a used vehicle checked by your own mechanic. If the dealer won’t let you, walk away.

In reply to 14th Sep 2021, 20:19

15th Sep 2021, 18:44

The dealer may have good reasons for not letting people. Maybe someone took one of their cars to a “mechanic” and vanished in the past. I’d be hesitant too if I were a dealer and someone may steal my car.

In reply to 15th Sep 2021, 18:44

16th Sep 2021, 16:32

If you were a dealer and refused to allow prospective customers to test drive vehicles or take them to a mechanic because someone "may steal" one... you would soon be out of business.

In reply to 16th Sep 2021, 16:32

17th Sep 2021, 18:29

Actually not that rare that dealers won’t allow customers to test drive cars they may take off with and vanish. Ask a dealer to let you test drive a Shelby GT500 or Dodge Hellcat. They won’t let you even if you show them evidence you can buy the car in cash if you wanted. Used cars are even higher risk. Give some teenager the keys to a used hotrod on your lot to “get it checked out”, and you’ll never see the car again.

2002 Volkswagen Golf GLS 2.0L

Summary:

Really nice solid car with excellent quality

Faults:

The only things that went wrong for me were the rear tail light bulbs ($3.00), some sensor in the engine that caused the check engine light to come on ($30), and the spark plug wires were leaking so I changed those ($70).

Interior things getting scratched easily.

General Comments:

This car is just amazing. It's really fun to drive, really solid.

It does use oil! Be aware of that! But just check the oil every time you fill up!

Power is a bit low, but this car still accelerates really nicely. It will fly on the highway, I've got to 180km/h very easy and quick.

I can recommend this car big time, it's more fun and has better setup than the Civic and stuff. Specially the way the gears change, the feel of the clutch, the seats...

Honestly, this is one of those cars that will just run and run and run forever, and it will always run like new. Mine is manual, so I don't know anything about the automatics!!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 18th November, 2009

2002 Volkswagen Golf tdi 1.7 diesel

Summary:

It's a great economical and dependable car

Faults:

The third rear window wiper motor has just been installed, but not bad for almost a million kilometers. replaced front bearing hub on left and right at about 650000km.the emergency switch has been replaced, but afterwards I found out it was a recall item, but I was well over the kilometers honoured by VW. a little under 800000 kilometers the brake master blew and lost all brakes, but thank goodness to a great emergency hand brake.

General Comments:

I found this car to be very reliable. A fun car to drive very comfortable, but don't like the windshield being so close to my face and if I pull the driver seat back then I can't put the clutch to the floor. Guess that's why they nicknamed me shorty. Almost a million kilometers and running very strong looks great in the midnight blue almost looks purple in the day and dark blue at night. I would recommend this car to anyone and a selling point to me was the 1200 kilometers to a tank that's great fuel economy for fuel prices now days. Now my friend has the same year, but a bug with the same diesel engine and he says he only gets 950 kilometers to a tank. I guess with anything you get your good and your bad.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 5th July, 2007

6th Jul 2007, 04:35

Just curious here -- exactly HOW did you manage to rake up 970K-plus kilometres over a period of 6.5 years? My calculation says that driving the car every single day, you average 416 km/day or about 52 km/h if you drive non-stop for 8 hours per day, not even stopping for Christmas, 48 20,000-km oil changes, and 9 timing belt replacements?