2004 Volkswagen Golf CL 2.0

Summary:

Nice car, but full of quality problems. I dread the idea of the warranty expiring on me

Faults:

2.0L engine is no fun to drive. Loud and somewhat sluggish.

Engine misfired twice for no known reason. Dealer could not identify problem.

Battery died in cold winter weather.

Ground clearance is low. I am constantly hitting ice blocks on the road.

Windshield wipers had to be replaced after 3 months because they would jump. New OEM windshield wipers are also worn out after two months.

Black seat and floor cloth get dirty very easily.

Carpet cloth is very cheap and very difficult to clean.

Creaking sound from passenger door. Dealer could not fix.

Shock-absorbers make a creaking sound when driving over bumps.

Seats are too firm and small for long distances.

Passenger door lock broke. Dealer replaced under warranty.

Trunk lock broke. Dealer replaced under warranty.

Fuel consumption poor. Average 10L city driving.

Poor trunk lighting.

General Comments:

Brakes are very good. The car has four disc-brakes and stops instantly. The handbrake is also very effective.

Full spare-tire in trunk is very welcome.

Side airbags are standard.

Handles very nicely around corners. The car is stiff, and drives nicely.

High-quality materials in the interior make this car a delight to sit in. It feels like an upscale car, with damped motion of glove-box, grab-handles, and stalk controls.

Excellent top-notch sound system.

Good interior lighting with a reading-lamp for each backseat, and two map-light in the front.

The car looks just plain good, and more upscale than the price would suggest.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 15th March, 2005

8th May 2005, 05:33

Sorry, but complaining that the carpets get dirty easily is not a problem with the car. The problem lies with you getting into the car with dirty shoes.

10th May 2005, 10:31

So I guess he is supposed to walk around outside barefoot?

19th Jun 2005, 18:16

Comment by original poster:

Clarification on carpet comment: while all carpets get dirty, the one in my Golf is very difficult to get clean. I attribute this to the cheap material used. It should not take you an hour of brushing and soaking and rubbing every spring to remove clean your carpets; I certainly do not have to spend that much time on cleaning our Honda or Subaru.

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2004 Volkswagen Golf GLS 1.9L TDI

Summary:

TDI Diesels are underrated and a blast to drive

Faults:

Discoloration of the drivers seat. The seat is suppose to be black, but appears to have two tones to it (black and gray).

No serious impediments.

General Comments:

This car takes off very well - its acceleration is a pleasant surprise.

The torque makes driving in stop and go traffic a little jerky, but smooth use of the accelerator solves this.

The shifting in this car is super smooth... it makes it feel like you're a good shifter (even if you're not).

The interior has a comfortable feel... and it certainly has a lot of head room.

The car handles turns quite well with its stock parts.

The relative high mass makes it good to drive on highways.

The key-less entry is a little annoying as the auto-lock feature when driving.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 13th July, 2004

17th Sep 2004, 14:05

You can get this re-programmed from main dealer.

"The key-less entry is a little annoying as the auto-lock feature when driving."

18th Nov 2004, 18:16

Why would anybody buy a new mk 5 golf?

Quality is gone.

Price is rip off.

Vw service is a joke.

Vw trying to be prestige, but cars arnt up to the job.

7th Dec 2004, 09:45

We're more than happy with our 2004 Golf. We purchased it because of the gas mileage their diesel engine gets. I have a great distance to drive, so getting nearly 50 miles to the gallon was a huge selling point for this little car. In the year that we've owned it, we've put nearly 64,000 miles and had to replace a defective radio, which was covered under warranty. The service department at our VW dealership was very accomodating. This is the first VW we've ever owned and we are very VERY pleased!

27th Dec 2004, 19:29

I have also purchased a used Mk 5 Golf GT TDi and I am impressed with the performance and fuel economy. I am very pleased with my golf. No problems so far.

I also own a VW Caravelle 130 SE which is also a great vehicle.