Faults:

Engine tends to cut out when idling however once warmed up it's fine.

Window winder cable on driver's side snapped but was easy to replace.

The heaters are unreliable.

General Comments:

For an 11 year old car with 145,000 miles on the clock it drives very well.

With twin headlights it looks like a GTI, but is much cheaper on the insurance.

Seats and rest of interior still very comfortable and look like new however the car has been well looked after.

Faults:

The following items have been reconditioned:

Full engine, due to crankshaft pulley coming lose and then all the valves and pistons became very acquainted.

Gearbox, syncromesh in 2nd, I believe a very common problem, but very labour expensive to replace a €5 part.

Starter.

Alternator.

Fuel pump.

Various water hoses, which can be cheap, but some are ridiculously expensive.

Rear wheel bearing.

And countless other miscellaneous items.

All this on top of the usual servicing at every 3,000 miles has added up to a pretty penny.

General Comments:

A love the car, handles like it is on rails and it has pulled me out of some corners that I am sure if I had been driving other marques I would be dead!

Very economical, now averaging around 60mpg, can I off set this saving against a petrol car to the amount I have spent? wouldn't come close I say.

Will hold onto the car till its end (until I kill it in a ditch).

Have wondered from about the third month when things starter to go wrong, that where is the apparently amazing reliability of the Volkswagen car. have only heard about it, but have never seen the infamous good for 200,000 miles without any problems!

Faults:

Nothing other than wear an tear items.

General Comments:

Believe me they really are as solid as people say they are, my golf is now over 10 years old with near 100k on the clock and it still starts first time every time, OK It's been serviced on the dot since new, but still.

I don't care what anyone says, but it's not a drivers car, the suspensions set up too soft, theres too much lock on the steering, not enough power and it's too fat, plenty of grip though thanks to the 185/60/14 tyres borrowed from the Gti.

In terms of bodywork, well I slammed mine into the back of a 18wheeler on the motorway and whilst it did little damage (new bonnet, slam panal, grille) the respray is not as good as the original, but then the original is starting to get scabby in places now, don't buy a white one.

Overall for the money you can't do better, but I'd rather have bought a 16v.

Faults:

I bought the car in June 2001 and it had no history, just the last 8 MOT certificates.

The head gasket began to blow, probably precipitated by a few enthusiastic test drives so changed all the belts, gaskets and regular service items at the same time as a precaution.

The electric window switch is on order (a common fault with Mk 2 Golfs - 2 failed on my last one), but apart from that, it's the usual VAG build quality and reliability story.

General Comments:

The 16v engine is a real love it or hate it thing. Compared to my previous 8v, it's a world apart with none of the low down urge and grunt that made swift progress so easy. This engine needs to be given it's head, and the extra 25 horses are not evident until you're past 5000rpm and hold out until nearly 7000! It's quite intoxicating if you're in the mood to push, but can be quite tiresome as the noise levels are not insignificant.