Faults:

Window regulator broke up at 22,000 miles.

Three glovebox catch failures.

Leaking heater matrix at 34,000 miles.

Leaking rear wash/wipe hose ruined headlining at 39,000 miles.

Computer display at 42,000 miles.

Front CV joints at 46,000 miles.

General Comments:

The fastest four cylinder diesel of its generation and still lovely to drive.

Effortless torque available from idle and a very "petrol-like" throttle response. Goes like the wind if you open it up. Excellent economy (usually over 50 mpg average per tankful unless really booting it). More pleasant to drive than the 150PS version in my opinion, that car being noticeably more coarse and much more "on/off" in its power delivery.

Competent enough handling, but not enough feel to really enjoy it. Rolls a bit, despite "sports suspension". Steering vague, brakes not progressive enough. Struggles for front end grip and traction with the ASR turned off. None of this is a problem in day to day driving, but disappointing for a "GT".

Interior looks expensive, and the ice blue and red dial illumination is hypnotic. Seats are a bit firm and "wooden" feeling, but seem okay for several hours at a time. Build quality no better than average however. Squeaks and creaks at 47,000 miles.

Frankly, the car doesn't make the grade in terms of reliability. Engine is good, but far too many niggling faults for a supposed "quality" product. I've had the contents of the heater matrix pouring into the front footwells, the contents of the washer bottle dribbling through (and staining) the headlining, a broken fuel computer, knocking CV joints and the flimsy plastic glovebox catches seem to last only 6 months. What happened to VW's legendary solidity?

If they built this car properly and didn't penny pinch so badly on some of the components it would be a fabulous car, instead of just a reasonably good one. Recommended, but with reservations.

Faults:

An engine coil needed to be replaced on the day I purchased it!

The stick and exhaust valve went in it the next day.

General Comments:

The comfort-line golf has a very spacious and comfortable interior yet the exterior is rather too angular, resulting in a less attractive looking car than the earlier models.

My main reason for writing this review is to warn others of the engine problems that exist in the 2001 and 2002 VW golfs. VW may have offered to replace these coils for free yet since purchasing this new golf, I have lost confidence in the VW brand. A three year old car with low mileage should not be causing such numerous problems.

Faults:

Ever since new, it has used a bit of oil, but since about 90k has used a litre every 1000-1200 miles which is apparently within manufacturers spec. It does mean the oil has to be topped up with every other tank of fuel though which strikes me as a bit ridiculous.

Neutral detent spring in gearlever has become weak and the shift has been quite "baggy" since about 70,000 miles. Only realised how bad when I drove a low mileage example recently. The gearbox also occasionally baulks into 2nd, particularly with cold oil.

One of the tappets became noisy on cold starts at around 80,000 miles.

Alternator failed at 95,000 miles.

Build quality is the biggest disappointment. I have a badly squeaking driver's seat, an intermittent rattle from inside the passenger door (dealer thinks it's the window mechanism, but can't seem to fix it), a rattling parcel shelf, a creaking brake pedal and a boot which seems to occasionally let in water.

Loads of little bits inside have fallen off or broken including the passenger footwell trim, the passenger seat adjuster handle, the glovebox catch, the wiper switch and a couple of pixels on the computer display.

General Comments:

In many ways, the Golf GT TDI 130 is the perfect car for modern driving. It's frugal (48 mpg average, despite fairly hard use), refined, comfortable and its 130PS engine is hugely impressive. The acceleration from 1500 RPM is almost surreal, and squeezes you hard into the seat. The phrase "quick for a diesel" doesn't apply. When it's between 1,500 and 4,000 RPM it's a quick car in its own right. Note though - the chassis can't cope unless you leave the ASR system permanently on. Dynamically this car is now well outdated.

The 6 speed gearbox and stacks of torque make the Golf an excellent motorway car with good stability and a faintly ludicrously tall top gear which gives just 2,000 RPM at 70 mph. General noise levels are low, although the engine is a little gutteral under load compared with more modern units. That said, the Golf laps up motorway miles effortlessly and enthusiastically.

The single biggest disappointment of this car however, and the reason I would think twice about another VW is the quality. People always say that Volkswagen build cars that disguise their mileage well, but this Golf leaves you in no doubt that it has done over 100k. Despite 95% of its mileage being on motorways, the gearbox has become baggy and has developed an appalling shift quality on cold oil, the steering has some play around the dead ahead, the suspension feels floaty and the interior looks tired. It rattles badly as well from all manner of places, as it has since about 30,000 miles. The engine is going strong, as you would expect from a diesel unit, and I suspect it pulls harder now than it did 100,000 miles ago, but it isn't as smooth as it was, and it truly guzzles oil. There is also some tappet noise on cold starts which never used to be there.

On the whole, I would rate this car as excellent were it not for the poor quality and disappointing durability. It's still a corker to drive with a scarcely believable power/economy compromise and good comfort, but one does feel a little short changed when, having stumped up the extra for the VW on the promise of it shrugging off high miles, engine apart, it sounds and feels thoroughly tired at just over the 100k mark.

Looking into selling it, and can scarcely believe the resale values. Bought it for UKP 13,750 in 2002, and it's still worth UKP 8,000 in private sale with 108k on it! Clearly the build issues aren't common knowledge.