Faults:

Nothing!

Occasionally a warning light comes on, but the light relates to something not fitted to this specification vehicle! After restarting, the light goes out again. So far, this is not a problem.

General Comments:

Wife's car. Owned for 2.5 years.

Base spec 90 BHP 1.6 diesel. Performance is adequate and the car can be hustled along nicely if needs be. Acceleration is adequate for normal everyday use, and it can overtake happily.

The 1.6 TDI is rough below 1500 RPM, and you need to make use of the gearbox to get the best out of it. A 5 speed box is fitted, but top is very high, and a 6 speed box would be an improvement.

The seats are comfortable and the dials are clear.

Control layout is very logical and easy to use.

Chunky gear change, but the brakes are a bit too light for my tastes.

Poverty spec 'S' model misses out on electric rear windows.

Also VW penny pinching means that it has no speakers in the rear doors. This means that radio has to be uncomfortably loud for front occupants for rear passengers to hear spoken words clearly. This is one of my main criticisms of the car.

Fuel economy is excellent, never dropping below 50 MPG, and with 65 MPG on a long motorway trip 4 up plus luggage at 70mph. A light right foot means that 60 MPG is readily achievable on any decent journey, and even my wife averages in the mid-50s MPG.

Next time, would go for a higher specification.

Faults:

ESP failure warning, which caused the car to cut out whilst carrying out a turn in the road. A strange fault, and one that has not re-occurred since.

Rattle from drivers sunvisor, which is at odds with the solidity of the rest of the interior.

General Comments:

I was fortunate enough recently to have the opportunity to swap my 2008 Golf Mk5 Bluemotion Match 5 door company vehicle for a 4 month old Mk6 2.0 TDi GT 5 door.

Simply put, the Mk6 is better than the Mk5. VW have mainly succeeded in improving the all-round perceived quality, and have most definitely improved noise refinement. The new CR engine is so quiet compared to the old PD units, it's difficult to believe at times that there is a diesel under the bonnet. My old 1.9 PD was horrifically noisy by comparison. It definitely drives better than the Mk5, and overall feels more solid on the road.

One criticism I have of the way it drives is its inconsistent throttle response. Sometimes it feels extremely punchy, other times it can feel strained and strangely underpowered for what is a relatively powerful modern turbo diesel. I am sure this will improve with use.

Another criticism I have is that on closer inspection, the cost cutting that Volkswagen have undertaken to make the vehicle cheaper to produce is visible.

The rear C pillars are now plastic rather than soft touch items, and the boot plastic is now black, which shows against the roof lining.

Even more evident is the fact that the basic stereo retains the blue backlighting, which has been shunned from the dials. Frankly it does look pretty cheap, and I suppose it is pushing many private VW customers to go down the route of ticking the touchscreen hi-fi upgrade options (clever VW). Also I think it is a bit cheap not to provide dual zone climate on the GT.

Other than the ESP problem, that fortunately has not reared its ugly head again, it's been the ideal company vehicle.