Faults:

DSG auto-box playing up - required expensive service (possibly never been done before?).

Small oil leak.

New driveshaft.

Small cosmetic rust marks.

Brakes, and suspension components renewed (expensive, but just wear and tear).

General Comments:

Great looking, great to drive, I like this Golf but they are overrated.

Expensive to buy used even with some mileage on them.

Solid built, but not without issues (see above).

SE model has comfy seats and lots of equipment.

1.6 TDi is quick enough even with the auto box, and still manages over 50 mpg, not bad.

Decent enough car, but only buy a car with full history that has been checked out - if buying again I'd honestly avoid the DSG box and get a manual version.

Faults:

DSG gearbox started playing up within the first 1,000 miles; on cold start up the gearbox would fail to engage reverse or first gear, leaving me stranded for 2 hours. The dealer said the factory in Germany put the wrong gearbox oil in; they changed it and still didn't resolve it. Turned out to be one of 2 faulty clutches no less.

Seats are already showing signs of wear, a deep crease on the fabric. Something my Corolla never did until I got rid of it at 118,000.

An alarming knocking noise started to occur in the weeks preceding me getting rid of it, from the front left wheel. VW said that the suspension and shocks needed to "break in". Complete rubbish.

Rubber on the rubber switches had started to peel off after 18,000 miles (I look after my car incredibly well).

General Comments:

Having reliability and build quality problems on a 17,500 pound car is one thing, but having a dealership network and company, which are trying to pretend there isn't a problem, is another. Volkswagen build quality is a myth, and in my personal opinion, it's among the worst out there.

I was getting 52 MPG on average, with pretty average driving (albeit in cold conditions); far short of the claimed 67 MPG combined.

Squeaks started to appear from under the dash, the wiper linkage motor assembly fell off in the rain, why I do not know, but VW now have the car. It is sold, they can deal with it unfortunately.

Seats are however relatively supportive, and the controls are in good reach.

"German quality and engineering" may have been true 15 years ago, but it seems it doesn't stand today, and I would have thought of all things, a Golf would be a pretty good example of that. I am going back to Toyota thank you. I do not recommend this car or any Volkswagen group car. Want a good quality German hatchback? Get a Mini or 1 Series BMW.