Faults:

Rear brake calipers seized, alternator is getting tired (though tightening the belt has helped a bit), electric windows tend to stick (still searching for a solution to that!), had to change rear bump-stops.

General Comments:

Beautiful engine that revs like a racer, even at 120,000 miles. The 16v benefits from 10mm lower suspension and bigger brakes (256mm) than the 8v GTI. Uprating the rear bushes at the same time as the bump-stops has tied down the tail, which is ideal for track days.

Faults:

The car had 120,000 on the clock and I've put it up to 180,000 in two years.

In that time it gave very little trouble, the accelerator cable broke and the fan belt. I've installed new springs and gas shocks but with the mileage I think that's OK..

General Comments:

These were great cars, they are reliable,e conomic and if you take ANY care of them at all they go on for ever !!!

I reckon to go well above the 200,000 miles in the year to come....

Faults:

1) Carburettor problems: wax stat,

2) Permanent slow coolant leak

3) Intermittent misfiring when wet - eventually found to be LT leads shorting onto coil. VW dealer failed to find problem.

4) Radiator fan switch packed in, leading to intermittent overheating.

5) Accelerator cable snapped - 2 hours waiting for AA next to cabbage field in Norfolk!

6) Handbrake cable snapped.

General Comments:

1) This car eats front tyres.

2) 110,000 miles and it doesn't use any oil at all.

3) Built like a tank, if bodywork looked after, should last a few years yet

4) Feels very solid at speed.

5) Heavy steering without PAS.

6) Interior trim getting a bit rattly.

7) Some sod nicked the VW badge from the rear of the car - £12 to replace!

Faults:

Carburettor problems include

1) Choke Pull Down Unit

2) Cold Start Valve

3) Waxstat

Slow Leak in cooling system.

General Comments:

Although all problems were due to the carburettor, none of these stopped the car running - if difficult at times, it always started.

Feels very safe and secure on road. Bodywork holding up well.

Parts easy to get hold off.

Dealers quite expensive for parts and servicing.

Overall - a good car.

Current Mileage 81,000.

Faults:

Door lock problems, exhaust manifold gaskets - complete fuel injection and inlet manifold removal to replace!

Squeaky rear brakes - still work OK.

Wierd earthing problem on tailgate wiper - had to frig!

Tailgate repainted during 6 year rust warrantee.

Front seat backrest release wires break, so rear passenger can't get in/out (3 door).

General Comments:

Fairly fast when using 98 octane fuel, average on 95 octane.

Reliable.

Faults:

Indicators failed (new relay), radiator leaked, gearbox failed, rear door handles seized.

General Comments:

All the above faults (except the rear door handles seizing) occurred in the first 30,000 miles and since then the car has performed faultlessly (it has now done 88,000 miles) and still drives like new. I think long-term reliability should be very good.

Paintwork not up so standard and has faded badly and there is some cosmetic rusting, although structurally the car is in brilliant condition.