Faults:

I bought this car off my uncle for $500. The body is in immaculate condition with barely any rust on it, I really got a good deal on it.

However! It is a Volkswagen, and as we all know, old Volkswagens tend to break down and steal your wallet, which is what this one started to do.

When I received it, the starter was faulty and one of the wheels needed the parking brake cable attached to it (those I already knew.) A few weeks later, the headgasket blew and the timing was off. I don't really have any time to fix it so I'm going to tow it to the VW dealership and have them fix those two things, then drive it back myself, and I shall replace the starter and the one parking brake cable.

The stereo was also no good, but I wasn't alarmed about that because I already have a new CD deck and 4 Sony Xplod speakers :)

General Comments:

Other than the problems I had with it, for the little time that I drove it, it is a very quick car even though the hp/torque numbers aren't very high. It surprised me while I was driving it!

It is also very comfortable - a lot more comfortable than the seats in my mother's 2004 Hyundai Accent.

It's standard! Stick is a lot of fun while driving.

I'm a 19 year old college student and this car is great for me. Excellent mileage!

Just be prepared to fork over some money to fix it!

Faults:

Electrics are getting tired. Ignition switch just replaced.

Boot catch worn and difficult to open.

Rear wiper needs re connection - motor tested OK.

General Comments:

The original groundhog! The harder you drive it the better it gets, positively glued to the tarmac!

Recent top end re-build showed that the head and pistons were still in 'mint' condition. The gearbox is still as tight as ever, very positive.

Hit 4.5k revs and your pilot's license is required - I fall in love with this beauty every time I get behind the wheel.

General Comments:

VW makes great cars!

Always owned them, and always will!

Faults:

Alternator failed after 5 days of ownership.

Headlamp seals disintegrated letting in moisture.

CV gaiters cracked leading to steering vibration.

General Comments:

Although the car came with a full service history, the stamps being from a Volkswagen dealer, I was still surprised about how many parts needed replacing, although (if I didn't visit a Volkswagen dealer), they were readily available and not too pricey.

I cannot get over how fast the car is, and have found that the 120 mph speedometer isn't necessarily enough...

The brakes are perfect, with loads of bite.

The car does not have power steering, and is very heavy to drive, but I have got used to it.

It is very quiet and comfortable and a pleasure to drive on long journeys.

It looks fantastic, especially with the four lamp grille.

Faults:

Rear caliper handbrake mechanism disintegrated.

Driver-side seat bolster is worn through to the spring.

Rear damper leaked.

Temperature sender failed.

Wheel bearing worn.

Difficult to select 1st gear.

Electric window mechanism and relay failed.

Sunroof wind deflector guide arms corroded and failed.

General Comments:

Some of the problems noted above are common in the golf, specifically:

The rear brakes do very little and hence are prone to seizing.

The temperature sender is a very common failure point - if you have erratic idling check this first.

The electric windows are poor, not much can be done except replacing the mechanisms when they fail.

The gearbox bushes are prone to wear, and hence gear selection can suffer - replacement is not difficult, but re-adjustment is 'fiddly' and can take some time to get right.

It is perhaps a sign of a high-mileage car that the driver-side seat wears, however the vast majority of GTIs have seats with ripped bolsters, perhaps due to the quite high (and supportive) bolsters.

I'm conscious that there are many problems noted for my car, however I received it free from my brother who didn't maintain it very well. The build is excellent, however this tends to result in well-used examples which are subject to the usual wear and tear (see damper and wheel bearing). The bodywork is immaculate, and the engine block is made from over-specified iron allowing for some extremley high mileages.

Handling is first-class, immense fun. The brakes are good, steering direct, and the engine very flexible.

The 8v has more torque than the 16v, hence it's a little more practical around town and has better initial pull. However, the 16v has significantly more power, and will rapidly catch and pass an 8v. The 16v has slightly uprated brakes and suspension, and sits slightly lower, giving a more sporty ride. I'd suggest the 8v is more practical, but the 16v is better for the racers among you.

The car is becoming a little uncomfortable, as perishing suspension bushes result in jarring over rough surfaces. Road noise is a problem on motorways, and the design of the car means that road dirt gets sucked onto the rear hatchback, which tends to seize the rear boot lock.