USED Volkswagen Golf Hatchback (97 - 06)

My car

Had the car for five months now which I bought second-hand from a main dealer. The bodywork isn't perfect the price was very keen. Love the car and the spec is very good - CD, air-con and remote central locking and alarm. My 90bhp car feels a touch underpowered but if that bothers you, buy the 115 or 130bhp versions. It hasn't been fault-free, though - the brake light switch failed after six weeks but was done under warranty, and with the recent cold weather I've noticed the heated mirrors don't work. That's being sorted in the next week, again, under warranty. The car is very good. The dealers are frustrating!! You can never get through to them on the phone and when you do you can't get the information you need. If you find a good dealer, buy a VW!

My car

I have a 2002 tiptronic version, which gives me the the pleasures of manual or auto modes. In heavy traffic I leave it in the auto mode. But given the open road I swap it over to manual and it flies.

I have 'chipped' it which has increased the bhp to 125. I just love the feel of the car and it is not as noisy as one would think. The only problem I have experienced is the alternator died but this was changed under warranty. I wouldn't go back to the run of the mill cars I have had in the past.

I am a converted Volkswagen man now. However, I am not sure whether I will change to the Mk 5 as I feel the dash material is a poorer quality than the Mk4. If you are in the market for a small hatch diesel, forget the competition, go for Volkswagen.

Bear in mind too that residuals are better than most in this class.

My car

New for me. Haven't driven it. Well lets see...

My car

I bought the car because of the VW quality. By and large it has behaved and reflected the "brand" I bought into. We needed a small car (to go on a small driveway), but we wanted a quality car and there was suprisingly little choice.

The 1.8GTi 150 is not light on juice - approx 30mpg and not too bad in insurance terms (even with a London address). Some minor electrical faults (rear window electric lock, external temperature gauge) and one piece of dash trim has fallen off, but I think was the more down to the previous owner than VW!

Driving - it goes if you give it some welly, otherwise cruises very smoothly at 70-80 and nips around town.