USED Volkswagen Golf Hatchback (04 - 09)

My car

like andy K i have a 5 door high spec R32 unlike andy mine is utter rubbish rusting wheels, lights misting up, Steering problems, runs in the paint work oh and the dealers forget it they only want your cash then go away, VW customer service coundnt give a cuss.

My advice if you want a decent level of customer care and service with a well sorted car do not by VW all in all its rubbish

My car

I owned my R32 (07 plate) from new. High spec with: 5 door, manual, sunroof, 6 CD player with 10 speakers, heated, IPOD, Parking Sensors, etc

Simply, the car was fantastic in every respect. The only down side was the fuel consumption at 26mpg, but you don't buy this car to hug the environment. I knew what the economy was going to be when I bought it, so I can't complain.

Through 1 year’s ownership and 9200 miles the car was faultless, no problems with leaking lights, vibrations or any of the other issues mentioned here. Just 100% reliable fun.

The huge grin on my face every time I stepped out of it made it worth every penny. Clarkson gave this car a 5/5 rating. He was right. The engine sounds wonderful.

The 4motion all-wheel drive system is truly astonishing. All the various 'one-liners' about cars that 'corner on rails' are true to the R32. It never misbehaved in a corner, just sat down and held every line on every corner I threw it into. 155mph on the autobahn, the car felt reassuringly plated to the road, even in tighter corners. Solid. Unmoving. It inspires confidence when driven.

The R32 has been the most outstanding car I’ve owned in 15 years. Yes, I would buy another.

My car

I acually have the 1.6S FSI on contract hire, for 18 months, 14500 m, but I submitted review before. Overall it is very good indeed with no faults and the recent service was done properly, perhaps I've been lucky? I think the car is great, my only quible is the paint - it is less than insect wing thick. I had to have the bonnet repainted (£182) due to less than vigorous polishing by my niece, after very careful washing, wore the top colour well down. I couldn't believe just how thinly the paint is applied, and the "paint guy" said VWs are particularly known for it. I noticed it also seems very prone to scuffs and light scratches and I would still reccomend a Golf (get at least the SE model, ideally Match though) but be very careful when cleaning it.

My car

Have owned this car for almost three years (55 plate) as a company car and owned MK4 Golf prior. Am sorry to say its going next month when new car is due as this has been a brilliant car and its hard to list any faults. Have done 28K mainly on motorways and country roads. Have been getting 55+ mpg for some time and only had to top oil up once. Apart from normal servicing have had no other costs - super reliable.

Above all its the drive and image that really make it stand out. Handling on sports suspension is great although this comes slightly at the expense of ride comfort around town. Steering has just the right amount of weight and feel. 2.0 TDI is a peach with power on tap in any gear - and apparently the new 2.0 is better still. And there's still something about Golfs that give it that bit more cache than Focus/Astra/Megane etc. I'd even put the image over the 1-Series or A3 - as at least its not a poor man's equivalent!

Only gripe would be on equipment levels and cost of extras - had to pay extra for 2zone climate (worth it) and no MP3 connection on earlier models. Other extras like sunroof, CD changer etc expensive vs compettition (and £2K for satnav and £1.5K for leather is Merc/BMW territory).

Overall a great car for the whole of the three years I've had it - I'd have got the Mk6 if VW had got their fingers out and launched it in time for September.