USED Volkswagen Golf Hatchback (04 - 09)

My car

Traded old 110 GT TDI in for this last October (04) for the wife. The car is fantastic.

It drives like a real GTI and it can go (not quite as quick as my 225 TT quattro though).

The cabin is great, but I need to get the six-disc CD changer fitted.

Dual zione climate control is a gift from heaven - make sure you get this.

Only down side is that I am only getting 42-44mpg according to the computer - probably due to driving style though - can resist opening it up on the road.

BUY ONE NOW

My car

I bought my RX-8 on the recommendation of your excellent magazine, I have susbscribed to for many many years. The Mazda is an excellent car but it is proving to be expensive to run.

I have just this Tuesday had a test drive in the new Golf GTI, which you also rate very highly. I'm not surprised - what a superb car. It drove as well as the RX-8. For a front-wheel drive it's very good.

The whole package is very impressive, it doesn't have the attitude of the RX-8, but boy it has a wide range of talents, which you could miss they're so subtle.

Suffice to say, because of your recommendation and the superb package the Golf represents, I have bought one. I part-ex'd the Mazda and am soon to take delivery of my new Golf GTI.

Thanks for your excellent mag, portraying a fair and impartial overview of motoring, which I as an enthusiast take note of whenever I am considering a change of car.

My car

Having owned my car now for nearly 2 years, I thought I would update my original review. I've had 34,000 miles of mostly trouble free motoring so far, but there have been a few problems.

Like several other readers, I've had the usual rattles and clunks from the doors and the dashboard. I had a Mk4 Golf 1.9TDi and the Mk5 comes nowhere near in terms of build quality. The plastics are hard. I also had to have the cables for the bonet release replaced recently after the bonnet failed to open - technician told me he'd dealt with 4 or 5 of these recently and wondered if it might be a design fault?

Good points - 55mpg, excellent road handling, good driving position and air con which handled the heatwave of summer 2006!

Apart from niggles, I'm still quite happy with car and would probably buy another. Why doesn't VW do the new Match with 2.0TDI engine though?

My car

This is my second 1.4 Golf and its much improved over the Mk4.

The new FSI engine is much quieter and slightly quicker. I am not getting the same MPG as the old model, hopefully this will improve as the miles increase, which is now only 1500 miles. I hope to achieve over 550 miles to a tank, but presently struggle to get 500.

The inside lay-out is also an improvement, where all controls are easily located, my only slight critism is that the display area for the radio/CD seems too large. All in all, very good value for money.