USED Volkswagen Golf Hatchback (09 - )

My car

I bought this car in Mar 2011 exchanging a Panda and the final negotiated price was less than 10K. I did not have to add any optional as the Twist model comes with lots of additional features that you will pay for in other models (alloy wheel, iphone/ipod connectivity). Ok the engine is not the speediest but for London is perfect and on the motorway it could get to 100mph with no problem whatsoever.

I love the Iphone feature, the alloy wheels and the way the car handles. In terms of consumption it drinks like the Panda which is remarkable considering the Twist is mounted with the oldest VW engine and it's much heavier than a Panda.

Overall I am super pleased with my purchase and it is another confirmation that german cars are quality and considering you would buy a Fiat 500 for the price I paid for the Golf, the Golf Twist is a stunning of a car.

I went for a 3 yrs lease and I pay £135 a month.

My car

We purchased our golf in November 2009 and although when it is working it is a lovely car to drive, fast and fun, it has been riddled with non stop engine and electric faults since day 1. So far, it has been in the garage almost monthly with new and unresolved issues. So far it has had replacement plugs, coils and supercharger. It also an engine squeak early on, which was temporarily resolved at the garage but returned within 8 weeks and has not stopped since. Voltswagen customer service has been less than satisfactory and has resulted in us now changing the car as we cannot stand the reliability issues any longer and would warn anybody to make sure they have good roadside recovery available if you choose to own this car. Other than this, the interior is fantastic and a really good build, the upgraded radio package with touch screen is a must, particularly with the parking sensors. The only car in a similar price range which we have found which competes with the handling is the BMW 1 series. Running costs are expensive when driving around town, working out at about 30mpg but raising to over 40mpg on the longer runs. If you want a fun car which you can forgive regular warranty-covered issues then this is for you but if you need a good reliable family car, perhaps think a little more....!

My car

I was looking for a Passat estate to replace my unreliable 2009 Mondeo and whilst in the VW showroom, I had a look at a Golf they had there. I was amazed at the space - at 6"3' I usually turn a car into a 3 seater when I get in, but there is no problem seating adults behind me - a really pleasant surprise. I opted for the 105bhp diesel SE after much consideration and test driving. The engine is so smooth and with the well sorted gear ratios and 190 ft/lbs of torque, I am never left wanting for any more power or flexibility. The cabin is a haven of tranquility - with tactile material on all the touch points - a really classy place to be. The seats have proved to be supportive and comfortable on long journeys and the equipment level is excellent. I chose satellite navigation, which was a good option and I can recommend the RNS310 system for its' ease of use, full address entry and the great way it links to my iPod. All in all, I'm delighted with the car - £30 per year in road fund licence and I'm getting 61 mpg. Fabulous!

My car

Took delivery of my company car 2.0 GT Bluemotion in Candy White last week. Already covered a thousand miles in it. I considered the Audi A3 Sportback, but plumped for the Golf, and I am glad I did. So far I am impressed - nothing really negative to say about the car at all. It is a very smooth drive - much smoother than my preceeding cars (Mondeo Titanium X and Jaguar X type Sport) I was worried it would be too small but it seems perfectly large inside. Fuel efficiency is not as good as I was led to believe - I am averaging around 55mpg. Perhaps this will improve. Acceleration is very quick, and all you could want in a car (unless you are a boy racer) Only downside is the styling - I went for the bluemotion GT, which you would expect to be a bit sporty. I think the styling is a bit boring/understated. No badges showing the GT or anything. The tinted windows look ok, the alloys are pretty standard fare. On a £22k car you should get satnav and heated seats as standard. Hopefully my tax liability will be a pleasant surprise when I get my next payslip !