Item: Used Volkswagen Golf Estate 1999 - 2005
Author: What Car? Team

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The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

GOLF

A competent, reliable and safe estate

Used Volkswagen Golf Estate 1999 - 2005

Tracking down a good example may a take a little while, as the Golf estate never got close to matching the hatchback in terms of popularity. For that reason, it can be cheaper to buy than the hatch, but it will still be more expensive than a Ford Focus or Vauxhall Astra estate.

Service intervals are every 12 months or 10,000 miles, which is par for the course, but you may well find the work more expensive. At a VW dealer, you'll find that their hourly rates are slightly above the class average. Independent experts are a little more expensive than their Ford counterparts, too.

At least robust security helps keep the Golf's insurance costs down. Only the 1.8 turbo and 2.3 V5 could be classified as expensive, attracting group 14 and 15 ratings.

The V5 will also make you suffer at fuel pumps, as it returns only 27mpg in auto guise. The most economical model in the range is the 56mpg 110bhp TDI; the 130bhp version still offers a very respectable 51mpg.

Unless you intend to haul nothing heavier than the weekly shopping and exist largely on a diet of lettuce, then the weedy 74bhp 1.4 petrol and 67bhp 1.9 SDI diesel should be avoided, particularly in entry-level E trim.

Bigger petrols include a 2.0-litre unit, 1.8-litre turbos and a 2.3-litre V5. However, the best engine in the Golf estate isn't petrol-powered. Instead, go for the 130bhp TDI PD diesel, introduced in June 2001.

In general, you're best off going for as late a model as possible. At the end of 2001, VW improved the ride and handling, while spec and trim were improved in May 2002: S models ditched their electric sunroof in favour of air-con, for example.

Overall, our favourite spec is SE, which features alloys, a trip computer and cruise control.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Huge boot and excellent practicality</li> <li>Plenty of interior space so you can carry passengers as well as luggage </li> <li>Strong engines to pull a heavily laden car</li> <li>Comfortable ride, especially on the motorway</li> <li>Low running costs for company car drivers</li></ul>

If you’re after bags of space but you don’t want to commit to the van-like dimensions and styling of an MPV, there are some great estate cars on offer that should do the job.

Tricks to look out for include an electric tailgate&nbsp;that opens automatically when you wave your foot under the rear bumper; this is&nbsp;particularly handy if you’re trying to load in a heavy or&nbsp;bulky item. You should also look for handles in the side of the boot itself that can drop down the rear seats; these are much more convenient than having to walk around the side of the car to do it.

There are some terrific estates at most price ranges. The humble Skoda Fabia Estate offers cavernous space for not much cash at all, for example.

Further up the price range, another of our perennial favourites is the Skoda Superb Estate;&nbsp;it’s great to drive and as practical as most people should ever need. Meanwhile, for serious mile-munching ability and a premium, well-finished interior, it’s hard to look beyond the BMW 5 Series Touring.

The biggest expense you are likely to face is if the timing belt goes on the 1.8-litre petrol engine. It needs to be changed every 70,000 miles; otherwise you risk replacing the entire engine. The ignition coil on this engine is also prone to failure.

The diesels aren't fault-free, either. Sticking turbochargers can result in a loss of power, while faulty ECUs can cause similar problems, plus a drop in fuel economy. These engines really need clean oil to function properly, so if you see clouds of black smoke, or the owner can't quite put their finger on that full service history, walk away.

Clutches and manual gearboxes can give problems, too, so check both out thoroughly on your test drive. Finally, check online at www.vosa.gov.uk for recall information - estate cars built in May and June 2000 had a child seat security issue.

The Golf Estate's boot space is reasonable rather than exceptional. It's easy to extend it further by lowering the split rear seats, but it won't take all the clutter that fits into rivals like the Ford Focus. The Focus also offers more head- and legroom for rear seat passengers.

Up front, though, there are no such complaints. Build quality is excellent - at least on this generation of Golf, the VW's classy interior still leads the way. The Golf driver gets a good deal, too, thanks to big, comfortable, easy-to-adjust seats and steering that adjusts for both rake and reach.

As a long-distance cruiser, the Golf is right in its element and it rides well on the motorway. It's not so impressive on country roads, where there's too much bounce and body roll, but things improve with a little weight on board - no bad thing in an estate.

Finally, safety is good, with a four-star Euro NCAP rating and decent security.

Used Volkswagen Golf Estate 1999 - 2005 review

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