VW Golf SE TDI 90bhp

Advantages: Quality and a refined driving experience.
Disadvantages: Not the fastest car on the road by any means.

...It took a while to locate a car with the specification I was looking for, (a Volkswagen Golf TDI SE 5 door hatch 90 bhp - in either silver or green, and within my budget of £10,500), even by using the VW website and doing whole country searches. I had already called in at all of my local dealers (Ipswich, Colchester, Stowmarket, Lowestoft) and was told that they are often sold even before they even appear on the garage forecourt or the VW website. Hearing this was rather off-putting, but I continued my search and in April 2003 a suitable car appeared on the website at Simpson's Garage, Lowestoft. One phone call and an hour later I was on my way for a viewing and a test drive. My car is in 'bright green' which was an option at extra cost. (I would describe it more accurately as dark green, rather like the British Racing Green...

johnalderton 07.09.2003 (25.07.2006) · Read review
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Review of Volkswagen Golf IV 1.9 TDI

VW Golf Mk V - 3dr 1.9TDI

Advantages: Spacious 3dr, drives like a dream
Disadvantages: A few electronic teething problems

...the car, even the boot which was unafffected (so that it was not a different shade after fading). They were truly excellent. After this fault the CD player also began skipping every so often - though I think the two problems were related. Again VW were superb, replacing the enitre radio unit and being extremely helpful. If you are considering buying a Golf I advise going at dusk and turning the sidelights on - the blue of the interior lihting looks very nice! On my car I also have the "Protection Pack" fitted, which is an option. For this you get footmats, plastic covers over your headlights and also a boot liner, which is a thick rubber mat fitted to your boot. I hit a bird with my headlight the other week while doing about 80mph, and though the protecter chipped it was a 30 seconds job to replace it (free from VW), instead...

StedicUK 19.08.2005 · Read review
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Review of Volkswagen Golf V

VW GOLF 1.4 FSI

Advantages: The VW label/brand
Disadvantages: Poor finish, poor dealer service support

...driving * Right hand speaker failure on car audio after 2 years * Arrogant VW service attention-much better to use an independent specialist * Will keep this vehicle for the moment--certainly will not buy another VW Golf....

mancinimoon 25.07.2008 · Read review
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Review of Volkswagen Golf 1.4 FSI

My trusty VW Golf 1.4S

Advantages: Reliable, comfortable, great looks, a pleasure to drive
Disadvantages: Do some homework before buying a second hand model

...This was my first ever "brand new" car purchase in Autumn 2002, and 5 years 2 months down the line, I've had excellent reliability, with decent fuel economy. No major mechanical problems at all, which suits me fine, as my priority with any car is that it works smoothly and is reliable. It's really been a great car, with great distinctive exterior looks, and welcoming comfortable cabin (you have to love the blue dashboard lighting inside on the dials). An article I read suggests it takes considerably longer to build a VW Golf MK4 than it does it's nearest rival. You feel safe in a Volkswagen Golf. It feels secure and well put together. And, at 5 years of age, it's again just sailed through it's MOT with no problems at all. It's also an enjoyable driving experience. Some purists might say the 1.4 has little power...

sherad 17.10.2007 · Read review
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Review of Volkswagen Golf IV 1.4

The new improved VW Golf! It's fab!

Advantages: Sleek, stylish and well designed
Disadvantages: Can't think of one!Get

...Hooray, I've been promoted!!......I was lucky enough to be able to choose a VW Golf as my new company car!!. Seeing as I've already had it 2 weeks, I felt that that was plenty of time to give it a bit of a mention on ciao! I'll concentrate the majority of this op on the model that I have, rather than VW Golf as a whole make of car, as I know next to nothing about the other models in the range! I have a 1.4 FSI (5 door) Now....a little background for you..... This all new, sparkly, newer, better, Golf is the fifth generation from VW. From what I can see, it is the most radical change that VW have made with the Golf over the years. It's dimensions are increased everywhere compared to it's predecessors. It is indeed taller, wider and has a longer wheel base. The boot is larger as is the rear leg room. The front...

Bronze224 20.08.2004 · Read review
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Review of Volkswagen Golf V

VW Golf Dec 2001 SE TDI (90bhp) 5dr

Advantages: solid, reliable, economical and safe
Disadvantages: the handbrake design

...This was my first ever VW I bought this via an action when it was 18 months (June 2003), the car had 24,000 miles and FSH. It was around 16k new I paid around 10k for it, thought that was a good deal. Drivability is very smooth and comfortable compared to my last car, Peugeot 106. Just was I need as I drive over 500 miles a week. Fuel economy is great, I average around 60mpg if I am very sensible around 68mpg. It is still nippy enough with the ninety horses under the bonnet, when required. Insurance is reasonable enough and the tax is £120 per year Safety is well thought out with front airbags, side airbags and side impact bars the car has 4 encap safety stars. The all disk breaking and abs means you can get it stop pretty quickly when needed. It also has a very low sump to it sticks to the round on the corners, although you...

sparkers 12.11.2009 · Read review
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Review of Volkswagen Golf IV 1.9 TDI

Volkswagen Golf (mkV) GT TDI PD 140PS

Advantages: Well balanced handling, hugely versatile, excellent residuals
Disadvantages: Expensive to buy, not as big as some might hope

...The Volkswagen Golf is possibly the most versatile car ever made. Never mind the fact that a huge variety of other VW group cars are based on exactly the same chassis, but focus just on the breadth of the Golf range. From the simple, old-fashioned functionality of the lower-powered diesel and petrol engines to the 197bhp GTi, which is nothing short of an icon, the Golf has the competition on the back foot. Whichever the best selling Golf model is, it's probably a diesel, and although it's on the sporty side the GT Sport TDi deserves to fly off the forecourts. The fifth-generation Golf's driving position is just about perfect. It's just as comfortable trundling through Carlisle's rush hour as it is darting from corner to corner along a tight Lake District B-road. GT-Sport specification is a step below the fabled GTi, featuring...

dandycaptain 24.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI

This Golf is my cup of tee!

Advantages: Gorgeous exterior, good interior space, affordable and very quick.
Disadvantages: Haphazard reliability and common on the road

...A large part of my job involves having meetings with clients at their premises, hence my company has a decent selection of cars for the consultants to use for travelling. Amongst this fleet is a silver diesel-fuelled 1.9L VW Golf Mk5 TDI. As I drive a Ford Mondeo, I am used to a silky smooth and straightforward ride, however the Golf is a very different animal. Historically, the VW Golf has had a stigma attached to it that it is a boy racer's car. I remember back in the mid-90's that a few of my older brother's chavvy friends were incredibly proud owners of the Golf. Since then it has been accepted by the professional world as a sales rep/company car, meaning that it can be perceived more credibly by those at the sophisticated end of the market. The Mk5 was produced in 2003 *Exterior* The Golf Mk5 was produced in 2003 and boasts...

oxonian 03.11.2008 · Read review
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Review of Volkswagen Golf V

VW Golf 1.4 Match

Advantages: cheap to run, safe, cheap parts
Disadvantages: Slow, soft suspension

...This is my first Golf, it is a 1995 1.4 Golf Match with 110,000 on the clock. I bought it for £1100 at a local dealer. I have had it for around 7 months now and have had no problems whatsoever. I decided to go for the golf because of the exceptional german build quality and they hold up well in accidents. Plus with the 1.4 it is reasonably cheap to insure. The match version has a few little extras over the CL versions, for example it has alloy wheels as standard, power steering, and there are a few changes on the interior such as upholstery design etc. The first thing i noticed about the car was how well it holds in corners and, like others have said, the body roll! The suspension seems quite soft in this car, some may like that but others may not. The 1.4 engine, considering its age, is quite fuel efficent. I regularly get...

dav1d89 08.06.2007 · Read review
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Review of Volkswagen Golf III 1.4

Golf GT Sport. You know you want one!

Advantages: Understated style for those with taste.
Disadvantages: Too understated for some tastes.

...About our car Our car has just arrived and looks stunning in silver, the colour is optional metallic paint at an additional cost of £365.00 and a front centre arm rest at £120.00. The centre arm rest is really essential in our mind as it gives additional air vents to rear seat passengers and also provides a storage compartment lid and an ashtray lid Not that we smoke but it tidies the console massively. We have chosen the 140bhp tdi as it offers the best compromise of driveability, fuel consumption and practicality in our mind at least. About Golf Mk 5 If you are using your own money to buy one it is a very safe bet. The Mk5 has very compliant handling and is extremely comfortable. It has addressed the shortfall of the MK 4 Golf by adding extra leg room for rear seat passengers. There are lots of cars competing in this segment but...

jonb3 25.08.2007 (13.01.2009) · Read review
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Review of Volkswagen Golf V