Volkswagen Golf (1998 - 2005) Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The 1.8t was a fairly quick car in 150bhp form - although this power could be easily re-mapped to over 200bhp for around £300.00. Braking was amazing, but handling in general could have been more sports orientated, however - it was such a good all rounder and a totally capable motorway cruiser. Earlier examples had Recaro interiors which are a really nice touch, there are certain common weak areas of the car such as coilpacks/window regulators, but nothing you cannot sort out with a bit of DIY. Sold mine with over 100k miles and it was still driving like a new car. regularly got over 35mpgJul 19, 2009

Test drove the car; when the turbo kicked in in second-gear and we felt the car propel, we were pretty much sold. Love the fuel efficiency of the diesel; dunno whether we'll ever go back to petrol again. I was initially a tad intimidated by the sound of a diesel engine, but I've learned to love the low manly hum it makes ;) Iro Build Quality, I've said it before and I'll say it again - Golf V does not quite compare to the build quality of the Mark 4 - there was a solidity and feeling of being safely encapsulated that I experienced with the Golf IV that I haven't quite felt with the Mark 5 (the 5 is faster and sportier though - you feel the speed and the road when you pedal to the metal). Appearance - no doubt bout it, the 5 is a beaut. We have her in black with a sunroof and customized plates (interior, she has black heated leather seats, dual-zone climate control and a 6CD shuttle in the armrest console) so she offers everything we could ever dream of! Maintenance - took her with the extended warranty option, so it really won't be a trainsmash for some time to come. Fun Factor - oh, she's a hell of a lot of fun for someone who LOVES driving - I've set her auto audio volume increase thingie to medium so the music gets louder as you increase speed - makes fast driving one hell of a rush ;) Last but not least; MOMMY FACTOR: Love the Isofix childseat locks, huge boot for the pram and other kiddie paraphernalia and she has a 5 star NCAP rating which made her a safe choice as our family car - therefore a good allrounder.Apr 30, 2009

It's been a good little hatch so far. Build quality is easily the best of its class, particularly for the year I looked. Extremely stable on the highway as you'd expect from a German car. Engine is weak about 5000rpm and sounds like a blender but has good midrange torque in any gear. Interior is surprisingly practical given the small size. Manual transmission much better than the automatic but shifter is a bit sloppy. Steering is pretty good, suspension could be firmed up, brakes are good.Jul 20, 2008

I love my VW...!! I've owned it for about 2.5 years, having bought it new. It's never skipped a beat. The performance of the 2.0TDI engine is more than adequate, with ample torque available from quite low in the rev range. Build quality is OK (built in South Africa)... there's one occasional squeak in the dash that bugs me a little, and a whistle from the top left of the windscreen when going faster than 100km/h. Interior styling is functional and efficient... typical German. I really like how all controls are backlit, and there is also a subtle red cabin light... a nice touch. It's a cut above the boring plastic interiors of my previous cars. My Golf is a fun drive, doesn't mind being chucked around a bit, and gives just a hint of understeer when driving near the upper edges of grip. The best bit is the fuel economy... which is sublime!! I regularly get average figures like 6.0 L/100 on a mixed city / highway cycle. Diesel is a little bit more expensive in Oz, but considering that alot of new cars need premium unleaded... The reduced consumption is definately worth it I think.Jul 10, 2008

I love this car, german cars are just superior. Power is OK if you think that its a 1.9 TDI engine. Sure It needs some repairs but no big deal. The diesel engine dont drink at all, I can make like 800 + km on one tink of diesel. Its great with the price of gazoline those days lol. If you look for a car that is realy fun to drive then its the one. I love my Golf :)!!Jul 06, 2008

Everything a Golf should be: great building quality, good looks, good handling. I actually like it more than its successor. The quality of this model is better. The sports seats give a great feel to every ride. The auto gearbox is obsolete and too slow to keep up a sporty pace. Materials are well sought out and the overall quality impression is good. The engine is pretty agile and has a low MPG return. Thanks to the 134bhp power supply, a sporty drive never is far away. The breaks should be better, though. They don't give me the direct response I'd expect.Mar 26, 2008

Not the fastest but it still looks great, runs great and get's superb fuel mileage - a must in this day and age of ever increasing petrol prices. The interior is spot on; it is functional and visually appealing at the same time (I forgot about the VW trademark purple/red dash... nice touch). I opted for the 115bhp version for the fact that it is a work commute car. Not too concerned about the total performance package. Still, I do get compliments on it.Mar 09, 2008

This is my car and has over 205k on it. It runs almost like new and still smokes the competition. It's the most fun in winter; it being front wheel drive, it handles unbelievably in snow. However, the weight distribution isn't perfect and is front heavy. My Wolfsburg is exactly a GTi with the exception of it being 4-door instead of 2- and there is no VR6 option. It's got an ABA, which is a SOHC inline-4 with 1981cc of displacement, kicking 115 hp and 130 lbs/foot torque but trust me; it feels like much more! It's not the most aerodynamic car on the road lol but I think it's the coolest car ever. But don't take my word for it; it's my first car and I love it to hell. The boxy-style doesn't please every one. Reliability isn't perfect. I've had a few things break since I've had it and the electronics would need some revising but overall, this is an awsome car! German cars rule!Jan 04, 2008