Volkswagen Golf Hatchback (1997 - 2004) 1.4 E 5d Owner Review

Got this car with only 120,000 miles on the clock with full service history. I had to replace the front downpipe, middle box and backbox as they were very rusty and had holes in them. Two coil packs had to changed so make sure to check them as they are a common fault. The problems I had were really just parts that were old and needed to be replaced considering its nearly 18 years old. The 1.4 petrol engine is decent enough but the car is heavy so It does lack quite a bit of torque. I had water leaks coming from the vents in front of the windscreen under the bonnet and leaks coming from the boot as the rear window wiper started leaking, this was all fixed but can be a bit of a nuisance an can cause electrical problems so check for water leaks when buying. Overall the problems I've had were minor, brake discs, roll bar bushings etc after putting over 15,000 miles on it and owning it for over a year now just make sure to service it when it needs to be and it should last a long time. Its good looking , very comfortable, drives smoothly, very well built and puts a smile on my face when I see it. The TDIs are the best to go for though as you'll get plenty of power and great fuel economy.