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

1998 S reg bought in July 2015. Needed a new clutch as soon as it was bought. New tappetts (hydraulic valve lifters) and thermostat and thermostat housing. I have spent a lot of money on it over the years including shocks and springs all around, recon gearbox, rear wiper motor, rear axle bushes, front wishbones, track rods and ends, new calipers all around. New rocker cover gasket sealant. New passenger side wing, new front door regulators both sides, . Few niggly electrical issues and many of those things were preventative maintenance as I've spent several times more than the cars worth. The wheel bearings, floorpan and engine reliability are fantastic even for these early tappetty 1.4's. Being 24 going on 25 years old now and all the maintenance work I've carried out over the years, the car drives like new. The engine has never let me down and has only required timing belt and water pump intervals (two have been carried out as its every 4 years or 40k miles).

I have only done 33k miles in the past 8 years (bought on 79k and now on 112k). Mine being the amongst the earliest mk4's had many issues that were sorted out on the later models (2000 onwards). The 1.4 gets a lot of stick for being amongst the worst engines VW have ever built but with yearly servicing, they've been known to hit 250k plus without needing a rebuild. One thing is a must especially on the early mk4 years. Regular and preventative maintenance. Any other owner would have scrapped the car several times over for what I have spent on it but I genuinely love everything about it. I service it every October whether I've done a 1000 miles or 5000. I never exceed more than that.

Highly recommend but for owners who could live without the high maintenance bills, go for a 2001 onwards because they are genuinely built better and many of the niggles on the 1997 - 2000 models have been rectified. I'd still go for a early one if I was to buy again.