Volkswagen Golf Hatchback (2009 - 2012) 1.4 TSI (160bhp) GT 5d Owner Review

Car came with full service history so was pretty happy with my purchase. Worked fabulously for a month then the battery failed. New battery installed, then the engine failed again, something to do with an internal oil leak within the engine. Had to buy a reconditioned engine. It worked great for a while then warning light came on linked to the exhaust, turned out needed a new throttle box.Had that job done but the warning light returned and was advised needed another part. By this stage I'd lost faith in the garage and took it to a VW specialist who diagnosed it needed a new "butterfly" (no idea what that was!) so not even the same part that previous garage told me to buy! Anyway, they did fix it and it's worked perfectly ever since (touch wood). I paid £4235 for the car and spent close to £3k on fixing it over the course of a year. I couldn't afford to just ditch it and buy another but it did take the shine off my view of VW cars. Choose your mechanics wisely!! However now it's fixed, it's a great drive and has excellent exceleration for overtaking & handles really well.