Here are my impressions from driving a 103TDI manual vs 118TSI manual, I drove the 103TDI first.

My wife sat in the back seat behind me to check out the leg room, and she was impressed with how much there was. I'm not short, 1.8m, but I prefer to drive closer to the steering wheel than I suppose most people my height would. The adjustable steering wheel was a bonus, not just for tilt but forward and backward adjustment too. Any misgivings I may have had with driving a diesel were instantly dispelled as soon I started the engine and drove out of the dealer's yard, I was mightily impressed with the acceleration and the low down torque. I took it for a drive down the freeway and it surprised me how quickly it got up to 100km/h and how quietly it did it. I was even more surprised when I left the freeway and found myself speeding in a 70 zone. Oops. Driving back into the dealership it negotiated a steep but short slope with absolute ease. Amazing ease, and it didn't bat an eyelid when I gave it a bit more throttle. It just pulled up that short but steep slope giving me the impression that I was holding it back.

I then took the 118TSI for a drive along the same route, this time my wife sat beside me. I instantly noticed that the car didn't have the same torque at low revs, the 118TSI likes to have the motor revving. It's quieter in the cabin, but not to a degree that would sway me from the diesel. Driving the 118TSI, it was apparent to me that it's a driver's car. It wants to be revved, it wants you go through the gears, it wants to go round corners quickly (all within the speed limits, of course). In short, the 118TSI is a car for people who enjoy the driving experience.

The manual gearbox is a dream. I've only ever driven one automatic, a 1975 Mazda 929. I've been a manual gearbox man ever since. I particularly liked the display that told me I should be in 6th gear.

It was a really tough decision to choose between the diesel and the petrol engine. I decided that the diesel was the one for me. It suits my style of driving, I'm not a petrol head (I wonder if there's a diesel-head equivalent). I'm quite a sedate driver, but knowing I can blip the throttle if I need to in order to get into the other lane is a great comfort. I found this out when I turned the 103TDI into Wanneroo Road and was advised I needed to get into the left lane. There was a gap, I blipped the throttle, we slipped into the gap. No effort at all.

I didn't really spend the time I should have in looking at the features, but I've been in enough cars to know that the Golf is very nicely appointed. Those engineers in Wolfsburg thought of everything.

It was a pleasure meeting with Dermot Munro and Kimberley at Wangara VW. Dermot has built up an enviable reputation, and it's very easy to see why. There's no BS, just sheer professionalism. We sat down to talk figures and I was presented with an offer for the 103TDI that I simply could not refuse. And they do a great cup of coffee, too at Wangara VW. All in all, it was well worth the drive out there.