Golf reliability

[petenkaz]

Hi all
I'm a bit of a VW fan, currently have a T5 beach and prior to that a 76 kombi. My question is regarding buying a golf. I am looking at a mk4 Golf or Bora. Only problem is that the reviews that I have seen have not been too favourable quoting reliability, high service and parts cost.
I understand to look for the usual service history and would get the car checked by my VW man, however would like some feedback from current or past owners, and really don't want to go for a camry for reliability!
The car will be a second runaround for my wife and new bub so not a high miler. Any feedback welcome.
Thanks!

[dubbed]

Expect to pay $800-1200 on a timing belt, water pump, and tensioner at 80,000-100,000km intervals.

Fortunately there seems to be only a few common problems. These include faulty MAF sensors ($250-300), coolant temp sensor ($70-80) - but chances are this would've been replaced, window regs can fail ($200 odd), and sometimes the coil/ignition fails - not sure on cost or what the actual part is called.

On the plus side, once these items are done you should be good for another 100,000+km. So when you're buying, obviously check out the service history and take into account you could be up for some maintenance.

I figure you could buy a Corolla and not have to pay anything other than general servicing costs, but you don't get the refinement, quality, and all the other perks that come with owning a Dub. It's definitely worth it

[Manaz]

The ~100,000km costs aren't much different to most other cars - any car with timing belts (rather than chains) will have similar costs at roughly the same time (Astras need theirs done at 60,000km IIRC). For a Subie, you can expect around $2,000 once you hit the 100,000km mark - they have two timing belts (because the engine is horizontally opposed), and one's a bitch to get to...)

[gavs]

If you don't mind the odd squeek or rattle then I think they're generally ok.....unless you get one with an electrical gremlin hiding in it, like mine......Seems to be more related to Mexican built golfs rathen than Sth African ones...

[anthony]

GAVS...
I dont think any Golfs were made in Mexico for the Australian market.
All generations were built in Gemany,then the final A4 Generation models were built in South Africa,all A5 s were made in South Africa,except the 3 door GTI and R32 models,which were built in Germany.
All A6 Golfs are built in Germany.
As for the sedans,all Ventos and Boras were built in Germany.
Jettas were all built in Mexico until a year ago,and they are now built in South Africa for the Aussie market...

[quozl]

MK IV R32 was actually built in Bratislava, SLOVAKIA

Cheers Al

[petenkaz]

thanks all, an astra was never going to be in the equation, maybe a subaru, but thanks for this advice, sounds like too much for a timing belt. I guess the next thing is to figure out whether the pram will fit in the back of the hatch .... oh, and also to find one in the price range!

[brad]

I had a Mk3.5 Cabrio (Mk3 Golf with Mk4 visuals) witha 2L 8valve engine. For the 2 years/40,000km we had it it was reasonably reliable. The coil stopped without warning ($125 aftermarket/$400 from VW). The clutch started slipping because of an internal gearbox leak of the clutch rod ($400 for clutch plus a days labour but we let the leak go unrepaired). The shocks were buggered by 100,000km so I did the rears ($250?). In the end I decided to trade it as it wasn't really suited to the usage I was putting it through and the boot was too small.
Repairs/maintenance needed when I traded it on a Skoda were timing belt/pullies/water pump; front struts; L&R engine mounts & the gearbox leak & maybe some other stuff - I stopped counting at $2000.

If I was doing it again, I'd probably look at a Passat or an Audi A3/A4. Passat is unloved & there are bargains to be had.