VWwA Used Car Guides (Type 1H) Golf 1991-1998 CL, GL, GL TDI, VR6 & Cabriolet

[phaeton]

1993-1998 Golf (Type 1H) 1.8 CL, 2.0 GL, 1.9 GL TDI, 2.8 VR6, Vento & 2.0 Golf Cabriolet

If you have owned or own one of the models above please state your experience with the Golf negatives and positives .

Also fill in the below blanks


example
Model: Golf GL TDI
Engine: 1.9 TDI with 66kW
Year: 1996
Any Problems ?: tyres fell off

[wayz]

The common ones have happened to me:

1998
MK3 Golf CL
1.8L 66kw

Window regs!
Ignition coil

and thats about it! cheap as chips and a beaut to drive

[peedman]

Ok heres mine:

1994
Mk3 Golf GL
2.0L with 86kw

Negatives:
Drivers and passengers side regulator gone
A/C not cold
Speedo not working on dash cluster
Door locks fallen out
Excessive play in shifter (fixed by Loon!)
Inner tie rod stuffed
Latest is suspicion that the thermostat is stuck open

Positives:
Cheap to run and had no mechanical problems so far. It gets me from A to B quite well even if it is a bit bumpy but not bad for an everyday car.

Ive had other concerns but more due to lack of maintenance or poor workmanship to blame.

[rayray086]

Model: Golf GL
Engine: 2E 2.0L 8V
Year: 1995
Any Problems: Window regulators, engine electrical problems (misfires, false starts), door sill rust, small spots of rust in various parts of the body, wiring not organised very well.

Those are only problems, but I love the car.

[madglf3]

1994 Golf GL
2E 8V
88kw
Problems: Window reg (driver side front)
ignition module
crack pipe

other than that, brilliant vehicle to own and drive daily, reliable, and i like the look of both the exterior and especially the interior

[MattyT]

Name: Vr6
Mission: Awesome On 4 Wheels

[japtaxi]

Model: Golf CL auto
Engine: 1.8L 66kw
Year: 1997
Any Problems: tappet gasket, tie rods, front strut tops, rear drum brakes, can't go any faster than 180km/h
It had manual wind up window thing so none of that window reg problem
Besides all that, with the horrible body roll/suspension, I was able to go through corner faster than 1.8l turbo silvia.

[Soundofav6]

Model: golf
engine: vr6
Year: 1994

Negatives
*window regulators, 2 windows still taped up.
* getting into first gear, must go through second gear before first, otherwise a jammed sensation.
* standard BBS is a bugger to clean.
* fuel consumption is killing me. Max MAx MAX 400km / tank


Positives.
dispite these problem. enjoying every ride.

[bboyskidz]

Model: Golf CL
Engine: 1.8L 67kw
Year: 1997

Negatives:
* Clutch is going - needs replacement
* gear synchro is going - may need to replaced
* too much movement in the gear shifter
* Rear drum brakes were not properly replaced, leaving them working at only 30-40%
* Starter motor sometimes doesn't kick the engine over and just makes a whizzing noise.
* Sponge on the right side of the drivers seat is boken, leaving me falling off into the door.
* Seat back no longer supports any weight and is quite uncomfortable without some kind of support cusion.
* Steering wheel is cracking - looks ugly
* Headlights have a newly developed crack in the glass
* tappet gasket is leaking a bit of oil

Basically i need a new clutch, new brakes, new seats, a pod filter, a new exhuast system, and window tinting (so maybe i don't need all of those things but hey... )

Positives:
* Its a Golf. Nothing beats it.
* It sounds awesome at 4500rpm+ (even without an exhaust)
* Its a Golf.
* I will never buy anything but golfs again.

[Golfer]

Model: Golf GL
Engine: 2E 2.0L 110Hp
Year: 4/1994
Problems:
* Power window regulators
* Heater Core
* (Plastic) Water pump
* Air Conditioner Compressor
* Broken headlight reflector
* Gearshift linkages
* Crank vapor return pipe snapped ($178!!!)

Despite all the problems though, awesome car. I would still recommend it to anyone...

Cheers!
JHN

[The_Hawk]

Just got a VR6 on the weekend.

1996 VR6 in Black

Issues:
Heater Core
Air Con (no idea exactly what just yet)
Electric windows, at least one maybe two are on the way out, one is wired up backwards, but thats hardly VW's fault
Rubber seal on the bottom of the windscreen is perishing
Stearing is a little harder to the right.

Wouldn't trade it for anything else, except maybe a newer VR6 It really is fun on wheels.

[tassie_euro_mk1]

Just got myself a VR6 2 weeks ago


Problems are:
Heater core.
Common Oil seal on front of engine.
Power window. Drivers side wires all tangled . Rear drivers window unknown yet.
Engine mount


Goes like stink . Looks the part. A sound that makes you pee your pants. Updated suspension makes it handle like its on rails. excellent interior layout.

[ScienceVR6]

VR6

2.8 v6, 128kw + (est 139.23kw@5800 )

3/1995

Issues......well, the drivers side rear window reg, aux water pump thingy leaks, engine mount, passenger side rear most front lower A arm bush.

Positives......The grunt. The noise, The look, The grunt, The noise......the noise, oh the noise!

[Soundofav6]

Newly found problem in mine 94 2.8 .... Got a leaky coolant hose. Went WAY below minimin.

Went to VW dealer and got proper G12+ and it was same price and volume BP stuff as for my emergency. (should have just used water instead!!)

Moral of story. Lov your dub, don't settle for second best. my temperature got up to 104.

(stupidity comments towards me welcomed)

[BigD]

the good ones are few and far between

been looking at most of the mkIII's around sydney and found they all have steering, engine mount, gearbox, clutch failures. aircons no more and elec windows that dont wind

the roads in the city metro are to blame for steering wandering coupled with heavy footed drivers doing over the engine mounts leading also to gearbox and clutch failures.

The rust is simple if the car has been in an accident and not repaired correctly then out comes the rust in a couple of years down the track(leave em alone and youll hopefully see them at the wrecker)

on the flip, there are still hidden gems out there with full service hist, no rust, and with only some of the abovementioned failures listed above.

Not cheap but totally repairable and if you like me replace with stronger products that will resist the metro gutters they call roads, then you will be totally suprised like I was what these well engineered wolfsburgers are capable of in economy performance and most important safety when throwing it about in the pursuit of driving pleasure