VWwA Used Car Guides (Type 1J) Golf 1998-2005 GL, GLE, Sport, Generation, GTI & R32

[phaeton]

1998-2005 Golf (Type 1J) 1.8 GL, 1.6 GL (Generation), 2.0 GLE (Sport), 3.2 V6 R32

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 R32
Engine: 3.2 with 177kW
Year: 2004
Any Problems ?: tyres fell off

[Manaz]

Am going to make a separate thread

Are the issues for a Bora that different to a Golf that the thread would be significantly different?

[phaeton]

Are the issues for a Bora that different to a Golf that the thread would be significantly different?

You tell me

I thought as they were built in different factories and had different engine options apart from the 2.0L that they may differ in some respects.

Also could not fit a full description of all Bora models in the title hence my decision to separate the two (this can easily be changed)

[geoff_gti]

what link? it's just text with underline. we're supposed to fill in the details like so:

Model: MY03 Mk IV Golf GTI
Engine: AGU 1.8T with Oettinger chip + K04 upgrade
Year: 2003
Any Problems ?: Front window regulators replaced
Water pump and timing belt replaced at last service (60,000km). Expensive, but before they went which would have been worse!
Excessive wearing on front tyres (due to inner guards coming loose and rubbing on tyres, nothing else )
Throttle body has been reset / cleaned out, still plays up occassionally causing high idling, cruise control won't work, and aircon seems to cut out too
Flex in dump pipe cracked and had to be replaced (sounded worse than a Diesel for a bit!)

Other Features:
R32 bodykit
OZ 18" Superleggera rims
Oettinger pedals
Now with stubby antenna and remote windows! Cheers to Tim @ Dub Addiction and Fuzion!!

[YellowDieselGolf]

Model: Golf GTI
Engine: 1.8T
Year: 2002 MY03
Any Problems ?:
Sunroof mechanism replaced
Microswitch in drivers door lock failed
Throttle position sensor replaced
Cruise control/indicator stalk replaced
Drivers seat material replaced at first service due to wear
Comfort module failed, resulting in passenger power mirror pointing to the ground
Window regulators creaked - didn't fail, but were going to.
N75 valve replaced due to fault
Differential replaced due to clunking
Clutch replaced due to wear
Fuel lines replaced

+ probably more.

[dubbed]

Model: Golf GTI
Engine: 1.8t
Year: 2000
Problems:
MAF replaced
Coolant sensor replaced

It also has a couple of other small issues at the moment.

[gavs]

Model: MkIV GL Rally
Engine: 1.6 SR
Year: 1999
Problems: Entire passenger side door electrics replaced (window regulator, power mirror, door lock), passenger side door wiring loom replaced, a myriad of squeeks (i carry WD-40!), gremlin in the drivers door windor/door switch module, CCM intermittent problems, possible inner CV joint on drivers side failing....

[JustCruisn]

Model: Golf GTI
Engine: 1.8T + APR
Year: 2001
Any Problems:
Part broke on seat rail, stiff to move forward/back, @37K fixed
Part broke on seat rail again @ 37.1K - still not fixed
Water pump failed @ 65K
CV boot fails every 40K
Tailgate latch mechanism replaced @ 100K
Clutch and flywheel @ 102K
Door locks gone crazy @ 120K
Diff, 1st gear, crown wheel & bearings shot @ 185K

Still heaps of fun to drive.

[agonza]

Model: Golf GTI
Engine: 1.8T + GIAC
Year: 2001
Any Problems ?:
Driver and Passenger window regulators failed
Solenoid for rear hatch lock died
Plug for reverse switch broke (no reverse lights)
Replaced padding in right bolster base and restitched right bolster of drivers seat (wear and tear)
Replaced coolant overflow bottle (common problem)
Clutch rattles sometimes at idle
Engine temp sensor sometimes takes a long time to get going

Owned since late 2002, has been reasonably problem free in comparison to the commondore wagon that we own.

[No457 Snowy]

Model: Golf GTI
Engine: 1.8T
Year: 2004
Problems: Coolant bottle replaced under warranty. (Check Coolant Light)

[dubbed]

How much for a coolant bottle? Mine is doing the same occassionally but I thought there might be a sensor that you can replace instead of the whole bottle.

[No457 Snowy]

How much for a coolant bottle? Mine is doing the same occassionally but I thought there might be a sensor that you can replace instead of the whole bottle.

It was under warranty so I never did get the price, I'm pretty sure the sensor is integrated as part of the bottle and it's S.O.P. to just replace the bottle.

Snowy.

[dubbed]

Thanks Snowy I will find out how much they sell for locally and give everyone an update.

[Treza360]

Model: VW Golf R32 (044/200)
Engine: 3.2L narrow angle V6 (15 degree).
Power: 177kW @ 6250rpm
Torque: 320Nm @ 2800-3200rpm
Year: 2004 (2003 Build Plate)
Mileage: ~96000km

Modifications:
- Flapper Mod
- BMC CDA CAI
- EBC Red Stuff brake pads all round (Martini brake fluid)
- Slotted OEM front brake rotors
- HPA Short Shifter (40% throw reduction)
- TST Rear Stressbrace
- European spec blue tinted aspherical side mirrors (heated)
- Seat Leon Cupra R front lip
- Audi R8 oil cap
- Blue tyre valve caps
- VAG Tacho distance to empty enabled
- VAG Tacho dash cluster illumination enabled on accessories and ignition
- 42 Draft Designs white LED parking lights
- Blue and White LED combination interior lighting
- Polo Aero rear wiper

Modifications waiting to be installed:
- H&R front and rear swaybars
- H&R sports springs (~30 mm drop)
- Koni Yellow Sport Adjustable front and rear shocks
- Audi S3 front lower tie bar

Modifications to be procured:
- New stiffer engine mounts
- Haldex controller
- ECU upgrade (likely to be dependant on forced induction plans)
- Exhaust upgrade (the distant future, full Milltek system planned)
- Shrick Cams (the distant future)
- VF Engineering Stage 2 Supercharger kit (the distant future)

Problems:
- None mechanical
- None build interior build quality
- None exterior build quality

Grumbles:
- Stock USA spec suspension (softer and unmatched springs and shocks as well as thinner swaybars, soon to be rectified though)
- Australian spec muffler produces peak power at higher RPM and means sound isn't quite as good as European spec
- Stock it is inclined to scrape on steep driveways and parking concrete barriers will take even the stock front lip off (new suspension will only make this worse)
- Whilst wheels are fantastic, they are an absolute nightmare to keep clean
- As with most Golfs it produces a vortex behind it due to the shape which sucks massive amounts dust and dirt onto the rear hatch lip and rear windscreen, lets not even get started with how filthy it gets if it's raining
- The mystery scratch, who knows where, when or how it got there but geez it's deep and ugly (whole front bumper needs to resprayed anyway due to previous owners scrapes as per height grumble)
- Fuel economy ain't that great, to be honest it's quite apalling (CAI has helped though and who really cares anyway)

Pros:
- The noise
- The looks
- The noise
- The quality
- The noise
- The heated leather front Konig bucket seats
- The noise
- The fat leather stearing wheel
- The noise
- The fact that every time I drive it, it puts a great big smile on my face and it is just plain awesome
- The noise
- The fact that barely anyone has a clue about what it is (aside from the two 12 year olds riding through the servo one day on their skateboards who said I had an awesome car and the senior high school student where my GF is a teacher who knew that it was an Edition 200 R32)
- The noise
- Everything else about the car even the above grumbles
- The noise
- The fact that at this years Brisbane motorshow I didn't see a single car that I would rather have other than maybe the R50 and the usual supercar exotica
- Did I mention the noise

Cheers,
Trent

[JVLR32]

Model: VW Golf R32 (044/200)
Engine: 3.2L narrow angle V6 (15 degree).
Power: 177kW @ 6250rpm
Torque: 320Nm @ 2800-3200rpm
Year: 2004 (2003 Build Plate)
Mileage: ~96000km

Modifications:
- Flapper Mod
- BMC CDA CAI
- EBC Red Stuff brake pads all round (Martini brake fluid)
- Slotted OEM front brake rotors
- HPA Short Shifter (40% throw reduction)
- TST Rear Stressbrace
- European spec blue tinted aspherical side mirrors (heated)
- Seat Leon Cupra R front lip
- Audi R8 oil cap
- Blue tyre valve caps
- VAG Tacho distance to empty enabled
- VAG Tacho dash cluster illumination enabled on accessories and ignition
- 42 Draft Designs white LED parking lights
- Blue and White LED combination interior lighting
- Polo Aero rear wiper

Modifications waiting to be installed:
- H&R front and rear swaybars
- H&R sports springs (~30 mm drop)
- Koni Yellow Sport Adjustable front and rear shocks
- Audi S3 front lower tie bar

Modifications to be procured:
- New stiffer engine mounts
- Haldex controller
- ECU upgrade (likely to be dependant on forced induction plans)
- Exhaust upgrade (the distant future, full Milltek system planned)
- Shrick Cams (the distant future)
- VF Engineering Stage 2 Supercharger kit (the distant future)

Problems:
- None mechanical
- None build interior build quality
- None exterior build quality

Grumbles:
- Stock USA spec suspension (softer and unmatched springs and shocks as well as thinner swaybars, soon to be rectified though)
- Australian spec muffler produces peak power at higher RPM and means sound isn't quite as good as European spec
- Stock it is inclined to scrape on steep driveways and parking concrete barriers will take even the stock front lip off (new suspension will only make this worse)
- Whilst wheels are fantastic, they are an absolute nightmare to keep clean
- As with most Golfs it produces a vortex behind it due to the shape which sucks massive amounts dust and dirt onto the rear hatch lip and rear windscreen, lets not even get started with how filthy it gets if it's raining
- The mystery scratch, who knows where, when or how it got there but geez it's deep and ugly (whole front bumper needs to resprayed anyway due to previous owners scrapes as per height grumble)
- Fuel economy ain't that great, to be honest it's quite apalling (CAI has helped though and who really cares anyway)

Pros:
- The noise
- The looks
- The noise
- The quality
- The noise
- The heated leather front Konig bucket seats
- The noise
- The fat leather stearing wheel
- The noise
- The fact that every time I drive it, it puts a great big smile on my face and it is just plain awesome
- The noise
- The fact that barely anyone has a clue about what it is (aside from the two 12 year olds riding through the servo one day on their skateboards who said I had an awesome car and the senior high school student where my GF is a teacher who knew that it was an Edition 200 R32)
- The noise
- Everything else about the car even the above grumbles
- The noise
- The fact that at this years Brisbane motorshow I didn't see a single car that I would rather have other than maybe the R50 and the usual supercar exotica
- Did I mention the noise

Cheers,
Trent

F*K me great summary.....i can only say my R has alot more ks than most Rs and never missed a beat