Should You Buy A Used Volkswagen Golf?
First revealed at the Paris Auto Show in 2008, the sixth-generation Volkswagen Golf was the much-anticipated follow-up to the Rabbit. Called the Mark 6 or MK6, it built on the performance and quality of the Rabbit and made it a bit better looking. The Mk5鈥檚 face that only a mother could love was gone, and we said goodbye to the cheap interior materials to make way for a handsome, fun hatchback. The Mk6 came with a range of four-cylinder engines and a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine. These engines were excellent in their prime, full of low-down torque and efficiency, but weren鈥檛 free from faults. Care in selecting a car that has been well maintained will pay dividends. The Golf also came with a 2.0-liter diesel unit, but with the government requiring VW to buy those back from their owners at pre-Dieselgate prices, you鈥檙e unlikely to find a good deal on one. Best then, to stick with the gasoline engines.
See Also: Should You Buy a Used Toyota Corolla? Whatever the case, the Mk6 Golf was the last Golf on VW鈥檚 A5 platform. With that came some real positives and negatives. It鈥檚 an old platform, but VW ironed out a lot of the issues that cropped up in previous generations. That鈥檚 not to say that it鈥檚 problem-free, however. If you鈥檙e going to buy a Golf fitted with Volkswagen鈥檚 2.0-liter engine, it may be wise to shop for one made after 2012, since a fault with the timing chain pre-tensioner can cause sudden and unexpected failure. If this fault occurs, it effectively ruins the engine. Fortunately, the problem mostly occurs between 10,000 and 60,000 miles, so cars are already likely to have suffered the problem by now. If you want to buy a pre-2012 model, be sure the pre-tensioner has been replaced or that the issue has been addressed. Some Golfs are fitted with VW鈥檚 dual-clutch (DSG) gearbox, which needs to be serviced religiously thanks to a weak mechatronics box. The problem is irregular, but the best way to arm oneself against it is by religiously changing the gear oil every 60,000 miles.
A failure could result in a need to replace the whole gearbox. Many owners of these Golfs have reported fuel economy getting worse over time. With MPGs dipping down into the 25s on the highway, it could be frustrating. There is a fix, though. A weak pump in the wear window鈥檚 washer fluid system can mean that fluid leaks onto the back window. This isn鈥檛 a huge problem in the summer, but during the winter it can be dangerous. Many cars were fixed by VW, but if the seller hasn鈥檛 had the fix done, it could mean some money out of your pocket. This problem is a little more nebulous, but many owners have complained of a rattling coming from the exhaust system or the engine. The problem seems to be caused by the wastegate and doesn鈥檛 appear to have any associated issues, just a rattling sound that can be annoying. The result of this though, is that there is no official fix for the problem. Some owners have suggested fixes, but unless you鈥檙e willing to spend a lot of quality time with your mechanic chasing rattles, it may be worthwhile keeping an ear out for the rattle when you鈥檙e test driving the car. Should You Buy a Used Volkswagen Golf? Look for a Golf that came later in the Mk6鈥檚 cycle, preferably with a manual, and be sure you鈥檙e buying a car that was cared for. Of course, that last piece of advice is always prudent, but in this case, it鈥檚 especially relevant as the difference between Mk6s that were taken care of and those that weren鈥檛 can be massive and expensive. Buying from a dealer and getting a warranty is also advisable. Finally, it鈥檚 worth remembering that these are Takata cars, so their airbags may be faulty. If you buy one, keep an eye out for a recall notice.
What is the EPA city and highway mileage estimate for the 2006 Volkswagen GTI? The EPA mileage estimate for the 2006 Volkswagen GTI is 21 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway. What is the wheel base of the 2006 VW GTI? The 2006 Volkswagen GTI has a 8 ft. 2.9 in. (98.9 in.) wheel base. What ground clearance does the 2006 VW GTI have? The ground clearance of the 2006 Volkswagen GTI is 0 ft. 5.1 in. (5.1 in.). What is the basic warranty on the 2006 VW GTI? The 2006 Volkswagen GTI has a 4 yr./ 50000 mi. How much torque does the engine in the 2006 Volkswagen GTI have? The 2006 Volkswagen GTI's engine produces 173 ft-lbs. What is the turning circle of the 2006 VW GTI? The 2006 Volkswagen GTI's turning circle is 35.8 ft.. How many gallons does the gas tank in the 2003 Volkswagen GTI hold? The gas tank on the 2003 Volkswagen GTI holds 14.5 gal.. How many gallons does the gas tank in the 2005 Volkswagen GTI hold? The gas tank on the 2005 Volkswagen GTI holds 14.5 gal.. How many gallons does the gas tank in the 2001 Volkswagen GTI hold? The gas tank on the 2001 Volkswagen GTI holds 14.5 gal.. How many gallons does the gas tank in the 2011 Volkswagen GTI hold? The gas tank on the 2011 Volkswagen GTI holds 14.5 gal..
I had a small discussion about the Volkswagen Golf GTi Mk.5 with a friend the other day and he likes the car, its aggression and the design a lot. I on the other hand didn鈥檛. It may be a fantastic car to drive and all that but I told him that the car looked like a mini MPV. I mean, park it beside to its cousins the Audi A3 or the Skoda Octavia or even the larger sized A4, you鈥檇 notice that the Golf is at least 2-3 inches taller and looks bigger. I suppose this is because Volkswagen found out from surveys that Hatchback owners like the space and utility of it. But the A3 is also a hatchback on the same chassis design and is still so much lower and looks so much daintier. This is maybe Audi A3 owners don鈥檛 go to IKEA as much as their younger Golf owners do. Those with the money to afford an A3 would pay IKEA to deliver the cupboard they bought right to their doorsteps.
