Buying a used Volkswagen Golf (2009-2013)

History

So you're thinking of buying a second-hand Volkswagen Golf, then let's start at the beginning. As 2010 approached, Australia was becoming accustomed to including Golf on the 'must-see' list when buying a compact car.

The major hurdle for potential Golf buyers was not financial but logistical; finding a way to haul the array of promotional literature home from the showroom, then deciding which Golf best did it for you.

From late 2009 when the sixth-generation Volkswagen Golf arrived, its array of choices was actually trimmed a little, but there was still a plethora of engine, transmission and equipment combinations to work through.

$26,000 or thereabouts would buy a five-speed manual 90TSI Trendline with 1.4 litres of turbocharged petrol engine. The other petrol engine in the range at launch was the turbo-and-supercharged (formerly 'Twincharger') premium ULP-fed flagship, the Golf 118TSI. Both these models, in common with the 77TDI and 103TDI turbo-diesel models, came in hatchback or station wagon form, with decent levels of included equipment and sufficient airbags and other safety features to easily score five stars in ANCAP occupant protection tests.

The choice of transmission was problematic for many buyers. Anyone who did their research would have heard rumblings over the durability of Volkswagen's DSG semi-auto shifter. These in manual cars offered seven ratios, with six in diesels and they offered slick shifting and a great spread of ratios. That's when they worked...

The alternative was a six-speed manual alternative that would accelerate from 0-100km/h in under 8 seconds, according to VW. It too felt solid and positive to the touch but didn't suffer the clutch pack failures or software glitches of the DSG.

No one at the time of Golf Generation Six's release was aware how deceptive emission-control software used in Golfs with diesel engines would affect the brand's reputation world-wide. In this country at least, Volkswagen believes that failure to comply with published emission levels has no affect on vehicle performance. However that issue is as yet to be fully explored in the Courts.

If you picked your Golf on the basis of practicality then the longer and heavier Trendline wagon was worth a gallop. These offered 1.8 metres of load length and over a metre between the wheel-arches. Tie-down hooks were supplied and there was plenty of head-space under the rear hatch, making these load-carriers a stylish alternative to the Caddy.

Jumping a rung on the specification ladder brought the Comfortline into play. With the 2.0-litre petrol-fed TSI engine the Golf Comfortline was about four times more likely to be fitted with the DSG transmission than a manual and there were plenty of toys inside, such as dual-zone air-conditioning, a trip computer and rain-sensing wipers.

Cheapest of the Gen Six Volkswagen Golfs was the 77TSI with – you guessed it – 77kW from its 1.2-litre turbo engine. With manual transmission and steel wheels the 77TSI cost $21,990 but achieved that price with all the safety equipment still in the mix. With a diesel engine and exactly the same power but lots more torque, the 77TDI manual was $6000 dearer.

Virtually every Golf range since the 1980s has included a Cabriolet (convertible) version and from 2011 the Gen. 6 range was expanded to accommodate an open car with a fabric roof.

The 118TSI was the only Gen. 6 Cabrio available to our market but it came with DSG or full manual transmission. The roof folded flat onto the rear deck and the whole car was considerably lighter than the EOS with its complex metal roof structure.

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On the road

The Golf Comfortline is a competent and comfortable design and even early ones seem to survive without obvious interior wear. But why do they have to look so appallingly bland? Every surface is grey or a toning thereof. Even the instrument facings and cursory bit of dash embellishment tone drearily with the rest of the cabin.

The seats are firm in typically Germanic fashion and vision forward and to the rear very good. Leather trim added more than $3000 to the initial cost but a reversing camera was just $500 extra.

Excepting the GTi, Golf wheel/tyre packages look a bit skimpy. The Comfortline's rubber is taller in profile and 20mm narrower than the GTi's. It also runs an inch less in rim diameter, which influences the gearing. Upsides include lower tyre replacement costs and less thumping over road joins plus better protection against bent alloy rims.

However if you are a keen kind of driver and like to exploit the abilities of a chassis this good, a car with after-market rims and rubber could be for you.

As discussed earlier, the DSG is a good choice if your driving is primarily urban and you don't fancy juggling clutch and throttle for a couple of hours daily in heavy traffic. However, long-term durability still influences buyers who are considering a Golf with DSG.

If you can deal with self-shifting, the Golf gearbox will reward your dedication. Its action is light and fast and the ratios spaced so the driver doesn't need to be running to the redline in order to maintain optimum acceleration.

Fuel economy isn't just the domain of those who choose a diesel. Cars with the 2.0-litre TSI engine and manual gearbox boast a Combined Urban/Rural consumption average of just 6.6L/100km.

Assuming you can restrain your right foot and stop the PULP pumping through too rapidly, it will take a long time for the diesel's 5.3L/100km average to offset the higher purchase price.

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Now find your Volkswagen Golf Gen Six model here

>> Loss of drive attributed to a blown transmission fuse triggered a 2013 recall involving more than 25,000 Volkswagen cars and commercial vehicles in Australia alone. Before agreeing to buy a Generation 6 Golf, contact Volkswagen Australia or a dealer to ensure the rectification work has been carried out. This is not the only problem that afflicts the DSG transmissions however.

>> Shudder from the DSG transmission when manoeuvring at low speeds is early warning of problems ahead. Even with their clutch packs replaced, the semi-auto can display erratic behaviour including sudden loss of drive and engine speed spikes. The best advice when considering a DSG car is to test it over a decent distance and under various speed and load conditions.

>> Early 1.2-litre engines suffered from premature timing chain wear and stretching. Chains left untouched could destroy an engine. Most should have been repaired by now but even so, any Golf engine that rattles at start-up and continues at idle is one you don't want to own.

>> VW petrol engines even in good condition consume oil faster than other power units so owners will need to check lubricant levels regularly during the recommended 15,000km service intervals. If the car is used for stop-start motoring, owners should opt for more frequent oil changes to minimise the risk of engine wear.

>> The Engine Check light warns of various issues, from malfunctioning sensors or fuel injectors to cracked pistons, which prompts a complete engine overhaul or replacement. Make sure when starting the car that this light illuminates and extinguishes shortly after the engine starts. If it doesn't appear at all, suspect it has been disconnected. If it stays on and the vendor says 'it just needs a service' or some minor issue rectified, find a different car.

>> Spend time during the test drive – even in winter – with the air-conditioner at its coldest setting and running full blast. Open the bonnet and have the a/c switch operated, listening for a click and change to engine speed as the compressor kicks in. Air-con that is cool but not cold will cost as much to fix as a unit that doesn't work at all, so make sure it is chilling properly.

Used Vehicle Grading
Design & Function: 13/20
Safety: 15/20
Practicality: 15/20
Value for Money: 12/20
Wow Factor: 10/20
Score: 65/100

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