Volkswagen Reviews
The Beetle, as designed in 1938, was simply known as the Volkswagen ('people’s car'); the company set up to produce it also adopted the same name. The durable simplicity of Volkswagen’s products – the Beetle and the Type 2 bus/van/camper series especially – made the marque phenomenally successful across the globe.
It took until the mid-1970s for VW’s reliance on the Beetle to end, but it enjoyed similar universal acclaim with the handsome Golf replacement. Subsequent models have enjoyed similar glory. Volkswagen today is a large conglomerate, owning Audi, Skoda, Seat, Bentley, Bugatti and Lamborghini, with a reputation for quality and reliability.
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Good:
All the Beetle's good points, such as brilliant parts and specialist support, good visibility, roomy interior
Bad:
Lost some of its design purity
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Good:
Charismatic engine note, excellent build quality
Bad:
All of the Beetle's drawbacks, but only marginally improved
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Good:
All the good aspects of the original Beetle, but you can see out of the back
Bad:
Still glacially slow, even if it could cruise at its maximum all day long
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Good:
Early Beetles are so simplistic in their charms, reliable, faithful, great social scene and club support, cheap to run
Bad:
Rust, poor heater, glacial performance, too many fakes
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Good:
Much improved performance and visibility, cheaper and better value than early cars. Excellent traction in snow and rough conditions.
Bad:
Still slow and asthmatic
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Good:
Proper brakes for the first time, the best performance yet
Bad:
Padded dashboard and larger lights less visually appealing
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Good:
The best mid-sized coupe of its era, and probably best of all in the lowliest 16V version - which is good as theses are still the cheapest to buy
Bad:
VR6 engines have some known issues
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Good:
Invented the family hatchback as we know it today, good to drive, easy to own, practical
Bad:
Cramped, rusty, difficult to find in standard form
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Good:
Almost as good to drive as a Golf GTI - and that's praise enough
Bad:
Hood down, you have very little rear visibility
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Good:
Brilliant to drive, great performance, and utterly classless
Bad:
Poor brakes, potential for rust
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Good:
The definitive 1980s hatchback, sold, well made, practical and reliable
Bad:
...and just a little bit dull
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Good:
Excellent performance from 16V, all models have a good performance/economy balance, drives brilliantly out of town, great build quality, longevity and reliability
Bad:
Heavy steering in cars without PAS, getting a bit faddish, so many cars have been modified - check they've been done properly.
Good:
Golf status, VR6 the best.
Bad:
Flexes and rattles. Not as good as Mk II.
Good:
Comfortable ride, good quality interior, feels solid and durable, very cheap to run TDI diesels, strong image means it will always be sought after.
Bad:
Huge number of quality problems in direct contradiction to "Few things in life are as reliable as a Volkswagen" slogan, Ford Focus is better to drive.
Good:
Fast, surefooted and safe. Handles well. One of the best exhaust notes you'll ever hear.
Bad:
Restricted supply, which kept prices high. An Evo VII and Impreza WRX STI have sharper responses.
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Good:
Just as good to drive as a Mk1 Volkswagen Golf, the boot is enormous for such a small car
Bad:
Ugly in comparison with the original Mk1 Golf
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Good:
Based on Golf but handles better and rattles less, 139bhp GTi 16v is very quick, still relatively cheap to buy
Bad:
Lacks image and hatchback of a Golf, rust and other age-related problems are taking a hold now, but still much stronger than equivalent products from Ford and Vauxhall
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Good:
Square-rigged styling looks timeless, good to drive and to steer
Bad:
Rare, and hard to find parts for, but that situation is changing...
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Good:
Good looks, cool image, easily tuned, all the usual Beetle advantages of a great scene and specialist support
Bad:
Not as fast as it looks, even in late 1.6-litre form
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Good:
Rare and well equipped
Bad:
Styling is an acquired taste
Good:
Economical, easy to park, quite refined and well built.
Bad:
A Seat Arosa does it all for less money. The 1.0 is painfully slow.
Good:
Evocative styling and Golf MkIV underpinnings. Better handling from 2002 model year onwards. V5 is a hoot to drive.
Bad:
Cramped rear seats and limited luggage room. Difficult to park. You pay a premium for its looks. Dull drive before 2002 model year.
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Good:
Neat and tidy to drive, practical and reasonably quick
Bad:
Rusted like a 1970s Alfa Romeo
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Good:
Far better handling than the previous version, generous space for people and cargo in the estate, TDI 90 the most sensible choice.
Bad:
Saloon has a frumpy image, reports of stretched timing chains on VR6s.
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Good:
Roomy, no frills transport, gaining some classic kudos
Bad:
Efficient, but dull, heavy steering, poor gearchange
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Good:
Economical, smooth and practical
Bad:
Rust, hard to find parts for
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Good:
Solid and practical, amazing G40 is brilliant to drive
Bad:
Rust and many now falling prey to the modifiers
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Good:
Italian styling, willing engines, great handling
Bad:
Rust and fragility
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Good:
Great to drive, 16V GTX model an absolute peach
Bad:
Cramped, and although better protected than the Mk1 it can rot
Good:
Cool, usable and highly versatile
Bad:
Rust is an issue, restoration is not straightforward
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Good:
Roomy, simple, elegant, and a lifestyle choice
Bad:
Slow and wobbly without modifications
Good:
Fine road manners. Grips and handles well. Stacked full of kit.
Bad:
You'll pay for its pace at the pumps and in CO2-related taxes.
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Good:
Plushly equipped, refined luxury saloon that tries to tilt at the S-Class, 7 Series. Formed basis of Bentley Continental.
Bad:
Plain looks. Transmission bogs down at slower speeds. Loses value quickly from new. Not as good as an S-Class, 7 Series, XJ or A8.
Good:
Booted Golf Mk III. Cheap, roomy, sensible and underrated. TDI is frugal and no slouch. VR6 is very quick.
Bad:
Expect many components to be wearing out now. VR6s are quite scarce.
