2003 Volkswagen Golf

Pros: At its price the best equipped car on the road with many extras as standard

Cons: Cup holders block stereo & are a bit flimsy

The Bottom Line: For a car under $20,000 that is safe, efficient, FUN to drive, and impressive, this is the one. The thoughtful extras are icing on the cake.

Review: I bought the 2003 Golf GLS exactly 13 days ago. My other car is a 91 VW Fox, so I already know the VW product and obviously like it. I had no doubt that when I get a new car it will be a Golf (the only real competition was the Jetta) so I did very little...

Pros: Handling, stereo, ease of use of all features, environmentally friendly, good car for low cost.

Cons: The Golf has a few common problems that many owners experience.

The Bottom Line: I would recommend this car to anyone and everyone. It has more features than I need and was a great deal for the money.

Review: I recently graduated from college and needed a car of my own to get me around. My family has always loved Volkswagens and hatchbacks, so the Golf was an obvious choice when I was narrowing my search for my first car. I also looked at comparable Ford, ...

Pros: Solidity, reliability, features and equipment, handling, very upscale feel

Cons: Engine could use more power (with AT only), that's about it

The Bottom Line: The best car in its class

Review: In my lifetime I have been lucky to own numerous Vws, starting from 1986 Golf Diesel, which is still my daily workhorse after over 200K miles on it, to my wife's 2003 Golf GLS, that I will be describing here, including two Passats and one Jetta in...

Pros: Fuel mileage, long warranty, low end torque, comfort, driving dynamics.

Cons: Ugly hubcaps and questionable reliability.

The Bottom Line: The Golf is a very good value if you look at the features you get, it feels much more solid then the competition and has that great German feel.

Review: I have been looking at various cars to replace my ailing Neon that was just going downhill fast. I test drove a '00 Jetta back in February and fell in love, even so it had over 50,000 miles it had this strange feel of solidness and quality. So my ...

Pros: Solid German feel, loaded with standard features, reliability, fun to drive

Cons: Absolutely none

The Bottom Line: This is a well-built, reliable, comfortable and safe car that is very fun to drive.

Review: I have owned several cars in my life, but this is the first car I could ever truly say that I "love." The Golf has the most luxurious and solid feel of any car I've owned. There are hardly any options available as nearly everything is standard equipment ...

Pros: Zippy, easy to park in the city, mileage (300+ miles to the tank highway)

Cons: No leather (or heated) seats available w/out upgrade to GTI, No 6th gear.

The Bottom Line: Zippy, reliable, and fun to drive. Great mileage on the highway too.

Review: I'm used to having big cars. My first car was a huge Cadillac Seville back in '83. This thing is so tiny, and so zippy, I feel like I can do anything! Very solid car and I feel safe at all times. I hit a patch of ice during a bad snow storm here...

Pros: many extras for price, handling, ride, comfort, very fun to drive.

Cons: not incredibly fast, rumors of oil consumption problems.

The Bottom Line: Spring for the extra few thousand from a base civic or hyundai. Its worth it for the features and extras that are included.

Review: While looking at cars, my criterea are price, looks, ride, what options it includes, and its horsepo ...

Pros: Parallel parking, solid interior feel, interior blue instrument lights, fun, stylish, not a Jetta

Cons: Rear leg room, bumper fraility to scratches and dings

Review: I have been with this car for a little over 6000 miles and the only problem I have had was with the rear windshield spray nozzle that got clogged, but was replaced for free by the dealership in Escondido, CA for free. Other than that I have had no ...

Pros: interior materials, excellent stereo, good torque at low RPM, excellent standard features, excellent warranty

Cons: many rattles, disinterested novocane-injected handling

The Bottom Line: The Golf GL is a decent car and an excellent value as long as the buyer knows beforehand what pros and cons to expect.

Review: Overview - The Volkswagen Golf GL bought in the States was a four-door version with automatic transmission and the Monsoon stereo upgrade. The car comes with many standard features which are not found in other vehicles in the same category such as ...

Pros: Looks, driving position, comfort, build quality, resale value

Cons: Performance, handling, value, worries about reliability

The Bottom Line: Good looking, reasonable car with plenty of attractions, let down by performance, dynamics and old-fashionedness.

Review: Buying a new car recently was at once the most exciting and frustrating experience of my life. I remember being told by someone that when you bought a puppy, you could never tell if it would grow up to be a dog that dribbled incessantly, or didn't...