Hi Craig,

The full service history is good to see, and the Golf was always a well-built car, but we’re talking about a 17-year-old car here so you’re going to need to check everything. Check for corroded alloy wheels, damaged headlamps (changing them is a bumper-off job), leaking rear wash-wipe that drips water into the central locking system, oil consumption (they need a good quality synthetic oil, not the cheap stuff), heavy clutch pedal (the release bearings wear out), misfires caused by a faulty ignition coil, overheating caused by faulty water pumps or radiator fans, hot starting issues, worn out interiors, faulty dash dials (the whole instrument pack has to be replaced as one) and suspension clonks coming from worn anti-roll bar mounts.