The mk4 Golf is pretty easy and painless to live with, generally, but it's quite annoying that a couple of the features they have put in which should be brilliant, have been implemented badly. A couple of examples:
The cars have a "full closure" system which closes windows and roof when you lock the car. Despite remote locking, the full closure only works when you put your key in the door! Why?!
The electric windows stay powered on at ignition off, which is great for fools like me who always leave something open, but the one-shot facility stops working. Again, why?!
Other stuff:
Any attempt to left foot brake, heel and toe, or do anything involving accelerator and brake pedal pressure at the same time in the TDI sends the engine management system into a complete meltdown. Flashing glowplug light, and temporary "limp mode". It's a characteristic of the PD's engine management system, as my mate's Fabia vRS is exactly the same. The GTI's 1.8T engine doesn't seem to mind.
The fiddly Climatronic panel is at the lowest possible point in the dash.
You can't insert or eject a CD when the cupholders are in use.
I've never driven a Volkswagen with a decent gearbox, and these two cars haven't changed my experience. The 5 speed "02J" box in the GTI petrol is among the notchiest and on cold oil, most recalcitrant manual transmissions I've ever experienced. The 6 speed is better, but still clonky and a bit sloppy. Compared to the "knife through butter" feel of Ford's MTX75 transaxle in the Mondeo and Focus, they both suck.
Everything else about both cars I either like or love.
Cheers
DP
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