Volkswagen Golf

And I am certainly happy with this state of affairs - not only because the MkV is a great motor, but because getting the keys to a second-hand GTI has brought back some extremely happy memories for me. Back in 1993, I was the proud owner of a MkII version, which shared our car's fantastic-looking white colour scheme. And, as our interior shots (right) show, the chequered upholstery fabric was very similar, too. Replicating these lovely details is certainly part of the charm of the current model.

Volkswagen's excellent reputation for reliability hasn't changed much over the years, either, because so far our Golf has been a faultless performer. That was also an achievement of my old MkII - it never let me down, even though much of the time it was forced to tow my Formula Ford racing car from circuit to circuit.

Fortunately for our GTI, we haven't subjected it to a life with a trailer attached to its behind. However, in recent weeks it has certainly had to work hard. For starters, it took part in our Greatest Drives test special (Issue 928) at the Croft race track. But ironically it was the trip to North Yorkshire that proved more trouble-some than the event itself.

En route, the tyre pressure warning light signalled that the car had suffered a puncture, and after fitting the space-saver, we had to spend £143 on a replacement before completing the journey. For a change we opted for a new Michelin Pilot Sport to replace the original Continental rubber, and since the other three tyres were also heavily worn, renewed them after our track stint.

Now that the mileage has topped 20,000, our Golf has just had its first service, which cost £220. As we mentioned in Issue 880, keeping the VW dirt-free is a nightmare, but as I am renowned in the office for my obsession with cleanliness, I am up for the challenge. After a couple of hours' work, the GTI appears as good as new - aside from some damage on the alloys caused by a colleague's careless parking.

I am looking forward to doing plenty more miles in our Golf - and desperately hoping it doesn't suffer the fate of my beloved MkII, which was written off by a dim-witted driver who rear-ended it in a motorway traffic jam!

Second opinion

I grab every opportunity I get to drive the Golf - it's such a superb car. Apart from the tailgate, which often requires two attempts to slam shut and always gets your hands dirty, it's hard to see how the VW can be improved as an everyday vehicle. Our Ford Focus ST long-termer is arguably more fun - however, the Golf's desirability and quality make it the better ownership proposition in my book. Ross Pinnock, motoring writer