Volkswagen Golf

I’ve got some new wheels... but that doesn’t mean I’ve had to say goodbye to my beloved Golf GTI. It’s simply that our long-term VW is riding on a fresh set of alloys. And, crucially, the updated rims have solved the only criticism I had concerning the Edition 30.

As you may have read in our two previous reports, my sole quibble with the flagship GTI was that I didn’t think it looked quite as good as the standard model. The colour-matched bumpers and side sills meant the special was perhaps a little too ‘red’.

But fit the 18-inch powder-coated wheels and the difference is amazing. The black alloys are a perfect contrast to the red body, while the chrome lip around the edge glints beautifully in the sun. A £1,500 dealer-fit option, they give the Edition 30 a much more purposeful stance and a touch of exclusivity. What’s more, on a purely practical level, they hide brake dust and are far easier to clean than the multi-spoke wheels which were originally fitted.

And I am not alone in my love of the new alloys; general opinion around the office is that the GTI looks superb, and I’ve even been on the receiving end of various ‘love your wheels’ hand signals from other GTI owners out on the road. So, if you are a Golf fan, let me know what you think.

But it’s OY56 ZVE’s all-round abilities, not simply its flashy new rims, which make me adore it. My colleagues and I have put more than 17,000 miles on the clock, and reading the comment book in the GTI’s glovebox, there’s not a single negative view – it’s just page after page of compliments from various staff members. Even those who regularly drive the more hard-core hot hatches on our fleet (the Honda Civic Type R and Renaultsport Clio 197 spring to mind) love the Golf for its unrivalled blend of entertainment and comfort.

The beautifully detailed cabin, the punchy and flexible engine, plus handling that’s both friendly and involving, ensure the GTI is always a special car to drive.

It hasn’t been on its best behaviour recently, though. There’s been a strange steam engine-like chugging sound from under the bonnet, which the combined wisdom of our road test desk has diagnosed as a loose belt.

It only happens when the engine is cold and, strangely, when our Edition 30 recently visited Motorline VW in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, for its first service, the technicians said they couldn’t hear it, or find a problem. The check-up was completed quickly and efficiently, and while the £255 bill stung a bit, it was the first major cost I’ve incurred with our GTI. But it’s frustrating that workshop staff couldn’t get to the bottom of the mystery noise – maybe they were too busy looking at the wheels!