Volkswagen Golf Problems

It's probably easier to eliminate those that don't stack up, those being the VW Golf, Holden Cruze and Ford Focus.

All have transmission questions over them.

The best options would be the Mazda 3 and the Hyundai i30.

A VW spokesman told us that the revised Golf (Mark 7.5 as it's become known) arrives in July, followed by the GTI and R in August. He added that while they would like to get the GTE as well, it won't arrive before 2018.

It's not possible to say exactly how many engines VW has replaced, that's information the company doesn't divulge to the media. But we can say that there have been a number of engines replaced. I doubt that having that information would enhance your case anyway, the engine has lost compression at a very low odometer and you claim to have had the car serviced by a VW dealer. I would think it's a relatively straightforward case.

I would really question what you have been told, so I would get a second opinion. If it is correct and you want to get rid of your car the best way would be to trade it on another car.

It seems to me that they're quite different cars; the Golf R is an under-the-radar raider, the Mustang an in-your-face statement. If you want an exhilarating drive on those weekends away go for the Golf, if you want a more leisurely fun drive with a high look-at-me factor go for the Mustang. For my money I would choose the Mustang. There is talk of a twin-turbo Mustang coming as a GT500 Shelby in 2018, possibly with a 5.2-litre V8. Not sure if it would make to Australia.

Audi was caught up in the same DSG automatic transmission problems that afflicted VW, but you would hope that those problems have been sorted out on the later models such as the 2015 car you're looking to buy. Apart from that doubt the A1 is generally a sound car. As for servicing costs the A1 is about the same as the VW.