For the better part of four decades, fast, efficient, reliable and iconic have been some of the words used to describe the Volkswagen Golf, making it among the most recognisable cars on the road today.
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With superior German engineering and plenty of charm, these vehicles are small but spacious and perfect for both town driving and the open road.
While later models may set you back well over R100k, this doesn’t have to be the case, as there are preloved Golfs that are well within budget and are likely to serve you proudly for many years to come.
We have compiled a list of just some of those available for under R100k that are sure to thrill petrolheads and Sunday drivers alike.
2008 Volkswagen Citi Golf 1.4i
The Volkswagen Citi Golf was manufactured and marketed from 1984 to 2009 as a facelifted version of the first- generation VW Golf MK1, which ceased production in 1983.
If you can find a good, trustworthy mechanic, these Golf GTis are indestructible. They have excellent design and build quality, are practical, quick and easy to drive, park and own. Service fees can be high, but as new generations are introduced, these prices continue to drop.
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Later Citi ‘Sport’ models received a larger 1.6 motor and additional equipment after initially being powered by a 1.3 carburetor four-cylinder petrol engine. The fuel-injected CTi (1990), 1.8iR, and 1.8-litre Sport models were additional high-performance variations.
Find your 2008 Volkswagen Citi Golf 1.4i for under R100k here.
2007 Volkswagen Golf GTI TSI
The best used car to purchase is one that is extremely dependable. Drivers can depend on the 2007 Volkswagen Golf, also marketed as the Rabbit and GTI. There are hardly any complaints about its reliability.
The 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine that comes standard with the GTI is highly regarded and does not come with any engine options.
Volkswagen’s four-door GTI is just as entertaining as the two-door model, but the additional doors make it more useful. The GTI is a hot version of the Golf.
Find your 2007 Volkswagen Golf GTI TSI for under R100k here.
2008 Volkswagen Golf 1.4TSI Comfortline
Many 1.4 TSi engines are running quite contentedly. They may be direct-injection and turbocharged, but most petrol engines of the future will also be that way because that is the direction technology is moving.
The abbreviation TSI, which stands for ‘Turbocharged Stratified Injection,’ basically means that the engine is turbocharged.
The most recent direct fuel injection technology ensures more effective combustion by directly injecting fuel at higher pressures into each cylinder. In turn, this improves fuel economy.
Find your 2008 Volkswagen Golf 1.4TSI Comfortline for under R100k here.
2007 Volkswagen Golf 5
The Golf Mk5 was ranked 145th in 2014, the year it received the lowest reliability ratings for compact family cars, but it failed to place among the top 150 in the Driver Power satisfaction survey for 2016.
It reaches an electronically governed top speed of 250kph.
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Mk is universally ‘mark’, meaning a model or revision number. Commonly, the ‘Mk4 Jetta’ is from 1999 to early 2005, the Mk5 Jetta being mid-2005 through 2010.
All the inherent qualities of the car are still present, so it remains a cut above many of the alternatives, even though the used car market has done its job and driven prices down to a very affordable level.
Find your 2007 Volkswagen Golf 5 for under R100k here.
2005 Volkswagen Citi 1.4 Chico
Despite being more than a decade old, the VW Golf Chico is still new enough to only need minor maintenance (provided it is well cared for) and will be as reliable as a rock (a testimony to a sound original design and quality improvements).
The Citi Golf’s dash was retrofitted by Volkswagen South Africa using a Skoda Fabia’s instrument panel. Although air conditioning is still an option and there is no power steering, at least the golf ball gear knob is still present.
Find your 2005 Volkswagen Citi 1.4 Chico for under R100k here.
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