First of all, I'm not replacing my V6 Coupé; It's a second car I'm going to use for the following situations:
1) Going to work. My coop gives me 15-20mpg doing the daily trip, this thing will do 45mpg+
2) Carrying 4 passengers. The coop's single biggest fault is that it only has 2 rear seats!
3) Carrying big (server sized!) boxes. I can't even get a 1U server box in the coupe boot, which has an opening about the same size as the saloon's.
I considered an estate (406, Passat, 525tds), but economy in start-stop traffic sucks for bigger cars and I wanted something small without losing upmarket trim and the toys I'm used to. I also can't stand the high sitting position in 307s and Focuses. The Golf's expensive, but I bought a highly specced model for £2500 which is dirt cheap for a Golf.
First of all the toys: cruise control (not advertised, spotted in the pictures!), traction control, trip computer, heated leather seats, cd changer (likely to be replaced very soon), air conditioned glovebox, digital climate control, sunroof.
Compared to the 406, the controls are ALL harder to use. The lights are activated using a dial near the right-hand air vent, and the climate control panel is at the bottom of the centre console well below the gearstick height, and the buttons are right next to each other so to change anything you NEED to take your eyes off the road. Peugeot, for all their failings, got everything absolutely bang on in terms of user interface with the 406, although I do like the rocker switch used for the Golf's trip computer, so you can scroll backwards through the displays instead of on, two, three, four, five presses to go back one screen.
The armrest sucks compared to the 406 saloon/estate too - when it's down it's nearly impossible to operate the handbrake. But that's something I've ranted about many many times before (and was the sole reason I bought my first 2.0T 406 instead of an identically specced 1.8T Passat!). However, when the armrest is deployed it's a great height and puts the short-throw gearstick in the perfect position for fingertip actuation, just like the 407s does when in raised position.
Comfort... I made a mistake getting the leather interior. The car's got knocking 180k on the clock and the seat hasn't worn well. The passenger seat is quite comfortable but the drivers seat is worn around where my shoulder blades would sit if I were skinny, resulting in an unpleasant poke in my back. However, it hasn't hurt my back. I think I'll be trying to source a new seat as I've driven other Mk.4's with very comfortable seats. The biggest surprise for me was the amount of adjustment in the steering wheel rake. If it came back any further I'd be able to rip the drivers seat out and drive from the back!!!
I REALLY wish the 406 wheel could come back this far, it makes it possible to have a relaxed driving position without compromising rapid precise steering ability.Talking of which, my steering wheel's at about 11 o'clock position when going straight. Someone's obviously taken it to Kwik-sh*t without supervising the monkey... The alignment's out too - feels about 0.3 degrees toe out and slightly too much positively cambered. I'll take it to Kwik-sh*t tomorrow and get that sorted...
Handling. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm. I love Golfs. SO chuckable! The coupe's the most chuckable of the 406s by far when setup correctly but the Golf is in another league. The PAS is a bit stronger than I'd like, but oh god it's fun! So easy to precisely control lift-off oversteer. I love it
and no ESP to put me in a ditch this time either!!! 
The handbrake works too Now for the engine. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I've driven a HDi and I didn't like it. Very smooth but utterly lifeless off the boost. The old 115bhp TDi lump is a lot less refined (noisy, rough, etc), but it has has less turbo lag than a tubby (which is virtually none). It's gorgeous. It pulls like a train from about 1200rpm up to about 4000rpm and sounds so raunchy while it's doing it
Round town, it delivers 45+mpg and it'll do 50mpg "at speed" on the motorway. For some reason I couldn't get it to beat 45mpg at 56-60mph on a stretch of motorway where my V6 will give me 47mpg at the same speed! 6th gear at 40mph though... Lovely Now for the really bad bits:
The alarm beeps once when locking and twice when unlocking. That'll make the neighbours happy
The doors lock themselves over 10mph and don't unlock so you need to try to open the door twice to get out
I can't figure out how to get the boot open without making the alarm chirp a load of times
18" wheels. Rubber is pricey
The paintwork's not fantastic
And the immediately fixable:
The rear screen washer doesn't work. Common Golf fault apparently - the hose will have fallen off the pump
I also need to take fairy liquid to the windscreen and wipers, then replace the blades with aero style
O/S sidelight has gone. I think I may need to take the sodding bumper off to change it
If so, I'll replace all the bulbs I think.The boot light's knackered... not that I can figure out how to get into it
All in all, I'm very happy with the car - it's a great companion to my V6 coupe. Just got to figure out how best to insure it now :/ At least I can get to work and back tomorrow on tonight's short term insurance! (£14 for 24hrs from Aviva - not too bad!)
