Looking to purchase a 2000 Golf with only 38,000 miles. The only trim/performance designation on the body is "Golf". No GL or GLS or whatever. Automatic transmission,
4-door, power windows/mirrors, cloth interior. Looking for potential problem areas, i.e. electrical, engine, cooling, etc. Any thoughts would be appreciated, since Consumer Reports doesn't rate VW Golf/Jetta very well. TIA. KenW
Coincidentally, I have a 2000 Golf GLS, it has 59,000 miles and standard (5 speed transmission rather than automatic). I think you would have a bit of a hard time finding one with only 38,000 miles for that year (6-7 years x 12k miles per year means average of 72k-84k miles, you are looking for about half that, or only 6000 miles/year, which is very low. In 2000, I think the base Golf was designated GL, back then was only a 2 door, the 4 door was GLS (this changed in 2002 I think, when they offered a GL level 4 door). GLS back then was similar to GL, just had "luxury" features like power windows, velour seats, armrest, and option of sunroof/alloy wheels (which eventually came standard on GLS, on mine it was option). Back then, they even offered 3 engine choices on the GLS, including the TDI, 2.0, and 1.8T (no VR6 except on GTI).
Mine started out being a bit troublesome, had the standard problems (front power windows fell into the door, and MAF sensor went bad prematurely). I also had some excessive oil consumption (2.0 litre engine). I've also had some weird problems like airbag sensor lights going on due to bad contacts in seat, as well as some DTC codes (I log them on my VAG-COMM, which has been a good purchase for as often as I've used it). Other than that, the only problems I've had was with the poor wear on interior parts (lots of rub marks on the plastic, seat material has not worn well, similar problem with my '86 GTI). I also had a weird problem with the fuel pump fuse blowing. Also have had a tendency to go through tires quickly (even faster than my '86 GTI with sticky Pirelli tires, only get 22k miles average on a set, but of course that can vary tremendously on what tires you have and where/how you drive). I've done regular maintenance on it, replacing belts (timing belt/tensioner soon). One thing to be aware of is special fluid use, from power steering (special synthetic oil) and coolant (GL12 phosphate free), which are harder to find and more expensive than generic options.
My experience with VWs is that they tend to need a fair amount of attention when new (longer shakedown) but if you keep up the maintenance, they tend to hold up well. That could be part of the reason they don't do well in surveys like in Consumer reports, which I don't think examines how older models fare. If you keep it simple as possible (manual windows, no sunroof, etc) you probably will do better, since these often cause the sniggly problems that can vex owners, even if they don't strand you. But a lot depends on how the previous owner took care of it., plus a little luck.
if it's a 4-door and in the US, it's a GLS. VW didn't badge their cars explicitly with the trim leve anymore by then but it's definitely a GLS.
anything can and will break over time, but overall it's the same as most through 2004 years. It's like a lotto ticket... some are lucky and some aren't!
I think that was true in 2000, but I do remember there was at least one model year when they sold a GL model 4-door (I think it was 2002 or 2003). I rememberwondering if I should have waited for it, since I wanted the 4 door, but didn't want the "luxury" items like power windows that came on GLS, but I wanted a Golf(versus a Jetta). I could have done without the power windows falling into the door problem that dogged the power window models. Eventually, the GLS also came with power sunroof and alloy wheels as standard (more forced luxury bits).
Interestingly, I think it was around the time they got rid of the 1.8T option in the 4 door Golf...I think that it was only offered in 2000 and 2001 models.
I have one of those, but a European version since i happen to live in Norway.
I have the wagon version. It looks like a jetta wagon with a golf front.
However, I am very satisfied with it. There have been a tiny problem with the alarm due to an over-sensitive sensor in one of the doors, and also a temperature indicator in the engine went bust. Apart from that, it's as good as new - even after 150.000 kilometers.
yeah it was sometime after '00 that a 5-door GL was added to the mix.
I believe that happened when the 4 door GL was added. IIRC before that came along, the power sunroof was optional on the GLS, not available on the GL. I believe that when the 4 door GL happened, the sunroof was included on the GLS and still N/A on the GL. So if you wanted a 4-door w/o a sunroof, you'd get a GL. If you wanted a sunroof, you got a GLS. It sort of simplified things actually.
Yes I believe '01 was the last year for a 1.8T (non-GTI) Golf in our market.
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