My wife has a 1.2 9n (the bug eyed one) its the same age and mileage as my golf (2005 - 60k miles). The engine is good for zipping about town in but obviously not so great at cross country jaunts as it runs out of puff around 50-60mph and anything above is labouring it. She gets 42 mpg on a 30 mile commute. The engine is the only good decent thing about it.
In the last few years its had 3 wheel bearings, a new steering rack, various new springs, new anti roll bar, new wiper linkage, door seal, the washer pipe has sprung leaks at all the joints over the last winter, heater resistor failed, brake light switch has failed. All these are common problem.
Some may have been addressed with the revised model. My advise? There are far better, non VAG cars for the money. You wouldn't believe it was the same manufacturer that made the golf as these cars feel sh*tty and in my opinion are sh*tty.
