Models · Volkswagen
Volkswagen Golf Mk6 buying guide
The sixth-generation Golf, sold from 2008 to 2013 as an evolution of the Mk5, with TSI petrol and TDI diesel engines, the 2.0 turbo GTI and the four-wheel-drive R.
The versions
- Petrol: 1.4 (79bhp), 1.4 TSI (122bhp) and 1.6 FSI
- GTI: 2.0 TSI turbo, 210hp; Edition 35 with 235hp
- Diesel: 1.6 TDI (89bhp or 103bhp) and 2.0 TDI (138bhp or 168bhp)
- Six-speed manual or DSG dual-clutch automatic
- Three-door and five-door hatchback, and a cabriolet from 2012; the Golf R has its own page
What to check on a Mk6 Golf
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Water in the doors
What to look for: Open and close each door and listen for water sloshing inside. Press the carpets in the footwells for damp, and look along the bottom edges of the doors for rust.
Why it matters: The doors are known to collect water on this Golf, which can lead to wet carpets and eventually rust at the bottom of the doors. Clear drain holes and dry carpets are signs of a car that's been looked after.
DSG lurching from rest
What to look for: On a DSG car, pull away gently from a standstill several times. Note any lurch or jerk. Look in the history for DSG oil and filter changes every 40,000 miles.
Why it matters: The DSG mechatronic control unit can fail on this generation, as on the Mk5. Diesel automatics have the most commonly reported faults, so a smooth gearbox with its oil changes on record is what you want. The six-speed manual is regarded as reliable.
Timing chain rattle on the GTI
What to look for: Start a GTI from fully cold and listen at the front of the engine for a rattle in the first few seconds. Look for timing chain or tensioner work in the history.
Why it matters: The Mk6 GTI's 2.0 EA888 engine had timing chain tensioner problems, and Volkswagen revised the part more than once. A quiet cold start, or a record of the tensioner being replaced, is reassuring.
Also in the full guide
- The GTI's PCV valve and boost
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the Mk6 Golf
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
Other generations
Volkswagen Golf Mk4 · Volkswagen Golf Mk5 · Volkswagen Golf Mk7/7.5 · Volkswagen Golf Mk8
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with Volkswagen.