What Car - for my mate?

[C.A.R.]

For gawd sakes, he's now really wanting a MK4 Golf because someone has brainwashed him into thinking they're amazing.

£3k doesn't buy you much of a Golf by the looks of it, they're extortionate! Not many for sale locally at present either, could be a time of the year thing?

So what to look out for on a Golf? I know most people recommend the PD130 engine but he wants cheap insurance, which actually rules them out. The older non-PD engines, although less refined are cheaper to insure and Ruan says they're more frugal (that's good enough for me!). What do I need to lookout for? How are the trim levels arranged? Any weak areas?

Bloody German shite. I'll try and talk him out of it.