Thought some of you be interested in a slightly belated mid-term report on my 2005 1.9TDI SE Golf MkV ? 30 months and 90k miles means I?m getting to know it.
So the immediate reaction from the usual gang will be ?VW ? loads must have gone wrong with it!? Er, sorry to disappoint, but the just the exterior temperature sensor failed (replaced swiftly under warranty), and one sidelight bulb that was working intermittently. That?s it. Nothing too drastic in my opinion, although when the temp sensor?s ever more pessimistic readings finally reached ?42degC, the heater unit computer decided that whatever the interior temp may be, the incoming air surely needed to heated to max? not so welcome in late summer.
The V is a great improvement over the 110 GT Tdi MkIV it replaced; roomier, more refined and quicker, despite it having a claimed 5bhp less. The V whistles round corners, whereas the IV was like wrestling a lazy, squealing pig. Not that either saw many corners compared to motorway miles, but the IV was truly noisy. The V is markedly better, but still not quiet ? not due to the engine, as popularly believed, but due mostly to road noise.
Which brings me to tyres? The oe Continental 2 fronts lasted 43k; they were replaced with Conti(no number)s, which lasted 29k ? same usage. The current Michelins seem to be long lasting, 5mm still left after 18k. The rears? Still original, 4mm of tread left, so will see out 100k plus. There was little difference in road noise between the Michelins and the Contis. According to the ADAC tyre test for my 195/60x15s, the only tyre appreciably quieter than the rest was the Pirelli ? but it was also appreciably the least economical?.
The car is on longlife servicing (it?s a lease car). First service came up as due at 18600 miles, which happens to be 30k km. I had used just the litre of longlife liquid gold that had come with the car ? and it wasn?t on minimum/empty when it was changed, either! 10k miles later, I got a suction unit and changed the (majority of the) oil with more longlife. The result? The service due came up again at 18600 miles?
Events meant that I didn?t do a mid change the next time ? to my amazement the service due did not come at the expected 18,600. Having rtfm, I found that it was forecasting the service due at 23k miles; I got it serviced at the 18,600 nevertheless.
The next service came up at 18,600 miles again.
From this I conclude that the 30k is a dealer-entered limit (and was incorrectly set or just overlooked for the 23k time) and is occurring before the 'oil quality sensor' believes the oil requires changing. As the majority of journeys are 70 (mostly motorway) miles each way and I don?t rev it hard until the engine is fully warm, I guess the oil does have a comparatively easy life.
Why did you go for the 1.9Tdi and not the 2.0TDi, I hear you ask? Cost, both extra leasing charges and benefit in kind, plus the GT Tdi came with 16in wheels and I wanted the quietest ride. (I was given a 2.0Fsi on 18in wheels as a courtesy car once ? the racket they made was heard all too clearly within 100 yards, literally. A lovely fun car ? for 5 miles of bends, then jolly tiring).
Pundits complain about the cheaper quality of the MkV compared to the MkIV ? all I can say is that despite the MkIV having had leather (I didn?t spec that car, I took it over at 20k and took it to 99k), I didn?t feel short changed at all. Although the seats don?t seem so comfy initially, they are much kinder to my poor old back than the leather sports seats were.
There is a trace of turbo lag that was absent in the 110Tdis that I ran, however I now recall that the 90bhp Tdis (Audi80 and old Passat) had a similar slight lag ? I presume that the variable vane turbo in the 110 eliminated this.
Some observations on features and options:
- auto interior mirror: excellent, I only notice it when it?s not working (when the passenger map light foils the sensor)
- auto windscreen wipers: usually quite good, but cannot handle mist or fine spray ? I?d rather have intermittent capability
- auto headlights: very good, they even operate in those ?coming out of the low sun? on bright mornings. Would be very useful in Switzerland to ensure headlights are on in the tunnels?
- foglamps: I got them as emergency illumination in case of headlamp bulb failure (as MkIV bulbs difficult to change, MkV bulbs appear to be easier to change (but have to unbolt rear light clusters to get to bulbs!)), otherwise waste of space.
- rear seats fold without having to remove headrests (MkIV hassle), but squabs are fixed, therefore floor not truly flat when folded
- tailgate no longer lockable (questionable usefulness in a hatch)
- the std semi-automatic aircon does as least a good a job of maintaining a steady interior temperature as the climate control units in the MKIV, ?S? reg Audi A4 and the LagunaII Tourer that I?ve had, so that was money well saved. (The ?97 Passat?s Climatic was pure set?n?forget though ? excellent)
- the RDS Traffic announcements still work when listening to AM; the radio can be set to store the announcements so I can check the state of the M4 before joining it in morning and evening.
- I?m still not sure what the enhanced multi-function computer gave me exactly, although I can alter the auto anti-hijack door locking/unlocking and central locking control of single/all doors and window opening via the menus, instead of having to visit the dealer.
- The sunvisors, having been swivelled to the doors, can be extended to the back of the door for those times when the sun is at 2 to 3 o?clock
- It?s only needed a couple of tiny paint chips touching up on the bonnet (though the windscreen has survived a couple hits from large stones)
- ESP standard, never know when you might need it, but
- Traction control ? that?s what your right foot is for?
- Cambelt and tensioner changed at 80k, as per service schedule.
My only regret is that it hasn?t a 6-speed gearbox; PoloGirl recently reported that she can get over 600 miles on a tank in her Sport, if driven carefully, which is more than I?ve ever managed.
Still, 90k for just 4 tyres, 2 sets of wiper blades and a sidelight bulb, at 52.25mpg (brim to brim over the total distance), I mustn?t grumble?
JohnM
{edit to remove double reference of car make/model in header-DD}
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 04/12/2007 at 00:54
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