Ambiente 1.6 FSI 5dr Hatchback

Reliable to a point.

This car is very pleasant to drive with a boot that would give the tardis a run for it's money. Comfortable seats and a reasonably nice environment to be in. Every passenger who has ridden in it has been impressed by the comfort. The real world economy averages at 41.5 mpg but if I do a lot of short runs it can drop to 37 but that isn't so bad for a car that can carry five and a bootful of luggage. With that said with that payload it won't set any performance records.
The reliability is a mixed bag because nothing has ever happened to leave me stranded but a few things have left me wanting to pull my hair out. The common rear wiper problem, ie it begins to behave erratically then dies due to water ingress has hit me but the part is reasonable at £65 if you fit it yourself which thankfully is an easy job. The catalytic converter internals collapsed and that was replaced again cheaply with the pattern part at £115. The factory fitted alarm has a life expectancy of around six years and this cost £60 and can be fitted by a competent home mechanic. The niggles that are harder to live with are the spurious engine codes it throws up whilst running perfectly. Even the machanic tells me they are false. It runs slightly better on super unleaded but gets very little more to the gallon. To sum it up it is a reasonably reliable reasonably economical car that is a pleasure to drive.
Despite the jokes and the badge snobbery it still is a very good car. Would I buy another? Yes

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