1.6TDI S

Flatters to deceive. Reliable but not a good drive.

Bought at 1 year old from a main dealer. Interior comfortable and sufficiently spacious for 4 real size people. Generally good build quality and nothing fell off in the 4 years we owned it. Boot is a good size and there is a spare wheel.

On the down size the 1.6TDI90 engine is gutless and vibrates excessively below 1800rpm. Gearing is generally too high given the narrow power band meaning frequent down changes to 1st gear in town which should not be necessary. Dealer wanted £96 just to connect the car to diagnostics when we complained about lack of low down pull. 105bhp engine is much better as we found later.

Fuel consumption was never anywhere near what VW said it should be and most of the time hovered around the 52-55mpg -- or the same as my Golf Mk2 GTD used to get in 1990. Driving very gently would get fuel consumption up around 60-62mpg on the motorway.

Poverty spec S model has no rear speakers! Means that front passengers get deafened and rear passengers can just about hear.

We finally got rid because it rattled like a nursery full of toddlers and no-one seemed to be able to find out where the rattles came from. One particularly annoying one seemed to come from the undertray or rear of the engine but was never found despite 4 attempts. Local dealers in Chester were hopeless and very expensive, although they would wash and vac the car at service!

In summary, looked good, was reliable, but not nice to drive.

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