Volkswagen road test reports and car reviews

Volkswagen Transporter 174 2007

Have a 174 TDI. In 70,000 miles its broken down 4 times, oil in the coolant, air mass meter, 2 other things that I didn’t really understand, cruise control no longer works (garage said it was because I had a different radio fitted), sliding door doesn’t unlock, front number plate fell off and plastic above rear number plate came very loose. Not pleased at all with Heritage VW in Bristol, they don’t seem to have the knowledge to deal with these problems or they just don’t care. Don’t know what to do with the van. It’s brilliant when it works but mostly it’s a shed on wheels. As you can tell I’m a bit upset by it all.

Volkswagen Transporter T5 2.5 130Bhp 2005

Had van from new, it’s nice to drive and good on fuel. After 24 months had a loud bang, no gears and it was the drive shaft completely snapped in half but under warranty so was lucky. Now at 4.5 years had the power steering pump, oil cooler and water pump go . I had reported oil light issues to VW while still under warranty but they said they could not find a problem until now and they are now arguing saying it isn’t their fault for not checking the original fault properly. So be warned VW are an arrogant bunch of W*&^%r’s and will never admit fault. Has any one else had this problem as we need to get together to make them listen.

Volkswagen Golf 2.0 Tdi 2006

Something I’ve wanted for the last 10 years probably so bought it second hand with low mileage and a good service history. It drives like a dream, I especially like the 6 gears and the way it accelerates out of tight spots/away from the traffic lights! Apparently I look quite menacing when following someone as it’s black but it suits me perfectly - the only annoying thing it has a single slot cd and the variable speed (automatic) windscreen wipers. Hopefully though the music system will soon be upgraded........

Volkswagen Touran 2005

A good family car.

Volkswagen Transporter T30 130 TDI lwb 2006

I purchased my van a year ago, it was nearly 3 years old with 100,000 on the clock. Trouble free for 12 months, clutch has just gone. £900 bill for new clutch, fly wheel and slave cylinder from Mr. Clutch. Had a Renault van and a Peugeot van before which weren’t as nice to drive but never had repair bills like this. Very concerned now about future reliability and costs. Also when the steering lock is on full when manoeuvering there is quite a bit of juddering. Service is now due. If this is another large bill I don’t think I will keep this van long term, instead of the planned 5 years. Shame because I like driving it and it’s perfect for my job.

Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 tdi SE cr 140 2009

It’s very early days but this is a very, very enjoyable car to drive. I’m a big fan of VW’s having owned five Golfs previously and this car ticks ALL the usual Volkswagen boxes, especially its superb build quality as exemplified by those heavy front doors. My only minor concern (relatively speaking) was reliability as my previous car was a Toyota Auris, since ,let’s face it, the Jap cars are even more reliable than the Germans. However, I recently drove it all the way from North Wales to Kent and the drive was an absolute pleasure, with such a refined and powerful engine. A class act and if it proves to be reliable I shall certainly consider buying another.

Volkswagen Golf 2003

Having had 2 brand new Ka’s in recent years I needed something bigger and more sturdy, so due to finances, opted for a second hand VW Golf DTi this time. The man at the garage said it would be the best car I would ever own and he was right. She is diesel fuelled for a start, having never owned a diesel I am amazed how economic she is. The 4 door design is spot on for getting my twin grandsons in and out with ample boot space for their paraphenalia. She handles well and I feel safe even when driving in some of the poor weather conditions we have experienced of late. There are a couple of areas on the paintwok that need touching up due to bubbles but otherwise she is a cracking little car. The only complaints I have are that the heater takes a good five minutes to get the car warm inside and the windscreen takes a while to clear on cold mornings (why manufacturers don’t put in heated front windscreens is beyond me!). In all, a good reliable car and if I ever was in the position to buy new again, a Golf DTi would be my first choice by far!

Volkswagen Transporter shuttle 102bhp 2008

Write your report here...Great van, would buy again now on 200k in under 3 yrs, only had a gearbox go which was done under the warranty at 12k, has always been reliable and does 35mpg. Can only guess that people with lots of problems may be overloading their vans or driving them like t***s to cause so many problems. They say only a bad workmen blames their tools.

Volkswagen Transporter T5 128Kw 6Speed Manual 2005

I’m from Australia and have a 2005 T5 2.5Lt 6Speed manual with 123k on the clock. This is a expensive car down under. It’s the best van I have ever owned when it comes to power and comfort, bloody brilliant ! I use it for work and often spent weeks in central Australia. I wouldn’t call my trips hard, demanding would be a better word. At 120k the power steering pump exploded leaving me stranded in 48 degree temperatures for 4 hours before I flag down help. $1900.00 AU to fix it. Two weeks ago BANG no gears, no speedo, still waiting to hear from the mechanic why and how much $$$$. Sounds like input shaft. Breaking down where I go can kill you! I can no longer trust this van in the Australian Outback so today I purchased a 2009 Crewman T5 2.5Lt, 228Kw with 6 speed manual, 4 motion with optional RH door and towing pack. Drive away with 12 months rego this cost me $52000.00 AU I almost purchased the Benz but went for the VW again? I hope I’ve done the right thing but I’m a little worried after reading this review section.

Volkswagen Golf 2005

I bought a VW Golf gt tdi 1 year ago. I took it to the dealer who told me my clutch and flywheel has gone and is gonna cost me £1250. I know this is a common fault and VW should recall all Mark 5 Golfs. Anybody who has a Mark 5 Golf should make sure VW UK are aware and I think this is could be a watch dog issue.

Volkswagen Touareg 2008

Having driven a Freelander for the past 6 years I thought the Touareg would be a nice change. How wrong. Visibility in this car is awful and road holding (as proven in the recent bad weather) is poor.

Volkswagen Passat 2003

Nice roomy, reliable car with a 5 star security and safety rating.

Volkswagen Touareg SE Auto 2007

The Touareg replaced a 5 year old Nissan Patrol that I loved. I was worried that I would miss the Patrol but after a few days I had been completely converted. The Touareg was better in every way, quicker, more comfortable, much better road holding and more like a big sports car than an off road 4x4. If you get the chance do a VW Touareg off road and race track day as the abilities of this car will amaze you. The VW dealer in Guildford, Colbournes, are excellent and not just for Touaregs. It only has one disadvantage and that is the incredible road holding does come at the price of tyre wear but what price your neck? The Patrol would be off the road on every tight bend that the Touareg does not even notice but the Patrol tyres lasted for 23k miles and I have had 2 sets of tyres in 23k miles in the VW. Buy the maintenace and tyre package, I did. A great car, a pity that the current model has stopped production and the new one is not due until the Autumn. Not sure what I will do when my one goes back in July. I may buy this one at the end of the 3 years PCP or very possibly a Suzuki Grand Vitara. A difficult choice.

Volkswagen Golf Plus 1.6 TDI 105 SE DSG 2009

Although I have not done a huge mileage yet, I am very pleased with it. Drives very well, comfortable, quiet and very economical. Quality of build is excellent, and has loads of extra headroom for a tall person like myself, and the rear sliding seats are very handy. Was almost put off by critical remarks on Top Gear etc, who could not see the point of it, but for someone who wants the quality of a Golf and not the size of a Touran it’s ideal, can’t fault it.

Volkswagen Transporter T28 104 2007

Was Fine for 3 years now 91k, squeak on dash I can put up with but, rear door will not open? Front offside drive shaft splines broke.

Volkswagen Passat 1.8 petrol 2002

This is a superb vehicle. I have a false hip which makes getting in and out of smaller cars somewhat difficult. In the Passat I feel relaxed and totally in control; in particular the engine has enough spare capacity for rapid acceleration if one needs it. She tools round the sharpest bends with ease and one hardly knows that one is turning, no tilt of "hunting" even on roundabouts. Steep hills are eaten with ease, and the vehicle performed well in the recent snow when even BMWs were struggling. The Passat, I feel, is the Pullman of cars. Not quite your Bentley or Morse’s Jaguar, but a supremely reliable and comfortable car that loolk smartb and acts similarly.. Oill capacity is a bit limited so a frequent change is recommewnded; cambelts can be dodgy too. Internal and external trim is superb. We live 200 yards from the sea and no rust can be seen, even though the winds blow hard in these parts.

Volkswagen Transporter Mini bus 2005

I drive a T5 transporter shuttle bus as a taxi, the back windows are a c**p design and have been broken countless times over the last four years, the triptronic gearbox has now packed up after 294,584 miles. It is the fastest van I have ever driven (132 mph would you believe), the body work is perfect. Taking in account that it’s a night taxi, where you are picking up drunks that abuse the vehicle, this is to my mind the best bus on the market. Well done Volkswagen.

Volkswagen Transporter 2.5TDi 4Motion 128kW SWB 2006

I live in South Africa and work in Botswana and Zambia. To date this is my favourite car. Equipped with Seikel Dakar suspension and 16" wheels, the body clearance on the sides is an awesome 300mm! Actual under-vehicle clearance is probably >260mm. Also fitted is the (expensive) diff lock and a dual battery system. I use this vehicle to work in lodges in Botswana including the Makgadikgadi Pans. A guide that works on the pans was complimentary of it’s great off road comfort and was surprised at the ability in mud and sand. Although I drive the car enthusiastically, the return at the pumps is favourable for it’s huge size. A careful drive will return about 30mpg, which is not bad for a 2 ton 4X4 brick! I believe the 2WD is a lot more frugal. Very proud at the moment as the T5 engine, inherited from the R5 Touareg, is currently powering the 1,2,3 domination of the Dakar as at stage 9 on 11 Jan 2010. My 112CDi Vito cannot compare with this superior vehicle.

Volkswagen Transporter t5 window van 2005

Initially i was very pleased with the bus, comfortable and practical for me, my wife, four kids and three labradors. There is always a slight offset pull when accelerating, I put this down to heavy load. Hang on, this is a commercialy rated veh. major beef at 78000 miles dual mass flywheel disintegrated as did drive shaft, what a stupid cheapskate design,if there is too much torque/transmission shock, improve and strengthen mountings and components. To pass cheap designs onto customers who end up with expensive bills I feel VW are totally betraying the trust of loyal (not for long) customers. P.S. Who designed the rubbish sliding door windows? Having read everybody elses beefs I am filled with dread for the next 100000 miles.

Volkswagen Transporter 1.9 tdi 85bhp 2005

VW transporter 1.9 tdi 85 bhp with 116,000 miles complete, no issues up to now. today during cold weather got stuck in 4th gear. I left until mid day and all ok again. got checked out and water got into gear linkage cables and froze. To fix it will require new linkage. (currently tried to get water out with wd40 and grease) all in all I’ve had this van from new and I would recommend it to anyone.

Volkswagen Touran 1.9 tdi 2005

I love the car, it’s fun to drive and is economical but the turbo went at 20,000 miles and the ESP light has been on for 12 months now and could cost £1300. VW should do a full recall for this ESP/ABS fault, don’t buy one until they do!

Volkswagen Touran 2.0 TDi Sport 140ps 2005

We owned this car for 3 years. Seven seats great idea, to take the kids friends out. Good to drive. MPG great, got better as the engine loosened up, from about 25k miles onwards, push it as hard as you like and you’ll return 45mpg. We drove back from Cornwall fully loaded at 70mph and averaged 52mpg!!! Now for the BIG PROBLEM; The ABS control unit went and the ESP light came on when the car went out of warranty, VW were stating £1600 to fix. We have full VW service history and car had 48k miles. After a lot of wrangling VW paid 40% and we still ended up with a £900 bill. My advice is get rid before end of 3 year warranty.

Volkswagen Transporter 174 sportline kombi 2009

I’ve just bought a 174 Sportline Kombi van after owning a ex AA t4 swb. I thought after trouble free motoring I was pushing my look and law of averages says sooner or later it’s going to let me down, here we go; I have never ever ever had so much go wrong with a vehicle in my life and we own a commercial garage so we’ve seen our fair share of bad vehicles. My 174 after 2800 miles is on its 3rd turbo after constant ecu light on and constant limp mode. The heater will not clear the screen, I left it running for an hour outside work the other day and from half way up the screen it still didn’t un-freeze the screen. The next thing to go was as I was pulling out of our drive I pressed the foot brake and the pedal was solid, as though the servo had packed up, enter the RAC again. They came out and told me it was the abs kicking in, well no it wasn’t, so he told me there was nothing he could do so my wife went out the next morning and it did the same thing, foot pedal solid, then it works fine after pumping a few times. I’m awaiting VW’s response but I will never buy another VW again, the sportline is badly made, badly finished off, not as quick as everybody makes out. I’m disappointed after owning a well made, well finished off t4. I’ve had the RAC out to my 174 3 times and the AA out once. Never again, if i can get rid I will.

Volkswagen Transporter T30/T28 102/130 SWB 2009

Just had 12 of these on hire for 4 weeks. Main faults were 5 of them need new gearboxes, either gears crunch or dont go in at all. 1 had the door handle fall off on the inside and out making the door totally useless. All have gone back to the hire company totally battered and in need of warranty repairs. Load space is appaling due to the large wheel arches inside the back. Once loaded the van is extremely unstable. Whenever you have a passenger in the van who isnt a midget they continually put the hazard lights on with their knees. Worst vans ever.

Volkswagen Golf GT TDI 170 2006

I have had this car 2 weeks now as a company car,it was used by a colleague at head office previously and has done 36000 miles. Fuel economy seems poor as it is hard work to get over 40mpg and I don’t thrash it. Also when stationary and in slow moving traffic exhaust fumes can be smelt in the cabin and from outside when standing near the car, anyone with any ideas as to what is the problem?

Volkswagen Transporter 2009

I’ve just bought a t32 window van 1.9pd102 but there was no handbook with the van, can anyone help me to buy one anywhere? i have tried everywhre without success, thank you.

Volkswagen Crafter

I have 2 crafters on the road each, covering a distance of 700 kms on a daily basis. The oldest, a crafter 35, has 300000 kms on the clock and the new one is a crafter 50 with 25000 kms on the clock. I’m in the business of transporting passengers from Gaborone to Serowe return. My aim is to keep these two for 5 years and by then each must have rewarded me a whopping 700 000 km on the clock. I never skip a service and so far the oldest has had its differential, turbo charge and gearbox replaced for free as it is still under warantee. Do you know if this is possible?

Volkswagen Passat Estate SE New model 2.0lt TDI 140 2005

What a let down, the car had constant faults; Air bag light kept coming on, Broke down 3 times, Fuel pump, Fuel cooler, Software problems, engine emission flap failure £400 before the final death at 92000 miles when oil pump failed. Inchcape VW Bridgnorth were useless, the changed oil pump cost circa £1000 to do then they inform me engine is scrap. On inspection by another competent engine company Inchcape had put it together incorectly and damaged the crankshaft drive gear. I would be very careful of buying one with high milage unless you can change oil pumps and the turbo yourself otherwise expect big garage bills. Also I would not recommend Inchcape; their customer service is disgusting & service rubish.

Volkswagen Transporter T5 104ps SWB 2007

I have a transporter for my business, a 57 plate which has just clocked 80k with very little faults other than a couple of rattles. People with turbo faults need to understand that VGT turbos need time to warm up before setting off flat out and to cool off after they have been worked hard. Doing this a major fault can be avoided. Drive shafts on front wheel drive vans will fail from time to time especially when van is fully loaded I would not have or recommend any other van than VW!

Volkswagen Beetle 2009

The interiors of this car are not up to the mark when considering its price.

Volkswagen Touran 1.9tdi 2007

No faults at 19,000miles. Tyres 50%. Overall fuel consumption 53mpg. Excellent bottom-end torque, no need to red line. Quiet engine but slightly disappointing increase in exhaust noise above 3.500rpm (65mph) in top. Blue version might solve this. Acceleration satisfactory for normal usage. Suspension loaded/unloaded an excellent compromise. Steering and handling very good. Very good driving position and seat adjustment. Certainly not for pedal thumpers. Body design very versatile and well finished. A good buy, in my opinion, provide the ABS gives no trouble! Lamp failure warning light excellent idea, should be general requirement. VW dealerships good on sales but expensive so choose VERY carefully indeed for servicing. Would consider DSG, but ..

Volkswagen Transporter 1.9 2005

I bought this van in 2005. Great until just a month before the warranty ran out, so it got the clutch repaired. However, 20,000.00 for a van without brake wear sensors on it has cost me 600 pounds. Then a week after the warranty ran out the alternator buggered up costing 450 pounds. Then the turbo intake pipe blew off costing a further £105 pounds. Now the 5th gear is buggered and it’s about to go in to find out if it’s a 500 pound job or a 4,500 pound job. Not impressed now. The van layout is great and the drive comfortable but for a working van that has just hit 110,000 mile (90% motorway miles) this cannot be good.

Volkswagen Transporter Sportline 174ps 2007

I bought my Sportline new in 2007. Its now late 2009 and I have just clocked up 75,000, no mercy, trouble free miles. The only fault I had was a broken cooler pipe bracket which caused a rattle. Top van in my opinion. Those people with continual problems I can only guess its the way you drive’em..pussies!!

Volkswagen Touran 2.0 TDI Sport 140 2005

I’ve had the Touran for 3 years and covered 120k. It has had a few problems with interior plastics, wheel alignment, fuel leaking due to poor servicing at Main Dealers (3 times!); They didn’t put fuel pipe clips on properly first time followed by not tightening fuel filter cannister lid causing complete satuaration of engine compartment and 20 foot of fast lane on motorway! Thankyou to the Highways agency for cleaning that up! Would I buy another one? To be honest Ive driven the C/S-Max’s,Zaffira and Scenic and while they all have there merits it is always the VW I’d rather be driving. So the answer is yes I would but with the proviso that VW answer(satisfactory) the many complaints regarding there poor customer relationship and put an end to daft charging structures(like £28 to change a tail bulb which took 4 mins!) especailly when you have religiously followed all there servicing reommendations and handed over approx £1100 each year to keep it on the road(not inc tyres).

Volkswagen Golf Motion 4 TD 2.0 2005

This has to be one of the most boring and annoying cars to live with. When i test drove it i loved it, that soon changed after i bought one!!. The cabin area must be one of the most boring places to sit in, the seats are as comfortable as sitting on the road and the the plastics look so drab and boring. There’s a huge gap lower down the dashboard that really looks awful, when driving on a motorway the wind and road noise is deafening, i can’t hear myself think. Don’t be taken in by the drive when you first drive it and the looks, it will feel and looks dated in no time. Finally the Motion 4 system is horrendous, last christmas I stopped on my steep driveway covered on snow and tried to drive up it hoping the systme would kick in and get me up it but it didn’t. Instead, a few weeks later when I was on my way home from work and it decided to kick in when I was doing 70, it made the biggest clunk/ bang i have ever heard. Stay away, no matter how much you like this car.

Volkswagen Touran 2005

AVOID at all costs unless you like £1500 repair bills for the ABS unit. Google "Touran ESP Light" and you will get the gist.

Volkswagen Transporter 2.5TDI T30 LWB 174 Sportline 2006

I’m on my 4th Transporter and it’s the dearest at £27,000. I’ve never had as much trouble with a vehicle ever. At one point it was in the dealers for 7 weeks with a fault they couldn’t find. As I write this I’m waiting for a return call from the dealer regarding my 2nd Turbo that went nearly 3 weeks ago. It’s had so much go wrong I can’t remember half the problems, but there have been at least 20. I’m seriously thinking of changing my van but not VW.

Volkswagen Jetta 2007

I Have done 57000 mls in ONE year as a private Taxi. No parts have been required just routine attention. Fuel consumption is showing at 44 mpg, which is very impressive. The body is very robust; a Lorry backed slowly into me and remarkably there was no apparent damage! The clutch pedal offers a bit too much force up through the left foot but that is all I can criticize it for. It looks great and has many extras: bulb out indicators, traction and cruise contol, automatic lights and wipers. A great car.

Volkswagen Transporter 1.9 102bhp t5 2006

I bought a 1.9 102bhp t5 when it was 15 months old and initialy I was very impressed with it but then couldn’t get into any gear with out crunching. I took it back to the dealer and they changed the gear box oil and all was ok for a while. Next it started to wobble when doing speeds of 42-60mph. I took it back to the dealer but they couldn’t find the cause. It continued to wobble so I took it back again and this time they put a new steering rack on. This didn’t solve the problem so made another visit and this time had a new gear box fitted. The problem was still there so another visit to the dealer and a new drive shaft on the driver’s side has been fitted but this still hasn’t fixed it. The 3 year warranty is up soon, what do i do??

Responses to this review
This problem is normally p/s drive schaft or please check tyres for flat spots, I know this as I was master tech for VW - The Rab from County Antrim

Vehicle is not fit for purpose - involve trading standards as to your rights of return, also ask the RAC to do a purchase survey to ascertain the vehicle validity. I suspect that vehcle has been seriously damaged in transit to showroom and dealer had had to fanny it up rather than lose the purchase price and not been able to complete the repair. Also, take the vehicle for a stringent MOT to a garage that does cut price MOT as they are looking for work - the more it fails the more work they get. Summarise all that and contact VW UK and ask them for a new vehicle, at the very least extend the warranty for another 3 years - John jongon7@yahoo.co.uk McGonigal from Scotland

Volkswagen Golf 1.9tdi dsg 2008

Having previously owned a VW Polo, which had been 100% reliable I chose a VW Golf TDI DSG for it’s replacement at my driving school. Now I’m wondering what the hell just hit me! And im stuck with it for 3years! I’ve not the time to list all the problems I’ve had with it. I’ve owned it just over a year and it has already cost me over £1500 in repairs and then there is VW main dealer service - wow that’s painful! VW, what happend? You need to spend money to build a good car. I think I will look at a Ford Focus next.

Volkswagen Transporter 130 ps , 4 motion 2005

This is an excellent vehicle, mine has done 150k so far and the only fault I can find is that it judders when pulling away with full lock on; it feels like the brakes are pulling on or the four wheel drive is cutting in, not sure, but when clutch is dipped it rolls freely. Once you are moving or using a bigger turning circle there is no problem. Has anyone had the same problem or at least similar? I would be interested to know before paying for the VW garage to take a look.

Responses to this review
It could be the power steering belt. I've just had mine done after experiencing left hand turn juddering on pull away. It's cured the problem - M Lewis from England

It's just your four wheel drive sysem thats all. Same happens in jeeps in 4WD. the van you have is in full time 4WD - John Radsom from London

Hi, I have an older synchro Transporter and it does that, it's like the brakes are on when you tight turn, all 4wd are like that, it's just the way they are don't worry - Andy Horton from Yorkshire

I have a t5 transporter window van, at 70000 miles the dual mass flywheel (what a thoroughly c**p piece of design) packed up, two grand later back on the road, asked VW dealer if is this a model problem? No he said, never had one in before with this problem, b******s I thought, as his nose gave pinnochio a good run for his money. I digress, your symptoms are similar to my early stages, next will be transmission rock on clutch take up followed by a bang. Bon chance mon brave!! - Anthony Norton from Devon

Volkswagen Transporter 2001

I bought my 2.5 Transporter new in 2001 and it’s now 11 2009. I’ve never had a thing go wrong with it. It is serviced once a year, not by a vw garage as they are a rip off. I have nothing but good to say about the VW Transporter.

Volkswagen Transporter 174 ps t5 2009

I,m now on my third T5 174 ps. The first was a 54 plate which went back to the dealer over 20 times with the same fault, plus problems with the turbo, discs and pads at 20k. I valeted the van at 1 year old with 30k on the clock and gave it back to the dealer with the log book and keys telling them i was rejecting the vehicle as it was not fit for the purpose.They then sold me an 06 at really good rate inc. part exchange, which i kept for 3 years with no problems until the week after the 3 year warranty ran out, then it fell apart mechanically. I now have an 09 model which has just notched up 4k and developed an intermittent noise which is getting more regular and sounds like the flywheel as it’s when the engine is under load either accelerating or throttling off. I took it to the dealer who said bring it in when it’s noisy and they,ll have a listen. Reassuring!!!! I’ll work more local if it helps shall I ?! We also have a T5 130 ps on a 55 plate, which has been perfect,so perhaps the 174 is just too much of a beast.

Volkswagen Transporter 2006

I have just bought a T5 56 reg Transporter. With only 52,000 miles on the clock, what could go wrong? In 5 weeks of ownership I’ve had to fit a new clutch and flywheel, front shocks, tailgate light,it’s been bad at starting and now it’s in for a central locking fault. The dealer had the van for 4 days this time and they still can’t locate the fault on the central locking. The van is of poor build quality but the service from the dealer has been very good though.

Responses to this review
Me too. I bought a 56 plate T5 in September. It has had front shocks, clutch, central locking fault, starting fault, injector seals and the turbo blew up. The van has 57,000 miles on it - Graham Foggo from England

Volkswagen Golf SE 1.4 TSI DSG 2009

Volkswagen engineering is rather special. There’s something that manifests itself in all their products. It is something that implies a meticulous attention to detail and to finish - an innate compulsion to be absolutely thorough. The painstaking design and workmanship produces very convincing models indeed - and none more so than the new Golf SE Mk6 in 1.4litre TSi form. Looking impressively solid in steel grey metallic, the test Golf was dressed as expensively,soberly and inconspicuously as any Brummel could desire. There were no splashes of meretricious plastic chrome and stick-on decals or other trumpery tricks from the merchandising departments armoury of deceptions.The car endowed dignity upon its users through the absence of puffed up glitter. Fondly supposed to need little improvement, VW has undoubtedly kept the Golf to the highest standards,refusing in any way to compromise the ’gentleman that it has become after six generations - unlike other manufacturers who think it’s much more fun to become a rake.VW has carefully controlled the Golf’s evolution and built on the best of previous models to take the Golf to a level where it is a better car than most supposed ’prestige’ rivals. Having established itself over many years as the very apotheosis of the dependable and inspiring hatchback, this archetypal model has much to live up to.Now in a ’derived’ form that is clearly related, the Golf must surely go down in history as one of the noblest cars in the Volkswagen saga, where subtle change to shape and substance reflect consumate virtues and an air of timeless ’rightness’. It is, to put it mildly, a most accomplished car and I’m pleased to report to you that the virtues of the Golf are still inimitable and indispensable. No wonder twenty six million have been sold since 1974. The SE 1.4 TSI 122PS 5dr with 7speed DSG transmission tested,(with a basic price of £17,885.). certainly perpetuates the Golf Stream in whose balmy benevolence we lucky motorists have basked for many a year now. This TSI engine variant is turbocharged only, but more powerful units have both supercharging and turbocharging. It’s a jewel of an engine that gives effortless performance from any revs. Creamy smooth and driving through that remarkable DSG gearbox with its imperceptible changes, the linear nature of the acceleration all the way to the 124mph top speed, is turbine like - but without the lag one would get with a turbine. With this engine VW have taken the reciprocating engine to new heights of sophistication and refinement. It makes for good economy too, with nearly 50mpg achievable overall. Smooth and quiet motorway cruising is a strong point and with the incredible overall composure of the car you drive easy and relaxed. Off the motorway it’s the same story and if you’re so disposed, you can set to a cracking pace on A and B roads when it snaps to attention. Utterly ’together’, it is so beautifully balanced and poised that driving can once again become a pleasure. Inside it’s typically Teutonic with all the sturdiness of a Black Forest oak tree and you just know that it’s as tough as a Tiger Tank and as robust as lederhosen and will give you aeons of good service. Thankfully it’s more comfy, with an excellent driving position that can be ajusted to suit all from the fattest Burgomeister to a Leprechaun without a licence. There’s more than enough room for four adults to travel in relaxed style and rear passengers aren’t compromised by ’racy’ sloping rooflines. With solid residual values a Golf is always a wise choice and the initial extra outlay to buy quality is worthwhile. Certainly one of the most complete cars available today, the Golf is a car that looks good because of what it is and not what it aspires to be. It will flatter any driver from the chic to the bucolic, transferring upon owners an aura of the proper prestige that comes without trying.

Volkswagen Transporter 2007 T30

I bought the van 2years ago, loved it when first got it and still like it now. I haven’t had any problems with it, apart from 2 fly wheels, which VW fixed under warantee. Although I must admit I’m worried it could happen again. Looking forward for the T6.

Volkswagen Touran 2.0 se tdi automatic dsg 2009

I bought this car a year ago as I wanted a MPV rather than an estate car, so that I could transport my fishing gear, the dog and the wife. At the outset the car behaved well with good performance and fuel economy, but 3months down the line the cd unit packed up so it went back to the garage where a new unit was installed under warranty at a cost of £640; glad i wasn’t picking up the bill. Another couple of months went by and the esp light came on and stayed on,so back to the garage it went where a new esp ring was fitted, which has somthing to do with the ABS, at a total cost £350 (I’m getting my moneys worth out of this warranty).Just 3 weeks ago i awoke at 3am to the sound of the car’s alarm going off. I was popular with the neighbours i can tell you since i m a heavy sleeper. When i went down to the car i found all the windows had let themselves down and it was raining cats & dogs so I ended with an added extra.. a vw with a built in swimming pool. Would i buy another one? Quite frankly no.

Volkswagen Golf 1.4fsi 2004

After owning VW golfs for over 25 years I’ve always found them reliable easy to maintain and a pleasure to drive, well I’ll never buy another one and advise people to read below before purchasing one. Two weeks ago I had trouble starting my VW 04 1.4FSI golf MK 5 , so I phoned the vw dealers and got it towed to their workshop to diagnose the fault, they told me they were not sure but they thought the cambelt had slipped and would need 6 hours investigation time to confirm it, I gave them the go ahead but said I was surprised because the service book says the cambelt did not need to be checked till 60000 miles and my car had only done 35000 miles. Anyway they checked and informed me that the cambelt had faulted and done considerable damage £1705.65 to be exact. I told them to fix it as I did not have much option, I asked if it was a common occurance on this model they told me that they had seen it happen but not on a car with such low mileage. I got in touch with VW customer relations and they told me that information in their service book can be changed at any time so they can state 60000 mile cambelt inspection but can then change it to 4 years or 60000 mile at a later date without informing anyone but their dealers, they say they won’t reimburse me or show a measure of goodwill so I’ve no option but to go to a small claims court. So beware before you purchase any new or used golf in the future it won’t affect me because I won’t buy another.

Volkswagen Transporter t30 2.5 130bhp 2007

I have always bought VWs as they are German and have a reputation for superb reliability and build quality. However after having this van for a year I can honestly say I’ll never buy VW again. When you pay nearly £20,000 for a van you would expect only minor faults. So far I’ve needed a new wheel bearing, new radio, new wheel discs (because my brakes wore into the discs). This van doesn’t have brake wear sensors as standard because it was too expensive. On a £20,000 van! That little job cost me nearly £600. The VW staff are awful, they still think that their vehicles are brilliant and refuse to believe that they could go wrong. I’m just of to Southern Motor Group (VW) now to get my diesel particulate filter sorted. Another bloody day off work. Don’t know if I’ll get it sorted under warranty, apparently VW are getting really picky on what repairs they will carry out under warranty. I’ll be buying Japanese next time, all day long. Do not buy this van. I’d sell mine tomorrow if there wasn’t a recession on!

Responses to this review
Spot on mate, tell me about it. Mine is a 55reg from new and I've just spent over 5k on repairs, they just fall apart - Dean Plimsoll from Dorset

I’ve got a 174 Sportline Kombi, brand new sep 09. I’ve had 3! yes 3! turbos, the wiring loom stripped due to a electrical fault that in the end they told me it was number 3 turbo up the spout and now the brake peddal is solid for the 1st application servo problems? Heater won’t clear screen for love nor money. I had a brilliant t4 before this and the t5 sportline kombi is the pits, my milage is 2800miles. What a heap - Rich Smith from England

Volkswagen Golf 2007

I have driven VW’s for a number of years. I bought my lastest golf in 2007, a 1.6 automatic comfort line. Within the last 3 months I have had a lot of trouble with the car. Firstly all the dash clocks packed up and had to be replaced (luckily under warranty). My door speakers in the front have an intermittent problem, they go on and off for no reason. And just this week the central locking on the two front doors started playing up and had to be replaced. VW covered the parts and 50% of the labour cost but I was still well out of pocket. I have spoken to a VW mechanic and was told that both the problem with clocks and door locks are not just a one off as he has had to replace same in several Golf’s. I paid £26,000 for this car and have only put 24,000 km on the clock so I really don’t find this situation acceptable. Has anyone else had these problems?

Volkswagen Transporter T30 TDI 2005

Not done 60,000 miles yet and its had a water pump & now a gearbox & clutch - £4000 of repairs in 2 months! Appalling reliability!! Very, very disappointed with the vehicle - also extremely disappointed with VW Commercial - they would not help us at all. I do not consider that this it is acceptable, that a low mileage vehicle, only 4 years old should have such major mechanical failures. This vehicle has been main dealer serviced and well looked after by us. It seems that VW’s reputation for engineering and customer service is not what it was!

Volkswagen Fox 2009

The car itself is lovely, however, I put an order in at my local VW centre back in July and am going to be waiting until at least January for this car. I am getting no compensation, my tax runs out end of October, MOT in January, and when I first bought the car I was told it would be ready by September... it is just not good enough.

Volkswagen Transporter T30S 174PS 2007

My van was delivered to me with no miles showing and on a transporter. Few extras included. I love the van, great handling, brilliant to drive. I’ve done nearly 60K now. All good, so far. Now for the down side, the intercooler went at 30k, cracked exhaust manifold at 35k, alternator and air con. drive coupling at 57K. Fortunatly everything was done on warranty with no quibble, but just started to lose coolant so it’s going back in at my expense this time. Fingers crossed, it might be time to get another new one...

Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GT TDI 140bhp 2008

Bought Volkswagen 2.0 GT TDI 140bhp in April 2008. Current mileage 33500 which I think is quite remarkable for FOUR YEAR OLD CAR. ESP light can’t be cancelled and I’ve been told I require a brake pump. I was also told this is a manufacturers fault but I’m still expected to pay total of £577. Volkswagen have offered to pay 40% of the total cost. I liased with Consumer Care Scotland who advised me to quote Sale of Goods Act. The original cost quoted for me to pay was approximately £1000 plus VAT and Volkswagen would pay the remainder 40%. There is a huge difference between what was originally quoted but I still think it’s outrageous and I will liaise with Trading Standards. When I contacted Volkwagen Customer Care Team I was asked about my loyalty as a customer. I’ve had many Volkswagen’s but I was asked for registration numbers and when I couldn’t remember ALL OF THEM I was then asked for chassis numbers! My idea would be if they are saying this is a manufactureres fault then I should not be paying anything! The retailing garage have been very supportive and I could not fault them BUT I’m very disappointed with Volkswagen and I would certainly have to consider whether to continue as a customer.

Volkswagen Golf 2 litre TDI SE 2009

Test drove the new Golf prior to purchasing my Nissan Qashqai. In true Golf style the subdued interior oozed a classiness that is lacking in most competitors, and the understated (some may say boring) exterior is inoffensive. All controls and switches operated with a nicely weighted feel and as with the previous model interior space was impressive given its compact size. Good all round visibility meant driving through London was a doddle, and you had a feeling that this is a car that people respect. So why did I choose the Qashqai over the Golf? As already mentioned in other posts it came down to dealer service (or lack of ). The salesman showed no genuine interest in firming up a deal, I got the feeling that he felt the product is so good, so why bother? I have no regrets in buying the QQ as it really suits my needs and everyone loves its funky, youthful, adventurous image. The Golf still remains a great car, but others are not that far behind and VW have to address some of their reliability issues and stuck up staff!

Volkswagen Transporter t30 1.9 2004

What can I say? I have always bought Volkswagen and this is my first Transporter. After all the hype of the vans I thought I couldn’t go wrong. But since owning the vehicle I have had the pressure house from the intercooler blow off, all tyres have at some point worn in one place like they are bulging (baffled the guys at my local tyre place). I bought the van when it was 4 years old (70k with 12 month warranty), only they never put it on the system as having a warranty. 2 weeks ago the fly shattered taking the clutch and all other clutch related parts with it. Fly wheel seems to be a very problematic part, these should never go before about 200k but VW reckon they don’t last much longer. They tried to charge me £175 for picking up the vehicle from the motorway. Anyway, 2 weeks later I am still struggling and fighting the warranty on this as the parts alone are up to £900 plus the splines on the drive shaft have gone. 4 hours to find the fault at £50/hour plus a further 6 hours to fix. I need to buy a new van and with the VW being so costly I will definately think again, may even consider a Ford, yes, things are that bad.

Volkswagen Touran 2.0 tdi dsg 2006

I’m very happy with the overall drive and quality. However, a problem with the abs occurred just 2 months after warranty expired (£1700 to repair). VW initially told me if I had full VW service history they would repair for free under goodwill. One service had been performed by an independant garage but the car still had a complete history. They eventually offered only 40% saying I had not had genuine filters fitted to the engine; this puzzled me as this is a common fault and has no relation to the workings of the engine. However, as I was advised by the VW man they don’t have to offer any gesture I had no option to accept. I like the car, shame about VW customer support. Would I buy another Touran? Maybe...

Volkswagen Polo Match 1.4 TDi 2009

Great looking little car with 15 inch alloys and colour coded bumpers. The car comes with all the toys and a comfortable driving position. One problem I have found with the 5 door is that being 6ft 3 the centre pillar can dig into your shoulder. On the road the car handles really well and the ride is as good a car from the next class up and is very refined. The 1.4, 3 cylinder diesel which puts out 70bhp is never going to set your pants on fire but is very torquey and pulls like a train from nothing. The car will cruise all day at 80mph on the motorway at just under 3000rpm and still give you nearly 50mpg! Overall, a great little car and after 13,000 miles since bought new in February it has proved very reliable. The only problems we’ve had are the seatbelt not retuning properly and a intermitant fault wih the cd multichanger making a noise like a helicopter.

Volkswagen Transporter Kombi. 2006

I love my van and really look after it, it has always been serviced by the main dealer and I very rarely drive it hard. It just keeps going wrong. I’m on my 3rd gearbox, I had a knocking from the steering column and a leaking sliding window within 60K. Luckily it was all fixed under warranty by the main dealer with the minimum of fuss. Its now out of warranty and has covered 75K and has kindly just spit out parts of the turbo into the intercooler. The Turbo alone is £1100 from VW so I’m expecting a £1500 bill. Also the heater controls are jamed so they will only work on the window, haven’t priced the repair on that yet but its got to be in the region of £200-£300. Its such a shame these great vans are so costly to keep on the road. When its out of warranty it will cost the same as the monthly payments on a new one to keep on the road, should I go and buy another one?

Responses to this review
In answer to your question, no. But the only real alternative is the Merc, but read the reviews on that! Crikey! The bigger question is does anybody make a car or van that is capable of high mileage and daily use that does not fall apart these days? AD from England

I'm just looking for a reliable van. Got a vivaro, which has just done 200000. It's still going but have had to recon the gearbox. I got a newer vivaro, which seems to have come with the problems everyone else has had. Does anyone out there have the answer we all want? - Michael Curson from County Antrim

Its not the most stylish van in the world but read the reviews on the Toyota Hiace - they are bulletproof. Latest versions come with aircon as standard - Chris Bark from Nottinghamshire

Volkswagen Beetle 2002

What a great car, bought it from possibly the worst VW dealer in Cheshire, I was a bit worried about buying a car with high miles from such a bad dealer, but the car was great. It had 77,000 miles when I bought it, had it 2 years and didn’t spend a penny, not even tyres. Great fuel economy and reliability, build quality is very good, go for the TDi model, choose your dealer very carefully,great little car for the money.

Volkswagen Passat CC 2009

Best buy and best car I have ever owned.

Volkswagen Touareg 2.5 tdi auto

Although I find the Touareg a joy to drive, with all driver comforts, I find the engine a little under powered. I should have opted for the v6 or above and sacrificed some mpg. At present the car returns 34mpg on a run, not bad for a vehicle of this size!! The car has been dealer serviced from new, however, now that it’s 4yrs old plus I am starting to encounter problems I would not have expected considering a mileage of 60000 miles. Recently the rear drive shaft mid bearing failed - a new shaft being £650 + VAT!! as a replacement bearing is not available. Items of interior trim are starting to break, eg - underseat drawer facia and centre console lid catches and guess what they have been modified with replacement parts costing a small fortune. Wiring problems with airbag system is another gripe although the system was modified under a dealer rework programme. Needles to say all this happened after the manufacturers warranty and extended warranty expired, so beware.

Volkswagen Golf 2005

Bought a low mileage 2005 Golf as I thought being a Volkswagen there would be no problems. Dual Mass Flywheel and Clutch had to be replaced at a cost of £1200. Volkswagen deny there is a problem with 2005 plates but I was told different by a Volkswagen employee. They tell you they will give you a goodwill payment towards the cost once they have checked it out in thier garages at a cost of £50. Once you get your car there they then go back on the offer and deny they ever said it. They have no interest in helping with the situation. I will never buy a volkswagen again. Awful service.

Volkswagen Transporter 174 Panel Van 2004

Quite simply the worst van I have ever owned. If anyone is contemplating buying one, please do some research on the web first. 42 days at the dealer in 3 years. Faults include - turbo, ecu, water pump, flywheel, clutch, gearbox. The final straw was a driveshaft stripping its spline without warning 100 miles from home, requiring a return trip on the back of a recovery vehicle (for the first time in over 30 years of driving). All the above faults are known weaknesses on the 5 cylinder variants (again, dont take my word for it- ask one of the mechanics at the main dealer. It is not a question of if it is going to let you down, it’s when). Decent van centres are few and far between; my local one, who seemed to cause as many problems as they cured, have thankfully closed down.

Volkswagen Golf GT Sport 1.4 TSI 170

Having bought this car from new in 2007, the car has developed what I can only describe as a ’squeak’ as you accelerate in all 6 gears. The car has been in to the garage several times from mid 2008. They have replaced a water pump and also installed a software upgrade which has not solved the problem. The garage have been excellent and supportive, however whilst the problem has been reported to VW Germany, their technical team have not come up with a solution. They have acknowledged there is a problem but have no answers. We have complained to VW UK about the issue, but they are trying to fob us off with the noise is a ’characteristic of the car!". The car did not have this noise when we bought the car and they have even tried to imply that the noise will be coming from the turbo or supercharger! We do love the car, but when you spend £18k on a car with a noise that is audible in and out of the car as you change gears it is rather irritating and VW so far are trying very hard to fob us off. Big mistake as we will not give up. I would be very interested to hear from anyone else has/is experiencing this.

Responses to this review
I bought my 06 plate 1.4 TSI 170 back in February this year - I too have the irritating "squeak" which as you say is very audible both inside and outside of the car. I was concerned as it sounds like a belt slipping momenteraly as you accelerate. My local VW told me it was a known problem form a solanoid and there was nothing they could do and it doesn’t inhibit performance. So it looks as if VW know there is a problem but have issued a "fob off" statement to anyone who complains. I love the car but do find the "squeak" a little hard to live with. Another problem to look out for which I have just had repaired under warranty is the gearbox. I noticed when the engine was hot second gear "crunched", VW promptly changed the second gear cog (5th and 6th). This is due to the coating coming off the cogs - VW did the work under warranty and it has solved the problem and I was assured it won’t now reoccur - Mike Blackford from Suffolk

Volkswagen Crafter cr35 163 2008

Had my Crafter from new. It has now done 50,000 miles and it has spent more tme in the VW workshop than on road. This van has now developed an engine knock and is breathing from dipstick say VW - they all breath, my arse they do. And for the knock they think it’s the flywheel but I can’t get it through to them to check compression. I will never buy another VW.

Responses to this review
Crafter cr35 109, S**t van. Mine is a 2006 with only 20,000 miles. Warning lights are on and off like Blackpool illuminations!! It's needed a new ECU and now DPF, what next?! - Jim Scroll from England

I had a 2007 Crafter that was all the time in the workshop. After 120000 kms I got rid and bought another new van that had just 11000 kms on it when electronic valve packed in this is without doubt the worst van ever made !!!!!!!!!!!! Tom Lapp from Ireland

Volkswagen Golf TDI 1.9 2004

I am a Golf fan, got mine over a year and a half ago. Couldn’t afford much so I opted for a 1.9 TDI, it was few years old and the clock had already hit 80,000. Didnt stop me though because I reckoned the diesel engine could handle that. Been fantastic so far, it’s had a service and MOT since I’ve owned it and all I’ve had to do is replace a bulb and replace oil filters... pennies! Just your luck with cars but overall I think VW have done a grand job. Its proves itself as there are sooo many on the road!! and they have now built the new one on the same chassis. Oh, and my boyfriend has a GT and its a brilliant drive, much more sporty with great road handling. I drove it round the roads at the top of Scotland (single track/narrow) and it was the best drive I’ve ever had. On the roads up there I could keep up with everything else... i.e. all you nice Volvo sport drivers out there :~)

Volkswagen Touareg 2.5 2008

This is my second 2.5 Touareg. Very comfortable on and off road BUT... the tow bar is terrible. On the last car the towbar was changed because all trailers rattle unbearably. Replacement tow bar was no better. New car I arranged with dealer only to buy a Touareg if they would guarantee the tow bar would be OK. Guess what? Towing is unbearable. We have a Discovery and Mitsubishi L200 both of which tow the trailers without a sound. My none engineering opinion is that the towing ball has been machined off too high at the base ie the ball is not deep enough and the ball is positioned about 1" too low.

Volkswagen Passat Estate Sport 4Motion 2008

This replaced a Merc 220CDI estate. Not quite the same fun drivers car but much more comfortable for passengers. Lower fuel consumption of 4wd is offset by huge savings in servicing. I have had 3 services so far and the cost still has not reached a single merc service I had. Loads of legroom for rear seat passengers even with drivers seat fully back. Auto hold handbrake feature takes a little getting used to, but is brilliant on hill starts when towing. I drove a much older model at work some time ago and cannot believe that if anything the comfortable driving position especially on long distance has improved. Very traditional in styling terms and nothing to write home about in the cabin, but rock solid. Should be on any families shortlist, especially if you tow.

Volkswagen Caddy 1.9 TDI 104 2005

After searching for a suitable van for my auto locksmith business I stumbled across the Caddy by chance. I was impressed with the build quality and especially the comfortable seats having just given up my Jeep Grand Cherokee. The performance is more than adequate although I don’t thrash it. Its done 121K and feels just as tight as a new one. I’ve done just over 10K in a year and apart from one oil change nothing else has gone wrong. Came with aircon and CD player. Bags of storage space and pockets in the cabin. Consumption is regular around the 37-41 MPG. Well pleased especially as I was seriously looking at the Connect. Would recommend to anyone with a bit more of a budget. Quality comes at a price. Just read that British Gas have ordered 5,000 Caddy’s due to reliabilty and running costs.

Volkswagen Eos 2008

The first drive was to the Highlands of Scotland from Wiltshire. Car felt good, engine/wind noise minimal. Fuel return fantastic to unbeliveable. Cornering/road holding outstanding. It feels like a quality product and drives like one. With top down it’s great fun, no it’s wonderful fun. My wife just loves it and she does look good driving it. There is plenty of storage and even with the top down there is space for shopping. I would certainly recommend a test drive to one and all.

Volkswagen Transporter 9 seater 2008

Comfortable for passengers, not much boot space unless the lwb version. Seemed to drive top heavy around corners. Very dissapointed.

Volkswagen Transporter 2.5 diesel turbo 2003

I went through 3 clutches in the first 6 months. From new I’ve had wires snap in door loom - a common problem. This is not as good a van as I would have thought!!

Volkswagen Caddy 2006

This is by far the best van I have ever owned and driven and that’s saying something. I have driven and owned various vans over the years - Ford, Peugeot, Vauxhall, Mercedes-Benz (Vito) - for my roofing business and found many unreliable or juicy. These may not be the fastest vans, unless you get the sport line or turbo version but it’s the quality, build and reliability that counts. I would certainly recommend theses vans to any one.

Volkswagen Transporter 1.9 Trendline 2007

I purchased a VW Transporter 1.9 Trendline brand new in 2007. The cost was £14,000 and I was very disappointed with the van from day one. It was scrubbing the tyres on both sides on the front very quickly. The van never felt like it was driving true and I only got 25 to 28 to the gallon. I heard a lot of positive things about the Transporter’s but I was not not impressed. I will stick to Renault, I have had several without any issues.

Volkswagen Golf R32 2008

I bought this as my first car and I think it’s brilliant. The 3.2 v6 is powerful and pulls fantastically - very good for overtaking and flying down the motorway. VW say the top speed is 139mph but I got 145 and it could go further.

Volkswagen Golf GTi DSG 2008

This is our third Golf and our second GTi, the first being the Golf GTi 180 (on a 53 plate and the second one a GT TDi 140 on a 55 plate). We have had no problems whatsoever with any of the above cars and especially our new one in white and with 18 inch rims and a host of other extras really turns heads! Its very comfy and the dsg gearbox is fantastic, covered just over 10,000 miles now and I think its just about run in as we’re getting over 36 to the gallon and we were worried when we picked it up we couldn’t get much more than 28 to the gallon. The satnav is a hoot to use and stereo with the 30 gig hard drive is a must when we travel to Devon from Leeds, it is full of over 80 cds. Anyone wanting to buy one should do so as the build quality and reliability are second to none.

Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI 2009

I changed to the new Mk 6 Golf from an Audi A3 2.0 litre FSI Sportback and I am thrilled with it. Although the engine is only 1.4 litre, it performs as well as the A3. Loads of torque at low revs (max from 1500 rpm). Flies at 6000 rpm but still delivers 45 mpg if you keep a light right foot (cf. 35 mpg for the Audi). Very quiet at motorway speed. Easy to get caught speeding - I got my first ticket in >40 years of driving just a few days after I bought the Golf, so beware. Build quality just as good as the Audi (so why pay more?).

Responses to this review
Glad you are enjoying your Mk6 Golf. I looked at the same model as you purchased to replace my wife’s 2007 Honda Civic. We had a test drive in the 1.4 TFSi and were really impressed with all levels of refinement, fit, finish an performance. The sticking point was with the dealer. My experience of VW dealers most recently is that they are making a habit of being "snobby" and "obnoxious" just like BMW, Mercedes and Audi used to be like 10 years ago! (look what it has done for their sales). It appears more evident due to the fact they have a car like the Mk6 Golf which is selling itself! The VW dealer in question could not be bothered to contact us in relation to a PX price on the wife’s Civic, in fact he failed to follow up any contact whatsoever. As I was driving a Audi Q7 and had struck up a good relationship with the dealership staff I looked at purchasing an Audi A3 Sportback. Audi could not of been any better in customer care. We subsequently ordered an A3 Sportback "Black Edition" . I cannot sing praises high enough for this car, it has been faultless. The best part was the price. For the price I would have paid for the Golf. My wife ended up with a factory ordered higher spec A3, which came with Bluetooth, Xenons, 18" alloys, Metallic Paint, Bose Sound, Part Leather Seats and Rear Parking Sensors to name a few. So in response to your comment "Why pay more"? We did not pay more, in fact we purchased a premium Audi at a price less than a VW! - Dave from Warwickshire

Volkswagen Transporter Caravelle 2.8L V6 2007

I have it since new. 3rd radio, 2nd auto gearbox, 3rd instrument unit, fuel pump and a million minor hicks up which I already learned to ignore. So far I can’t afford to by a new van. Honestly, is there anything better?

Volkswagen Transporter T5 2003

A great all round vehicle that does what it claims to. Great for converting to camper or mobile caravan.

Volkswagen Golf TDI Match 2009

Nice car - good driver’s seat, excellent engine and handling. However it has a few design problems compared with the Mk5: - chrome surrounding instrument dials are very distracting; chrome surrounding right-hand air vent reflects in the driver’s window right where the door mirror is: don’t they test these things? - like the Mk5, the rear seat bases do not remove or even tip up, so the best you’ll achieve is the seat backs leaning at about 30 degrees - not exactly a level load space! What a great wasted opportunity, VW - you could have fixed this in the Mk6 and you didn’t. - compared with my Peugeot 306 HDi, it’s very easy to stall the engine when setting off from rest: it needs nearly as much throttle as a petrol engine would - rear seats are very primitive and don’t give much lateral support - as with so many modern cars it has a "toy" spacesaver spare wheel which is b*gger-all use if you get a puncture on a Sunday when you are about to start a 200-mile journey and can’t get the real tyre repaired. All my punctures seem to happen out of hours. I wish it was a legal requirement for every car to be fitted with a fully-serviceable, fully-interchangeable spare wheel.

Volkswagen Transporter 104bhp 2004

Has anyone got any ideas what it could be? I have recently bought a t5 with 175k on the clock. It has been in the garage for a good seeing to - cam belt, filters change etc. After the engine has warmed up an a longish journey (after approx 1hour) the engine starts losing power and juddering, it then stops as if it clears and may not happen again for sometime. Has anyone got any ideas what it could be?

Responses to this review
I've had what sounds like the same problem. No answer as yet to the cause. I was wondering if you'd had your fault resolved? - A Duffy from England

It's the engine exhaust cleaning itself - Laine Parker from England

I have the same problem with no results from two mechanics who can’t seem to work it out. Any news on yours? - Mitch Anderson from Bedfordshire

Volkswagen Passat s tdi 140 DSG 2007

This Passat is not what l was looking for at all. I say this because: DSG is very uncomfortable changing gears (it makes me look to others like I am a very bad driver); when slowing down it makes a big push - very, very uncomfortable. The engine I’ve got has only done 22k and is now in the garage. When the engine is cold I really have to rev it up to help the gear box to change and the engine to work. It has been very disappointing. The failure to accelerate is apparently something I am not alone with - it is a common problem for this particular type of car. My problem is that l want to be able to give it back or swap. Very upset; very, very, very.

Volkswagen Golf TDi Sport 2005

Without doubt the worst car I’ve ever owned. Chose a VW Golf for reliability after previously owning an Audi A3, and a MK4 Golf TDi and boy what a mistake. Bought the car back in January 09, it’s a 55 plate Golf TDi Sport, done 42k miles. Had the radiator, centre brake light, flywheel and clutch all fail and replaced by VW within 6 months. Including a service, total cost of repairs for 6 months ownership of a 3 year old Golf TDi is £2,300. Not what I’d call reliable. Although after further reading I see loads of MK5 Golf owners have had the flywheel/clutch replaced so obviously a major problem. AVOID A MK5 GOLF!

Volkswagen Tiguan Tiguan Sport 140 PS Auto 2009

After many enjoyable years with Mitsubishi (space wagons) I never thought a more enjoyable car would come to hand but our Tiguan Sport 140 PS Auto has surpassed all our expectations! Totally superb, build quality is as expected; the best. The drive is like sitting on a magic carpet. No, we have no connection to VW; just pleased we chose our VW Tiguan.

Volkswagen Transporter T5 2005

I bought a VW Transporter T5 for taxi work, beautiful to drive and very comfortable. In fact, our clients love it. Service charges are very reasonable and I like the long service schedule that comes with the vehicle. Down side is the vehicle has only done 200,000 miles and has had to have some serious cash spent on it over the 4 years eating away at any profit it has made for the business. At 110, 000 miles Turbo blew on M25 with customers on board, then needed new clutch at 120,000 miles, new gear box 128, 000miles approx and now at 200,000 miles a damn new ABS System has just been fitted with very little change from VW out of £1800. Excellent to drive, but I doubt I will buy another one for taxi work again. They just don’t appear to be able to cope with the vehicle continually stopping and starting.

Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4 TSI Petrol 2009

Very impressed with this vehicle, the performance of the 1.4 Petrol engine is unbelievable for a car of this size. Comfortable driving position and ease of controls makes for a relaxed journey. A car I would recommend you try.

Volkswagen Polo Match Silver 1.4 MPI 2001

Excellent car, looks more classy than the other lower class cars such as Corsa etc. Plush car for a cheap price, absolutely fabulous. German cars are the best and I don’t know why people buy Renualt Clio / Vauxhall Corsa / Fiat Punto’s etc - they are just cheap compared to the Polo.

Volkswagen Eos TDI 2008

A great car with the folding roof. Comfortable at speed on long journeys and returns a good mpg. Hopefully will not be too bad on tyres and servicing costs.

Volkswagen Passat CC 20 TDI CR 2008

Picked this car after weeks of looking at alternatives; the C5, Mazda 6, Volvo V70 R Design, the list goes on... and wow, how pleased i was when I finally took one of these. Only 1 week in to my ownership, but already 900 miles on the clock, a little concerned about choosing the base model over the GT, but with leather trim, sensors and bluetooth for a better price, it was the right choice. Good points - style, design, power from the 140bhp engine, massive boot, smooth ride even from base model with sport suspension, economy already between 50 & 60 mpg. Bad points - dashboard rattles after just 400 miles. Bluetooth prep but still won’t link with my Blackberry. Shame about the small niggles, otherwise an absolute cracking car to drive and be in for hours and hours.

Responses to this review
Had a CC for 8 months, it has done 18,000 miles. I already agree with all of your points. By the way, having the GT version was the right decision for me... Yes, the dash does rattle already... nice car but will go back to Audi after this one - Rich from England

Volkswagen Transporter 174 2008

I’m on my second 174. Just bought a Chip Express chip kit for it. Fitted in 10 minutes and you can really tell the difference. The standard van is fast but now!

Volkswagen Transporter t5 /t30/i.9/swb 2004

Hi, I love my Transporter but had the same problems as Jodie in Devon - offside drive shaft spline failed at 50,000 miles. I bought a new drive shaft for £150+VAT. I hope it will be OK.

Responses to this review
It will be ok as normally, you should replace also spline schaft as it is longer than the old one - The Rab from County Antrim

Volkswagen Crafter mwb hi top 109 2008

I work for a maintenance firm and we have 5 Crafter’s. I drive a 58 reg 109 ps mwb hi top crafter.The van is a good size for my work and is nice to drive. The interior is comfortable and is well equipped as standard. The engine size of mine being 109 ps is what lets it down; it does not like hills and feels very gutless. It reminds me of the old Escort vans we used to drive; but in the performance stakes it does not seem to matter what gear it’s in going up hill it will only do 65 and if you change down a gear nothing happens - the noise from the engine just gets louder. The van has used 1 litre of oil every 6500 miles - apparently this is normal according to VW. This costs around £20 from the dealer as its special oil. The van has traction control which works well and it can be turned off but as soon as the wheel slips it just turns its self back on - not useful when you are trying to drive in snowy conditions as it just makes horrible noises and wont go anywhere! Having said all this, it has not gone wrong yet and is comfortable to drive. It has a 6 speed gearbox although this seems to be a bit stiff when cold. The build quality feels solid but it is a little flimsy; this can be seen when opening the back doors and the side of the van flexes quite a lot. I had the misfortune of lightly tapping a post with the front wing and it completely crumbled and the whole wing needed replacing.

Volkswagen Golf GT 170 Tdi 2008

Excellent car; loads of power and good on fuel too! Why bother with boring slow petrol engines when you can have a car like this?

Volkswagen Golf Golf TDI SE PD 2004

I bought the mk5 Golf after I had had a VW Passat for more than 12 years - it has never let me down. At first I was very pleased with the Golf... then after 1 year, during the warranty, the radio broke. I had to wait 3 months for a replacement, got stainless steel door-trims as compensation. I had to fight for compensation!!! After 42000 miles the dual mass flywheel broke. I had it replaced with a solid flywheel replacement-kit. VW is denying that there is a problem. At the moment I am looking to buy a van for my business. I was planning to purchase a VW Transporter, but the Transporter suffers also from Flywheel failure, and we know VW do not help. The customer service is very bad. The prices are too high. The quality is going down. In addition, as a German citizen, with more than 15 years ownership of VW-cars, it is time to make a change and buy a Japanese product.

Volkswagen Polo Twist 2004

I really loved my car until it started giving me problems and only got rid of it recently. I think VW’s servicing and maintenance is too expensive. I had a warning light come on and they said I would need a new EGR and Cat replaced which would cost £900 with my discount. I thought if I do get any more problems it was going to be expensive. Also the VW garage I went too are not very helpful at all and I had to make a complaint in the end. I would only recommend getting a VW if you can afford the servicing as mine would cost in circa £300 to £400 a time. I would go for a Golf not a Polo.

Volkswagen Transporter 2.5 130bhp 2005

Van bought new April 05, apart from 2 driveshafts, a water pump, oil in the coolant, and a few other issues, no major mechanicals etc. Van has now done 300,000 miles 4 years on and has NEVER had a clutch!!!!!!!!! This is after a mixture of solo motoring, towing a 2 ton twin axle trailer and towing a 1500 kg twi axle caravan!!!!!!!!! My secret - CRUISE CONTROL. Best thing ever invented. Previous vans 88bhp 2.5 T4 160,000 miles and 102bhp 2.5 T4 360,000 miles, neither had new clutches throughout my ownership. Yep you guessed it both had CRUISE CONTROL.

Volkswagen Caddy Maxi Sportline 2008

What a amazing bit of kit the most comfortable van I have ever had, cruises like a car, has all the mod cons, aircon, electric windows and the 140 ps engine with six speed box. The van has twin sliding side doors that are a bonus esp when you have big loads in the back does not come with a spare wheel which is a nonsense I think. You do get a puncture repair kit.. OK if you dont work all over the UK and drive on remote roads.... the leather seats give plenty of support only thing is the passenger side does not get much room but then I dont tend to have passengers... the engine is well amazing plenty of get up and go even fully loaded all in all very happy with it ,so if you want a van that has plenty of get up and go-go for the Sportline Caddy Maxi.

Volkswagen Fox 1.2. 2008

This is just the very basic 1.2 Fox with no extras - so, it’s manual windows, lock your own doors etc. It does have airbags, PAS and a half decent CD player and the good news is inexpensive doesn’t mean cheap! OK, so the quality of the plastics is not in Passat league, but it’s solid and well screwed together. It drives really well and the 1.2 is fine about town and even holds it’s own on the motorway. It’s really roomy (even more in the back than it’s bigger cousin, the Polo?). It handling is neat and tidy, and as economical, comfortable transport (albeit basic) it’s absolutely ideal. I know other cars in it’s class have more toys, but I’d rather do without the extras for VW quality (and residuals).

Volkswagen Transporter 174PS Kombi SWB 2007

It’s just awesome. Knocks spots off a Vito. It’s (very) fast, comfortable, economical, good to drive, reliable. It will hold its value and is built like a tank!

Volkswagen Transporter 174 lwb 2006

First of all, rapid, it really does drive well. I’ll give 2* for that plus Smith Knight Fay Manchester have looked after me. Problems- electrics went within two weeks, wing mirrors folded in, no indicators etc. 5 visits to workshop for low break fluid. 2 slave cylinders, 1 turbo, 1 clutch, another electrical unit that stopped it from starting. VW reliability? Van has only done 30k.

Volkswagen Touareg V10 2004

I have always been a VW fan, ever since my A reg blood red Mk 1Goldf GTi through to a V6 Mk4. But the Touareg is a stormer. Maybe it does not have the badge kudos of Porsche or BMW but I chose the V10 as it offers everything from comfort (hydraulic suspension) to high equipment levels to a friendly badge that means you get let out at junctions. Fuel consumption is average for a 2.6 ton SUV but if you want big mpg, get a moped. One tip when buying, get it in black. You won’t regret it.

Volkswagen Transporter 2004

I think that these cars are pretty good. I would recommend them to any one that I now and they would see where I am coming from. They are a good work horse and I have use them for a while now and had no problems. So, that is why I would recommend it to anyone.

Volkswagen Sharan 7 2004

The best car I have ever owned apart from my Bentley. It is a very comfortable.

Volkswagen Golf Blue Motion 2008

Best company car that I have ever had. Very economical on a run, 65 plus to gallon, around town mid 50s Last 2 company cars have both been French; this puts them to shame. Very comfortable and full of lots of toys that all work not like last 2 cars. At first had noise from door seals at any speed but dealer has fixed this has been my only problem.

Volkswagen Transporter 2007

I have a 2007 Transporter; from the 3rd day of having it the particulate filter started blocking up. It has probably been in garage 10 times for this problem; they tell me to get on motorway in 3rd gear and keep my foot down - great if you can afford to do this every week (I cannot). Now I have had 3 red lights come on altogether and they now tell me its going to cost me £2500 for a new filter - not good and not happy. Why cannot VW sort there act out with this problem?

Responses to this review
Unfortunately this is a known problem with all modern cars. I had a vauxhall Zafira from new that spent more time at vauxhall than I had it - Kevin Elliott from Hertfordshire

What these people told you about 3gear was wrong as normally it is 4/5 gear 2000rpm for 20 minutens as this increases temp till 600c and cleans the kat when all lights are on. It’s too late, sorry, kat is 100% blocked. I know this as I was Master Tech by VW for 5 years and had this problem loads of times - The Rab from County Antrim

Volkswagen Transporter 104 tdi 2006

Hi, sounds like some people get a bad van. I bought my van brand new in 06. I’m a same-day courier, this van has been exellent. The amount of problems I can count on one hand, it has just clocked up 195,600 miles and has been fitted with its first set of discs today. In the past it has had a rear wheel bearing which it didn’t need as the noise was wrongly diagnosed; it turned out to be a tyre. At 125000 miles the turbo went, this was replaced as part of the 2 year unlimited mileage warranty. The only other money spent on it is oil and servicing. I have had various vans in the last 15 years of courier work, my last one was a old shape caddy in which I did 312000 miles and was very good. This has led me to buy another VW. Renault, Vauxhall, Citroen and Ford are not in the same league, guys at work drive various vans, most of them crap, you get what you pay for believe me. Hope this helps anyone considering buying VW.

Volkswagen Lupo 1.4 Sport 2005

This is my second Lupo having previously owned a year 2000 1.0e. I bought the Sport when I heard the replacement for the Lupo was going to be the Fox which I am not keen on. I have piled the miles onto this car and it now stands at nearly 70000miles. In the time I have owned this car it has been a joy, I believe that there is no car in this class or the class above that has such a fine interior or standard of fit and finish. Everything about the car seems to be of higher quality than its rivals a good example of this is the Ford Ka that we also own, both cars cost roughly the same when we bought them but the Lupo stereo has a good quality sound whilst the Ka sounds tinny, the carpets in the Lupo are well fitted the Ka’s are not. My time with the car has not been entirely trouble free, at 65000miles the pedal box broke but this was repaired without any drama by the dealership and with no cost to me. The ride is very good for such a small car and it holds the road very well too. I would say the car is a little small for passengers but this is not a major problem for me as I seldom carry passengers or luggage, for a couple the Lupo would prove very practical. My car is fitted with a 1.4 16V 100PS petrol engine which endows the little Lupo with a pleasing turn of speed whilst still returning 42mpg which ithink is very good as I do not drive with economy in mind. The dealership experience is still an area that VW needs to work on, I have one dealer that impresses me and they alway service this car now but I have tried two other dealers that did not impress me. I would also say that the servicing cost do seem a little on the high side for a city car. Overall I think this car is brilliant and would heartily recommend them to anyone.

Volkswagen Transporter t30 130bhp 2004

Bought new on a 04, it runs fully loaded constantly full of tools, it grips over fields and winds down country roads like a train, pulls trailers excellently, current problem is when you hammer it and it decides 2000 rpm is enough, just a quick off-on and its away again, yes I had the gearbox problem at 12000, couldn’t select reverse when stationary, VW did this free of charge. I have finally found the latest Goodyear tyres don’t blister, they do actually wear out, mechanic fitted from new 8000 miles and all four where blistered, "not a tyre problem though!". It drives like a car not a heavy van. I love it, we have a 06 Vito all I can say is - don’t knock the VW until you have tried one. It would get stuck in a puddle, unlocks doors if it feels like it, loves engine oil, needs two people to lift front electronic windows, seats are like a park bench. Remember accountants design and build new vehicles, not engineers.

Volkswagen Transporter 2.5 lwb 130bhp 2005

I bought the van two years ago with 24000 miles on the clock and have loved every minute. I’ve had a lot of work vans, mainly Transit’s (poor), and a T4 that was great. I have had my T5 chipped 165bhp so now engine is even more impressive. I have done all the oil and filter changes and a set of brake pads, front and rear. No faults at all, now on 48000 miles. The van gets driven very hard and I am always impressed how it performs. I hope this carries on as it is.

Volkswagen Lupo 1.4 SE 2003

I bought this car in November from the VW dealer as an approved used car. It had 7000 miles on the clock. However, I’ve never used it for more than 2 weeks worth of consecutive days, because it’s always been in the garage. In fact, it was in the garage for the whole of December. Electrical niggles are the order of the day. I’ve been through 3 alternators, a new ECU, battery and FULL rewire in 3 months and 2000 miles... Lucky it’s under warranty. I don’t fault the effort VW put into trying to fix the problem, but they simply can’t diagnose it. The dealer (Heritage in Salisbury) has been top notch. It’s a lovely car to drive, and it’s a real shame. I picked it up from the garage this Monday and it went well all week until this morning, when on the way to work I experienced the same problem. I’m taking it back to the dealer this afternoon to get my money back. Absolutely useless piece of junk.

Volkswagen Transporter T5 2005

At first I was very happy with van, now not so sure. Last year the flywheel shattered while driving at moderate speed in 5th gear - replaced under warranty, now out of warranty the gearbox needs replacement at an advised cost of £1700 plus VAT. Did not expect a bill of this magnitude for a van I have owned from new and looked after, full service history etc. approaching 70000 miles, disappointed with you VW.

Responses to this review
I had the same problem at 78000 miles, I doubt I will be getting another, I will avoid dual mass flywheels like the plague, what a c**p design, I’m sure VW could do better - Anthony Norton from Devon

Volkswagen Jetta 2.0TDi Sport 2006

When I saw the ads run on the new Jetta back in January 2006 on Sky, I quickly got myself to my local dealer and ordered one there and then. There was a slight delay though, because I had leather interior, but it was definitely worth the wait. Now, having lived with it for over 2 years I, together with my wife and 3 kids feel that it is the perfect family car one could buy. Having lived with all the Jetta’s ever since its first launch back in 1982, the new Jetta practically sold itself and it didn’t require any introduction. Jetta always had big boots ,and this one is no exception,looks are superb, but it’s the quality of build and drive which are most surprising!! The car is generously packed with easy-go life necessities, and its running costs are very sensible from road funding licence to service costs. In all the car is a total pleasure to be with and i would recommend it any day!!

Volkswagen Transporter Kombi 2009

Having recently purchased the van three weeks ago and having covered around 700 miles to date, so far so good as they say. The only shocker I have had is the road fund tax being at £400 / 12 months because of the issue of the details on the log book as recorded as being a car and not a van on the log book. I have seen other comments made on the subject and it seems a hard pill to swallow on the fact that it has a couple more seats than a van and you pay a penalty. I thought the Government were trying to encourage car sharing, another Labour faux pas I guess to add to the list.

Responses to this review
My 06 T32 SWB Window van has the high road tax on it, VW called and changed it about two weeks after I collected the van, just emailed BBCs Watch dog with the problem - Adam Maunder from Cornwall

Volkswagen Transporter 2006

I bought my van from new and the road tax has doubled in the last 2 years because it is registered as a diesel car. I have spent all that time trying to get the details on the log changed. DVLA can’t alter the details, VW won’t alter the details. They say because it has extra seats it has to be classed as a car. I was not told at the time of purchase that although I was buying a van, it would be registered as a car and I would be spanked for road tax. The really frustrating thing about this is that some vans are registered as LGV’s - it’s just pot luck who enters the details on the registration document. I would like to hear from anyone who is experiencing the same problem or from anyone lucky enough to be registered as LGV. Let’s get this problem sorted - Watchdog here we come!

Responses to this review
Yes I know what you mean but I’ve dropped lucky for once. I have a 2007 shuttle with the nine seat option, its a 2.5 long wheel base, 130 bhp, my mate has the same vehicle in a 6 seat kombi, same engine but a short wheel base , his road tax is £400 per year whereas mine is £210, bonkers - Neil Jackson from Nottinghamshire

Volkswagen Transporter T 5 130 BHP 2005

New water pump and turbo. Faulty central locking and brake switch. Uses more oil than diesel - pile of s**t.

Volkswagen Transporter T5 2004

My partner and I have had our T5 for 3 years, it was bought 2nd hand with 79,000 on the clock from a VW dealer and it is now sitting at 170,000. All that we have had to replace is the Water Pump and Altenator. To be honest the van has never needed anything else. Thank you our trusted T5 xx

Responses to this review
I have had three water pumps on 90k and no other problems... touch wood. I have the T5 130 2.5tdi and my beef is that it canes the oil and eats brake pads. On the motorway it’s a dream to drive but around town its a bit of a pig - Adam Amith from Dorset

Volkswagen Bora 2002

Well.... it is a great car with no doubt. However when it calls for work it calls for $$$$.. I just spent $8000 to fix the steering pump and the steering rack and it was a refurbish one. The steering got locked up and the mechanic said he changed the pump and it was still stiff, so he then changed the rack and it was OK, however I am now getting a shimmering on the left rare tyre. I want to sell the Bora VW, it is really costly. I live in the Caribbean. naughtyghul@yahoo.com. Thanks much for hearing my word. If I can get advise please help. I don’t know if I was ripped off or anything on cars.

Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI S 2006

Beautiful looking car which has aged well with typical VW quality, doors close with a satisfying thud but inside they seem to have dropped their standards a tad. In summer my dashboard, although it felt solid used to creak and groan quite a bit. Enormous boot with loads of passenger space in the back. Handling is impressive but at the expense of comfort with a slightly harsh suspension. The 1.9 is underpowered for size of car and noisy too but delivers excellent mpg - around late 40’s on short runs, 50+ on longer runs. No faults over 24k miles with only one service at 18k. But the worst thing is the push button handbrake (an annoying gimmick) which doesn’t always release when it should. The jury is out if it’s a fault or not but it only needs to do it once or twice before you lose confidence in it. You can’t even quickly jump in the car to roll it back on the driveway without belting up, closing doors, talk about big brother. VW need to drop it. Would I buy another? I’ve had a lot of VW’s in the past but sadly no.

Volkswagen Transporter 1.9 swb tdi 2004

Bought new 53 plate from Ashford Kent main dealer who are less than useless. Recalled for steering rack safety mod within weeks, now judders at low speed! Engine refuses to do over 2000 revs in 2nd gear at random times! Loads of bits fall off, for example, passenger window winder, driver’s door handle etc... rear spring broke. I am an electrician and carry light loads only - at the 1st MOT VW said it needed new pads AND DISCS! At 30,000 miles local garage said discs still fine at 65,000! Heater pipes to dash/windscreen seem to have become loose as poor demisting and dashboard top gets unbelievably hot! Traction control is bl@@dy dangerous - wet road, T-junction, up slight slope, CANNOT pull away without locking TC button out as brakes grab and release alternate wheels causing van to jump up & down. VW say nothing wrong! Lately ABS light comes up and stays on until ignition turned off and on again, VW say can’t happen! Couldn’t believe a modern van costing £13,000 + tax comes with cassette/radio, manual windows/mirrors and a handbreak that can’t hold it on a hill! Plus side, comfortable driving position... good handling... was hoping van would last another 3 years until I retire but worried it won’t!

Volkswagen Transporter Kombi T30 104bhp 2006

I bought a Transporter Kombi T30 104bhp with 105,000 miles already on the clock. An ex VW Service Vehicle with full VW History. Well, I’ve had none of the disasters that seem to be mentioned in these reviews except a slight intermittent power steering problem. It fails randomly and I only notice it once a week for a few seconds. Other than that it drives superb. It wont accelerate at low revs, especially in second gear, and its not the fastest of models but it does accelerate reasonably well and on the motorway it will cruise as smooth as silk at 80/90mph. I expect a lot from any vehicle I buy and if it doesn’t perform it gets the chop ASAP but this is a pleasure. I drove a Merc Vito 110 to compare before I bought the VW - dreadful driving position and as you may notice on a lot of Merc Vitos... they are rust buckets on wheels. I am a fan of VW/Audi but I was passenger in a Renault Traffic Sport recently and jeez, that thing flew like the wind. Noticeably very quick, and a Vauxhall Vivaro 115 crew cab (all done up with tints and alloys/ lowered) blitzed me at the lights few weeks back.... So...confused?? I am.

Volkswagen Transporter TS85PS 2003

If everything in life was as reliable as a VW..... we would be well and truly up the creak with out a paddle. My van has had new gear box, clutch and fly wheel replace at 95K under warranty. Clutch failed again at 190K - main dealer replaced it but missed the fly wheel which need replacing a week later, and two weeks later the gear box has completely collapsed and needs replacing. Always have had squeal on tight cornering, high pressure hoses replaced frequently plus problems with back door. I would never ever have one of these vans again. As for prices of main dealers!! For example - new clutch, main dealer £900, specialist in Leeds £500 Hmmm no-brainer really.

Volkswagen Passat Estate 1.9 diesel 2008

I have a 58 registered Passat Estate 1.9 diesel. I use it for a taxi, a few interior rattles, a squeak when I press the gas pedal, and definitely the worst clutch control I have ever experienced, disappointed. Hoped for a bit of quality.

Volkswagen Caravelle 2.5 TDi 9 seater 2002

I bought this van when it was two years old and it had 230000 miles on it. I changed the belts and gave it a good service the only trouble I have had with it is the water-pump and the power-steering which were properly due for a change anyway i modified the aux eater to come on by remote control great on frosty mornings before this I always had Transits 4 of but after driving the Caravelle I would never go back to transits. I can remove the seats and I have a space every bit as good as the transit but with the luxury only a Caravelle can provide.

Volkswagen Transporter t5 102 t28 swb 2007

Bought this van after having my previous t5 which was 9 months old had gearbox problems... only to have the same with my new van. Whenever it goes to the main dealers they say they can’t find problem; very unhappy as van was £13000 + vat and I don’t expect this type of crap. Wish I still had my old escort van which was sound... too many other irritating problems too mention, wont buy another for sure!

Volkswagen Transporter Shuttle 1.9TDi 2006

The worst ever machine made by the VW is the Transporter 1.9tdi. It is a big van with a small engine and s**t gear box. I really cannot understand why they have put that engine in a 2.3 ton van which hardly pulls the van; especially on hills. The engine cries and always screams for help "please get me out from here".

Volkswagen Transporter Shuttle 174 TDI SE LWB 2008

This is my second Transporter Shuttle and I think they are a top class motor. It feels like a big car to drive and has good mpg for its size. Many years ago I used to be a Ford man but found the Transit more of a bread van (C**P) compared to the VW Transporter.

Volkswagen Transporter 2.5 TDI Executive 174 2005

Having bought the vehicle new from a main dealer I feel compelled to let people know what they are letting themselves in for. The car has been in to the dealer more times that I can remember. After day 2 of owning I had to return the car because the Air Con had failed (kept overnight) resulted in leaking pipe. Then returned on a further 2 times for the same problem, each time re-gassing needed. Now for the good stuff. How about replacement Water Pump, replacement Sat Nav unit, consistant rattle from rear bench seat, replacement gearbox (common at 65,000), replacement Turbo Charger, replacement Battery, all this was luckily covered under warranty. But then 10,000 miles and just 2 months out of warranty rear shocks leaking and then just yesterday the icing on the cake. Travelling down the M1 Motorway in the middle lane all power lost, dashboard lighting up like a Christmas Tree, resulting in Head Gasket Failure. VW customer service is not worth the phone call. All they tell you to do is take to the main dealer then they will see what they can do (maybe a goodwill gesture??). This car has been serviced at every interval by the dealer themselves. They failed me on my MOT saying that rear shocks are leaking and Brake discs are dangerous (Total bill approx £1000??). I then took the vehicle to an independent garaged for repair work to be told that "shocks do need replacing, brakes are a little low but still have life left in them?? Total repair bill inc MOT £248 with original VW shocks fitted. Would I buy another one? Hell would have to freeze over first. Take my advice and go to Mercedes and buy yourself a proper Van/People carrier.

Volkswagen Transporter 2002

I have a T5 Transporter Van T28 with 2.5 engine, bought new in January 2003. Apart from the 4 re-calls and a fault with the brake-peddle double switch, which took some months by the Main Agent to find, it has been quite good. But now it has developed a squeak from the dashboard just above the passenger’s airbag. This it intermittent, but is very apparent for most of a journey (may be 50 to 100 miles) it will then cease for a similar period, if you are lucky. You can get some relief by removing the speaker cover (near-side front) and pressing down on the exposed area. (The wife cannot sit pressing down on it all the time). It is also apparent whilst cornering. Hitting a pothole will sometimes stop it, until you meet the next one when it will return. Of course the Agents have never had this problem before!!! They are willing to dismantle the complete dash, at £80 per hour, but will give no assurance that they can correct it. I see from the letters that mine is not an isolated case, has anyone found a cure? If so please let me know.

Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI 2008

I have always owned a VW ever since I could drive, this latest Passat is faultless, with smooth "torquey" power delivery, and simply eats up the miles. I covered around 450,000 miles in my 1998 Passat and this just proves how reliable they are, this is on the same turbo, gearbox and clutch! Service bills were never extortionate and the standard oil and filter changes when required have kept all my VW Diesels in good working order. The Passat in particular drives like a hot hatch cornering well and picks up rapidly when you wish to let yourself loose on the road! The car has plenty of space for luggage and passengers. The one main feature I love about VW however, is that the interior and bodywork alike wear very well with age, and friends and family could not believe the condition of the upholstery and bodywork on my 1998 version when it had covered such high mileage. My latest Passat has only re-affirmed my belief that this is quite possibly the best middle of the range passenger car in its class. A real tribute to VW.

Volkswagen Scirocco 2.0GTI 2008

This has to be the sexiest thing manufacturers have put on rubber for years. I bit of a restricted view to reverse park, but then if you can’t use your mirrors you should not be on the road. The range of colours could be increased with some real funky ones. Not sure what it will do to the resale price of Golf GTI’s, but I would expect the resale price of the Sirocco to hold it’s own. Enough negativity, off for another drive. Merry Christmas everyone! Leigh.

Volkswagen Transporter 2005

I have a three year old T5 Transporter van, bought new in July 2005. In September this year, when the vehicle was six weeks outside its warranty, the offside drive shaft and inner spline failed. Even the VW mechanic said a component like this "should never fail in the lifetime of a vehicle like this". I had just had it serviced at the VW dealership, Murrays, in Plymouth because I believed their lies that if I did this, even after the warranty ran out, I would be shown good will for being a loyal customer. I got it towed to Murray’s and had an incredibly frustrating week (without transport) trying to get them or VW UK to value my custom by showing some good will towards me and this £500 repair. To add insult to injury Murray van centre had done the repair without my express permission. I had told them to wait until I knew if there would be any good will, but they ignored me (probably because I am a woman) and did the work anyway. They even had the cheek to tell me they would not charge me for taking the part out and putting my broken drive shaft back in. I looked into getting the repair done elsewhere as I thought it may cost less, but because the part can only be bought from VW and I would have had to of added the cost of towing to the bill, not to mention not having transport for a further few day, this was not a viable option. I was forced to give Murray my business. This was even more infuriating when they informed me I would have to pay over £100 extra if I wanted to take away the drive shaft that had failed, which was outrageous given that it belongs to me and I had paid for a new one. This van has done less that 35,000 miles and very little work in it’s lifetime as I use it for surfing and camping. I was quite complimentary of VW Transporters until this happens but now I have lost all faith in my van and VW as a brand. I am shocked and disgusted that the component failed, that VW would not do anything to help, and at the treatment I received as a customer of Murray van centre. The manager and the sales man were incredibly rude to me and very unhelpful, far from the ’valued customer’ treatment I was lead to believe I could expect.

Volkswagen Transporter 2005

Many recalls for handbrake failure... check recalls list.

Volkswagen Transporter T32 130 WINDOW VAN 5 SEATER 2006

My window van costs me £220 for six months duty, seems excessive for van with 130 ish HP. If you have a window van of similar spec what are you paying in duty and is it classed as a diesel car on your log book? Could you let me know. Fairly pleased with the van, funny flat spot now and again, in traffic mainly when on and off the gas around 40 to 55 mph, when this happens the engine fans run slowly after the vehicle is stopped, engine temp stays at 90 and the exhaust smells very hot!. Lights also flicker slightly when it happens at night?? VW have updated the ECU but it happens around twice a month? No fault codes show apparently. When the engines going well it goes like a rocket, stiff T32 springs are hard at slow speed but it corners very well at speed and stays flat without roll. Buy another? Not sure.

Responses to this review
I also have a similar problem. Have Vw got to the bottom of it yet? - A Duffy from England

Hi, as I’ve replied to somebody else, I have a 2007 lwb 2.5 130bhp manual 9 seater shuttle, and road tax costs me £210 per year , my mate has a 6 seater kombi same year same engine in a short wheel base, and he has to pay £400 - Neil Jackson from Nottinghamshire

Volkswagen Golf 1.9TDi 2003

This car is great at all kinds of driving, from city to town to country road and motorways. It has great full efficiency around 48mpg. It is nippy and fast to accelerate and is smooth on the bumpy roads and the motorway. Okay, it is slightly noisy inside at speed compared to a BMW 3 series diesel but it is a lot cheaper. I have driven it in heavy rain, ice and snow and with care it handles well and I feel confident at the wheel. The air conditioning is great but I try not to use it too much and the heated leather seats are luxury in the cold weather. I’d definitely have another.

Volkswagen Golf VR6 1990

Pulls like a train and is great fun to drive! But very thirsty and hard on finances during these tight days! Should go for miles and miles if well maintained but maintenance costs are quite high.

Volkswagen Transporter Transporter 1.9d 1994

Great van! I got this van about 2 years ago with over 140,000 miles on the clock. The van is now up at 175,000 miles and the only things I have had to change are a ball joint and a power steering belt. I know other people with other vans. One friend has a 5 year old Transit that has more rust on it than my 14 year old van! I was looking at buying a new van and was considering a Vauxhall or Renault and have heard nothing but poor reviews from friends who own them. BUY a VW - They are expensive for a reason!

Volkswagen Scirocco 2008

I didn’t think I was going to be very impressed with this car, but when you see it in the metal it’s far better than the press pictures suggest. Within a mile of driving it it’s clear VW have captured and developed the spirit of the original . It is much better in lots of ways than the current Golf GTI to drive ( I regularly drive a mk5 Edition 30 ) and it’s the first VW for a long time that really makes me enthusiastic about a car again. The suspension system is particularly impressive, rough local roads are an enjoyment rather than an endurance and the whole car just has a wonderfully well balanced feel to it. Can’t wait for Viper green GT to be delivered!

Volkswagen Transporter LWB 174 Van 2008

This van has been a total pleasure to own. It’s my 4th T5 as I get a new one every year as I travel up to 60k a year. I never had a single breakdown on any of them in over 200000 miles... No real problems to speak of really - just good quality vans as they say - you get what you pay for. When I part exchange every year it’s still worth very good money... Top vans VW! Thanks!

Volkswagen Crafter LWB HI Top 158 2006

I work for an event company and we have 2 Crafter’s in the fleet, the 158 is without doubt the best of all our vans, it’s quick point to point and will cruise happily on long distances. The interior is well thought out and very comfortable, with drivers seat being able to be adjusted many ways to get yourself comfortable. The load space is a good size and almost perfect for what we carry. Economy is good on this van (although terrible on the Box van version we also have, the LWB using £36 less fuel on the same return trip from Manchester to London). All in all a good van although warning lights do appear time to time, mainly with ours its the engine management light which is quickly remedied by our local specialist (NOT VW).

Volkswagen Passat 1.8 automatic 1998

I have been driving it for nearly 10 years. Bad sides: The interior is very simple and does not have high quality materials. The engine is a little bit noisy during acceleration. High fuel consumption. And the worst of all, the 4 speed auto transmission sometimes refuses to change to a higher gear unless you reach 4500 rpm. Good sides: A very strong car, nothing has gone wrong since I bought it. Roomy. Good road holding. Very comfortable and silent suspension. I would certainly buy a newer one.

Volkswagen Transporter t30 174ps lwb 4motion 2007

Driving on M60 motorway in Manchester, when a coolant warning light came on, advising me to stop and check coolant levels. Pulled over to hard shoulder and saw that the coolant reservoir was full to the top with engine oil. Don’t know about any of you lot, but where I come from that’s ’head gasket failure’. Got 17k miles on the clock. Never take van over 2500rpms and now this after a year of premature and incorrect settings on the Diesel Particulate filter. Bulb holder on interior light had never been fitted to the front cab from the factory. Complained to VW and they explained that there must be some mistake. VW would never make that mistake. Sick of reading maps in the dark after 4pm and when I switch my ignition off have to carry a torch. Van needs to have handbrake cable tightened as van rolled down a hill and nearly went into a large pond in someone’s garden. Bounced off someone’s fences. VW van centre mentioned that it’s a good idea to leave van in gear on a hill for extra safety. VW Assistance came round and diagnosed problem with my van as a ’blown’ cylinder head gasket. He was shocked as the engine looked brand new and was very apologetic. VW Van centre Manchester reckon I can get my van back in 5 days. That’s good when you’re a very busy heating engineer in Manchester.

Volkswagen Touareg 2.5 TDI 2006

This is my 2nd Touareg. Owned for 2 weeks only. Fantastic to drive. Just got 30MPG on a run to North Wales. The most comfortable 4x4 I have owned by far and great trim and accessory levels.

Volkswagen Transporter 2.5L Manual Turbo POS 2008

Worst car I have ever owned by a mile! 700km - new turbo fitted, wiggle door lock with any key (not moving enough to unlock) and passenger window winds down to help thieves steal the car, VW wont supply radio unlock code, dash board fails intermittently, oil leak on motor, oil leak into turbo, flywheel has been replaced, plastic jack holder busted from factory, remote control lock not working, 1 month off the road in repair in 7 months of owning the car, 15,000km on the clock and 7 services later car still doesn’t run properly. No control over engine speed with throttle from time to time, car shut-down in middle of freeway in front of truck. When backing off throttle then applying power again car surges dangerously and without warning rather than apply power smoothly. Has all been detailed to dealer and all they can do is tell me they will give me a loan car as a reward and that I am even lucky to get that! Car now owes me $65,000 and only cost me $50,000 the rest is lost income :( VW are a pack of ****** who don’t care for their customer once the money is in the bank. Will never buy one of these lemons again. If you have had problems similar can contact me simpleminded69@hotmail.com

Volkswagen Transporter 2005

When HOT engine oil begins to bubble up into your power steering reservoir and spill out over the engine, I consider that a dangerous mechanical failure. A sealed unit which malfunctions in a dangerous manner should be VW’s responsibility. IT’S NOT WEAR AND TEAR - IT’S A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH A VW COMPONENT THAT ALLOWS CONTAMINATION OF THIS CRITICAL FUNCTION (steering) BY ENGINE OIL. When a VW mechanic diagnoses the fault over the phone and on inspection describes it as a "dangerous common fault" VW should show concern. THEY HAVE NOT AND IT’S A JOKE DON’T BUY VW!!!! GREAT PRODUCT, BAD CUSTOMER CARE VW - THEY JUST DON’T CARE IF YOUR STEERING FAILS APPARENTLY...

Responses to this review
I have had the same here. Went in for a 65,000 mile service and told I have an oil leak into the power steering and the coolant is leaking too. I have already had a new clutch which broke to bits after 25,000 and all the window trims replaced. This should not all happen within 4 yrs on a commercial van. I am not pleased - Mike from Devon

Volkswagen Transporter T130 lwb 2006

Had absolutely no problems whatsoever with my T5 after 20,000 miles. Would like to comment on a review by a previous reviewer SHAAZAD HASSAN from LANCASHIRE who reports he has had problems with the diesel particulate filter. It is a common condition T5 drivers encounter apparently, but you will only experience this if your constantly doing short journeys & not allowing the engine to reach running temperature, which you should be doing whatever vehicle you drive! The filter will get clogged with the worst of the ’cold engine soot’ constantly on short journeys & will resort to safe mode. Running temperature on my van is achieved after 4-5 miles driving on A or B roads which I’m happy with, also considering the filter is the main reason my vans emissions are so low, costing me £120 for 12 months road tax!

Responses to this review
I have the same van but pay £180 for 12 months tax. Can I ask how you got yours to be different? Thanks - Ian from Fife and Kinross Shires

Volkswagen Transporter T30 4motion 2008

This van is only 3 months old, it has already had a new turbo, intercooler, drive shaft EGR valve and every gasket along the exhaust replaced. It has had all new bonnet support rubbers as they stick to the underside of the bonnet and stop it from opening. The handbrake was adjusted at a week old due to rolling when pressing the clutch to start. Since then this van has rolled down my drive and caused a large amount of damage upon impact with my garage. VW say tough, you should leave it in gear. I have had this van inspected by VOSA, it even rolled away for them. It appears that when the handbrake is applied to hot rear disks, once the disks cool they contract, causing the pads to loose grip. That means that this van is an MOT failure at 3 months and it doesn’t comply with construction and use regulations for sale in the UK. If any one else is / has suffering / suffered with the handbrake issue please contact me @ ian@applianceservices.co.uk.

Volkswagen Caddy 2007

Its the noisiest van I’ve ever driven out 02 Ford Transit is quieter. The Caddy Over revs all the time so the engine can always be heard, the Doors don’t shut properly so there is a nasty draft which adds to the already loud wind noise created by the van. Load space isn’t the greatest of a small van compared to others.

Volkswagen Passat 1.9 tdi se 100hp 2004

Long line of diesels...2 Mondeo’s, 3 Vectras, 2 Peugeot’s; then a BMW 318i (2002). Not impressed by the BMW’s thirst for petrol I decided to go back to a diesel. I got my current 2004 Passat tdi at 2 years old and have had it 2 years now; normally change after 12 months but it is the best car I have owned; definitely beats the BMW hands down in so many departments so I am not parting with it yet... Now covered 120k and never fails to impress.

Volkswagen Transporter 130ps 2.5 tdi t30 swb kombi

I will never buy another of these vans - poor quality and a poor service from the main dealer. Leaking driver’s door; back to the dealer three times - never rectified properly and now get wind noise instead. Turbo air pipes failed at 6 months; side loading doors rattles - never resolved. Clunking noises when making slow full lock turns; clutch judder although the dealer could not find it. This was just before the warranty ran out. It is now much worse and needs a new clutch/flywheel; the van has only covered 36,000 miles of light use then a few weeks ago the water pump has failed, total pants.

Volkswagen Transporter 2004

Bought my T26 in 2004 and have covered 34000 miles now and must say this is superb. Apart from the steering problem in the early days and the usual brake light switch replacement the van is all I expected from VW. Cannot agree with some of the previous comments about the T5.

Volkswagen Lupo 1999

I have had my Lupo for 5 years now. It is 9 years old. It is the best car I have ever owned. Reliable and fun to drive. I have been lucky and had very few mechanical problems with it. However mine is a basis e spec Lupo so is a basic entry level VW, so I can’t comment on electronics. However I always say the less on the car the less to go wrong!!

Volkswagen Transporter 174 window SWB 2006

Superb van. Yes, a few niggles like a new steering coupling and leaks from windows and rattles but nothing that can’t wait until next service each time. The 174 engine is a joy - power and economy in equal measure. 40k miles now and very reliable. I cannot imagine a better all round vehicle.

Volkswagen Transporter Shuttle 2004

I bought a VW Transporter shuttle in January 2004. Six months after purchase the turbo booster broke - this part has been fitted 3 times - plus water pump and oil pump. Personally, this machine has caused me nothing but grief!

Volkswagen Touran se 2006

I owned the VW touran 1.9 tdi se for nearly three years. An excellent car, the only fault occurred recently - ESP after 2 and a half years of driving. It is quite a hard ride, as are seats, they are reasonably supportive though. There is loads of room in the front and rear for 5 adults and the boot is massive, the same as the Zafira. Lots of power from 105 horses and 185 torque; the book says 0-60 in 13 secs, this is absolute rubbish. I think that everyone hates VW!!! Fuel consumption great, unless you push it hard, still better than a petrol I bet. All controls are simple, easy to use and not cheap quality / looking like the Zafira. Engine noise in cabin is not fantastic, especially at speed. Engine growls when pushed, sounds good. Radio / CD player is easy to use, with good sound from the 8 speakers. I would definitely buy another if the price was right but am still looking at others - Verso, Zafira, C-Max (a bit cramped), S-Max.

Responses to this review
If your thinking of buying a Touran, do some research first on the very common clutch/flywheel and ABS problems. We are facing a repair bill of near £2500 on a car 4yrs old with only 65k miles on - Col Gaskell from Lancashire

Beware the dreaded ESP failure. IT WILL happen at some point, just hope it occurs when still in warranty. £1500 to fix if not. BMW recalled their One series with the same Boosh unit. Why haven’t VW? Shame on them. We will never buy a VW again - A Duffy from England

Volkswagen Transporter 2006

Hi - husband bought one of these about 2 years ago - last Christmas it broke down and had to be taken to dealer with a turbo problem; it stayed there for 3 weeks as parts had to be ordered in (must have been coming from the moon)!!! In September past it went in for routine service and it was discovered that it needed new steering rack. This van has only done 31,000 miles - does not get any driving abuse whatsoever - have rang customer services but may as well have been talking to a brick wall!! Can’t afford to change this van but we probably have to. Absolutely disgusted with this service.

Volkswagen Bora 4 door 2.0 SE 2002

This is my first VW after mainly Volvo and more recently Mercedes and Audi. The Bora has the the solidity of the Audi (not surprising, same VAG group) and cruises real quiet. The driving environment is somewhat cramped but you can settle comfortably. I used it on a 500 mile round trip to Wales and managed 39mpg with combined driving. Boot is surprisingly capacious (room for your mother-in-law). It does have a peculiar grinding noise when pulling away. I purchased from a VW main agent paying a little extra for security. One criticism, my previous car, an Audi A4 1999 had a fantastic climate control. This VW, being the SE model comes with a primitive air con button. OK you can live with it but I’d expected something better. Also there’s no under bonnet sound insulation which the Audi had, but having said that it’s a quiet drive. There are some criticisms about its road holding, hang on a minute, its a saloon and I for one do not want to corner at 40mph and above, I prefer the more sedate and relaxing drive that the Bora offers. It is more stable than the equivalent Golf due to its stiffer suspension. Go on, buy one you’ll not regret it. The automatic dipping rear view mirror and auto wipers are great. With group 8 insurance for a 2000cc engine is good. Not an abundance of room in the rear seats though.

Volkswagen Fox 2008

I’ll give it 5, I’m used to Corsa’s and thought I’d never change - after test driving a Fox I was hooked, disappointed that they don’t do a diesel yet though. 1.2 is nippy enough and holds the road better then a Corsa. I was peeved that glove box was a bit small but found a great storage container under drivers seat after a month. Really economical and like a Tardis inside - sooo rooomy.

Volkswagen Golf Estate SE DSG 2008

Excellent car, no problems for first six months. DSG auto box is superb. Excellent ride, quiet and no fuss. Good fuel economy of 52 mpg overall (according to the computer, I reckon about 48mpg actual). Bags of space in the back, versatile options. Looks excellent in Salsa red, a solid colour so no extra to pay for metallic. Parking sensors work fine.

Volkswagen Transporter Shuttle 2005

I have a LWB Shuttle 2.5 Tiptronic, and as far as being a van is concerned it is fantastic, incredibly comfortable, great workhorse, seriously looks the Biz! And it’s great to drive apart from a persistent intermittent fault that VW say they cannot find, even suggesting that it doesn’t exist even though they have had the van SEVEN TIMES and their master technician has witnessed the fault whilst passenger in the vehicle (he even suggested the likely cause!!!!) BUT, it would seem VW is reluctant to effect any repairs. I have read on other forums regarding the DSG gearbox, that a number of people are having serious issues too, but VW seem uninterested in resolving these problems. Clearly the VW of the new millennium is far removed from that of the previous!

Volkswagen Crafter 2006

I have had my Crafter 14 months, it has spent more time in the dealers garage then on the road. The vehicle has now only done 40,000 miles it has had three sets of brake callipers, a gear box out because problem obtaining the gears, the electric steering lock locked on would not come off and had to be recovered. following this it spent three weeks in the dealer trying to find the problem. The wipers stopped working when you put the indicator on. Leaks water in the passenger side. Dealer put new door seal on but it was put on back to front. It cuts out when you brake, causing the steering to lock up and resulting in a few near misses. Clutch pedal very noisy,keep having to grease linkage. Used 8 litres of oil in 11,000. All that aside its a good van!

Volkswagen Transporter Trendline 2007

Hi to all people who have bought the Transporter. Stop running the Transporter down - it’s one of the best vans on the road - maybe you all bought from poor dealer with no good after-service. I have the ’07 Trendline; from new with major conversion done. I am very happy. So spend bit more money on new model.

Volkswagen Passat TDI 130 HP 2005

I have the 2005 exclusive model TDI 130 HP. This car is very strong. Unbelievable fuel economy with very powerful power plant. I test drove many new models but I believe that the Passat is still number one. I have heard that VW is changing TDI technology to CRDI (Common rail diesel injection) type diesel technology with the model of 2008. I’m not sure what that does and if it is worth changing my car to the 2008 model.

Volkswagen Transporter t5 2004

BEWARE; do not buy the t5 Transporter, I’ve had my t5 for just over a year and I’ve had 2 alternators; 3 fan belts; the heater’s and coolers don’t blow or clear the condensation from windows; the gear knob split and came off in my hand; I had to glue it back on; the drink’s holders fell to bits (they wouldn’t glue back together). The driver’s door handle cover keeps falling off and to cap it off I’m told today that I’m looking at a new gearbox - teeth have sheered off the main drive. This van has done 80k but light work; I honestly thought that when I bought a t5 I had made a good choice... HOW WRONG I WAS TO BUY A VW T5! I couldn’t wait to get rid of my Vito but would swap it back for this pile of crap straight away.

Volkswagen Lupo 1.4S 2003

I’ve had my Lupo for 7 months now and in those 7 months I’ve used my car for only 3 months. It has been stuck in the garage with electrical faults; the mechanics don’t know what it is and it will never be found out, DO NOT BUY THESE CARS

Volkswagen Jetta SE 1.9 TDI 2006

Purchased my Jetta SE 1.9 TDI new. Some 2 years and 30000 miles later I have nothing but praise for this model. Reliability is superb, build is excellent and economy for a car of this size is mind blowing, - ACHIEVING AN AVERAGE 55 m.p.g. Emissions level is low and accordingly so is the road tax band. Boot space is enormous, - fold down the rear seats and I can accommodate my mountain bike with ease. I will be selling the vehicle soon and I will be replacing it with the exact same model. That’s the best testimonial I can give any car!

Volkswagen Scirocco 2.0 TSI 2008

The new Volkswagen Scirocco stays true to the original (which I owned many moons ago) but has made the necessary improvements needed for motoring today. It manages to accommodate four adults with ease and is a sports car that can be used for everyday use. It looks great and is stylish yet practical and conforms to the typical high standards that you would expect from Volkswagen. There are, of course, similarities to the Golf GTI (which it is based on) but it is far bigger and, in my opinion, far better to drive. The Scirocco's price is also a pleasant surprise, being lower than you would expect. An elegant, commanding, practical and energetic car.

Volkswagen Transporter 2004

I got my T5 August 2008, was at first very happy. But as time has gone on I’m becoming increasingly unsure. I got it from a massive garage in Sittingbourne, obviously I cannot say their name, but i would not go back. The bloke said to me they don’t need cam belts until 100,000, I then found out its 60,000. I wanted a van I didn’t have to spend loads on. Too late I suppose. Anyway, its going in for a service, and cam belt. I already have the squeak in the dash previously mentioned, the rear door lock does what it wants when locking, the van judders when steering; when idling and the vents in the dash don’t blow cold, as the dials are knackered. Not the sort of thing you expect from a 54 reg vehicle. And I have found this all out in ten days, so what’s left to come. Seriously doubt the build quality with these new t5’s, I really do.

Volkswagen Transporter Window Van 2005

As with any new vehicle, I guess, first impressions great. I had to have a new clutch & flywheel at 18,000 due to a bad shuddering. They also replaced a leaking water pump. A wiring fault which kept the rear wiper firing up at all times, even though it was switched off. They broke the plastic wiper cover whilst doing this, it’s never been replaced. There has always been a problem with a flat spot in 2nd gear, when pulling away after idling at traffic lights etc. VW carried out an management update, which made the vehicle more flexible in the lower gears, but has never cured the flat spot and it reduced fuel consumption. Both sliding windows had to be replaced, due to leaks, n/s twice. Second n/s window, catch broke first time it was used. I have been waiting forever for a VW regional technician to road test vehicle for an apparently untraceable vibration that occurs between 40&50 mph. This, coincidentally appeared shortly after it had been in for the replacement clutch/flywheel. Southern Motor Group in Croydon have been bulshitting for months regarding this and VW GB have been complicit in coluding with them over this matter. They told me it was the wheels out of balance, I had only just had new tyres and rebalance two days before. Then it was the alloy wheels ’out of shape’ They fitted a set of new steel wheels and tyres. ’no change’ They had the vehicle for weeks in total, for road testing, which consisted, I later found out, of one of their staff members using the vehicle as personal transport, putting hundreds of miles on the clock and using gallons of my fuel. I believe that the third year Van Centre warranty, is not worth a light. When it’s been back to them during this period, I firmly believe that they just leave the vehicle standing in the yard and do sweet FA to it. Strangely they would never give an invoice for warranty work supposedly done during this period. It went back for clonking noises from the steering, noisy steering pump, at low speed. The handbrake has never been efficient from day one. The only way to make it work half securely is to pump the foot brake and nearly pull the lever out of the floor. This is a known problem, but VW say "it meets the required standard" I guess they knew from the off. "Refer to handbook," it advises that you should park in gear and kerb your tyres to make sure that it doesn’t roll away. I know many owners who have had this problem resulting in vehicles rolling away, causing damage to their’s and other vehicles. I’m still waiting for VWs Regional Technician to road test the vehicle. I have my doubts that such a person exists, or that VW are capable of diagnosing the problem. Having owned a T25 for 15 years, I thought, obviously mistakenly, that I could expect the same reliability. The future does not bode well.

Volkswagen Transporter 2.5 TDI T30 lwb 130 2006

Mine is coming up to 3 years old and the end of it’s warranty. Initially I was delighted with it. Very comfortable, bags of power and torque and if I drive it carefully I can get 36mpg quite heavily loaded with tools and equipment and a rather heavy false floor and drawer arrangement. Early on I experienced intermittent toughness in the steering at high lock. At it’s first service at nearly two years old I was told I need to take it back for a factory recall on one of the steering linkages. Today is in VW van centre having a new water pump and power steering pump fitted together with a burst hydraulic hose in the steering system. They’ve had it for two days now and it looks like I may not get it back today as they don’t seem to stock many parts. From all the reports above I’m starting to fear that this could just be the beginning of some more expensive repairs. I was planning to keep the vehicle for at least 10 years, but I think it might be time to trade it in.

Volkswagen Transporter t30 174ps lwb 4motion 2007

Van bought new in Sept 07 from Manchester VW van centre. Engine is currently BPC engine code (2.5tdi DPC). Currently covered 14.5k miles with mixture of motorway and urban driving. Clutch pedal is almost at biting point when 10mm off the floor. Diesel particulate filter has had two firmware updates to the ECU, under warranty. Have to drive everyday for approximately 10 minutes twice a day on the motorway at 2000-2500 rpm’s to regenerate the DPC otherwise the filter gets blocked and the van switches over to limp-home mode with a 50% reduction in power output. This is a real pain in the butt and is a big waste of fuel at current prices, especially when you are carrying 2000kg of payload including piperack/roof rack and 3 section ladders etc. Costs me around a tank of fuel a month to carry out this environment friendly procedure which wastes more fuel and then contradicts what it initially was there to achieve as you are doing unnecessary mileage. The company that manufactures the Diesel Particulate Filter for the VAG group is called BASF Catalysts based in Ludwigshafen in Germany. Coincidently, my wife is employed by this company as a Travel manager and has contacted the appropriate department internally/unofficially in Cheadle, Cheshire at the Stanley Green site. The response of the R&D manager at this firm was that there is a problem with the settings/parameters in the ECU program which need setting up correctly and that there is a superior technology available to VAG group called DOC filters. Unfortunately due to cost they didn’t adopt this technology. They went for the more cost effective one which in turn causes me more aggravation and wasted diesel and time. My van is fully loaded and I mean everything on the options is excluding left-hand drive. Seems to be dying a death systematically and gradually. What happened to German build quality.

Responses to this review
Try www.brickyard.com or the brickyard etc.., it is a VW website for enthusiasts, there is a modification for this, it does mean blocking the egr valve but it has good reports from owners. Good luck - Richard H from England

Volkswagen Golf 2.0 Tdi GT Sport 2007

I love this car! My company were able to buy it for me as a fleet car, as it is economical enough to do so, and it’s great to have a fun car for work. I do high mileage in it, pounding up and down motorways a lot, and it is comfortable, quality, sweet to drive, with crisp gears and excellent handling. The diesel engine seems as responsive and quick as any petrol engine I’ve had, and has a pleasant, ’growly’ note, so it doesn’t sound as much like a tractor as other diesels, and sounds like it means business. It does. The acceleration is reliable (Wheeeee!) and good for overtaking and getting out of the way (of other overtakers) if necessary. I get good mpg out of it, so fill-ups are not too frequent. Love the Rocaro seats - had some ordinary ones in a hire car recently, and felt I was slithering around on cornering! I hope they let me buy it at the end of its term......

Volkswagen Golf 1.9 tdi se 2006

I have had a Golf most of my life, got the new mk5 model and recently been getting a humming noise like an owl. I took it to the dealers who were too busy too look at so took another half day too bring down but same excuse, too busy. This went on for ages and I made a complaint as I was unable too book an appointment so they wanted me too keep bringing the car back until it suited them. At the end of it all I took another half day off and person sat in car and said that was normal. Now I’m driving about with this owl noise coming from my car, when I drop my girlfriend off she can hear it the whole way down the road. VW say that it’s normal in some Golfs. Also, it’s getting worse so what else can I do? I tried selling the car and 2 people have looked at it but was put off by the noise so it looks like I’m stuck with it. After service is really bad, stay away.

Volkswagen Eos 2008

My new 2008 EOS cost 32,000.00 and it leaks on both sides of the front top. The condensation on the windshield is constant and bothers me. I have to keep my wipers on and I live in Orlando, Florida. I wouldn’t have leased the car last week if I read all the blogs on 08 VW EOS convertibles.

Volkswagen Tiguan SE TDi 2008

I chose this car after a great deal of research. Much preferred it to the Freelander, which doesn’t compare in internal quality and rolls more. Don’t need great off-road capability, but I do need the security of 4wd as I live in the countryside where muddy roads and standing water are a regular hazard. The CRV is a good buy but soooo ugly. Quite liked the Kuga, but a bit girly for a middle-aged man! After 1000 miles I have 44mpg on the Tiguan, the car drives very well and my passengers rate it higher than my previous Audi A4 and A6. The only complaint I have is that the lumbar support is useless. By the way, I can’t agree that the boot is huge, but it is adequate. In black it serves well as both a smart compact exec and it works as a practical car for the weekends. Oh, and the sunroof is great too.

Volkswagen Transporter 104ps 2004

absolute pile of cra* !!!!!! i have had to many problems to list but main one is flywheel and gearbox , i have had 3 replacements already which were carried out under warranty however it has just gone again outside warranty so i have been given a big repair bill ( currrently being disputed with vw customer care ) i would seriously urge any one looking to buy a t5 to look at something else i have spent hours in the garage with this van and now have so many bits falling of i have got to the point where i superglue them back on myself, from a really pi**ed of plumber.

Volkswagen Golf 1.6 Sport 2006

We purchased the Golf because although we were paying a little more than comparable models from other manufacturers, we thought we were buying a quality-build vehicle, how wrong we were. We have had the following problems, rear door window winder mechanism jammed, milking on three of the alloy wheels, three complete sets of alloy wheel trim centres replaced due to milking, rear hatch badge replaced due to milking, faulty radio replaced, door seals on both rear doors fell off and had to be replaced, radiator leaking and replaced, and lastly the drivers interior door panel replaced due to poor finish. Most of the aforementioned faults were within the first year or so and were rectified under warranty. The question is, would I recommend anyone buy a VW Golf, most definitely not.

Volkswagen Transporter T30 SWB 2.5 tdi174 bhp 2004

What can I say... Bought mine 3 years ago 2nd hand from a VW dealership. Until this year/last month it’s done well. With 69K on the clock now, just had a new water pump, new starter motor and new clutch.... Due the high performance of the van (174 bhp), VW have done some fancy stuff with the fly-wheel (Duel-mass or something similar) to get the power output. So if you have a T5 2.5tdI (130 or 174) and it starts juddering whilst pulling off in 1st of reverse, be warned - it will cost you a hefty repair bill.

Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI 130 2005

I have had a couple of diesel cars before and I drive a lot of motorway miles, none have impressed me until now. The VW Passat is unbelievable; it is very comfortable, loads of space for my kit and for people travelling with me, and it out-performs most of the 2-litre petrol cars I have driven. I still get over 50mpg. Mine has done 120,000 miles and there are no rattles or knocks and it is still very comfortable. The only bad side I can say is it took me until being 38 years of age before I discovered this car. Without a shadow of a doubt this will not be the last one I buy.

Volkswagen Touran 2.0TDI SPORT 2004

Previously had a Zafira and the Touran I’ve now got leaves it standing for quality and performance. Loves motorways and give it a steep hill to get stuck into and the torque is unreal; it just pulls effortlessly . On the downside it is a bit of a bumpy ride on certain roads but I’m not going to blame the car - I would rather blame that on miss spent road tax.

Volkswagen Touareg 2005

I have had my VW Touareg 2.5 TDi for a year and have been very pleased with its performance. It is a solid, sturdy vehicle, extremely comfortable, a little heavy on fuel, but the quality of the car makes up for it. The finish is excellent, the accessories exceeded my expectations. Having driven various VW models over the past 18 years or so, my entire family is a VW fan and the VW Touareg has certainly been my favourite to date.

Volkswagen Polo 1.4 2006

I love my little car. Nippy but not juicy, stylish & well equipped.

Volkswagen Transporter 130 tdi kombi 2005

This van has been in the garage more times than I can remember. Problems such as leaking rear windows, clutch, steering vibration, water pump, paint problems around side door handle, power steering fluid problems, loss of drive to gearbox due to input shaft worn, rollers on doors not rolling, clunking sound on steering full lock when turning slowly. All items have at some point been rectified under warranty but now the warranty period is up I wonder if its time to call it a day with this van at 65,000 miles. It has no way been as good as the 6 other t4 vans that I have owned, all of which have done above 110,000 miles. As a self employed electrician, a good van is why I paid 20k plus for this one and other lone vans I have had have felt like the quality element as gone.

Volkswagen Polo 1.4 SE 2006

Good reliable car, comfortable with plenty of room. Now at 41,000 miles, mostly high speed motorway but still achieves well over 40mpg.

Volkswagen Caddy 1.9 tdi 104ps 2004

Very reliable vehicle. My caddy has 170k on the clock now and is as tight and lively as it was when new. Acceleration is superb through all the gears helped by a fantastic little turbo unit, even when fully loaded. Fuel economy is good, Motorway travel averages 49mpg whilst around town it will do 39 - 41mpg. Cabin is spacious, well laid out and very comfortable. Road noise is low and if you did not have the slightly restricted view out the back you would believe that you were in an MPV. Parts, when they do need replacing can be pricey but then again it is a Volkswagen and the parts do last. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone who was looking for a reliable load-lugger. Only 4 stars because nothing is perfect!

Volkswagen Golf 1.9 TDI 105 S 2008

I first bought a Golf in 2002, it was the Mk 4 and it gave me 5 years of reliable, pleasurable driving. I had never been so happy with a car so I did not hesitate in moving onto the Mk 5 when I felt it was time to upgrade my motor. The Gold now looks even better and every aspect has been improved upon. It is a fantastic all-rounder that gives sublime performance, reliability and practical for a busy lifestyle. I like to be able to make adjustments to get the best driving position and the Gold allows me to get the seat and steering wheel just right (until my girlfriend borrows the car and then I’m back to square one again...). I know that the residual values are extremely strong and although I plan to keep for car for at least 5 years it’s good to know that it will still be worth a decent amount even then. Green cars are very much in vogue at the moment and my variant has low emissions of 132g/km and high fuel economy of 56 miles per gallon. The Golf is a car that can fit into any household, it does everything you need from a car. 5 stars*****

Volkswagen Golf 1.6-litre FSI 2007

Everything about the Golf is quality. It offers a smooth and refined ride and is the most comfortable and quietest car that I have ever taken onto the motorway, road and wind noise are almost non-existent. This is the best car in its class and the attention to detail shown in the interior makes being in the cabin a complete joy. Everything works well, reliability is second to none and the fuel economy is pretty good. The icing on the cake are the excellent residual values which makes the Gold attractive to buy new, or as in my case, lease. The best small family car / hatchback.

Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI SE 1998

215,000 miles and still going strong. Unbelievable fuel economy with loads of room for passengers and luggage.

Volkswagen Polo 1.2 60 E 2006

Never lets me down, nice to drive, comfortable for driver and passengers, good boot which becomes masive with the back seats are folded down, cheap to run - can’t really ask for much more from a car can you?

Volkswagen Eos 1.4 FSI CC 2dr 2007

Absolutely love this car. It’s fast, looks great and is fun to drive. No problems with the roof and it has an NCAP rating of 4 - not bad! A reasonably priced convertable that gives around 40 MPG.

Volkswagen Beetle 1.6 3d 2004

This is such a girlie car and I love it. It’s cute looking and comes with a flower vase, what’s not to like?! It also has a decent engine and drives really well. It’s totally reliable and well built. A reinvented classic that has become a classic itself - pity you boys have to miss out!

Volkswagen Passat Estate 2.0 FSI 5dr 2007

This is my second Passat Estate and VW have done a great job in updating an already cracking car. The boot is now bigger and the interior feels even plusher. Brilliant car that drives exceptionally well and is affordable to run. 5 out of 5.

Volkswagen Touran 1.9 TDI SE 7 seat 2006

I’ve had this car for 12 months now and have just recommended it to my brother-in-law who is looking for a good, flexible family car that doesn’t cost a bomb to run and is very reliable, which this car fits the bill perfectly. The only downside I have found is the residuals on this car are low considering it’s a VW. I’ve advised my b.i.l. to buy a used one.

Volkswagen Touareg 2.5TDI ALTITUDE 2006

I have had my company Touareg now for two years and done 34000 miles. Superbly put together and quite economical: 26 around the houses and almost 30 on a run down the motorway. Only problem is a sticking rear door handle. I could have had a Range Rover Sport but have not regretted my choice. Going for its second expensive service now but not too heavy costs to service when you consider the servicing intervals. I will be buying another.

Volkswagen Transporter T30 130 BHP 2004

I have 26,500 miles on clock, the vehicle has failed its second MOT on front n/s shock absorber. The van still looks like new but I’m not a happy self employed joiner.

Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 TSI 200 Sport 2007

More room than a golf and less obvious than a Passat. A very good looking car that has plenty of zip and is a real delight to drive. All the high standards you would expect from VW, feels solid and safe and has a very comfortable and roomy interior. Glad I took the plunge and opted for this car, it’s a real beauty!

Volkswagen Transporter 1.9 tdi t28 104 2004

Fantastic to drive great comfort eats the miles effortlessly! But starting to have doubts about its reliability and ruggedness. My vehicle has done 65000 miles bought new in 04 mostly motorway work light loads not thrashed is currently in a thousand bits with gearbox failure and has been for two weeks waiting for a 4th gear to arrive! Asking at 3 service centers why it should get stuck told it was a mystery and that it is normally the 6 speed box that gets stuck in first and second, is this a common fault perhaps? While the gearbox is out I am fitting a new clutch as everything on this van takes so long to do. The dashboard has developed an annoying squeaking which I am still trying to stop . This is a long term project for me one day to be turned into a camper van so I hope nothing else major occurs! Great to drive not so sure about reliability not something I would thought I would say about VW as I have owned several and also run an LT!

Volkswagen Touran SE 2008

Took delivery last Friday and cannot fault the car! Have added 200 miles on the clock and with a ’tight’ engine, the average mpg is in excess of 40. Superb ride and the ’Park Assist was included in the sensor package. Shall use little of that technology but i did try it out this afternoon. It was incredibly accurate even if frightening when I saw that steering wheel turning of its own accord! Handling is superb and the driving position is as good as if not better than the three Touran’s I had previously! No regrets so far!

Volkswagen Eos 2.0T-FSI 2007

Leaky roof, persistent condensation, noisy ride at motorway speeds, questionable handling. Is this a practical alternative or a poor compromise?

Volkswagen Eos 2007

Lovely car to drive but having problems with rainwater collecting under doors and dripping into foot well. Has anyone else had this problem?

Responses to this review
Hi - Yes I bought the car in July and as the car is garaged it had not been left out in the rain until recently - could not believe it when it was out in the rain and I opened up the doors to literally a bucket of water coming out. Took it back to the dealer yesterday and after checking it I got the reply "that it is a design fault and there is nothing they can do" so they expect me to put up with a car that literally soaks my feet!!! I called VW Head office and they are more sympathetic and I am awaiting for them to call me back. I plan to video what happens next time when it rains and put on you tube unless this is sorted efficiently - Jacqui Sage-Passant from Bedfordshire

Same problem with 09, VW not interested. Solution: dont buy another VW - Ken Rees from Wales

Same problem with water when door opened. Loads of condensation inside which freezes when cold. Couldn’t get windows to drop so I could get in to start defrosting this morning. Any ideas? - Barb from Kent

Volkswagen Polo Saloon 1996

This does soak up the bumps and pot holes in the road surprisingly well, I found this car to be remarkable on fuel and cheap to insure but the handling is the only point of the car that lets it down but otherwise is a good all round car.

Volkswagen Sharan 1998

It’s the only car that meets the needs of an mpv at all ranges of performance and reliability. I will not dream of driving a family car that is not a VW Sharan, it’s got power on demand and spacious, try to prove how much you can get out of this car without having to spend more.

Volkswagen Caddy 2005

I am from China, my 7 seats Caddy Life bought in 2006; I drove it for over 40,000Km till now, nothing is wrong on this van....

Volkswagen Caravelle Syncro 1991

My second Volkswagen, the previous 1985 1.6 diesel Transporter van is still going strong. Great for work use, mpg and no problems. I have had a trouble free 22years ... for domestic and off road my second vehicle a 2.1 Syncro Caravelle with permanent 4 wheel drive with additional diff locks although heavier to run on petrol great fun to drive and loads of space to seat seven adults, table, fold down bed etc but may convert to dual fuel lpg and flick switch back to petrol when required very cheap to run and two fuel tanks.

Volkswagen Lupo 1.4S 2001

Very unreliable, constantly breaking down on me. Suffered lots of electrical faults - most of which even VW couldn't diagnose, understand or even fix! DO NOT BUY! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Volkswagen Polo 1.4SE 2006

Good all round machine; visibility "over shoulder" could be better. Unfortunately, developed cylinder head problems at 15,000 miles (running on three cylinders only). Solid, reliable & dependable but exudes no character when driven! Quite a bland motor.

Volkswagen Polo 2002

Although this is my second polo, i have decided it will be my last, with common engine problems, i would recommend the old model any day but not this one.

Volkswagen Touran 2 TDI Sport DSG 2005

Just ordered my second Touran. The first 1 has completed 90K trouble free miles and is still averaging 45-50mpg. The DSG gearbox is superb and having to drive the Ford S Max Auto this week the VW leaves it standing (in more ways than one). The VW’s quality interior has survived all I can throw at it and the general performance for long distance travel as well as the short city trips is every bit as good as the Audi A4 I had previously. The pleasure of this car is the quality 2L TDI matched with an excellent gearbox - If you have a choice, go for the great leather seat options, I have a back problem and if I could put the seats in my front room - I would. Now I have tempted fate, hopefully my second VW won’t be a lemon!

Volkswagen Transporter T26 1.9 tdi 2004

I have owned 3 of these VW vans in the past 10 years, they have all been great. Unfortunately though the ALL NEW T5 VW Transporter is a disaster it has broken down 5 times now and has been towed back to the dealership. The faults i am having are not isolated they are becoming more common now there are more of these vans around and some are reaching 4 years old with high mileage. The faults i have experienced are expensive to repair and even though VW have admitted they are due to faulty parts they will not replace them now i am 3 weeks out of warranty. The problems i have had include the entire range not just the T26. This is a great van; i have never been so comfortable sat in my van waiting for the AA to recover me from the hard shoulder of the M1. If you want a van you will love for 2 years and loath for the rest of the time you own it, buy a VW T5 Transporter.

Volkswagen Touareg 3ltr V6 2008 2007

Leased through main dealer Gilbert Lawton in Trafford Park. Supplied with wrong disc, SatNav was in German and all controls on touch screen were unintelligible. Dealership wasn’t familiar with new touch screen due to it being 08 model! iPod doesn’t not work with the £155 glove box dealer fitted kit. Dealership just offered a refund no apology. Rubbish service considering it’s listed as one of their flagship vehicles. VW have not written the software for it despite it being released to public. Tailgate rains in, in buckets when opened, soaking anything nearest the boot lip. Great to drive, excellent motorway cruiser.

Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TD 2007

Brilliantly built, extremely reliable, a joy to drive and very comfortable. The 2 litre engine has exactly the right amount of power and gives me 40mpg which is stunning for a 4x4. The boot is HUGE and the inside of the Tiguan is beautifully laid out with the ability to adjustment everything to your liking. The Tiguan is the perfect 4x4 for a family.

Volkswagen Bora 1999

I really like my Bora; it’s nicely medium sized, runs very well and is very economical. However, one huge disappointment is that the front suspension springs have broken and just had to be replaced. Although it is a 1999 V reg, it has only done under 60,000 miles and I really wouldn’t have expected such a catastrophic failure of such a component. I’ve had lots of old cars, using them well into the 100,000 miles mark and nothing like this has happened to any of them and I wouldn’t expect it to happen on a VW. It has certainly made me think twice about replacing my VW with another one, when the time comes.

Volkswagen Golf Estate 2007

Excellent car...

Volkswagen Golf TDI Sport 5dr 2007

This car is excellent, roomy, great handling and can cope on country roads and busy motorways. The fuel economy is good and everything is where you would expect to find it within a well-ordered cabin. The TDI engine is very, very good and a good choice of engine, I went for for the TDI Sport. The main reason I went for a Volkswagen was the reliability and that is what it has given me. Very, very pleased.

Volkswagen Transporter Shuttle 1.9 TDi 2007

Considerate little luxuries such as air con, large glovebox and cup holders make life on the road easier. This is the third one I have had. They are always reliable.

Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 TDI SE 4dr 2007

I’m a huge fan of Volkswagen cars and the Jetta hasn’t dented that any. Based on the Golf this Saloon is easy to drive and very smooth. It is extremely comfortable for a family of 5 and would easily seat 5 adults. Good space in the boot and of course you know reliability isn’t going to be an issue. Excellent car.

Volkswagen Transporter 2.5 TDI T30 lwb 130 2003

I’ve had this van from almost new and I would recommend it to anyone. Solid as a house and very comfortable to drive thanks to fully adjustable drivers seat and steering column. This is a van that will just run and run and not let you down.

Volkswagen Sharan 1.9 TDI 110 S 5dr 2000

I’ve had this vehicle from new and it has paid for itself several times over. We have been to France three times and have driven the length and bredth of Britain since owning this and it has been absolutely solid and reliable at all times. I wouldn’t hesitate buying another Sharan and wouldn’t consider changing for one of these flimsy, pretty new plasticy pretenders you now see on the market. Absolutely essential car for a large family.

Volkswagen Passat Estate 2.0 FSI 2007

This car drives much more nimble than you would expect for its size. Spacious in the cabin and great safety features.

Volkswagen Eos 2.0 T-FSI Sport 2dr 2007

As a sales manager for a nationwide company I do an awful lot of mileage and was therefore looking for something reliable, comfortable with a little power. I have certainly found this in the Eos and then some. I’ve also got one of the stylish cars around, I think. It’s a dream to drive and makes short work of long journeys. Driving on the motorway has never been so much fun. Very pleased I chose the Eos. Can’t wait for summer.

Volkswagen Crafter 2.5TDi CR30 swb 88bhp 2006

Good large panel van. Good for load space and access. Nice cabin area, very comfortable and fully adjustable drivers position. Comes with ABS and ESP as standard as well as central locking, electric windows, cd player etc. It’s Volkswagen so you know it’s a reliable van. Just about everything you need really and drives very nicely indeed.

Volkswagen Passat Estate 2.0 TDI 140 S 5dr 2006

I would recommend this car to anyone looking for a stylish estate that gives excellent performance. Gives you everything you need and doesn’t cost the earth. Well done Volkswagen!

Volkswagen Golf Estate 1.9 D 2007

A little noisy and underpowered but it has all the space you could wish for and with Volkswagen reliability. I bought it because there was space for the dogs in the back.

Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet 1.9 TD 2007

Solidly built, nice shape and surprisingly spacious in the rear seats. Compromises on boot space.

Volkswagen California SE 4Motion TDI 2007

Being outdoor nuts my girlfriend and I decided that we would fit our vehicle around our lifestyle and have spashed out on the California. It’s a beaut of a camper van and has everything you need (no toilet or shower though). Perfect for just chucking in the essentials on a Friday night after work and heading off to the coast for a very comfortable camping weekend, whatever the weather. Nice to drive, but be careful when cornering, you do get used to this but you can’t just throw it around corners like a car. I think Volkswagen have done an excellent job of updating the old Camper van and make weekends something to look forward to.

Responses to this review

I’m a first timer torn between the California and the Autocruiser. Not a frivolous question, but how do you cope on a trip without showering and loo facilities? - John Jarvis from Sussex

Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet 1.4 Luna 2dr 2004

I do love my Beetle but there are a couple of things I would change if I could: 1. Bootsize - pretty small, which I know to expect from a cabriolet but still, it is tiny. 2. Rear visibility - Absolutely fine with the roof down, but when up can be a real problem and let’s face it, in this country the roof is going to be up 85% of the time. However, what I would say is there are plenty more positive points than negative to this car - Fabulous to drive, really funky interior, comfortable both for driver and passengers, looks great and there is nothing better than being able to cruise along on a sunny day with the radio blaring and the roof down. A real feel good car.

Volkswagen Passat 1998

This is one of the best cars on the road for safety.

Volkswagen Caddy 1.9 TDI PD 2007

Great little van, a real workhorse. Very comfortable cabin and good and clear arrangement of instruments. Very easy to drive, alhough the steering can sometimes feel a little over assisted. Excellent fuel economy and of course, as all Volkswagon, very reliable.

Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4 TSI 150 SE 5dr 2007

I have recently test driven and I am very impressed with this addition to the 4x4 market. The Tiguan feels very solid and safe, as you’d epect of a Volkswagon, and the handling is superb. The interior is very comfortable indeed and the engine is extremely quiet. The only downside I’d say is that the rear visibility isn’t that brilliant although you can opt for rear parking sensors. The best I’ve test driven so far and you can’t really go wrong with a Volkswagon can you?

Volkswagen Touran 1.9 TDI 105 S 2007

I was in the market for a good-looking MPV and the Touran won the beauty contest! Safety was important and the NCAP ratings were superb. The amount and size of the airbags is very comformting too. The MPV is also lovely to drive, my kids have suffered from travel sickness in the past but there are no problems on either long or short journeys, I honestly believe that this is due to the lack of movement at speed in the Touran. The Touran has great versatility and the seats can be folded flat to create an extremely large boot. This is a great choice if you are looking for an MPV with style and space.

Volkswagen Polo 2003

No review submitted.

Volkswagen Polo 1.4 Match 2001

Excellent car. Comfortable, safe, roomy and easy to drive. It’s like a reliable old friend, always there for you.

Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI 140 SE 2005

My 3rd Passat, Better than last model, Very good drive & solid, had a few re-calls but not let me down 39K miles. changing to a Golf tomorrow hope it’s as good.

Volkswagen Golf 1.2 Urban 2007

Great car, roomier than the Polo and the Toyota Aygo which I test drove before settling with this one. Cheap to buy, low insurance and good fuel economy. Good, comfortable drive too.

Volkswagen Touran 1.9 Tdi Se 2006

How pleased am I that I bought this car instead of the other models available in it’s class? VERY! Passed a Scenic on the hard shoulder of the motorway the other day and I have every confidence that I will most certainly not be visiting that particular lane of the motorway whilst I own my Touran. Feels undeniably solid and the build quality is very high. On the downside the engine is a little noisy and the ride a little firm. Bouth mine on a great pre reg deal!

Volkswagen Golf Plus 1.9 TDI 105 SE 2007

This is the best car that I have ever owned. Everything about the Golf Plus is spot on, quality personified. The Plus is slightly bigger than the normal Golf ( a car I have also owned ) and this means increased head and leg room plus more room in the back. The economy is fabulous and safety features are all that is required and more. This is the choice for those looking for more room without wanting to buy an MPV.

Volkswagen Fox 1.4 2007

I chose the 1.4 litre engine over the 1.2 so that I could have a little more oomph . It gives me plenty of power and is perfect for longer journeys. I can not give the Fox 5 stars as the build is not up to the same quality as the Golf, a car I have recently owned. This is a good and cheap alternative to the Volkswagen Golf.

Volkswagen Caravelle 2.5 TDi PD (174) SE

As a self employed taxi driver you can’t afford to have any vehicle that’s unreliable so for me it had to be a VW. The Caravelle is very comfortable and easy to drive and when you’re behind the wheel for 8 hours a day that counts for a lot. The interior is quality built and durable. All in all it’s a good workhorse and should retain good resale value. Not the cheapest 7 seater on the market but you get what you pay for.

Volkswagen Phaeton 3.2 V6 5dr

As a company car this is a pretty good one. Comes with climate control, sat-nav, air sprung suspension and leather interior as standard. The performance is strong and handling good but not excellent. It’s a very comfortable car with an exceptional amount of leg room both in front and back. As a VW it goes without saying that it’s a very reliable car too.

Volkswagen Beetle 1.6 Luna

You either love or hate the Beetle! I love it. Well built. Little room in the back though.

Volkswagen Golf Plus

The Golf Plus has easier access than the Golf hatch, drives well & is great for families. Very comfortable, safe & versatile.

Volkswagen Golf 1.9TDI

Great car, when me and mey mates get together, I am the envy of all, and it helps me pull the girls. Top lads car. Would give it 6 stars if I could.

Volkswagen Golf Match TDi 100

Superb car. Quick enough when I need it but 50+ mpg in normal driving. Am lucky enough to be offered a GT Sport 170 company car, will be sorry to see the Match go.

Volkswagen Golf Gti Tdi

Volkswagen’s are renowned for their reliabilty and this, plus the obvious quality and attention to detail make this the best car that I have ever owned. My Golf is very comfortable a wonderfully quiet. I know that the depreciation on this car will be very good but that is not really an issue as I don’t see any reason to change for many years. Quality, comfort and reliability are the three words that I would use to describe my Golf.

Volkswagen Golf 1.9 TDI SE

Great car - does approximately 45 miles to the gallon. I spend a lot of time travelling in it but have (touch wood) not had any physical complaints as the ergonomincs are excellent. Quality car.

Volkswagen Polo 102

I like this car, nice ride, very economical, and not bad for a little runaround.

Volkswagen Beetle 1.4

Perfect! This is a car built for girls and I love it! It was a toss us between this and the Golf but the beautiful curves won it for me.I would say that my Beetle is ideal as a car for one or two people to use but should not be contemplated as a family car - there is not much room in the back!

Volkswagen Passat 1.9 s tdi

The power delivered from my 1.9 tdi is impressively phenomenal yet smooth. The road holding is made all the better by an impressive electronic stabilisation programme. Carries the driver and four adult passengers in extreme comfort, and also has a massive boot capacity. Mpg is the best I have ever experienced, and I have had lots of diesel saloons, Ford, Rover, Peugeot, Vauxhall, in my experience none compare to the VW. Oh, if only I'd discovered it sooner!

Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GTi

All time favourite hot hatchback. Solid, economical, fun to drive. Just a good all rounder.

Volkswagen Golf 1.9 TDI

Great car, roomy, nice looking vehicle and if you are in the market for this type of car, you cant go wrong.

Volkswagen Touareg Volkswagen Touareg 2.5 TDI DPF

I’ve only had this car for two weeks so this really is a review of my first impressions and I have to say so far so good. Okay the fuel consumption is a little steep but I expect this to improve as the car settles down and I was aware of this before I bought it. The interior is spacious and certainly comfortable and the performance and handling of the car are excellent. Yes there are other 4x4’s on the market and some might argue that they offer a higher level of luxury but I have no complaints and the Volkswagen trustworthy reliability gets my vote every time.

Volkswagen Passat Volkswagen Passat 2.0 TDI 140 SE

This is a good solid saloon, I have read other reviews from people who seem to have had problems with theirs but I have to say, knock on wood, so far mine has been extremely reliable and has given me 9K miles of enjoyable driving.

Volkswagen Golf 1.9 TDI 105 SE 5 dr

This is my second Golf and I can’t ever see me changing to anything else. Fuel economy is excellent, as you would expect from a golf, on an average of 60mph for my daily work journeys. It's a very comfortable car, no problem on long journeys. There's plenty space for rear passengers, too, and excellent storage pockets all over the place. Not a bad word to say about it.

Volkswagen Polo

Surprisingly roomy, reliable car. Economical to run and cheap to insure.