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Volkswagen Bora road tests and consumer car reviews

Volkswagen Bora

4 stars - average customer rating
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The Volkswagen Bora (1999-2005) is a small family saloon that delivers feisty performance whilst offering high quality comfort and a stylish exterior.

Volkswagen Bora consumer reviews by year of make: 1999  2001  2002 

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Questions

  • "When driving my Bora the passenger door seems to be clicking and unlocking (a click is heard constantly). It is like it is unlocking and locking again..." (Charles McMillan, 30/01/2012 14:23:01)
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  • "The engine light indicator (which looks like an engine/pump) comes on and off on my dash. When I start the car, it displays ’EMISSIONS WORKSHOP&..." (Adrian Warren, 25/01/2012 16:12:06)
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  • "What could because the EPS and ABS lights to show up on the dashboard of my 2003 Volkswagen Bora?" (Ryan Jodkowski, 20/01/2012 14:23:16)
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  • "Two things. When I drive around town in stop start traffic the abs sensor light warning lamp comes on during braking then goes off again. Also the rem..." (Hein Steven, 05/01/2012 14:03:54)
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  • "Please help... Can anyone tell me why the heat in my car goes hot and cold. I had a new water pump and stat, and new cap but still the heat in the car..." (Sharon Poulton, 20/12/2011 14:18:30)
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Answers

  • Jamie Williams's question has been answered: "'It is the GALA setting on the radio. Look in the instruction manual for the fitted radio and turn it to off. (On the factory fitted units - press and..." (05/01/2012 09:25:06)
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  • Daniel Murphy's question has been answered: "'Sump is just refitted with a silicone type sealent - Paul from County Down '" (19/10/2011 08:49:36)
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Volkswagen Bora consumer car reviews

Simon Mc Kibben, County Down

Volkswagen Bora 1.9 TDi 110 SE 1999

4 star review

I bought my ’V’ Reg Bora 1.9 TDi 110 SE out of England in June 2000, the car was registered in December 1999. It’s been a fantastic car up until recently, with 128k on the clock the turbo has died on me, the battery can hold it’s charge, there is a knocking noise coming from the front driver side wheel, I had to fit 2 new rear shock absorbers and the central locking system (That has been messed up for ages). Another thing I found is that the build quality isn’t the best. The dash rattles a lot and there seems to be a jingle coming from under the dash somewhere. Lots of panels have come un-done and the seat fabric stitching has all split leaving exposed padding and foam. The car was fine but it’s near time for it to meet the scrapyard. It’s my work car so I really only use it to drive 20 miles per day to and from work.

Submitted: 28/01/2011 09:41:06 | ID: 6969

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Lilian Llewelyn, Swansea

Volkswagen Bora TDi 2001

5 star review

Bought new 2001. Driven over 135,000 miles by now. Apart from 9,000 interval services and the usual mileage related work - new cam belts @ 60,000 miles etc. only had to replace two electric window parts @ £130 a go, both driver’s and passenger’s front windows failing in the last couple of years. Got to be the most boring car in the world but it’s cheap and reliable and not showing its age at all inside. And it cruises as easily as ever in the fast lane of the motorway along with the bigger cars. Surprisingly big luggage capacity because the back seats fold forward and you can actually get a wardrobe in as long as long as it’ll fit under the back shelf. Not bad for a saloon!

Submitted: 10/12/2010 09:19:00 | ID: 6634

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Sarah R, London

Volkswagen Bora 2002

3 star review

Well, it is a great car with no doubt. However when it calls for work, it calls for megabucks. I just spent $8,000 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 okay, however I am now getting a shimmering on the left rear tyre. I want to sell the Bora VW, it is really costly. 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.

Submitted: 29/01/2009 09:31:40 | ID: 2447

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Trevor Hibbert, Yorkshire

Volkswagen Bora 4 door 2.0 SE 2002

4 star review

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.

Submitted: 14/10/2008 11:14:32 | ID: 2008

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Janet Davies, Suffolk

Volkswagen Bora 1999

4 star review

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.

Submitted: 24/01/2008 16:11:08 | ID: 953

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