THEGAYUK

Tag: Volkswagen

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  • CAR REVIEW | VW Golf SE Nav 1.0 TSi

    ★★★★ |  VW Golf SE Nav 1.0 TSi – Tortoise Powered hare

    REVIEW | VW Golf SE Nav 1.0 TSi

    One of the shocks I had this year was with the smallest engined Golf in their popular petrol SE Nav range.

    It lacked the bells and whistles of the R, GTE and Alltrack estate in a lot of ways. The Golf now comes with a more confusing array of options and dashboards and specs but is the SE Nav with its one whole litre worth of power pack going to leave you left out of the Golf club?

    No is the answer. I wanted to try a lowly model and while not the base model, it still lacks the touches. Or so I thought. By comparison, the S is the base model now at £17,625. The SE Nav comes in at a shade under £19,500. Spec wise you’d be a fool to look at the S when the SE Nav gives you parking sensors, cruise controls, Sat Nav with 8” screen and mirror link to your smartphone along with a host of other options.

    For the extra money, you do get more power from your little engine too. A whole 25 more horses and 1g/km of CO2 worse for the environment. That extra money is worth it for the extra oomph from the engine alone.

    It’s a sweet little unit. It will carry you to 122mph and will do the traffic light Grand Prix in 9.9 seconds. Not quick but not slow. An original Mk1 GTi would only do it a bit faster. There was no hint of turbo lag at all or raging surge. This SE Nav felt very linear in its power supply. And all from 3 cylinders too.

    Living with this little engined big car is quite easy too. It has all the attributes of a Golf. You can’t fault the fit and finish. Again VW has moved the goal posts on quality. There was once a state of play where lower models really did feel like the bread and butter of the range. Not so here. It clunked like a Golf should.

    Easy is probably the key to the 1 litre SE Nav. Combined fuel economy of 58.9 mpg is good. How good that will be with 4 up and some luggage is anyone’s guess. The trouble with a little engine is that it needs to be worked hard. If most of the time you will travel by yourself or with one other, I doubt you will notice much of a difference.

    On the move, it shifted. The 6-speed gearbox was easily matched in ratios to the engine. The course set out comprised of a variety of driving situations you’d encounter in a week’s worth of driving. I expected to do a lot of cog swapping but I didn’t. Admittedly 5th and 6th seemed very high and more suited for when the engine is on the A and M roads.  I found 3rd and 4th more than ample in getting me buzzing along.

    Inside there wasn’t much of a cacophony of sounds. Sound deadening being key to the serine driving ambience and quality feel of the cabin. It’s not an exciting cabin to sit in if I’m honest but at £12k less than the higher spec models I have tested you would expect it. It’s Germanic. At the end of the day, it is a Golf and this is what Golf does. And it does it very well.

    I’ve spent a lot of this review talking about the engine and with good reason too. We in the UK seem to sway away from the smaller engined bigger cars and that is a shame. This engine livens up a normal hatchback. The big selling Golf SE Nav 1.4 just can’t better the thrill of the turbo 3 cylinder engine. That said the quandary VW put you in is that the 1.4 starts at just £1300 more. It has more power and will go faster for 4 miles to the gallon less. It’s a tricky one to now call but I’d go with the little engine. From tortoise expectations to hare ability, it’s a total buzz.

    Likes

    Good value
    Sweet little engine
    Ride quality

    Dislikes

    Bit drab inside
    Plain fascia
    Difficult choice choosing 1.0 or 1.4 engines

    The Lowdown
    Car – VW Golf SE Nav 1.0 TSi
    Price – £ 20,065 (as tested)
    MPG – 58.9 mpg (combined)
    Power – 110 bhp
    0-62mph – 9.9 seconds
    Top Speed – 122 mph
    Co2 – 109 (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Volkswagen Golf R (2017)

    VW Golf R | ★★★★

    It might not be the best GTi out there but the Golf GTi does all things to all men and it is where manufacturers set the benchmark. So when you make the most emulated GTi out there, what do you do?

    What you do is not redeveloped your current GTi and make it the best, instead you make another GTi and call it the R. For £32,110 as tested, you also make it compellingly cheap compared to the current GTi at just £4000 more.

    Golf R review

    Let’s get the basic stuff out of the way first. Inside the Golf R it is all very much as the rest of the Golf range. It’s an ergonomic delight and everything feels built to last. Now though in the relaunched Mk7 we have new larger infotainment screen and adaptive dials too. The quality of fittings, while not all improved have had some VW engineering work carried out on them. It has moved Golf up higher in quality feel over its rivals.

    Everything is to hand. The dials are easy to read and with the new active info display graphics, it’s still as easy to read but this time you are given extras. The ability to allow the sat nav display within the fascia is a keen selling point for me. It allows split second glances and all the information you require is there. This is also true for the speed you are travelling at. In the Golf R it is something you need to keep a keen eye on. The display itself has 4 user settings. I’m not sure if this is a good or bad thing with a shared car. Sometimes you want to keep your driving styles when alone a secret.

    Golf R Review

    In the R model, we are treated to supportive seats with cloth inserts. I find cloth a much better option to have in view of leather being a bit slippery on hard cornering. In the Golf R you don’t want a loss of traction between your bottom and the seat when the cornering G’s are rising fast!

    There are little touches around the cabin to remind you that you are in the R model. Little touches that make it very distinctive. These also stretch outside too with blue being the colour choice instead of the GTi’s red that blends into the headlights.

    Back to the nitty gritty and £4000 of anyone’s money sounds a lot and if truth be told, the Golf range with any street cred isn’t cheap these days. You can get all the fun of having a Golf GTi with the £10,000 cheaper GT. What you don’t get though is a Golf R.

    The Golf R is a serious road warrior. I opted for the longer test route VW had set out during the relaunch of Golf 7. There were a few moments where l had to slow up the fun for the head rush was something else. The magic of the Golf R is that it does all this while also retaining a sense of normality. I’m not sure how Volkswagen has managed this but it is deep within the DNA of Golf.

    The GTi we tested had this ability to be humble to its basic principle and then a savage monster. It’s just that in the Golf R it is, even more savage when you want it to and it sounds it too.

    Now don’t think that being 4 wheel drive makes this an agricultural tractor. Remember the VW group have an enviable developments history with all-wheel drive systems. The 4 motion 4 wheel drive system adds about 119kg in weight and it doesn’t hinder its go fast forward motion. I’d go as far to say that the extra weight in the rear from the differential makes it a far more balanced chassis.

    With this in mind, the Gold R really can handle the power And that power is increased from the GTi’s 230 PS to 310 PS. That’s not just a bit more power but a bloody bucket full of moist making power.

    There is also no penalty either. While all this fun comes in at higher up the rev range, the pulling power of torque comes in much lower and lasts for what feels like it will never end starting from a lowly 2000 to 5400 rpm. It does it quickly but it has almost 1000 rpm more of a power band over the GTi to make it so worth while. 0-60 time is also smashed to just over 5 seconds. Remember then that this is all in a 5 door family hatchback! Or a 3 door hatchback and now in a very practical load-lugging estate!

    So as you can see then I am taken by the Golf R and that extra £4k is making sense. And it does. It’s blisteringly quick. Will put a MASSIVE smile on your face and then it will settle back to do the daily commute and sit in traffic like butter wouldn’t melt in its mouth.

    Would I have one? It’s a difficult six million dollar question but the answer is no. I’ll keep my £4k and go with the GTi. It’s less frenetic when it needs to be but also feels more in keeping with being a hot hatch. Somehow the Golf R with its 4 wheel drive and beautiful weight distribution just feels like I am cheating a bit.

    Likes

    Ability to drive like a bat out of hell or a commuter car
    Practical hatchback or estate
    Ride quality

    Dislikes

    Not enough exterior differences to make it look different to the GTi
    Comes in estate form too. Absurd. (I’m clutching at straws to make a list of 3 here)
    Too many choices of body (That’s actually a good thing too)

    The Lowdown
    Car – VW Golf
    Price – £ 32,110 (as tested)
    MPG – 37.7 mpg (combined)
    Power – 310 bhp
    0-62mph – 5.1 seconds
    Top Speed – 155 mph
    Co2 – 180 (g/km)

  • A Day Spent At The Golf Club

    A Day Spent At The Golf Club

    TheGayUK were fortunate enough to have been invited to the launch of the Mk7 Golf. It wasn’t exactly a new launch but more an update of an existing model. Ever since the Beetle, VW have had a tendency to bring in updates as and when to make a product better. Let’s put it this way, there were more than enough updates to cause a relaunch.

    © Stuart M Bird

    Changes visually were down to lights and bumpers. It’s the technology that lives under the skin that was the main focus. Good news for the Golf driver was prices were down around £650 on average per car.

    We met with Mike Orford, VW’s head of press and public relations. He gave us an over view of what Volkswagen were doing at the time. VW are going full steam to gain buyer confidence in the face of Dieselgate. So far 560,000 cars have gone through the recall, that’s just about 50%. To be honest, with the continuing sales of VW products, you would think Dieselgate was accent history. The reason being for continued European sales is that Volkswagen do make a good product.

    © Stuart M Bird

    Mike talked about new cars coming our way. Some made specifically for overseas markets. A shame really because a couple looked fine and dandy. What l did find puzzling was Volkswagens focus on being less German. If l got that right then l am perplexed. I own 2 Volkswagens myself because of the Germanic quality. This also runs true for Audi.

    Being the biggest car company in the world you can guess one thing. The Golf is the biggest seller. It’s the car every manufacture has tried to emulate. Some have bettered it in places but none have ever made a car as good overall. One of the key facts is its build quality and longevity. This was born true with my old Mk2 still in its prime parked in and amongst the shiny new examples.

    Did you know that there are now 113 different variants of Golf to be had? Basically that means there is now a Golf to suit everybody with prices starting from £17,625 for the 3 door 1 litre TSI to £33,935 for the 5 door, 7 speed R. These are prices without extras. It’s the extras that soon add up as the following reviews to be posted will show. For example the R model l tested was £455 cheaper than the GTE hybrid at £38,175. That GTE really is a car. I was more excited about that one than any other on the day.

    © Stuart M Bird

    In total l managed to test 4 models. The 2 already mentioned plus the Alltrack estate and a 1 litre SE Nav. It gave me a good example of what Golf now offered. Put it this way, when my Golf was new there were about 12 models available. The market has changed.

    So while l take it all in, try and put it into words, here are some pictures of the event with reviews to follow…

    © Stuart M Bird

     

    © Stuart M Bird

  • CAR REVIEW | Golf GTE

    ★★★★★ | VW Golf GTE Advance 1.4 TSI 150 PS 6 speed DSG 5 door

    There’s A Kind Of Hush All Over Wolfsberg Tonight…

    Volkswagen has teased us with alternative fuelling since the 70s. Back them they fitted 860kg of batteries to a VW T2 panel van. They also played with a hybrid system consisting of 11 batteries in and around the cabin in a T2 taxi. Thankfully battery technology has evolved and we can now get far more from so little.

    In the early 90s alternative fuel and efficiency became less of the buzz work since the fuel crisis of the 70s and more emphasis was placed on environmental issues. Reluctant as we were to give up our four wheels, people wanted greener cars. The diesel car was sold as the greener alternative to petrol, this was when petrol engines were equipped catalytic converters and diesels still filled the air with heavy clouds of sotted pollutant.

    The Golf went through a phase of being battery powered. There was the CityStromer. It gave about 30 miles to a charge making it as good as a milk float. Remember the 30 miles though. It’s a magic number. However, in 1990 there was work on a diesel hybrid Mk2 Golf. VW was on to something. I remember it well. A white Mk2 with big bumpers and garish yellow, orange and red stripes. And then it all went quiet.

    Fast forward 27 years and the electric buzz is back at Volkswagen. There is a new hybrid Golf and the technology isn’t just staying on the Golf. We’ll have it on a lot of other VW’s.


    THEGAYUK was invited to attend the launch of the updated Golf Mk7 and it was the GTE I was most interested in trying. Having recently become a convert of the hybrid, l wanted to see how Volkswagen had executed the package. More importantly, I wanted to know how they transferred the power to the wheels.

    I am glad to say it is impressive. They use their DSG gearbox. This is an electronically controlled dual-clutch multiple-shaft manual gearbox that either changes like a conventional automatic or you can use manual inputs should you wish. Having tried this gearbox on many VW’s over the years I can say it works well unless the car has been modified. Then it becomes quite snatchy.

    There were no such issues. This thing was magic. What it does do is overshadow Toyota’s efforts and puts them in the dark ages where hybrid technology has evolved to. The main reason is the choice of drivetrain. In other words, this isn’t a CVT gearbox.

    I don’t know if it was the engineers having a laugh or not but the sound button on the centre console did make me chuckle. Press the sound button and it would emit an audible noise. Apparently, pedestrians are being hit or surprised by hybrid cars. I think having the choice of sound would be quite fun. I’d like a low flying aircraft.

    Enough of my rambling thoughts and back to the GTE. Unlike “conventional” hybrids, the Golf can be selected to drive in any of its three drive modes. Full electric, hybrid or full petrol. The electric is a plug-in type that can be around 80% charged in about 30 minutes. The engine used is the 1395cc petrol unit making 150ps at 5000-6000rpm. The electric motor makes 102ps at 2500rpm.

     

    In full battery mode, you’ll get that magic 30 miles on a charge. Fear not of running out of power because the petrol engine will jump in and help regenerate power. Likewise, should you floor it and need acceleration, again the petrol engine will jump into life. Unlike a CVT gearbox, the DSG will surge away in utter refinement. All this dashing around can achieve a 0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds. Put into perspective, the 2 litre 310ps Golf R will do the same in 5.1 seconds. This is no hybrid to sniff at. As a matter of fact when all systems are powered up it is pushing out 258Ibs ft of torque. That’s 22 less than the Golf R.

    On the move it was phenomenal. It was quiet. Admittedly the gravel tracks around the Woburn estate could be clearly heard. Once on the main road, it was amazzzzzing. I used some of the test in full battery mode to see what it would do. It behaved like a petrol car except there was a silent surge forward from the instant power the electronic motor gave out. I couldn’t stop smiling.

    In engine and battery power kicked in silently and effortlessly in hybrid mode. It was totally fuss-free. Competent, powerful, had the ability to assist in power delivery for overtaking and all safe in the knowledge that both power systems worked together for maximum efficiency,

    In petrol only mode you were given a Golf that would do what Golfs have done for the past 43 years and that is carry you in a well-made car. Longevity was a key feature mentioned at the launch. A 12 year body protection warranty is proof alone that the Golf will be sticking around.

    Warranty is however always a worry for batteries. VW offer an 8 year/99,360 mile one on them. Why it is 640 mile short of 100,000 miles I do not know.

    There is a down side. It’s the price. Basic price is £31,480. That Golf R and all its crazy power has a starting price of £31,510. Despite the GTE being quick and able to achieve amazing things, it doesn’t do it in the way of the almost same priced R. That said it also doesn’t give you the same head rush as the R and maybe now and again I prefer my car a little less hooligan.

    That in mind a quick look at the recently tested Toyota C-HR was £28,000. In my mind it seems to now be making the Golf R seem like the bargain buy that it shouldn’t be. It’s a quandary that I am in. I liked both Golfs. One that I can justify is the 1 litre TSi. Perhaps l should just have that and add a few stickers to the outside.

    Likes

    Choose the power supply manually
    Transmission of power to the wheels via the DSG gearbox
    Ride quality

    Dislikes

    The price
    Only available in a GT sporty package (at present)
    Questionable combined fuel figures

    The Lowdown
    Car – VW Golf GTE Advance 1.4 TSI 150 PS 6 speed DSG 5 door
    Price – £32,135 (as tested)
    MPG – 156.9 mpg (combined)
    Power – 258bhp
    0-62mph – 7.6 seconds
    Top Speed – 138 mph
    Co2 – 38 (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Volkswagen’s Golf GTi

    ★★★★ | Volkswagen’s Golf GTi redefined the go faster car in the 70s. With its hatchback styling, it started the Hot Hatch trend that we have seen go from strength to strength. It was then seen as the benchmark for all GTi’s in the 80s and thanks to high insurance premiums and a lack of love GTi’s felt in the 90s, it lost its way.

    © VW

    It tried to bounce back with lacklustre attempts in its Mk4 guise but then love for the GTi returned. Volkswagen saw the errors of their ways and addressed the situation.

    Now in its 7th generation, the Golf has stayed true to form. Its design is simple both inside and out. While some manufactures have opted for garish add-ons and bulges in places, VW have not. Likewise, they have not tried to redesign the hatchback with pointless styling that can date very quickly. Outside they have ironed out a few lines, placed emphasis on simplistic looks and then added some Golf GTi design touches.

    © VW

    The red line along the grill blending into the front lights is a nice touch. Inside it is all very Golf. There is no mistaking that you are in anything else other than a Golf. This Mk7, like my own Mk2, is like slipping into comfy slippers and that is why the Golf is still ahead of the game with a philosophy VW had perfected from the days of the Beetle. Make changes only where needed and do no more other than to make it better.

    Anyway enough of the old and more of the new. On the road, this is one quick car. 0-60 comes up in just over 6 seconds and reaches legal speed limits before you realise. Add to this the almost sumptuous comfort and you soon lose sense of what fast actually feels like. Standing starts feel quick but soon blend into a senseless wonder of how fast you are actually going.

    What aids this is the 5 road settings. There are soft settings, hard settings and mixture settings where you can choose the damping rates, gear changes and steering feel. This Golf doesn’t compromise you in any way. You can have a fast Golf with comfort or a fast Golf with a spine-jarring sporty ride.

     

    © VW

    The economy is a marvel too. Father in the passenger seat, we managed around 40 mpg on the way to Bognor. After l had kicked him out, l managed 17 mpg according to the computer. With fuel figures like these, you could be hard pressed to find a car that has so many life skills. Todays GTi is to all men and women a satisfying car to pilot if you want a Golf that will take you places without fuss or a full on GTi with excitement to match that red stripe in the grill. It doesn’t scream at you that it is can be a flat out fast machine. It’s identity is the GTi badge. Subtle and discreet.

    All this fun from a Golf that now has a faster model in the range coming out soon is to the GTi’s benefit. The GTi has a crossed over identity. It’s not the fast thrills and frills GTi it used to be. Then again it isn’t a GTi that you can’t live with if it is to be your only car. 3 or 5 doors, space for 1 to 5 and luggage space to match. It’s practical. It is put together well.  Above all, it’s a Volkswagen.

    VW’s philosophy just gets better and better. It doesn’t age either. You could be forgiven for having a mind blank when trying to figure out if this is the mk7 or 6 or is it a 5? It’s not a 5. You know it isn’t a 5. However, the shape isn’t too dissimilar to the Golf 2 generations ago. This time they have made it look sharper. Squared off those rounded shapes, flattened a few lines. Golf doesn’t have swoops and curves. It remains crisp and sharp for an entire production run and continues to do so when it is replaced. The major contributing factor is that Golf is so on the money all of the time. Others fail to emulate it. It’s almost like VW’s design team have a crystal ball.

    I still marvel at its on-road ability. I can’t actually place it as an out and out performer because it is everything you could want. So we shall set it to comfort and drive it. You can drive it fast. The DSG auto box changes smoothly. The ride is compliant. It glides along. It’s very Golf.

    © VW

    Change the settings and add a little magic and Golf becomes more GTi. Changes are sharper, steering becomes more communicative requiring increased input. The gliding becomes more ‘Jack Rabbit’ and this time it darts around the road.

    Roundabouts become playgrounds. Entries and exits are now flatter and quicker. Using the steering wheel paddles for gear changing allows you to now choose when the changes happen. This allows full access to the 227bhp available at 4500rpm. Stretch it further and it’ll reward you even though you are well past the peak torque at a lowly 1500rpm.

    Inside it remains Golf. The retro check GTi fabric on the seats is also another nice touch. At night there are red lights that appear within the red strip of the front doors. It’s a shame this doesn’t stretch to the rear doors.

    It’s still expensive and on paper at least, it seems a little behind the times. 40 years on it is still the GTi king. There is no getting away from that fact. You cannot deny the Golf GTi that title.

    In a time where excessive add-ons are the norm, the subtlety of the Golf rewards you with a competent car that to drive is both rewarding or comfortable or both. It’s just that l don’t know which one of the two rewards is the better?

    Likes 
    Retro GTi touches
    Ride
    Performance

    Loathes 
    Generic VW dashboard
    Red lighting not in the rear doors
    Price

    The Lowdown 
    Car – Volkswagen Golf GTi DSG
    Price – £30,925
    MPG – 44.1(combined)
    Power – 227bhp @ 4500rpm
    0-62mph – 6.4 seconds
    Top Speed – 154 mph
    Co2 – 149 (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | 1996 Volkwagen Polo L

    Po-Low not so Mint for £70. The Gay UK’s First Car.

    CREDIT: Stuart M Bird

    Writing about cars and testing various marques might sound glamorous but beneath the glitz of a new car is the darker world of the second hand car market. Sometimes 7 hands. Sometimes even more.

    Working in the motor trade, from time to time you get offered some real gems. My current mobile is an old Golf that a customer wanted us to dispose off. l couldn’t allow that to happen. Four years later and a couple of mechanical failures later we are still together. That kind of thing doesn’t happen often. My ears pricked up when l heard another customer’s Volkswagen was going on the market and l decided to take a chance without the editors knowing. Oops.

    It’s called “Bangernomics”. In a nutshell it is to buy something cheap and hope for the best. More often than not it is done when you are in desperate need of some wheels. I’ve bought my fair share of bangers over the 20 odd years l have driven. Sometimes they come with an MOT longer than a month. Sometimes they come with some history. More often than not they are pieces of shit.

    For this dabble into bangernomics l give you The Gay UK’s first car purchase. A red 1996 Volkswagen Polo L for the princely sum of just £70. Or to put it another way, 7.3 days worth of train fare bought us a Volkswagen.

    CREDIT: Stuart M Bird

    For that money you don’t get electric windows. In fact none of the windows opened because the regulators had failed. There is no central locking because it is a poverty model and at present the boot does not open. Over inflate the tyres and there is your power steering and the glove box is now a very spacious hole because the lid is missing.

    All is not lost. What we do get for that £70 is a CD radio, remote adjustable door mirrors and it has some 10 months MOT. That’s it. No one said it was perfect. In fact no one said it was alright either.

    At the garage we scrutinised the car from 10 paces. You’ll not find any corrosion on Polo. The nearside rear wing my be a little rusty due to an altercation with an immovable object but that is it. Its once all over red paint I am sure was the talk of the showroom. Twenty years later and it has held up quite well for red paint that it. A colour that UV rays like to fade. This one did show signs of touch up here and there using parts from a blue car. Judging the car today you wonder how bad the donor car was if it kept this one alive!

    Amazingly, for an unloved, the interior is holding up quite well. I say quite well in as much as the fabrics still look capable of withstanding another 20 years. This car comes from a time when VW over engineered everything even down to the carpets. One air vent doesn’t quite aim in the direction you’d like it to.

    It started quite well on the drive home. That little engine of 998cc felt quite spritely. You could say it was eager. This enthusiasm soon died down. Actually the enthusiasm abruptly ended when the engine got warm. This was where the horrendous flat spot from 1/4 – 3/4 throttle became apparent.

    On the move is where you discover what it is like to drive a car that once had 50 brake horse power. Some of those horses have left either on their own accord or legged it to the lasagne factory. Those that have stayed are loyal horses that give you all they have and that isn’t much.

    Seriously it isn’t.

    The Polo struggled to go over 65mph and only gun-ho shouting, bouncing and rocking like some wild western cowboy managed to push those horses to give an extra 5mph. All that excitement was lost when 5th gear was selected some horse power that was made was lost while several horses took a mid drive nap.

    CREDIT: Stuart M Bird

    Small engined cars can bring out the best in you though. Once you find out how to get the momentum going you find it a game of cat and mouse to keep it going. With this you discover the handling of the Polo. That non-assisted steering is woefully indirect were grand gestures of the steering wheel are needed to navigate anything with a bend.

    It was good to know that the oil pressure light worked. What l did find after the thrash home was that there was hardly any oil in it. On removing the filler cap it was full of a mucky substance reminiscent to treacle. Thankfully it was not terminal or more worryingly a sign of a blown head gasket. Just good old fashioned lack of maintenance. Three litres of oil later – that is the equivalent to a full oil change –  and this annoying rattling noise sort of vanished. It did prove to me what an amazingly tough engine this Polo has.

    It’s motoring on a budget. Get over the failings and something like our Polo could work its way into your heart.

    CREDIT: Stuart M Bird

    To sum it up, is it any good? It is a dreadful car. I tried a social experiment and left it opened and unlocked everywhere I went. No one stole it. No one left me a couple of quid in it either. As a dumper car it’ll perform perfectly. It’ll take you and the dog to the park and back on a muddy wet day. Garden waste will not be a problem. You won’t loose any sleep scratching it while on the dump run. Trouble is I have a tendency to want to leave it there.

    Likes
    Cheap
    More reliable than public transport
    Park anywhere ability

    Loathes
    It’s a VW for £70. What is there to dislike?

    The Lowdown
    Car – Volkswagen Polo L
    Price – £70
    MPG – 40 I suppose
    Power – 30+ bhp probably
    0-62mph – Many seconds
    Top Speed – 70 mph
    Co2 – Some, probably quite a lot (g/km)

  • CAR REVIEW | Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet 1.2 TSI

    The Volkswagen Beetle has been around for over seventy years now with this being only the third all-new variant. ★★★

    Although the original Beetle soldiered on until 2003 in Mexico, we Europeans got the second generation car back in the late nineties. Whilst that traded on the rounded, cutesy looks of the original, it was considered way too feminine for many. Volkswagen looked to change that with this third generation car we first saw back in 2011.

    This model saw a few of the curves squared off while the roof line was dropped significantly to give it a more coupe-like profile. Naturally, if you really wanted to get the roof low, there was always the convertible we’re looking at here. The third generation of Beetle is available with a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines ranging between 1.2 and 2.0 litres. In this instance, we’re looking at the entry-level petrol version hooked up to the seven-speed automatic gearbox.

    You might think a 1.2-litre engine may seem small for a Golf-sized cabrio but a turbocharger gives performance that is more the adequate 90% of the time. Only when pulling onto a dual carriageway with a particularly short slip road do you feel like more power is needed. Slow your pace a little and the engine always feels willing, never seeming to struggle with inclines as some smaller engined cars do. The quick shifting and buttery smooth automatic gearbox helps greatly. There are steering wheel mounted paddles to shift up and down, however, I think I used them once.

    The main reason for leaving it in auto mode is that spirited driving is not the Beetle’s forte. Not only does it take nearly 12 seconds to reach 60mph, it’s never particularly entertaining around corners either. Sure, there’s prodigious amounts of grip but it never feels overly happy being thrown about. There’s precious little feedback from the steering and the suspension has most definitely been set up for comfort not cornering.
    Don’t get me wrong though, it’s unlikely you’d ever buy one instead of a sports car so why should it handle like one? Driven at a more leisurely pace you can enjoy the supple suspension ironing out bumps, let the gearbox shuffle through the gears and marvel at the lack of creaks and groans coming from the car’s structure. You’d expect some floppiness from hacking the roof off but the Beetle remains pleasantly stiff even up the roughest of roads. As an added bonus, you can raise or lower the roof at up to 31mph too.

    This feeling of quality permeates throughout the cabin with every button, stalk and switch operating with the kind of well-oiled precision the Germans do so well. Body coloured panels inside also help lift the interior and hark back to the original Beetle. The optional infotainment system as fitted to our test car proved easy to use with little to no lag plus great sound quality from the upgraded Fender sound system. This car also had Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for even greater Smartphone connectivity.
    For me though, the most important option by far was the heated seats that came as part of a winter pack. Being able to open the roof on a clear yet bitterly cold morning with my back and bottom being gently toasted as the sun rose was a real highlight of my time with the Beetle. Tempting as raiding the options list is, care is needed. All in all our test vehicle had over £3,000 of options fitted pushing the price up to over £26,000. Over £1,200 of that was on the audio and infotainment system alone.

    Another downside is reduced practicality thanks to the convertible roof. Gone is the wide-opening hatchback and instead is a small boot-lid that can make unloading objects deep in the luggage compartment tricky. I would also recommend giving the rear seats a try before you buy. I’m sure they’re fine for occasional use but I found them to be very upright and not overly comfortable. Headroom was fine even with the roof up but then I am less than 5’ 4”.

    There’s a good chance that your decision to buy a Beetle Cabriolet will come down to one thing, the looks. At around £1,000 more than a more practical Golf Cabriolet, you really need to love the styling to pick the Beetle over it. If the Bug does take your fancy, then it’s an undoubtedly well-made and comfortable cabrio that is certainly a little different. Thrill-seekers should look elsewhere, however.

     

    Pros

    Premium feel

    Comfortable

    Smooth auto gearbox

    Cons

    Could do with a little more power

    Cramped rear seats

    Can get pricey with options

    The Lowdown

    Car – Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet Design 1.2 TSI

    Price – £23,070 (£26,375 as tested)

    Power – 105hp

    0-60 – 11.7 seconds

    Top Speed – 111 mph

    Co2 – 127g/km

  • CAR REVIEW | Auto, Erotic?

    While we all like to think we’re not swayed by fancy cars, there’s no doubt the right motor can aid access to the pants of others. Whether it’s through first impressions or a well-placed mattress in the back, here’s my top 10.

    Aston Martin
    With most of this list I’ve had to specify a single model, with Aston Martin pretty much any car they’ve produced will do the job. Helped no doubt by the James Bond effect, they have been consistently voted one of the coolest brands out there while there’s arguably no such thing as an ugly Aston. Even though they are ridiculously expensive new, they somehow manage to not make you look like a cock behind the wheel. This makes it all the more likely you’ll be getting cock if you’re seen driving one.

    VW Camper (T1 or T2)
    If you’re thinking of a campervan, chances are you’ll think of one of Volkswagen’s old school rear-engined models. Although you can buy a new one, it’s the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s models that have the most appeal with their retro looks and easy going nature. If you’re not sold on the styling, there’s always a freezer for your poppers and a fold out bed for whatever happens afterwards. Just remember, if the van’s rockin’ don’t come knockin’.

    Alfa Romeo 4C
    After years in the wilderness, Alfa has produced a car that is quite simply sex on 4 wheels. From the gorgeous ‘tele-dial’ wheels to the sensuous lines of the carbon fibre bodywork, it’s comfortably one of the best looking cars currently available at any price point. That it costs a relatively low £50k shouldn’t matter as numbers will be limited, ensuring not everyone with the funds can get hold of one. Only the most acrobatic amongst you will be able to get up to anything inside, thankfully carbon fibre doesn’t dent.

    Citroen DS
    When it was introduced back in 1955, the DS was a sensation delivering the kind of styling previously seen in science fiction to the common man. Not only did it look space age but there was plenty of tech under the skin too. Those stunning looks will get the attention of your intended conquest while there’s a big rear bench between the rear doors if you keep their interest. Should things get a little too kinky, there’s a big boot to dispose of the body.

    Jeep Wrangler
    It was a toss up (if you’ll pardon the pun) between this and a Land Rover Defender when it came to picking a macho retro 4×4. Ultimately the Wrangler’s relative rarity sealed the deal, not that I was at all swayed by being lent one (see elsewhere in the issue for my review). Not only do they look great but you really can drive pretty much anywhere to find a secluded spot. Heavy duty rubber floor mats mean the clean up operation is pretty easy too.

    Jaguar E-Type
    Frequently described as the most beautiful car ever made, the E-Type is still a stunning shape today. A meaty straight 6 and later a V12 made sure the car went as well as it looked too. While being classy, it also sports one of the most phallic bonnets every created, its rounded tip stretching far into the distance from the cockpit. The coupe is a bit cramped for getting up to much mischief but there’s always the soft top version for alfresco action.

    Tesla Model S
    With a Tesla, you can have your cake and eat it. Not only do you appear to care for the environment thanks to zero emissions when in use, the all-electric Model S is also seriously fast. In other words, you can still have motoring fun without pissing off any environmentally conscious targets and therefore attracting a whole new demographic. Boss of Tesla Elon Musk was apparently an inspiration for Robert Downey Jr’s portrayal of Tony Stark in Iron Man, that coolness does trickle down to both car and driver which can’t hurt either.

    Rolls Royce Phantom
    For some people, there’s nothing more attractive than extravagant displays of wealth and nothing quite says ‘I’ve got more money than some third world countries’ than the big Roller. True, the Bugatti Veyron and a few other hypercars may be pricier but do they have built in champagne coolers? No. Do they have carpets thick enough to dull the noise of even the loudest lay you piledrive into it? No. Nor will they have room in the back to do, well, pretty much anything. Just make sure the chauffeur’s partition is closed before things get too messy, unless you like that kind of thing of course. If you’re seriously fugly, this is probably your best bet.

    Fiat/Bertone X1/9
    The problem with mid-engined supercars is that they do suggest you might be compensating for a shortfall in the trouser department. If you do want a vehicle that’s Italian, has the motor in the middle and is an open 2 seater but doesn’t make people think you’re hung like a hamster, the X1/9 is the car for you. At 3.8 meters long it’s shorter than a Ford Fiesta and powered by a dinky 1.3 or 1.5 litre lump. The shrunken supercar look makes for a cute classic that definitely turns heads.

    Koenigsegg Regera
    If you must have a supercar to attract attention, you might as well make it one of the rarest and most bonkers. Koenigsegg will only build 80 Regeras and each one is a technical tour de force with an 1100 bhp V8 and 3 electric motors. 0-248 mph allegedly takes under 20 seconds, crazy numbers for a road car. If pure speed doesn’t impress then you can open the doors, bonnet and entire rear section of the car via your smartphone. If you like ‘em superficial and easy then this is the car for you.

  • Top Ten Motoring News This Week From Corsas To Teslas

    After complaints were made about an ‘ugly yellow car’, a local resident’s Vauxhall Corsa, ruining photographs of a Cotswolds’ village, Vauxhall have come up with an optional camouflage net for the car. Available in Flaming Yellow, Flame Red, Lime Green and Chilli Orange, they claim the bizarre accessory ‘has been designed specifically for use near National Trust premises and chocolate box Cotswold villages’. I think Vauxhall may be taking the p*ss somewhat.

    (more…)

  • MOTORING: Ten Soft Tops For Summer Under £5k

    You might think I’m insane for suggesting you buy an open car in the middle of winter but there is method to my madness.

     

    Quite rightly you’ll be thinking that you’ll barely ever get the roof down and you might as well get something with more than a bit of canvas between you and the elements. Unsurprisingly, everyone else will be thinking the same ensuring demand is low as are prices. Just £700 will get you into the cheapest car on the list while others have hard roofs that leave them feeling very similar to a regular car. Whether you just want to look good and catch some sun or if you want something that carves through corners and devours straights, there’s a car on the list for you. If not, please feel free to share what you’ve found!

    1. Volkswagen Golf Mk3 Convertible – £700

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/volkswagen/golf-mk3-mk4/volkswagen-golf-2-0-avantgarde-convertible-manual-only-two-owners-good-condition-mot-till-october-2015-electric-hood/2688004

    Topless thrills don’t have to cost thousands, this Golf is cheap to buy, cheap to insure with a classic policy and should prove pretty reliable too. Although it’s 20 years old it still has plenty of toys although don’t expect it to be the most exciting car to drive. With an MOT till October, you could use it until autumn next year and sell it for what you paid for it. Alternatively, tidy the car up and it could be a reliable retro ride for many years to come.

    1. Ford StreetKa – £1476
      http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/ford/streetka/ford-streetka-1-6i-2dr/3035341

    Don’t just think of this as a regular Ka with the roof sawn off, Ford spent a lot of time and money re-engineering this with a bigger engine and wider, stiffer suspension. It’s no rocketship but it’ll still feel quick enough around town and be a hoot round bends. You do lose 2 seats compared to the hatchback but you gain a much more stylish rump. Being a Ford, it should be cheap to run and pretty reliable. If it does go wrong, parts are cheap.

    1. Fiat Barchetta – £1950

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/fiat/barchetta/fiat-barchetta-convertibl-1998/2441591

    Fancy a sexy Italian for the summer? How about the Fiat Barchetta? A rare sight on UK roads, probably thanks to them being left hand drive only, they’re a good looking alternative to the ubiquitous Mazda MX-5. Underneath it’s based on the Fiat Punto meaning predictable front wheel drive handling and fairly cheap running costs. It also means that if it does go wrong, which it might, bits are cheap. A lively 135 bhp engine makes the car pretty nippy and they handle well too.

    1. Toyota MR-2 MK-3 – £2795

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/toyota/mr2/toyota-mr2-mk3-roadster—————–2003/3021610

    If your main reason for buying a sports car is that you love driving, the MR-2 needs your attention. Although it’s not the prettiest car here, it’s light, mid engined and rear wheel drive. Add feelsome steering and an engine with just enough power to make things interesting and you have the ingredients for serious fun. Being a Toyota, it’ll be endlessly reliable and servicing shouldn’t be too costly either. It won’t be overly practical and there’s only room for one passenger but hey, your friends can always take the bus.

    1. MG Midget £3450

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/mg/midget/1979-mg-midget-1500/3088628

    You don’t have to spend a great deal to get a proper classic like this MG Midget. You do have to be careful to avoid buying a rusty old money pit, however this dry stored example should be a good bet. The mechanicals are simple (the engine is shared with the original Mini) so don’t expect modern levels of grip, braking or safety. The upshot is that you don’t have to go fast to have fun and the kind of looks that you just don’t get anymore. Be prepared to get your hands dirty though, MGs can be temperamental.

    1. Smart Roadster £4500

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/smart-car/roadster/smart-roadster-80-rhd-2dr-auto-fsh-low-mileage/2826209
    In many respects this Smart Roadster is the modern day MG Midget. It’s similarly tiny, shares its engine with an economy car and is cheap to run. Available only as a semi-automatic, it could be argued the slow witted and clumsy gearbox ruins the car. Learn to work with it and you’ll find a chuckable chassis, accurate steering and a great sounding turbocharged engine. The looks are Marmite and storage limited but they are bloody good fun. It’s easy to squeeze a few more horsepower from the engine too.

    1. Jeep Wrangler – £4450

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/jeep/wrangler/jeep-wrangler-4-0-petrol-limited-edition-65k-mileage/3222334Just because you’re buying a car to enjoy in the summer doesn’t mean it won’t prove invaluable in winter. This Jeep Wrangler offers a removable roof for the sun and 4 wheel drive with chunky tyres for the snow. The brick like aerodynamics and massive 4.0 litre engine will mean you’ll be very friendly with your local petrol station attendant but they are at least pretty reliable. Wranglers are very much an old school 4×4 so don’t expect the best road manners either.

    1. Mercedes SL320 £4490

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/mercedes-benz/sl/mercedes-sl-320——————1994/3102387

    If I was picking the classiest drop top from this list, the SL would win every time. This immaculate 1994 car comes with one of the smaller engines of the range which should save a few quid on petrol and servicing. Besides, the SL is not really about going fast, it’s about looking good. It also comes with a removable hard top to keep the heat in and car thieves out. Classic insurance won’t be expensive and old SLs tend to go up in value if you look after them….

    1. BMW M3 Evo – £4995

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/bmw/e36-m3-92-99/bmw-e36-m3-evo–low-mileage–3-keys/2895944

    Here’s a convertible that’ll really put the wind in your hair thanks to over 300 bhp from a brawny straight 6 engine. This 1996 example has been well looked after and comes in the best colour too. Inside is leather and luxury while you can even seat 4 at a push. Being an M3, parts and servicing will be on the expensive side as will the fuel bills. If you like the looks but don’t need the performance or expense, consider the lower powered 318i, 320i or 325i, they’re much cheaper to buy and run.

    1. Renault Wind – £4988

    http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/renault/wind/renault-wind-1-6-vvt-dynamique-s-2dr/3199982

    Once you’ve stopped laughing at the stupid name, the Wind is well worth your consideration. For a start, this is only 4 years old with just 36000 miles. For seconds it shares a lot with the Renaultsport Twingo, a great little hot hatch and for thirds it’s actually practical for a 2 seat roadster. A clever folding hardtop gives plenty of boot space that isn’t impacted when the roof is stowed (unlike a Merc SLK or Peugeot 308CC) and avoids a massive arse. The name killed sales in the UK so they’re rare but well worth tracking down.