May 2004
After HJ asked for user comments on the VW Touran, I thought I?d write a ?review?. After 2.5k miles, and one trip to the dealer for a couple of minor niggles, I am still happy with my purchase, and would recommend it to anyone?s short list.
Model: Touran 1.6FSI S 7 seat
Registered: March 04
What?s Good: Space, Versatility, Noise Levels, Comfort, Equipment levels, Safety equipment, Handling.
What?s not so good: ?A? pillars big, some minor niggles (fixed by dealer), CAN bus system makes fitting accessories expensive, handbrake ?LHD?.
In more detail;
The car handles better than my old (2001MY) Polo SDI, and I?ve only had the traction control kick in once (a roundabout at 40mph). Once you are in, apart from the greater height, you would not know it?s an MPV. Round town there is little engine noise, no wind noise but some tyre rumble. Speed cushions float by, and potholes are a slight bump. At higher speeds, the engine is more pronounced, and so is the tyre rumble, but no real wind noise. Fully loaded, the torque of a diesel would be nice, and to get any sort of performance you have to get the engine into ?normal? mode above 3000rpm. However the transition between ?lean? and ?normal? is not as pronounced as a 1.6VTEC Civic.
Carrying capacity is good. I?ve had 4 adults (three over 6ft) and two children, plus a pram, in comfort. That said, my eight year old would prefer not to sit in the rear seats for a very long journey. The individual fold/removable seats make load carrying easy. It has also swallowed a cot bed and a fridge freezer, and still had room for a passenger in the rear. When the middle row of seats is removed however, there is a slight step from the ?boot? base to where the seats were. This can make loading difficult. The catches for the rear two seats also protrude into the boot slightly, which limits the ultimate width of the boot, but I have not had a problem yet.
At the wheel, visibility is good, apart from the large ?A? pillars. I don?t have as bad a problem as HJ highlighted, but I like an upright driving position, so I guess it?s an individual issue. Also, like many modern cars, you can?t see the ?corners?, but you soon learn where they are. There is a place to rest your clutch foot, but the centre console is the same for LHD and RHD cars. This means the hand brake is next to the passenger seat, which can mean playing ?touchy feely? with a passengers dangling hand. Apart from this, the controls are clear, although not as tactile as the Polo?s. Equipment levels are good, better than the equivalent Zafira, but I would recommend an SE over an S. The options list is not that long though (compared to a Zafira), and some things are expensive (a dealer fit towbar is 500ukp, and is the only option at present due to the CAN bus system).
I get 35mpg over mixed driving, and nearer 40 if you take it steady on the motorway below 3000rpm (keeping at or below 70mph). It does though prefer 97 Ron super unleaded over the 95 sort, giving better tractability at low revs. I have not yet compared economy with the two fuels.
Faults: rear wiper one spline out, so it wiped the bodywork. Slight buzz in rear view mirror (replaced). The service display is set to 1500miles, not 10000 miles (I don?t want to pay 10ukp per litre for oil, so it?s set to fixed service intervals) but that?s easy to reset. All bar the service display has been fixed by the dealer (I can?t be bothered to take it back for that, but they know about it).
Sorry for the long post, but I hope it is useful
Joe
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Hello,
Can anybody help me ?
I have got a 1998 A4 1.9TDI SE, and the LCD display in the dashboard doesn't work.
The car runs as with no faults.
Could it be a grounding fault ?
Please anyone help !
Awaiting someones reply. Read more
Johhny,
Sorry for delay - work intervened.
Here is a summary of my experiences with this cluster (made by VDO, now Siemens VDO).
Failure of Trip Computer Display, and of Odometer to continuously update.
History:-
10.01.01 000013m Vehicle delivered.
07.01.02 19,878m Intermittent Trip Computer display first observed. (Stayed off for periods of 10 secs or more). Strange how this occurred just as 12 months warranty ran out.
21.01.02 22,814m Largely off for 1st 44m of 59m journey to work.
During this interval (January to April), the display recovered, then disappeared, then came back again!
May 02 : I removed the cluster and gave it a thorough inspection. Any soldered joints to display looking suspicious of dry joints were re-soldered. All pins from display micro were re-soldered as a precaution. No improvement on re-fitting.
But now Odometer (and trip odo) now only update when you key
off. To reset trip odo, can only be done in keyed off state.
Trip computer display seen once, briefly, that?s all!
Also noticed that Audible signals for Screen Wash level / Tail gate open etc, do not now function.
Also, when display not working it is impossible to adjust the Cluster illumination intensity. Dash panel illumination level remains adjustable.
The vehicle was then permanently in this state:-
· No Trip Computer display
· Odometer, and Trip Odometer, do not update whilst on the move.
· Audible warning signals missing e.g. for tailgate open and low Windscreen Washer Fluid Level.
· Cluster illumination cannot be adjusted. (but dashboard illumination remains adjustable).
Aug 2002, 36000m: Odo and Trip odo resume operating correctly.
Oct 2002, 38,630m: Odo and Trip odo revert back to not being updated on the move.
Finally I decided to renew the cluster. Although having access to VAGCOM, I decided I didnt have much chance of getting the necessary Secret Key Code from a VW dealer, as the one I'd been nurturing for this purpose changed allegance to another brand.
This was done in December 2003, and cost something like £325. £200 parts (exchange unit), £125 labour. All has been OK since.
I am convinced that mine packed up due to an internal fault with the display micro.
Good luck with the soldering iron.
Today is Election Day in the Philippines. This is the usual mix of fiesta, comedy and violence. As usual we have the JI, the MILF, Aby Sayyaf and a host of other loonie toon r******s on the fringes, SWAT chaps with sniffer dogs in shopping malls all that. Whoever wins whoever doesn\'t will cry foul and so on and so forth.
Anyhow it\'s a good day to be confined to barracks, so Growlette is slouched on the couch watching cable and I have not a lot to do. As ever if my ramblings have no relevance to you the \"DC\" option is always there.
My annual pilgrimage (an increasingly reluctant one) to UK is due shortly. Normally this is to visit my lovely mestiza daughter from marriage #2 in Tunbridge Wells, followed on this occasion by a visit to Edinburgh to meet some American and Kiwi pals from the days when we ran the world for DHL. I am certainly looking forward to that. What I am looking forward to less is the getting around bit.
They say comparisons are odious. Well I\'m going to make some, and indeed they are odious.
Driving myself in UK is no longer an option. I find it very scary and extremely stressful. Since the early 90\'s a sheer rudeness and aggression and disregard for others has emerged in the way people drive. The proliferation of petty regulations, the endless restrictions and the jungle of signs and the constant worry you might be breaching one of them distracts from the task of driving safely and in my view is more likely to contribute to accidents than prevent them. They seem to foster and promote irritation which then manifests itself in behaviour at the wheel. If as a visitor in an unknown place you falter or perhaps ease off for a second working out what your next move should be some boor is up your tailpipe flashing his lights, blasting his horn or making obscene gestures. How you people manage this day to day and hold down full time stressful jobs as well beats me.
I used to rent cars at LHR. If you rent one there\'s nowhere to put it when you\'re not using it. If you do find somewhere you think is OK, Dracula\'s daughter clad in black and laden down with radios and barcode scanners materialises from nowhere -- usually an ethic minority with the accompanying chip on the shoulder and proceeds to deliver a lecture. The words \"sir\" and \"please\" and \"can I suggest...\" do not appear to figure in this apparition\'s vocabulary.
When you finally do locate a place, the daily rate would keep the average Filipino family of 5 in fish and rice for a week.
Driving in the Philippines is manic. What road rules there are are honored more in the breach than in the observance. But there is an understood code: you both go for the same bit of road space, whoever gets there first, c\'est la vie, no offence. You defintely do not give the Italian salute, he may have a gun in ther glovebox. Speeding actually is not widespread and while driving standards are universally awful there isn\'t anything personal about it. Although unregulated it is nowhere near as stressful. If you want to go out for the evening and get ripped your neighbour\'s brother will drive your car, wait for you, bring you back for the cost of a case of beer (currently about £3.50). It\'s all very manageable. Every establishment has a security guard on the door and if you tip him P20 (that\'s about 5 pence) he\'ll watch your vehicle for you.
Taxi hire in UK: I have a very nice driver chappie who will pick me up at LHR and take me to T/Wells. He has a comfortable Vectra and is very chatty and reliable. He charges £75 for an hour and a bit journey. I have no doubt this is reasonable.
Taxi hire in Philippines: MNL airport to Angeles City. Similar distance but a bit further. Cost 1600 pesos 200 tip. That\'s £18. Oh and you have to pay the tolls that\'s all of 25 pence for the 70km highway. You get a nearly new Hi-Lux van, icy cold a/c, cold beer on board (extra of course: 15 pence a can). DVD and video. Let\'s say you\'re single and travelling alone, you e-mail your hotel ahead of time and he\'ll bring along a pretty young female companion (or two if you want) for the trip. Shock horror that will double the cost.
Now then: getting around UK. 2 years ago I paid £51 return from Liverpool St to Diss in Norfolk. In the Philippines that buys a 2 days one night package to Puerto Galera, a beautiful beach resort. Or else a 3 day fly anywhere-in-the-islands promo on SeAir. That was my first and last experience with your glorious rail system. Oh, and it was 40 mins late both ways. Having said that I have used National Express a couple of times for long trips - London to Newcastle and I definitely rated them for on-time performance and value for money.
Oh sure I hear you cry these comparisons are irrelevant! Well they aren\'t to me because they affect me directly. On a fixed income if I\'m thinking where and how do I spend my money.........
By comparison I have no hesitation about renting and driving in the States. Driving standards are good, road courtesy is good (OK Boston and NYC excluded) and society is geared around the automobile. In Britain it\'s geared against the car, diametrically the opposite.
I guess all this came about because a group of us wizened exiles were round the bar last night giving the JD a nudge and trying to work out what we are all doing here. Our companions listened to all this then chorussed \"what about us?!\"
Well, let\'s get the TV on and find out who\'s going to win. It\'ll be Ate Gloria for sure, but that will stir things up. But then that\'s life in my adopted country. It gets a lot of bad press, not all justified, so here\'s a little plug from me:
www.wowphilippines.com.ph
Nice site.
...growler out/
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If the Torygraph won't take them try the Sunday Herald.
www.sundayherald.com
Not a national but a well respected paper that regularly carries human interest columns from various correspondents in places like Peking, Dhakka, Mexico City, Rome, Stockholm and even sometimes Sydney!
Keep up the letters. I always enjoy them.
Advice please - Just been to look at a 97 P Omega 3l Elite auto estate 78k miles - generally looks in good nick, none of the usual problems and had a Vauxhall-paid new head @ £3.5k a year ago. Vendor selling after 6 months as extending house and pickup makes more sense. Lots of history and felt good after a long test drive. Vendor seemed very open and straight - good vibes although the tailgate seemed to have slightly larger gap than expected.
Just one snag - went back to my car to do an HPI check via the AA and vendor taps on window - "Are you doing an HPI check ? Just want to let you know its a Cat D repaired write-off - rear and one wing" - have a chat with AA and they agree although can't tell me category - "AA person will call Monday with more details on category - everything else is fine".
Now the car drove straight - owner did tell me at length subsequently that he checked with 1st owner prior to purchase(current owner bought from dealer) about accident damage hence low price - it has no ripples - apart from tailgate panel gap and a fractional misalignment of OS front wing everything (apart from a few dodgy pixels on monitor) is fine.
It was up for £3450 - which is a substantial discount on private sale guide price - and we agreed subject to my final decision on Monday when I hear back from AA (my get-out clause) on £3000
Given this price reflects a considerable discount for a recorded write-off and otherwise seems very straight with all mechanical and electrical bits working 100% (don't know about Autolign status - didn't ask) your thoughts are appreciated on my risk here.
Am I getting a very keen price which reflects the difficulty I will face on resale (ie private sale only) ?
Or am I getting a enormous barking dog that will take months to resell (assuming price is good and no extra value is lost) and may have drastically inferior crash performance with pennies paid out by insurance co. ?
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Thank you
My wife has a V reg 5 door Yaris with central locking. The back door (Hatch) on occassions refuses to open with the other four doors, but will open with the key. The same fuse covers all doors, so if the other doors work, then it cannot be the fuse (can it?). It has happened on two other occassions and the local Toyota dealer has fixed each time charging £75.00 labour, but no parts. Am I being ripped off? Has anyone else come across this problem?
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Our 5 door has been fine since we bought it new in 1999 - will bear this in mind !
I have a '98 Vectra 1.8 which is running a little lumpy. It's done 80k so I went to change the spark plugs and found that all but the plug next to the timing belt were drenched in oil. Doesn't look good to me, is this the head/head gasket? Is this a 'known' failure for a Vectra? What is the likely cause?
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If the oil is on the outside of the plug it's the cam cover gasket that that needs replacing. You can get rid of the oil with a kitchen towel rolled into a tube, it's much easier than letting it go down the (spark) plug hole. Don't forget the O rings under the fixing screws.
I have just moved into a house with the luxury of electrically operated garage doors. Sadly, not remote control from the car but there are a couple of boxes that look like radio receivers so maybe in the future. Anyway, one of the doors has a problem. When I press the button to close the door it moves down into the closed position OK but then instantly opens again. The button to operate it is asimple bell-push type: one press to open, another to close.
Any ideas? Read more
I\'m cheating by posting this after Dave has closed the thread, but if you can\'t abuse your Mod powers....
Agree wholeheartedly with Mapmaker. Newspaper and/or cardboard* shredded and mixed with your grass in equal amounts will bulk it up nicely. The soil will not only bring in bugs, it will also act as a compost starter, saving money on the garotta.
With grass even a relatively thin layer can become compacted, damp and smelly. The secret is to ensure that you mix your grass cuttings in well with the other ingredients so you don\'t get clumps of putrescent grey/green mush.
One highly effective method for rapid composting is to use a rotating compost bin. These tumble and mix the contents and if done daily can give you usable compost in as little as 4-6 weeks. You can make one cheaply enough by getting your hands on an old, throughly cleaned plastic chemical barrel. Drill some reasonable sized holes all over (20mm or so), nip the top off, half fill with your chosen materials, rope the top back on and roll up and down your garden a couple of times before standing it upright again. Repeat every day for a week and then tip out into the main heap before refilling the drum with new material.
FWIW, I currently have 4 heaps on the go, the main one being 6foot high with a base measuring 10\' x 8\'. It contains a lot of woody waste from when I had some poplars topped out, mixed with equal amounts of grass and leaves. It\'s been sat there for 8 months, quietly roasting under a couple of old duvets. It gets turned every 6 weeks or so.... Trust me, it takes a lot of turning!
(* no shiny print on the cardboard, it usually contains various unpleasant chemicals and metals)
My 2000 (W) Audi A4 pick up a nasty habit of stalling when in neutral and in low revs, it happens when I am driving and sellect neutral (traffic lights, junction, etc). The revs go down to 400 rpm and sometimes junp back to a normal 800 rpm, other times the engine just stops.
Any ideas? Could it be bad fuel? (I'll try to fill up with Shell Optimax or another premiun unleaded).
Cheers
Old Bill Read more
My garage (Moss Moor, Stoke-on-Trent, 01782834804) traced it to a spilt breather which they repaired.
Having problems with the Citroen Xantia Keypad Immobiliser. This started after car standing for a week. I type in the correct code when the red light is flashing, the green light comes on but the red light fails to go off and the engine is still immobilised. When you take the key out of the ignition only the green light remains on for a short while.
Wondering if anyone has experienced similar problems and is there any advice out there please. If not some tips on car arson might be appreciated!!!! Read more
Hi Margie
Your Cit dealer should be able to trace the radio code through your registration number, but they might deny all responsibility! If you're really stuck, contact Graeme Davidson at www.davidsonelectronics.co.uk. Graeme (another one!) is a friend of mine and one of the most knowledgeable technicians I've ever come across. He sorted out a very obscure fault in my Xantia radio and re-soldered the plips for me.
Graeme
Hello all.
My daughter has a Fiesta 1400cc 1992. which has the same problems as a previous author here, Starts, but misfires, and stalls, untill it has warmed up, even then sounds lumpy when idleing, ok when driving.
When parked and idleing,there is a strong smell of gassy fumes from under the bonnet.
Plugs and leads seem ok, could it be a pipe blocked from engine to air filter?
Johnny. Read more
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I always take great stock by HJs opinion and was concerned that his Touran test drive was spoilt by blind spots which made his green wheelie bins disappear!
www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=103
I have only had the car a week but haven't come across this problem yet. I am of average height but, aided by a height-adjustable seat, sit reasonably high in the car. Perhaps this helps?
Ultimately, MPV ownership is largely dependent upon the need to keep the children happy. I test drove an Accord Tourer Executive CDTi and was pleased as punch with it: lovely car with the best diesel engine made to date. When I returned to the showroom (in our Ford Galaxy) with my wife and three children, they hated sitting low down in the rear seats. By contrast, they are happy as anything in their individual seats in the Touran and can still invite a friend or two for a day trip if they fancy. In this country the Touran is a niche product: ideal for families with three children. In Germany they have really taken to the Touran as a quick search through German websites (using Google's automatic translation function) shows.
Hope this helps
Philip