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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