After the nice little shunt I had on the A3 a few weeks ago the "like-for-like" courtesy car arrived today before the 110 goes in tomorrow to fix the minor damage to it.

The vehicle it's replacing:


And the replacement:
The Official Website for Volkswagen UK : Volkswagen UK

Oh well, at least it has a few more toys I can fiddle with until I find out how useless it is. At least it's a "semi-"4x4.

pay n play day?? if its sposed to be like for like

Maybe... Although it's a hire car so they've taken note of scratches and so on...

Not that bad to be honest. My mate has a Nissan Navara and his clutch went and he was meant to get like for like so they gave him a micra. Fat load of good that was for towing.

Oh I made damn sure it was as close to "like-for-like" as I was going to get. The first woman who phoned up asked how many doors - 5, how many seats - 10... ?! Then just before she hung up I said - oh by the way - you can give me an estate (needed something of a similar size) but seeing as I'll be going shooting and climbing it's not going to come back in one piece...

So a compact SUV turns up instead - suppose they went for a compromise, need to find some mud...

Depending on what model you get if its the 140ps 2.0tdi you will average over 50mpg.. very nice as a second vehicle . Lets know what you got and what you think of it. Wish I could get that engine in my 110, but it would spoil the fun.

It's a 2l - I know that much, from the radio configuration (was trying to find out where the damn aux port was) it looks like a base model one since there doesn't appear to be AUX. There is an option though in the radio and an option for bluetooth but nothing connected to them by the looks of it though...

Unfortunately it's going to be a primary vehicle for the moment. I need to get a photo of the two side-by-side

Phone um up and ask if you can borrow a land rover to drag it out of the field - tell um it up to it's axle's in **** with a horse box on the back...

incidentally, if the accident wasn't your fault why not hire a land rover and send the invoice to the third parties insurance company.

Tony110 said:

Phone um up and ask if you can borrow a land rover to drag it out of the field - tell um it up to it's axle's in **** with a horse box on the back...

incidentally, if the accident wasn't your fault why not hire a land rover and send the invoice to the third parties insurance company.

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Now why didn't I think of that...

ed.poore said:

Now why didn't I think of that...

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You know the 300tdi engine is one of the best... the new Defender would cost you as it only averages around 24mpg. Anyway, you have to do a review on the VW now as my Passat is due to be replaced soon and I want something taller.

Well drove it for ~150 miles today and it flies... Even compared to other cars not just the 300Tdi. I've been suitably impressed but might just be having a new toy to play with.

First impression was the "lack of visibility" but I think that was the jump from a 110 to a "compact SUV". Quick off the line and quick at the top-end. 6 speed gearbox was nice, although not 100% convinced by the electronic hand-brake - had a little play with the "auto-stop" thing which applies the handbrake when you stop and release the foot-brake. Worked quite nicely but not sure if I'd trust it.

Consumption wise I averaged 50mph bearing in mind 20 miles at each end was London and 20 miles in the middle was country roads. Cruising at 70/80+ on the A3 for the rest of the time and averaged 40.5mpg by the time I got back to London. Driven carefully I don't doubt you could get it up to 60+ mpg.

Even though it's a base end model it's not bad with lots of hidey holes for storage, AUX in (although just appears to be AUX in and not something that's iPod compatible (optional extra I think)). Either there isn't Bluetooth (radio has an option for it) or I my Desire can't see it. One thing I did like was the plethora of 12V sockets (one in the dash, one in the cubby box, one on the back of the centre console and one in the boot).

My only major (and frankly huge problem for me) criticism is the boot isn't wide enough for my shotgun (ok it's a large shotgun but even a mates IS 250 can fit it (just) in the boot). Haven't tried it "properly" off-road but shrugged off the verges and deep holes I threw at it.

Suspension is a little rolly, particularly under acceleration and braking, but far from unpleasant. On the whole I think if the boot was wider after a few more days test-driving I wouldn't say no. Although the 110 has apparently been fixed...

Excellent thats a better write up that What Car did. If you could get that engine and all the plusses in a new 110 I think most would go for it. As you say its a compact SUV and is not designed for what you need but it looks and sounds fun. I like the higher driving position to that of a Passat and it sounds like it would be a pleasure to drive on a long trip... it would cope with snow and sensible off road. Did you miss not having to wind down the drivers window?
Its the Icon status of the older Defender and 'real' driving like I did in the 70's that I love... you get more attention and admiring stares. The VW has all the gadgets and comfort... but it aint a Land Rover Hope your very nice 110 is all sorted.

MrJC said:

Excellent thats a better write up that What Car did.

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Oh thank god for that - wrote it pretty quickly.

MrJC said:

sounds like it would be a pleasure to drive on a long trip...

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Since I'm not going to have it much longer I'm wondering how I can get through the tank I filled it up with (still got 3/4 left). Contemplated a road-trip overnight to see my parents in Wales.

MrJC said:

Did you miss not having to wind down the drivers window?

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Why bother when it was p***ing it down and I had A/C.

MrJC said:

Its the Icon status of the older Defender and 'real' driving like I did in the 70's that I love... you get more attention and admiring stares. The VW has all the gadgets and comfort... but it aint a Land Rover Hope your very nice 110 is all sorted.

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Me too - although I'm wondering if I can get away with putting it in for it's service (and keep the Tiguan) (meant to do one a few thousand miles ago...). Only had it 2/3 months and put ~6,000 on the clock so far and I want to look after this one (i.e. keep a service history). After that it'll be a few little extras like somewhere to mount my winch and a snorkel. Can't quite stretch to a roof-tent yet (planning some overland stuff once I graduate).

Building a seat-base mount for the cubby-box (i.e. one that slots into the seat base holes) makes a world of difference. Easy to convert from 9 to 10 seats and vice-versa. Also being a little higher up makes a nice arm-rest, and just about squeezes in before the transfer lever. That and being able to fit the hi-lift under the middle row of seats (it's a 5ft one) but you have to remove the top and bottom bits to get it in there... Worth the extra hassle though.

Once it comes back I'll see if I can grab some photos of the Tiguan and 110 side-by-side...

My mate had a Porche Cayman hire car for 2 weeks (His Dad wrote a Z4 off and they insured his Son, My mate who was 17 on the Porche FOC )


Needed a new set of tyres when it went back

You can save a fortune by going to Asda and getting your 15/40 mineral diesel engine oil for £10 and a get a coopers (not britpart) oil filter for £3 off the internet (paddocks).... get yourself a Haynes manual and have more fun = beer tokens for students. 6k is just for oil change.
PS you need to syphon the diesel or do 500 miles

MrJC said:

You can save a fortune by going to Asda and getting your 15/40 mineral diesel engine oil for £10 and a get a coopers (not britpart) oil filter for £3 off the internet (paddocks).... get yourself a Haynes manual and have more fun = beer tokens for students. 6k is just for oil change.
PS you need to syphon the diesel or do 500 miles

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Since I rebuilt the Series I think I can cope with a few oil changes... My biggest issue is time and is likely to be for the next couple of years. Hence why getting it serviced externally. Besides I've already put aside some of the not insubstantial wages from this summer for it.