Volkswagen BORA TDI 130
Volkswagen's Compact Saloon, The Bora, Features One Of The Best Engines Around. Andy Enright Explains
We all like that feeling when weve snapped up a bargain. Think about it. That warm feeling of hoodwinking some poor simpleton into handing over something for far less than its actually worth. You wont get that feeling driving out of a Volkswagen dealer in a Bora TDI 130.
It kicks in the moment you look at your bank statement and realise how much youve saved on fuel.
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Surely if you were to put that calculator to work and ask a few more probing questions, that warm glow would cool a little? After all, most people are savvy enough to have worked out that youd need to drive hundreds of thousands of miles to recoup the additional cost of these TDI 130 models. Well, we can knock that little misapprehension firmly into touch straight away, as the TDI Pump Duse 130bhp Bora models retail at a mere £700 over their 100bhp stablemates. Likewise, the premium that
Volkswagen charges for the privilege of driving a car with its badge on the bonnet doesnt seem particularly apparent. After all, most would look at the Bora as something above the mainstream Mondeo, Laguna and Vectra market, although prices compare favourably with these admittedly larger cars, appear competitive against the
Alfa Romeo 156 JTD and downright bargain basement compared to the
BMW 320d.
So much for Volkswagens being expensive As we know, Volkswagens compact family four-door shares almost nothing with the family hatchback that sired it; the boldly styled front end, flared wheel arches and a lopped-off, chunky rear all make an aggressive fashion statement that has much more street cred than any Golf. Certainly, most will agree that the resulting profile is sharp enough to make the car a real quality alternative to lower order 3 series saloons, A4s and 156s all of which now feature impressive diesel engines.
"So much for Volkswagens being expensive"
Sharing the TD130 engine with the
Audi A4, the Bora posts some pretty impressive figures, sprinting to 60mph in just 9.9 seconds and reaching 127mph. The real clincher is fuel economy. Powering a car thats hardly a featherweight to those sorts of velocities is usually a recipe for dismal consumption, but this reckons without Volkswagens pragmatic use of technology an average consumption of over 51 miles from every gallon.
It even manages to fall into the one of the lowest emissions bands. On the move, there are other rivals that are more fun round the corners but none feels as safe or as reassuring to drive. The Bora TDI 130 comes complete with twin front airbags, side airbags, the ESP stability programme, ABS, a height and reach-adjustable steering column and rear seats incorporating the clever Isofix system for attaching a child
seat. The little touches impress you most though.
Cup holders in the front and the rear, the self-dimming interior lights, the gas struts to hold up the bonnet, the special cover on the boot locking pin so you dont get things caught in it; we could go on but we wont save to say that this is a car that makes its competitors feel cheap. A car that will please those with an eye for thoroughness and attention to detail. That detail extends to the engine which, cynics may point out, isnt a state of the art common rail' unit, as offered by some rivals. In practice however, the difference is academic. This is one of the better diesel units out there, commonality of its rail notwithstanding. The performance figures may sound impressive on paper but on the road the Bora feels even quicker.
Because of that generous 228lb/ft of torque, the pulling power makes overtaking as easy as it is in a range-topping V6 4-Motion. If you're interested in the technicalities, the Bora diesel engines work on the basis of so-called direct injection, a system intended to make better use of every drop of diesel. The injectors on all four cylinders are controlled by a single powerful electronic control unit (ECU) which carefully controls the amount and mixture of fuel passing through into each cylinder. For engineers, the obvious next step is for each cylinder to have its own ECU unit; the fuel amount and mixture can then be even more carefully monitored and even greater efficiency achieved. This is the basic concept behind the new 'second generation' of 'common rail' diesels the one Volkswagen says it's developing in its own time. The six-speed gearbox fitted as standard is an oddly notchy, although a five-speed tiptronic automatic option is also available. The Bora is far more practical than many small saloons, thanks in no small part to that enormous boot. A nine-inch advantage in length over the mkIV Golf gives it one obvious advantage - load space.
Luggage capacity is an impressive 16cu ft - almost 50 percent more than a mkIV Golf. With the back seats folded, this rises to a cavernous 28cu ft - enough for three or four sets of golf clubs or anything else you may need to carry around. Rear seat passengers may grumble, and with some justification, that the boot impinges on their legroom. The SE, Highline and Sport models which benefit from the TDI 130 engine feature remote central locking, an automatic dimming rear view mirror, a windscreen wiper rain sensor, a trip computer and an alarm.
They also get slightly larger, 16-inch wheels, provided in the form of racy alloys on the Sport, a trim level that also entitles you to grippy sports seats and a CD autochanger. The great value Highline wears exclusive Montreal II alloy wheels and the interior features full leather upholstery, heated front sports seats and theres the added benefit of parking sensors. If thats not enough, optional extras include a satellite navigation system and electrically adjustable seats with memory facility. Unless you place a serious premium on ultimate handling finesse and outright speed, the Bora TDI 130 could well be the only car youll ever need.
Big enough, quick enough and beautifully bolted together, the Bora also turns in a winning performance with its 51mpg capability. That economy coupled with formidable resale values make the Bora TDI 130 a convincing proposition. Bargain hunters form an orderly queue here
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Volkswagen Bora TDI 130
PRICES: £17,380-£18,355 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 8-9
CO2 EMISSIONS: 149g/km
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 9.9s / Max speed 127mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [urban] 39.2 [extra urban] 52.3 [combined] 51.4mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin airbags, front seat side airbags, ABS, ESP
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/height ) 4376/1446/2018
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