Model: Bora
Year: 2004
Mileage: 83'000
Engine size: 1.9 TDi 130ps
Colour: Silver
Specification: Highline
Well, my first thought of the Bora was pretty much a Golf made less practical and a whole load more boring! But this is not the case. After driving it for about 4'000 miles now on a variety of country lanes, B-roads and motorways, I can truthfully say that the 1.9 130ps TDi engine has a lot of guts and pulls like a train once on the move. In my opinion, I find the Bora better to drive than the Golf due to the wider track and 'beefed' up suspension. You are not going to be disappointed on a windy road up over the moors! Cruising at an average of approx. 70-80 mph on the motorway, I'm achieving in the range of 52mpg plus. This is a little below what VW specify, but it's still very good for a car that is nearly 10 years old. The one thing that I really like about the Bora is it's only insurance group 8 so it is 'affordable' to insure unlike its sister the Golf coming in in group 13. As for the spec. of this Highline model, is very high and got nearly all the gadgets that the new Jetta comes with. For example; heated leather seats, rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, 6 speed gearbox, air-conditioning, height adjustable driver/passenger seats, 6 CD stacker, on-board dash computer, to name but a few.
However, the Bora isn't without its faults (like any car!). For starters, the although the boot is large enough to accommodate nearly everything bar the kitchen sink, the aperture is a little small with a high lip on so makes getting large bulky items in a problem. Secondly, as is with 99% of all saloons, the roof line towards the rear slopes down making the rear seats crampt and without much head-room. Also, there is only a lap-belt in the centre rear seat so this is only a 4 seater with the occasional 5 on short journeys. Lastly, because this has the VAG Pumpe-Deuse Diesel power plant, they are prone to eating through clutches and are not cheap to replace.
Having said that, the Volkswagen Bora is a truly pleasurable car to drive and live with. I have recommended it to several friends and family and everyone who has driven it is surprised with the 'get-up-and-go' that the engine provides. The Bora provides you with the extra luxuries of classier saloons without the price-tag to match. In my eyes, a real C-Class and 3-Series competitor.
