‘Buyers Guide’ Category

Review: Volkswagen Golf GTI

May 24th, 2011

The Volkswagen Golf GTI has been around for quite a few years now, in fact it goes right back to the 1970s. Back then it was just about the coolest car on the road with huge amounts of street credibility and a must have for a large number of boy racers. If you are looking for a vintage GTI or used cars try searching online for a better deal than at garages.

Over the years there have been many changes to this model and nowadays this is less of a cult car and more of a family hatchback, but there is nothing staid about this car; it is still very hot.

The GT1 is now in its sixth incarnation and it is now powered by the excellent 2 litre TFSI turbocharged engine which delivers a punching 210 bhp. The performance is fairly similar to the mark 5 version, except that it has better acceleration at both lower revs and higher revs; a kind of extended sweet spot. In t4erms of acceleration, 0 to 60 time is 6.7 seconds and the top speed is 148 mph.

For the gearbox you can choose either a six speed manual or a dual-clutch steering wheel paddle semi-automatic, which really does give you almost instantaneous gear changes.

As you might anticipate, the handling is excellent though as the suspension is necessarily on the stiff side and a little lower than on previous versions your passengers might find it a bit bumpy when driving on uneven surfaces. If you are the kind of driver who really likes to toe it when accelerating hard out of corners, there is an XDS traction control system which will help keep your tyres in gripping contact with the road.

For the real enthusiast, there is the option of an adjustable suspension system called adaptive chassis control. In normal mode the car handles like a standard GTi, but hit sports mode and you are set to try out your abilities at rally driving.

Although this is a driver’s car, it is family friendly too. There is plenty of space inside; the car is quiet (at least when you are not hitting the red on the rev counter); air conditioning comes as standard; and there is plenty of space in the boot.

Buying a used Volkswagen

April 5th, 2011

As with any used vehicle, you are taking the chance on purchasing someone else’s automobile problems. Whenever you go looking to buy a used Volkswagen, there are some checks and tests you can make to quickly determine if you even need to do a more thorough check before handing over your money.

The first thing to do is check the vehicle’s VIN number against its car history report. This will give you an idea of just what kind of work has been done on the car previously. It will also help you know to look at any particular area that may be repaired.

Walk around the Volkswagen and check the overall condition of the body. As well as rust spots, a check to see that colors match between panels and that all seams are equal. Mismatched colors or uneven seams indicate a crash and repair job. Look for uneven lines or ripples in the body. Check the tires to see that they are a known brand and that they are in good condition with no excessive tread wear or chips in the sides.

The interior, especially the driver’s seat, can give an indication of the care the Volkswagen has received. A sloppily maintained interior can indicate a sloppily kept maintenance routine. Test the various systems to see that they are working properly. This includes everything from lights to the monitoring sensors.

If the used Volkswagen seems to pas the initial look, it may then be worthwhile to let a qualified mechanic or the Volkswagen dealership mechanics to check for any other hidden problems. The Volkswagen is a durable and long-lasting mode of transportation so finding a good used one has pretty good odds on it.

Petrol or Diesel?

December 10th, 2010

When purchasing a used car there are many aspects of vehicles to keep in mind. Certain aspects are more favourable for some people while they may not be so for others. Different types of vehicles run on different types of fuel. For instance you may purchase a vehicle from your local used cars dealer that runs on diesel fuel while another vehicle uses petrol. Both types of fuel have their advantages and disadvantages. It is just important as pick out which one is best for your specific needs.

For many drivers use cars with diesel engines are more appropriate choice. One benefit as that diesel engines are more economical in terms of fuel. Another plus is that diesel engines are a sampler type of engine and therefore in general are more reliable. Today’s latest diesel engines are much more refined with significant improvements over the diesel engines of the past. Used cars with diesel engines will emit lower of mounds of carbon dioxide. As a result the road tax will typically be lower with a vehicle built with a diesel engine. There are some drawbacks of choosing a used car with a diesel engine. Typically these engines are worked hard and will need rebuilt sooner than an engine that uses petrol. If you purchase an older model used car with a diesel engine these vehicles are typically slower. Even though they are more fuel economical, it does cost more for litre of diesel fuel than petrol. If you seek a used vehicle with a diesel engine be cautious as many Sellers also over-price these kinds of vehicles.

Use cars with engines that run on petrol a good choice if you want a smooth ride as well as good performance from your use car. These sorts of vehicles are more responsive and there also quieter than use cars that have diesel engines. Also typically petrol engines are hard are on the environment because of the exhaust emissions. When shopping for a used vehicle, check out motors.co.uk. At this site you are able to search for the vehicle that has you desire characteristics. One place allows you to decide if you want to see models with diesel four petrol engines.

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