Volkswagen Golf Hatchback (2013 - 2020) 1.6 TDI Bluemotion Tech SE 5d (2013/63) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Someone with good taste in cars! Golfs have always been the top hatchback and I don't see any others coming close.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Everyone loves it, the looks and the metallic black paintwork are great. I always have a coat of Autoglym HD wax which makes the paint shine and makes the car stand out.

Would you buy this car again and why?

I wouldn't get this spec, ie; 1.6 SE, however I plan to get a 2.0 GT or GTD next. It has a lot of features, and is very refined with a high end feel inside, compared to other similar cars.

What are you likely to buy next?

Another Golf, my 4th, but a higher spec model.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchised

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£16,495

When did you buy the car?

September 2014

Did you get a good deal and why?

I think I could have haggled the price, however it was my first time visiting a dealership, and my old car needed a new flywheel and clutch which would have cost me a lot of money, and I feel I got a good price for it at trade in, so I didn't try and push the price.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

What was the dealer like?

I had a new member of staff who didn't know a lot, in fact as I know a lot about Golfs from research and previous ownership, I knew more than him, although you can tell he put in the effort to learn about the car when I came to collect. I specified I needed the car (which was out on the forecourt for sale) a few days after I agreed the sale for a long journey. Got messed around a bit with the pick up date and had to use my old car for the trip which had mechanical issues.

What's it like to drive?

I find that the 1.6 Bluemotion engine is very powerless and really gutless in the higher gears. Before I owned a 2.0 and it had bags of torque, however the 1.6 has absolutely none. The fuel consumption isn't as good as I had expected, and is worse than in my previous car, possibly due to the 5 speed box. The engine is very smooth, and very quiet inside. There is barely any difference in performance and economy between the 'eco' and 'sport' modes. I would recommend to anyone that unless you're driving on motorways only, you should go for the 2.0 as opposed to the 1.6. The extra power and extra gear give better fuel consumption over the hills, and the extra torque means less gear changes.

What's it like to park?

Very easy, I would go for rear parking sensors if I had it from new.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Not so far.

What's most practical about your car?

A lot of space, not as much as the MK5 Golf in the boot, but a lot comfier in the driving seat.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

I love the automatic handbrake, I wouldn't be able to own a car without it now. The bluetooth stereo is good and works very well.