Assuming all other factors are the same (cost, repairs, etc), this car has already saved around $13,300 over 9 years, or an average of $1488 per year in fuel costs alone (20,000 miles / 42 mpg = 476.2 * $3.44/gal = $1638/year). A well-maintained diesel engine can easily go 400-500,000 miles. The main reason I purchased the VW Golf TDI is that with the diesel engine, life expectancy is 50-80% longer. I calculated that a vehicle that averages 22 mpg, driving 20,000 miles a year, with an average fuel cost of $3.44 per gallon will cost $3127 in fuel alone! If you buy an older model used car for $5000, perform routine maintenance, go through one set of tires, and have no repairs the average cost is about $4200 per year. I could have paid $5000 for a high-quality car with 150,000 miles. For instance, an older, used car would have been far less expensive initially. When I was analyzing data, I considered the average life expectancy (using 250,000 miles as my benchmark), repair ratings, and fuel economy of the vehicles on my shortlist. Best of all it is both comfortable and fun to drive. I do a lot of driving in hilly areas and it has plenty of pep to get me around the slow folks, even going uphill in 5th gear. The VW Golf TDI uses diesel fuel and gets a consistent 46-48 mpg in mixed driving.
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I was willing to consider models that were not mainstream because I like to be different anyway. There are websites (Edmunds, Kelly Blue Book, etc.) that will give you a "cost of ownership" but I created my own spreadsheet to figure it out with my specific information to be sure I was making an informed decision. Although I love the Beetle, it was too impractical for my current needs. Sort of as an afterthought I decided to look at Volkswagen Jetta and Golf. The new models I considered included Mitsubishi Mirage, Toyota Corolla and Camry, Honda Accord, and Civic. I considered used vehicles such as the Volvo 240 wagon, Toyota Camry wagon, Mitsubishi Expo, and so on. I originally wanted a station wagon but found at the time, that there were few choices in reliable, inexpensive wagons on the market. I prefer 4 doors and I like to haul stuff. There are literally hundreds of cars available. One of the first to join the AutoTrader fray, Chad has been living his passion at AutoTrader for over 7-years.I started by narrowing my choices. As comfortable in front of the camera as he is behind it, he’ll take you behind the wheel with his video reviews, written recounts, and invoking photography. His experience as the Technical Editor of the country’s top tuning magazine means that it’s the nuts and bolts of motoring that tickles his fancy. I’m not seeing as many of these new Polos on the road as one would expect but the sales figures still seem to suggest that this South African-built offering is still performing well.Ĭhad LückhoffWith over 18 years of motorsport commentary and a passion for 90s Japanese Sports Cars, Chad Lückhoff is happiest when surrounded by drift cars and smoking tyres. It does away with the detractions that are present in the GTI, namely the harsh ride quality and exorbitant price.
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The Volkswagen Polo 70 kW Life is really enjoyable to drive and has features that make living with it a lot easier. You may struggle to differentiate them when they’re parked but at night the new Polo is a completely different machine. The one tell-tale signature is the LED strip that runs across the length of the grille. LED headlights are now standard across the range and our test model saw the addition of the IQ Light Matrix headlight package that allows for them to adjust automatically as the environment dictates. Both are intrinsically the same vehicle but the facelift seen the front and rear bumpers redesigned and fitted with new head and taillights. Volkswagen has identified that the market buying the Polo actually do like rowing through their own gears.Īesthetically, one needs to look fairly close at the new Polo, particularly when viewed from the front, as to ascertain whether this is a new Polo or the model that preceded it.
#2003 gl golf hatchback interior manual
Seldom, in this line of work, are we gifted the luxury of a manual gearbox, it’s a rather rare occasion. Refreshingly, the model given to me to sample was of the Life variety and wouldn’t you know it, it had three pedals. The Comfortline, Tendline and Highline trim designations fall away and make way for the Polo, Polo Life, R-Line, and GTI. One of the bigger changes to the lineup is the revision to the naming conventions and designations.