VW Sharan 1.9 TDI Carat 1996

Advantages: Great family car, very adaptable
Disadvantages: Interior trim easily damaged, can be costly if things go wrong

...As a family of four, my wife is the main driver of the car, using it for the usual school runs and all other family journeys.(I hasten to add that we car share with our neighbour who has 2 children and occasionally another neighbours child, so generally the car has 5+ passengers for the school runs) We bought the Sharan privately, second hand in 2002 with it having done 75000 miles with 2 previous owners to us. The car had a full service history and looked in good condition, it was the Carat version which was what we wanted (Alloy wheels, climate control, captains seats at the front, and a useful trip computer which generally reports of around 30 mpg for the school runs up to 46 mpg on the long runs). The car seemed to have had some small previous faults explained to us by the owner, such as rear windows not working due to a faulty...

puzz1 23.02.2006 · Read review
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Review of Volkswagen Sharan 1.9 TDI

VW sharan TDI

Advantages: very roomy, styling, handles like a car not an mpv
Disadvantages: reliability, doesnt like high mileage motoring

...i own a 2004/04 vw sharan 1.9 tdi carat (was top of the range - over £20K new) automatic trans with climate, 6cd, alloys, leather interior bought from a vw dealer in 2005 with just 16,100 miles on the clock with FVWSH & 2 owners. now done just under 68K miles, still with Vw full history. looks good, drives & handles well, very roomy but... at approx 20K miles the water pipe that feeds the rear wash wipe decided to come away from the water pump soaking the n/side passenger front foot well. at approx 37K miles the alternator decided one night to fry itself along with the fuse box and part of the wiring loom - nearly a £800 repair with local vw dealer. at approx 67K miles the sharan decided to loss power and became dangerous to drive. the vw dealer found the problem. the air mass meter had failed - a £180 repair. 2 days later...

gantheman 20.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of Volkswagen Sharan 1.9 TDI

Skoda Fabia 1.9tdi estate

Advantages: Price, economical, comfortable, fast acceleration, vast storage space
Disadvantages: None

...I bought my first Skoda 5 years ago when I retired from my full time occupation. I had intended to buy a decent second hand model but on visiting the dealer, I was so impressed with the estate version of the 1.9tdi Fabia, that I took the plunge. Having since had 100% reliability, economical fuel consumption , the added bonus of quick off the mark acceleration for an exceptionally value for money price, I am glad I took the plunge as I have not regretted my choice of car. Capacious boot space that takes all my golf clubs, trolley and more without having to lower the rear seats is also something to appreciate. I traded that in 3 years ago for the same model but with added extras such as cd player, air con, alloy wheels at what appeared to be very little price difference from the first one I bought. The ability to gain quick...

plod591 20.09.2007 (15.10.2007) · Read review
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Review of Skoda Fabia 1.9 TDi Saloon

GREAT FAMILY CAR

Advantages: Easily accomodates large family
Disadvantages: see review

...those technically minded out there? Dimensions: Width1.80m Height 1.73m Length 4.62m Wheel Base 2.8m Turning Circle 11.7m Capacities (fuel tank) 68litres of which 8 litres reserve Engine Data Diesel Engine Output 66kW/4000rpm Max Torque 202/1900 Number of cylinders: 4 Capacity: 1896 cm3 Stroke: 95.5mm Cylinder Bore: 79.5mm Comp Ratio:19.5 OVERALL If you are looking for a big family car that is reliable and relatively cheap to run then look no further than the VW Sharan. It is a great family car good for transporting hordes of kids around town but really comes in to its own on a long distance motoring holiday where it can comfortably eat up the road miles and leave all the passengers feeling refreshed at the end of the drive. I hope this 'idiot's' guide to the Sharan will be of use to anyone thinking about...

Mauri 25.07.2000 (31.07.2002) · Read review
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Review of Volkswagen Sharan 1.9 TDI

Alfa Romeo 147 1.9 JTD

Advantages: Engine, Looks, Leather, Options on my car
Disadvantages: Safety, Reliability Record, Dealership Record

...Alfa Romeo 147 1.9 JTD 3dr Lusso You probably just don?t understand Alfa's and until you sit in one-you never will? Just bought an Alfa Romeo 147 1.9 JTD 3dr Lusso and on first impressions I?m delighted. It?s Navy Blue in Colour which sets the car off great against the Cream Leather, its a top of the range model and comes with SAT NAV, Cruise Control, Telephone, full heated Leather Upholstery, trip computer, 16inch Alloy wheels etc. The options are great, although not a requirement for everyone-however I would recommend the leather upholstery as a MUST its fantastic. I test drove many cars before buying, yet decided on the Alfa 147, because it put the biggest smile on my face, it was the nicest car to sit in and felt the best to drive by a long way. The Golf mk4 GTi felt its age, and although the Golf mk5 1.6s that I...

Azz4711 26.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Alfa Romeo 147 1.9 JTD

2002 VW Passat 1.9TDi 130bhp

Advantages: Spacious, frugal, good performance.
Disadvantages: Looks aren't very exciting.

...I drive a 2002 (52 plate) VW Passat 1.9 TDi 130bhp for work and it has been very reliable and dependable. The engine is by far the best bit about this car - over 40mpg even when driving swiftly and very quiet whether cruising on the motorway or driving around town. The model i drive is reasonably well equipped - it has a good air conditioning system, electric mirrors, windows, sunroof etc. The only extra i would have added is a factory CD player. The seats are comfortable on long motorway drives and the road holding is good for a car of this size and weight. Interior is spacious enough to accomodate 4 adults comfortably - 5 at a push. The boot is also very spacious. I have also driven the 115bhp model and would thoroughly recommend buying the 130bhp model insead. The fuel economy isn't noticably different yet the 130bhp model is far...

biffo0911 05.12.2007 · Read review
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Review of Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI

Laguna 1.9dCi Hatchback

Advantages: Safe
Disadvantages: Uncomfortable

...I drive a reasonable number of miles in my work (around 3000/month) and have recently had the opportunity to sample several cars in this class. The Laguna has been my least favourite for a number of reasons. Firstly, I have been driving this particular vehicle for around 5 months. It is a hire car, and I am unsure of the trim level - there are no other markings on the car other than 1.9dCi. It is an up to date model - 05 plate. My main issue is comfort. I am just over 6ft & I find that the door handle is constantly rubbing my knee. This sounds minor, but when you are in a car for a couple of hours it becomes a huge annoyance. I have tried every adjustment but have yet to find a comfortable seating position. Also note that boot space is less than I expected. Another area worth mentioning is the sun visor. When this is down, it...

cpennington 28.01.2006 · Read review
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Review of Renault Laguna 1.9 dCi

56000 miles with Sharan

Advantages: Good fuel economy, comfortable
Disadvantages: Airconditioning reliablity

...This is my first diesel car but it won't be my last. It is a company car which I have had from new since July 2001. I have travelled 56000 miles including several 2500 mile round trips to Sweden with my wife, two boys (both under 9) and dog. One of the good points about the car is its economy - a long-term average of over 40 mpg and an indicated 19 mpg at top speed (118 mph!) on the Autobahns. It is comfortable to drive over long distances and although its 0-60 mph speed is rather slow - about 12 seconds - because of the high torque from the turbo-diesel engine it has good overtaking acceleration making it a good motorway and A-road car. It has seven seats but with them all in there is very little luggage space so it is usually driven with the rear two seats removed. These are quite heavy and take up a lot of space in the house so this...

pilot61 29.06.2005 (01.07.2005) · Read review
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Review of Volkswagen Sharan 1.9 TDI

fiat punto 1.9 turbo diesel

Advantages: turbo diesel - way cheaper than petrol! v comfy, all extras
Disadvantages: its gold!!! problem with power steering motors

...2001 fiat punto - 1.9 turbo diesel my first ever car!!! only ever driven little vans before, so this is like luxury. mine is a top spec model, so air con, sunroof, heated windscreen, great sound system, city mode etc. only costs £40 to fill up, for now anyway! extremely easy to drive, very comfy. have never used the city mode yet as i've never needed to, very nippy car and if you put your foot down its great once the turbo kicks in. good sized boot (i use the car for work) and 5 door. even though its a small car it still feels quite roomy, way better than corsa's etc. interior's a manky grey colour, but its comfy so who cares! only problem we've had is with the power steering. a motor stopped working on it, so that was £300 to fix, but its not a new car. apparently this is a common problem....

sunshineduck 14.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of Fiat Punto 1.9 JTD

Still happy with Renault Scenic 1.9 Dci

Advantages: Smooth, comfortable drive.
Disadvantages: Hubby complains it is not a turbo diesel!

...This time last year we purchased a 1 year old, ex demonstration Renault Scenic 1.9 Dci, luxury version with leather seats etc. (Monaco model) Let me warn you in advance: Once you have a scenic, there is no way back! It has changed the way in which we look at cars as any other regular car suddenly seems cramped and uncomfortable. It is somewhat Tardis like - appearing compact from the outside but is roomy inside. The Scenic has a typical French ride - very smooth and comfortable. The seating position is upright with a good view over other (or should I say, inferior?) cars. The front seats are fully adjustable for height and distance from front. In addition, the drivers seat also has an adjustable lumbar support. The steering wheel is also adjustable, making the chance that you find a good position very high! In the rear...

Fenko 02.04.2003 · Read review
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Review of Renault Scenic 1.9 dCi