About to pick one up in a few days time, I was just wondering what past & current owners thought of them, what has it been like reliability wise, fuel encomony, (average mpg)

 

Also the mod game..

 

Is there any decent mods that can be done to the car, visually also?

 

Many Thanks

It's a metallic Blue five-door hatchback with the same PD130 engine found in literally millions of other VAG group cars, all the same mods work, remaps, FMIC's and bigger turbos.

 

Most everyone fits bigger brakes and wheels and the handling needs serious attention, bushes, shocks, springs and a RARB.

 

Everything else is meh really since you're stuck with the colour and any off-coloured wheels look hideous with metallic blue.

 

I'd start with a remap and sort the handling, get a bigger turbo when the standard one goes pop and do the brakes to cope with the increased pace.

It's a metallic Blue five-door hatchback with the same PD130 engine found in literally millions of other VAG group cars, all the same mods work, remaps, FMIC's and bigger turbos.

 

Most everyone fits bigger brakes and wheels and the handling needs serious attention, bushes, shocks, springs and a RARB.

 

Everything else is meh really since you're stuck with the colour and any off-coloured wheels look hideous with metallic blue.

 

I'd start with a remap and sort the handling, get a bigger turbo when the standard one goes pop and do the brakes to cope with the increased pace.

Tbh, I haven't really done much research on these cars, this one i am getting is on 58k miles what are the service intervals on them and with it being on clse to 60k should chains/camblet already been replaced. Paid 5800 for mine which is a minter, is that ok? cheers!

Edited 2 January, 201511 yr by BrumieAsh

Like all cars they have their niggles but on the whole mine has been fairly reliable so far. I originally bought it to save money after owning petrol hot hatches and for that it's been spot on. 

I wouldn't say it's the most 'fun' car to drive as far as the handling goes, it really does leave a lot to be desired in that area. The engine is smooth and punchy with ample grunt low down which gives good in gear acceleration though traction is pretty poor off the line and in 2nd gear if you get a bit frisky with the go pedal.

Returns give or take 45MPG under mixed driving and around 55-60MPG on a nice steady run from personal experience. 

 

As far as servicing goes the oil service is due annually or every 10k and it's imperative that the correct 'pd oil' is used in these otherwise the engines can suffer from excessive top end wear. 
The cam belt service is due at 4 years or 60k miles, which ever comes first, and yes while it should have been done as the car is more than 4 years old it isn't always the case. If there is no written proof in the service history of it being done I'd budget for it, it's a good idea to have the water pump changed at the same time too.