2000 Volkswagen Lupo 1.0 e 999cc petrol

Summary:

Excellent, individual and fun

Faults:

No Faults, but if anything did go wrong there is an excellent warranty.

General Comments:

The car looks excellent, it is finished in Jazz Blue and despite the British weather it gleams as brightly today as it did when it was brand new.

The interior is extremely well thought out with plenty of space for passengers, I am over six foot tall and can sit comfortably in the front or in the well shaped back seats.

Although the car only has 999cc it performs well keeping up with traffic easily, although it is no Porsche I did not expect it to be!

The handling is widely criticised by the motoring press, unfairly so, it inspires confidence in all weathers and allows the Lupo to carry it's speed through corners meaning it can hassle far more exotic cars.

One here to untold bonus of Lupo ownership is that other Lupo owners wave at you.

The dealers customer care is bad, but appear to be making an effort to improve this now.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 10th January, 2003

9th Apr 2003, 06:42

Update.

This car has just cover 40000miles still fabulous ignore all other reviews Lupo's are the Best!

29th Jun 2004, 03:10

Update 2.

The Lupo has just reached 53000miles and is still going strong, in fact it seems to be getting quicker following its most recent service! The service has highlighted the poor value that main dealers offer £250 for a service on a city car is too much!

I intend to replace this Lupo with a new 1.4 16v sport before Volkswagen stop building it next year, a sad day for the world, sob!

18th Mar 2005, 11:18

Final update

64000miles just ordered a new Lupo 1.4 16v sport still no faults although a headlamp bulb did fail about 3000 miles ago. The residuals are pleasing as mine has retained 30% over my five year ownership of the car. I have been very happy with it and I am sure its new owner will be too.

2000 Volkswagen Lupo TDI 1.4 turbo diesel

Summary:

Still a 75MPG diesel. Performance of a spirited petrol engine, but with the sound of an old tractor

Faults:

Front wheel bearing completely failed. Replaced under warranty.

Replacement indicator stalk failing.

Front disks manufacturing defect - warped. Replaced under warranty.

General Comments:

This review is an update on a previous one given to CarSurvey.org 4000 miles ago.

Brakes are now better that the discs have been replaced, but no refund was given following the previous inspection (loss 150 pounds).

Wheel bearing failed. Took garage 3 weeks to source a replacement and find a gap in their appointment book. Whilst waiting for a replacement, I had to get the car checked twice because of my fears of the bearing seizing - total cost of this 80 pounds labour. Eventually the part was replaced under warranty, but no payment made to cover my own lost monies.

Engine is making little end knocking noise under load. I am beginning to wonder if 10,000 miles with the wrong oil has taken its toll - thanks to an official Volkswagen garage!

Dashboard rattles have increased - it is now difficult to determine the origin of the noises. Everywhere is about the best you can say.

Suspension is tightening up, with the side effect that cornering is less sloppy, but uneven road surfaces are faithfully transferred to the occupants.

I have one and half years left with the car (bought under a lease buy policy) and will gladly walk (run) away from it and Volkswagen then. The end of a 12 year (and 6 car) partnership - your loss Volkswagen.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 28th April, 2002

2000 Volkswagen Lupo TDI 1.4 turbo diesel

Summary:

A 75MPG diesel with the performance of a spirited petrol engine, but with the sound of a tractor

Faults:

Indicator control stalk faulty. Fixed under warranty (Jan 2001).

Air intake pipe worked itself loose and caused an annoying vibration - fixed under warranty (Nov 2001).

Braking issues. Investigation of poor braking performance and scraping noises on first brake application after an overnight stop. Garage results - nothing faulty, but charged 150 pounds sterling in labour!

General Comments:

Dashboard rattles. And don't tell me you can live with this.

Engine mounts failing already. Jolts when the engine starts when tje ambient temperature is less than 5 degrees Celcius.

Lots of vibration from the engine even before the mounts failed - probably why they have failed.

Brakes seem under specified for the car - they seem fine until you're driving in heavy rain, then they don't have the stopping power they should. I am used to a performance degradation, but not as much as I experienced.

I disagree with the oil change interval specified by the manufacturer - 10,000 miles. The engine becomes noisier around 6,000 miles. Oil change then improves matters. Expensive oil though - 35 pounds sterling for 3 litres.

Some dealerships don't understand the new pumped-shower turbo diesel engine requirements. At the first oil change the Volkswagen garage put the wrong oil in - mineral oil instead of fully synthetic!

The engine is very noisy and unrefined - it's part of living with direct injection though. The three cylinder engine is a little unbalanced though.

Plus side. Regularly achieves 75 miles to the gallon whatever the weather.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 27th January, 2002

15th Jul 2002, 09:27

I recently bought a 5 month old VW Lupo TDI PD to travel more economically to and from work, an eighty mile round trip. My previous car was an Audi A3 1.8T and regularly achieved 33mpg. I was under the impression that a Lupo would be very economical and should easily achieve 55-65mpg, whilst I am extremely impressed with the build quality and briskness of the engine I am not impressed with the mpg, I have had it for nearly a month now and have worked it out as actually achieving only 46mpg driving on A-roads and dual carriageway.

This is not what I was expecting. Any comments??

21st Dec 2005, 01:20

I've just bought a used 60k 1.4 TDI Sport for my wife and around town only get 40mpg. Not too sure is this is correct or if we have a problem. Throttle travel seems a little short and nothing happens until the end 3/4 of its travel.

Our brakes too grind slightly when cold, but clear quite quickly. Checked and apparently all in order.

Love the car, sounds great inside when accelerating, but a bit surprised with its poor economy.

2000 Volkswagen Lupo SE 1.0 petrol

Summary:

Overrated and expensive

Faults:

New gearbox at 6 months.

New front wheel bearings at 6 months.

Complete front and back brake overhaul at 6 months - brakes are generally ineffective.

Re-hanging of the driver's door.

Passenger door mirror internal adjustment failed.

Drivers dashboard air-vent failed.

General Comments:

Roomy stylish city car spoilt by serious build quality faults and extremely poor after sales service.

Neither Volkswagen nor the franchised dealer showed any concern or interest in our problems.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 7th August, 2001

2000 Volkswagen Lupo Sport 1.4 16v

Summary:

Don't buy one, you won't stop smiling

Faults:

Squeaky drivers window.

Stereo had to be replace - chewed tapes.

General Comments:

Fantastic little car! Never had so much fun. The performance is superb, easily beating most cars away from the lights. The exhaust note is superb, and cruising on the motorway is easy.

I don't intend to sell it. Ever.

Build quality seems fantastic, and the interior is a joy to behold.

And the best bit - I've never seen another one on the road!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 15th January, 2001