2003 Volkswagen Bora SE from UK and Ireland - Comments

From new there has been a rattle in the roof headliner, it has been in twice, but the dealer has never been able to pin point it.

Problem with the electric mirrors, when you move the right one the left on moves as-well.

Very noisy drivers door hinges, happen twice, but each time the dealer just adds some grease.

At 18,000 miles air conditioning packed up. Having taken this to the dealer they said it was due to a small stone coming through the lower grille and hitting the condenser. They said it was an act of god and therefore not covered under warranty, but it is a obvious design fault as there is no protection for the part. The bill for this is around £800, Volkswagen will not accept any liability.

Apart from faults this is a great all round car, with excellent performance without high fuel bills.

Handling is not great.

Also do not buy this car in the hope that the Volkswagen reputation for their cars holding their value is true. This car will depreciate quicker than the golf.

With regard to the "faulty" electric mirrors, if you read the handbook, you will realise that this feature is intentional and if not required, they can be adjusted individually!

Just to add to the previous comment and to inform the initial poster, in vw's you set the drivers mirror first, flick to passenger side and adjust accordingly. You then set your mirror switch back to your side and leave it there. In the future when someone else drives your car, they only have to adjust the mirror on they're side and the other will adjust itself accoringly. Rather than being the problem you thought it was, it is actually an excellent feature that works very well.

Great value on the used market as nobody wants them.

I picked up a 53 reg Reflex Silver TDI 130 Sport with one company owner, 67,000 miles and a full VW service history at auction in September for £5k. About 30% of its new value, and about £3k less than an equivalent Golf would have set me back.

I use it as a station car and a weekend runabout and plan to keep it until it drops (which hopefully will be a few good years yet).

Strange about Bora resale values: I'm looking for a Golf TDI on the used market but they all seem to be overpriced and very high mileage. There are Boras on the market for tons cheaper - the head wants but the heart doesn't... for some undefinable reason they are not nearly as desireable, even the name sound like Bore - her!