2003 Volkswagen Touran SE from UK and Ireland - Comments

Paasenger door lock faulty.

Drivers window has mind of it own.

Generally an excellent vehicle.But these cars eat oil they even include a bottle with your service. At around 10 pounds sterling a litre this really affects the running costs almost making it as expensive as a petrol car as it adds around 10 pounds per 4 thousand miles or nearly 2.50 pounds per tank of fuel

Firstly all New cars use up more oil during the "bedding in" process. The VW dealership where I purchased my Touran made it quite clear that if I was to get an oil warning lamp during the first 1000 miles they will GIVE me a bottle of engine oil, free of charge!

Secondly how big is your fuel tank? Mine only holds around 60 litres, I haven't yet managed to achieve a thousand miles on one tank, I'd quit complaining mate, if you're getting that kind of MPG you're on a winner!

My Touran has now done 18000 miles in the eleven months we've had it. In that time the add oil light has come on twice - so it has been topped up with 2 litres of oil - will probably need another in 2 or 3 thousand miles. I make that 7000 miles per litre of oil (costing £4 not £10) If I were you I'd get your vehicle checked out - and your maths!

I investigated the excessive oil usage issue prior to buying a Seat Arosa 1.0S petrol, then a 1.9 TDI Touran. I discovered that putting any old fully synthetic oil in will NOT do (like the SEAT dealer recommended)!

I do all my own servicing and in both the above vehicles I use the same Castrol Longlife 2 0W-30 for latest VW engines. Neither vehicle uses any oil, but admittedly I change it every 6 months as I am not comfortable with extended service schedules.

I am really pleased to say both my vehicles run perfectly and neither has been back to a dealer. The Touran has never even been to a dealer as I purchased it from a knock down internet car broker who were excellent!

As an aside to this I just want to mention that VW did have a problem some time ago with cars being given the wrong oil at the factory.

New engines are supposed to have an oil that doesn't do its job too well, reason is, some wear is necessary to allow the piston rings to bed into the cylinder walls.

Otherwise, they never seal properly.

After 1000 miles the oil should be changed to the normal spec.

This may explain your excessive oil consumption.

It was documented in the Honest John motoring section of the Daily Telegraph a couple of years ago.

My experience with VW Diesel engines, and I have had 5 or 6 of these in various forms. 1.9 TDI & 2.0 TDI, 100 BHP, 110 BHP, 130 BHP and the latest 136 BHP.

They all used oil for the first 20K, some for a bit longer.

After which oil consumption seemed to drop.

My latest VW Touran 2.0 TDI seems to be about the same. Oil consumption on this model for the first 15K was quite heavy and I used about 4 litres. I've now done 22K miles and I am keeping an eye on the dipstick weekly, but haven't had to put any in yet, so hopefully this latest engine has now bed in.

My advice is it seems to be part of the bedding in process, carry a litre of whatever oil VW reccomend for your particular VW engine.

The oil consumption will drop after the first 10K. My advice regarding the 'Add oil' warning light is that you don't want to be seeing it - look for the dipstick (bonnet release?) earlier.

If you think £10 a litre is expensive, wait to see how much your caring VW dealer will charge you at the service. The big plus point though (if you drive the car 'normally') is that the variable servicing will mean you don't visit the dealer that often.

I have had my Touran for 1 year now and have done 71000miles; yes they do use oil for about the first 10 – 20000 miles then stop. Overall this is the worst car I have ever had, the electrical system is poor with alarm and immobiliser faults, computer displays coming on so bright you think the sun is reflecting of the dash, EGR valves failing, light switches failing, Aircon condenser holed by a stone due to a design error which VW will not admit to, heated washers working intermittently and general faults coming and going when travelling in deep surface water on normal roads. And what is it with the spare tyre or lack of one. First in the dark at night you have to take a valve out, fill the tyre with gunge and then put the valve back in and pump it up, all in the dark. AA was the best option in the end.

Ever tried to carry 7 people and tackle a speed hump, the car just bottoms out every time and as for the seats they are not comfortable at all.

The radio / CD is very good, but could do with LW so I can listen to the cricket.