VW Bora - opinions?

Mr Benevolent · 03-09-2008 12:43pm #1

My brother and I are going to see a '99 1.4 Bora on Saturday. The private seller is looking for €2350. It has 109k mls, an NCT till 09/09, service & timing belt done at 90k. There's a 1 inch crack in the front windshield from stone damage. I've checked out Honest John's, seems fine with a few niggles.

Assuming the price is ok, does anyone have an opinion on this car or Boras in general?

Henry Ford III · 03-09-2008 12:59pm

Meh. Booted Golfs is all they are. 1.4 is flat. You can do much better.

Mr.David · 03-09-2008 1:21pm

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Meh. Booted Golfs is all they are. 1.4 is flat. You can do much better.

Its a decent car but yes, as Henry pointed out the 1.4 is an awful powerplant. Either get a diesel version or avoid it altogether. How about an Octavia of the same age? Same car, more reliable and cheaper.

Mister-M5 · 03-09-2008 1:30pm

Had a 00 Bora TDI (90bhp) for 2 and a half years. Fantastic car. When i sold it there was 138000 miles on the clock and in the duration i had it absolutely nothing went wrong with it. Very economical too! Spoke to the person I sold it to last month and now with 155000 on it, he has the same opinion on it as i do. Haven't heard quite the same review about the petrol engines though. Go for diesel or something different. Hope this helps.

Bobo78 · 03-09-2008 1:35pm

I heard they give trouble with burning oil, especially year 1999 and 2000 and 2001. Plus friend had one and he said the car was vastly underpowered with 1.4 petrol engine.
Since your one have higher milage i would especially be a ware of the burning oil problem. Anyway if u decide to buy it get it checked properly.

victor1 · 03-09-2008 1:37pm

utter crap, had 99 - had issues with the oil, also much too heary of c car in particular for the 1.4 - stear well clear

The Real B-man · 03-09-2008 1:38pm

You have to get the TDI and be a Farmer to own a Bora imo

tossy · 03-09-2008 3:04pm

Had a 1.4 bora many moons ago always loved the shape the front is more aggressive than the MK4 golf,its an awful engine with no go what so ever,i got rid before it started giving trouble.i know have a bora again petrol though not diesel and this one has plenty of go.

I love boras but not in bog standard irish form or very badly modify irish form,i got my self a UK car with all the trimmings.

2 Espressi · 03-09-2008 3:25pm

A mate of mine had a 1.4 Bora, which he hated as it was very underpowered.
Tossy's on the other hand, is a continent-munching, Bahn-storming monster of a yoke!

L-M · 03-09-2008 4:19pm

Lol tossy you can say everything is underpowered from the yokes you have had haha.

I've a 1.4 Golf. Great car, power is grand. Nothing special but it'll cruise away at 80+ no bother to it. Mine has 66k miles and is drinking oil and as far as i know the only way you can find out if it's drinking oil is by driving it for a week and then checkin the oil. I just top mine up every so often. Not alot of hassle but can be annoying. Have driven a bora and everything is the exact same.
If you are buying, make sure you get the comfortline spec, ie. electric windows central locking, armrest and more comfortable seats. Base line is worth the money. Good all round car, nice bit of space. Just be wary of the oil problem, don't come back complaining in a week's time if it's drinkin oil, you've been warned:p

cabrwab · 03-09-2008 5:22pm

I know two people who had them, one a very high spec model, had small niggles with it, the automatic wouldn't shift out of park sometimes and small other things.

The 1.6 comfortline my brother in law had gave nothing but trouble, they spent loads of money on the repairs which never once sorted the repairs, was a 02 they had high milage on it, but started giving trouble around 70000miles and never stopped. So personally would i recommand them? Answer not really. I do however prefere them over the golf of the same era. Every car has there issues, but i believe there is alot of the 1.6's which gave trouble.

Best of luck with whatever you decide.
Get a high spec'd one though, the arm rest is a nice touch but it is a nightmare with the handbrake.

colm_mcm · 03-09-2008 6:47pm

I wouldn't pay over €1500 for one of those with that mileage, also it'd not want to be the Calcutta spec model, I'd want electric windows and other such fancy stuff.

crosstownk · 03-09-2008 7:58pm

I've a 2000 1.4 Bora that the wife drives. It hasn't blown a bulb yet but I had to have the pistons replaced last year due to piston slap (might have been caused by me driving flat out at 110MPH :rollseyes: on the autobahns a few years back). But I've heard of a few others that have had the same problem. So if you hear any tapping noises from under the bonnet then walk away. See if you can locate a 2000 version as they had 4 electric windows and electric mirrors standard on the base model from March 2000.

Aside from that it's been very reliable - it broke down for the first time earlier this year due to a flat battery but I'll consider that fair wear and tear as the battery was the original one.

tossy · 03-09-2008 8:10pm

a Mk4 based car that hasnt blown a bulb yet? i don't believe w word of it

ive spent more on taillight/brakelight bulbs on my bora than i have on any other maintenace parts outside of servicing.

road_high · 03-09-2008 8:15pm

Had an SDI Bora for 2.5 years, excellent car. Very reliable and extremely econimical. Bit dead too but dii the job it was asked and more. And they're a fine solid car as well. Would much prefer to a boring Almera anyday

colm_mcm · 03-09-2008 10:16pm

tossy wrote: »

ive spent more on taillight/brakelight bulbs on my bora than i have on any other maintenace parts outside of servicing.

A great excuse to change to LED's then!

Mr Benevolent · 06-09-2008 1:04pm

Thanks for the info guys, much appreciated.

Bobo78 · 06-09-2008 1:08pm

So what did you decide then, are you getting it then or not?

Mr Benevolent · 06-09-2008 1:37pm

The brother accidentally edged me out of his plans so I didn't get to go. He's in Leitrim right now looking at it. Hope it's not a lemon.

Barr · 06-09-2008 2:32pm

mfitzy wrote: »

Had an SDI Bora for 2.5 years, excellent car. Very reliable and extremely econimical. Bit dead too but dii the job it was asked and more. And they're a fine solid car as well. Would much prefer to a boring Almera anyday

Their both as boring as each other really .. at least the Almera will be reliable

Mr Benevolent · 06-09-2008 4:50pm

It was a lemon, so he didn't go for it.

Rear bumper out of place, thick blue smoke while revving it, full-length crack of the rear windshield, front was shotblasted from gravel roads and tracking was off. Seller wanted €2200 (109k miles, '99. 1.4)

http://tinyurl.com/5rbm7m

L-M · 06-09-2008 4:53pm

Confab wrote: »

It was a lemon, so he didn't go for it.

Rear bumper out of place, thick blue smoke while revving it, full-length crack of the rear windshield, front was shotblasted from gravel roads and tracking was off. He wanted €2200.

http://tinyurl.com/5rbm7m

Move on so, time to start the fun of searching again!

That link doesn't work btw...

What kinda budget have you? I think this is good value. Bought for 4k easily and from a dealer
http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Volkswagen/Bora/1.4-COMFORTLINE/1091641/

Mr Benevolent · 06-09-2008 4:59pm

I'd say that Bora would be lovely, but the bro's budget is 2.5k max. I'm going to try talking him into an Astra or Yaris or something (max 1.4L). He doesn't care about power or handling really - it's his first car.

L-M · 06-09-2008 5:22pm

Confab wrote: »

I'd say that Bora would be lovely, but the bro's budget is 2.5k max. I'm going to try talking him into an Astra or Yaris or something (max 1.4L). He doesn't care about power or handling really - it's his first car.

Too old?
http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Volkswagen/Golf/1.4/1171364/

Mr Benevolent · 06-09-2008 5:41pm

Looks nice. Think he's been scared off VWs now, so time for something a bit different. I'll post another thread tomorrow rather then keep this one alive with the wrong heading.

colm_mcm · 06-09-2008 8:39pm

Some good alternatives:

My favourite for the money:

Mazda 323f 1.5, 97,000 miles, €2,250
http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Mazda/323/1.5-GLX/1147247/

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/SEAT/Toledo/1.6-R/1163046/
SEAT Toledo 1.6 R with 45,000 miles for €3,950 from a SIMI dealer (price negotiable I'd say!)

99 Octavia 1.6 GLXI (higher hp engine I think - windey windows though), 78,000 miles for €2,650

SEAT Leon 1.6 Signo, big miles at 114,000, priced €2,950
http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/SEAT/Leon/1.6-SIGNO/1197187/

Volvo S40 2.0 T4, 98,000 miles for €2950
http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Volvo/S40/.................T4/815077/

L-M · 07-09-2008 12:20am

colm_mcm wrote: »

Some good alternatives:

My favourite for the money:

Mazda 323f 1.5, 97,000 miles, €2,250
http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Mazda/323/1.5-GLX/1147247/

http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/SEAT/Toledo/1.6-R/1163046/
SEAT Toledo 1.6 R with 45,000 miles for €3,950 from a SIMI dealer (price negotiable I'd say!)

99 Octavia 1.6 GLXI (higher hp engine I think - windey windows though), 78,000 miles for €2,650

SEAT Leon 1.6 Signo, big miles at 114,000, priced €2,950
http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/SEAT/Leon/1.6-SIGNO/1197187/

Volvo S40 2.0 T4, 98,000 miles for €2950
http://www.carzone.ie/used-cars/Volvo/S40/.................T4/815077/

Lol all good cars, but for a first time driver i think not haha, insurance would be up the walls.

OP just keep this thread open, it'll save confusion and posts being moved etc.

Fishtits · 07-09-2008 12:31am

VAG 1.4 petrol is a dog, p*ss poor output, oil consumption Dubai would be proud of etc.

Wouldn't touch it under any circumstances TBH.

colm_mcm · 07-09-2008 12:33am

Limerick-man wrote: »

Lol all good cars, but for a first time driver i think not haha, insurance would be up the walls.

OP just keep this thread open, it'll save confusion and posts being moved etc.

I'd say the Volvo would be the only difficult one to insure.

woop · 07-09-2008 1:05am

The Real B-man wrote: »

You have to get the TDI and be a Farmer to own a Bora imo

seen some lad unloading bags of concrete the other day from one........friend asked why I was smiling

its not like the 323f is a speed machine group 11 insurance though

what does he prefer......safety, reliability, cheapness, sporty etc
not exactly precise parameters but you get the jist

actually out of interest was the 1.4 bora and golf ever available in england??

L-M · 07-09-2008 10:28am

woop wrote: »

actually out of interest was the 1.4 bora and golf ever available in england??

It was, it was a bit rarer and had different spec levels ie. E,S etc.
http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/ni/cars_popup.jsp?searchform=&modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&photo=1&state=block&sort=3&hassearched=Y&make=VOLKSWAGEN&min_pr=75&source=0&model=GOLF&max_pr=5000&miles=1500&agerange=3&mileage=&postcode=bs32+4nf&variant=1.4&bodyid=0&trim=&fuelid=0&colour=&transmissionid=0&keywords=&ukcarsearch_full.x=56&ukcarsearch_full.y=8&ukcarsearch_full=SEARCH&start=5&distance=80&adcategory=CARS&channel=CARS&id=200836318024732

VW Bora - opinions?

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