2000 Volkswagen Lupo TDI 1.4 turbo diesel from UK and Ireland
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
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.
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??