Bora Beast or just a golf (VW Bora 2.3 V5 4dr)

Member Name: skrg28

Product:	VW Bora 2.3 V5 4dr
Date:	05/12/05 (9035 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Quick reliable, high build quality, not as common as golf

Disadvantages: Can be costly on servicing.

I owned my Bora V5 for over 2 years. In that time I must have covered about 35,000 miles.
The v5 I had was bought from a Volkswagen and was an X VW show car for the motor shows. As a result I had every option available, split rims, leather etc.

As a standard car the Bora offers many great features within the VW range. You get the looks and usefulness of a saloon which you just don't get in the golf. You get plenty space in the boot without the vastness of the Passat..
The Bora is a practical and well thought out car which does not share the design with any other VW platform. It was designed for the Bora first.

The V5 is near the top of the range in the Bora line up and thus when you get one or look at one you expect to see plenty of value for money. Sadly hey decided to drop the V5 in the new line up and I know in the replacement Jetta it is not available either. Instead they may offer a 2.5 straight 5, currently available in the US.

This you certainly get. The interior is plush and well finished to a high standard. The Bora is especially good with small finer points like cup holders and places for your sunglasses. It all adds up. Seating is comfortable and supportive whether you get standard cloth or leather.
I had leather in mine looked perfect when I bought the car and when I sold it. My only concern on having leather is that it seems to effect the way in which you fit in the seat. It is that little bit harder than cloth. Having said that it is the same feeling in an Audi.

EXTERIOR
I think the Bora beats the golf MK4 hands down for looks. Sharper, cleaner lines give the car the edge. Another myth is that the Bora uses the golf chassis. That's not true. The Bora was made to be a Bora and not a golf and you can tell.
Doors are all good quality and there are none of the tinny sounds you get with other cars. The Bora is a well build solid car with no obvious flaws.
Also with the V5 you get the complete colour code kit which includes the bumpers, door handles and the mirrors. You can get extras like electric fold mirrors, trip computer and sports suspension at cost of course. Still, find yourself a second hand one and you should get a bargain.

INTERIOR
My original Bora had leather and to be honest I am glad the new one doesn't. The quality was not fantastic and in fact was bettered easily by a Ford Cougar I had previously. It seemed rather cheap to me even though the seats were well made it never really looked new.
The seats in my current Bora are grey cloth and hold you well when driving on the bendy corners of the Scottish roads. One thing I will say about the grey is that it can stain very easily.

Sitting in the drivers seat you can get access to most of the controls without having to move your attention from driving. Speedo, Rev counter etc are all clear to read and mounted well in front of the driver. Also in the console there is the fuel and temperature gauges along with usual mileage stuff.
All gauges and small lights are in a blue colour, I much prefer this to the usual red.

With the V5 you get a special trip computer that covers average speed, fuel and time. It would take to long to explain all the functions but most are useful to the driver who cares a little about the trip. All the functions are controlled by a single button on the end of the right stalk. I probably wouldn't pay for it as a new option but it is worth it if you can get it on a 2nd hand car.

Optional extras in the V5 are worth every penny. AC/climate control is a must. All round control of the unit is good, letting you get comfortable with minimal interference.

My only problem here is the CD multichanger. This is usually standard fit in the boot inside the side flap in the wheel arch. Normally this is fine, except when you have a full load. It is near impossible to get to without emptying half the boot.

Front people get air bags to the front and sides for safety. Leg room in the front is excellent as is the rear. However, with the front seats right back it gets a little tight on the back seat. Centre armrests are standard front and rear.

There are plenty of small storage areas in the car not to mention missives of space in the boot. I used mine when I moved to carry the odds and ends I didn't want packed in a van. Filling the car and me driving it twice produced a load that we found difficult to understand when we collected it in a transit. You just wouldn't believe what you can get in this car.

ENGINE
When you start the V5 you get that refined roar, not to loud but with some grunt, just to let you know you have 5 cylinders. It is rather like the original 5 cylinder Audi/VW engines in the 80's/90's but with a 10 degree V.
Earlier cars like mine are the 10 valve engines. Newer ones after X plate models are 20V which increase horsepower to 170bhp instead of 150bhp. Alas I have the 150 which is still very efficient.
The engine layout under the bonnet is clear and understandable, should you actually care. Filling up the necessary water bottles is easy, as is the oil. If you want to change the bulbs it gets a little more tricky but not impossible to do at home.

DRIVE
When I first test drove one of these I got the overwhelming impression of quality. The sound of the engine, the refinement etc made it all fell like a superb car.
Pulling away from stop is effortless through a seemless gear change and if you like to hear the sound of a good engine just stick your foot to the floor and you wont be disappointed. 0-60 is in about 8.5 seconds, not blistering but more than enough for today's traffic.
Whilst the V5 is not the quickest car it is more than fast enough. It may only have 150Hp but don't forget that it is Torque that gives you the acceleration and with 5 cylinders there is plenty of that. All through the gear range you can expect plenty of acceleration whether you are passing on the side roads or the motorway. The gearing is quite long in this car which makes for good fuel economy and comfortable cruising on the motorways.

The V5 I own has integrated fog lights within the headlights. I believe this is an optional extra but is worth the money. When driving the car the headlights provide good all round vision, especially important for me on the Scottish back roads. They also manage to squeeze the indicators in there which keeps helps keep the clean look on the front of the car, everything is contained.


SERVICING
Servicing varies depending on which option you require. This is complicated more by VW as you can have mileage services or time served ones. A basic service will be £135 covering standard service things like oil, plugs and air filter. Then you have one at £175 covering the same along with pollen filters and a few other bits. Top of the pile is a major service at £275 which is a full service plus a full nut and bolt check. This is intended for every 50-60000 miles. You have to remember though that the car has platinum tipped spark plugs and 5 of them so that covers £75 worth of your major service. You should normally change these on a Bora every 40000 miles so at least its not every service.
As my car is 5 years old and the original owner lost the log book I went for the middle service. Along with this I decided to get a brake fluid change at £65. Also at the time the rear wheel bushes went and at £230 to fix for a £20 part I am glad it was under the warranty. This was down to age and wear and tare.

Standard service is every 10000 miles on the earlier cars and I think every 20000 miles on cars after 2001.

Like lo of modern cars the engine bay is well covered in VW aesthetic parts so changing plugs etc can e troublesome.

OWNERSHIP
The V5 is not the cheapest car to drive. However, if you take the Computer option you can keep an eye on your MPG quite easily. Driving like any normal calm driver and you will easily get 35mpg, stick your foot down and pass like an idiot and watch your money burn. My 20 mile drive to work averages at 38MPG along hilly country roads. I also found that replacing the air filter for one of those performance ones increased MPG and efficiency.

In the year I have owned this Bora I have had no breakdowns. The only problem I had was the fuel filter started to leak as it had never been changed. This was due to age rather than quality and the fact that the car had done so few miles nobody had though to change it.

One thing I have noticed is that VW's are getting larger with every iteration. The Bora is no exception. Its bigger than the original Jetta but I am still managing to squeeze it in to the garage of my new build house and that is a small garage. It's a shame they have made the Bora replacement even bigger though, I think that will make me look else where if I ever change this one.

To sum up, I would but one of these again. I only sold mine as I moved to Scotland. When I owned it my company were paying me a tidy sum to run it.

I could go on all day about this car, it is a fantastic car to drive and own.

Summary: Great all round small family saloon.

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