utterly, fabulously brilliant cars. Totally reliable, went like stink. handles amazingly, enough of a hoot to get yourself into trouble. Not too economical, and petrol tank small, so about 250 miles to a tank IIRC. A little short in legroom, which eventually made my left knee sore (i’m 6’4″), but worth it. Loved the noise when you’re really ragging it, sounds just like the in car footage of WRC, all transmission whine/scream and turbo whoosh. I still love the sound of a nicely tuned one burbling past. My missus used to hide her head in shame as other scooby owners and I would give a nob and a wave/flash. 😀
Inside is a bit basic, but it has everything i needed and nothing broke. Ever.
My son loved it also (at 2 years old: “go fast daddy!”). 😆
Servicing not too pricey, parts appear cheap, but they were so bombproof that in 3 years of faultless ownership I only had to get new windsreen wipers as the stock ones are comically bad. 🙄
I imagine you could get a bike inside with the back seats down (I had the hatchback, why would you get a saloon?) without too much bother, but I put mine on a rack on the back.
Glad I didn’t have one when I was younger and lived in the north east of scotland. Would have been killer (perhaps literally) up there. Instead I owned it down south (Hampshire, bought mine from Bulldog) I did a lot of miles so got cruise control fitted 😳 , which made it a fine cruiser when required.
I went back up north for a wedding and had the best drive of my life on the backroads between St. Andrews and Crail. Wonderful.
I only say all this as I would dearly love another one, but the fact is I ride everywhere now, the missus drives the car and with kid three on the way the Touran is a fabulous car for what it is.
Can still totally feel the car pinging from side to side through a nice chicane (B939 Cockbridge to Tomimtoul), and nailing it away from the M6 toll booths in a drag race with a jag and souped up Mondeo. WHAM! talk about traction.
Practical, great value, drives like a dream, not run of the mill. Get one! ( and then give me a borrow of it please!).
Kev