A slogan of Peugot, n’est pas?

In the week that it’s announced Ryton is to close, I find myself driving one of their products, while the Audi is having a bit of warranty work (for rust on the roof channels- a little dissapointing, but being sorted by an approved bodyshop under the 12 year anti-corrosion warranty).

It’s not terrible, but it ain’t that good either. There’s panel gaps you could hide a child in, cheap plastic, heavy clutch (too heavy for a gutless 1.4 petrol), and noise in abundance. The next time anyone complains that VW Group quality isn’t what it was, and too expensive, I’ll point them at one.

The model I’m driving (1.4S 5 door, with aircon) cost £10,222 new. For £410 more you could have had a similar Polo. For a grand less, an Ibiza, for a couple of hundred, a Fabia. All with panels that fit :-), and in Sport trim, not bargain basement. I daresay you could get a Fiesta for less than the [spit] french car too.

At least it’s keeping my speed down on the motorway. I find it stunning that my heavy A3 can go much faster, is much quieter, and uses 50% less fuel (but gets taxed more :-/). OK, it was a much more expensive car new, but now it’s probably worth less.