My VW Golf Mk 7

4th July 2016

My Volkswagen Golf Mk 7 1.6 TDI SE

On 4th July 2016 I became the proud owner of a 3 year old 2013 Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI SE (engine code CLHA). It has 5 doors, a manual gearbox, Limestone Grey metallic paint and the standard Titan Black 'Zoom/Micro' cloth interior.

Mk 7 Golfs have always been well specced with even the base 'S' model coming with the impressive Composition Media system (5.8" colour touch-screen, DAB radio, Bluetooth telephone & MDI media device interfaces), An electronic parking brake with auto hold function, multifunction computer, automatic start/stop function, and not to mention loads of safety features such as electronic stability control (ESC).

However it was the SE model that I wanted which on early Mk 7 Golfs added 16" Alloy wheels, Adaptive Cruise Control, Auto Lights, Auto Wipers, Automatic dimming rear-view interior mirror, Alarm, Multifunction steering wheel and front comfort seats. The only optional extra I really needed was the Park Pilot front and rear parking sensors. Not only did I find a car will these, it also came with:

Climate control (2Zone electronic air conditioning with automatic air recirculation)

Climatronic 2-zone climate control
Keyless entry (including engine Start/Stop button on centre console)

Keyless entry & start/stop button
Lane Assist (Camera controlled system to prevent the vehicle drifting out of its lane)
High Beam Assist (Automatic sensing for switching between dipped and main beam)
Winter pack (Headlight washers, heated front seats, heated windscreen washer jets and low washer fluid warning light)
Mirror pack (Electrically foldable door mirrors, door mirror puddle lights and reverse activated kerb-view adjustment on passenger's door mirror)
Front fog lights (including static cornering function)
Metalic paint

I couldn't believe it. Usually when I read a car's manual I am a little disappointed by all the things my particular car doesn't have. But with this car, it has most things. (It does however lack the Discover Satalite Navigation system and a rear-view camera which I would have found useful.)

I found my new car using autotrader.co.uk being sold by a non-VW independent dealer. The 100 mile drive home after picking up the car was effortless. Most of the time was spent checking out how everything worked and setting everything up to my liking. The adaptive cruise control and lane assist kept me safe. I even drove a little faster than I do normally on motorways since the frugal 1.6 TDI engine with common rail technology and 4 valves per cylinder has a claimed Extra-urban MPG figure of 85.6. Once I got home the multifunction computer told me that I had averaged about 72 MPG. I never achieved this with my Mk 5 Golf.

My VW Golf Mk 7

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