Lack of smoothness

[BrenG]

I had'nt drove our passat for a week or so - it is my wife's car - I drove the car to North Wales on Friday and noticed what could only be described as " coarseness".
No EML - car showed 60 mpg at one point - but when moving the car felt like different - like it was very tired.
Have you ever driven something that is well past it best? That was how it felt.

Car has covered 140k which is nothing for a pd. I have to change the oil next week so I will see if anything is obvious - I know the exhaust has a small leak at the back, I will check for leaks anywhere else.