Advice on buying a polo please

zahir_213 · Post by **zahir_213** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 6:20 pm

Hi guys,

It's been a very long time since I posted on here!

I used to have a nice polo mk5 few years back and used forum regularly back then.

Anyway I have come for some advice as I am thinking of buying a polo again and I am unsure on engines!

My requirements are:
Budget: max £5k
Miles per year: 6k miles

I have been looking at a few 1.2s or 1.4s but I can't decide between the two.

Is there anything between the two engines? For example is one engine better in terms of reliability?

Also in terms of spec I'm after aircon, so I'm looking at an S I think??

Ben90 · Post by **Ben90** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 6:52 pm

1.4 would be a better choice as many say the 1.2 is underpowered (around 55bhp) and you'll spend a lot of time with your foot to the floor just to get going and end up using more fuel than a 1.4 engine would. That said, 1.2s are cheaper to insure.

Have a look at the Sport models, you get nice spec including AC as standard, sports seats with nice boltsers, bigger wheels and a slight drop in ride height out of the factory, sport doesn't mean anything performance-wise so don't worry about insurance hikes. I would avoid a 1.4 Fsi sport if you can though since they can have nightmare issues later in life in return for slightly more mpg over a regular non-fsi. I used to have an fsi and loved it, that said I didn't have any engine issues.

Instead have a look at the 1.4 sport 16v, same spec, more reliable engine, 100bhp. Can't go wrong

Quick note on identifying while you look, '16v' on the back means it's the 100bhp model, 'Fsi' is self explanatory. Both will have sport trim.

Hope this helps!

zahir_213 · Post by **zahir_213** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:57 pm

thanks for the info mate, some thing to think about now..

Im trying to find out when the Cam belt requires change on the 1.2 and 1.4 but I am reading that the 1.2 has a cam chain, therefore does not need it.
Is this true?

Thanks in advance

Ben90 · Post by **Ben90** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 10:28 pm

I think you're right there, the 1.2s have chains and the 1.4s have belts. The 1.4 fsi I had did have a chain though, but I think that's specific to that engine.

Usually the timing belt wants changing every 60k miles or 4 years.

zahir_213 · Post by **zahir_213** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 11:20 pm

Thanks again mate

With regards to fsi, how can I tell if the engine has fsi? Which models years tend to be fsi ?

Cheers

Ben90 · Post by **Ben90** » Sat Oct 20, 2012 8:10 am

It'll have an 'fsi' badge on the back of the car, and about 86bhp.

Here's an example of a nice low mileage 1.4 sport 100 i found on autotrader:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

jld14886 · Post by **jld14886** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 7:30 pm

I dunno if this would be of any interest but I'm selling my Polo-GT

4500 ono
68k
full VW Sinclar service history
one owner
No mods

130bhp
A/C as standard
6 CD changer
Sport Seats
(all the bits the standard GT comes with)

55mpg driving normal

vc-10 · Post by **vc-10** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 9:54 pm

Avoid the 1.2s if you can- I drive a 1.2 with the 65PS engine and it is <i>slow</i>. Get a 1.4, preferably the FSI if you're concerned about fuel economy. The FSI has a slightly better official MPG than the 1.2s (47.9 vs 47.1) but more power.

The 1.2 is efficient if you baby it (I've got a solid 55mpg out of it when hypermiling a bit) but in normal driving I get around 40mpg (although I do a lot of town driving, which brings it down). Looking at the Honest John 'Real MPG' thing it suggests that the normal 1.4 is only slightly less efficient than the 1.2s (only 3mpg or so difference), so I'd expect the FSI to be better in real terms (it's not listed).

Eddie9n · Post by **Eddie9n** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 10:19 pm

Don't even bother with petrol 1.2s & 1.4s. The turbo diesels are way better, especially the gt. Plus, you'd be suprised as they're also reasonable to insure too. More mpg & power - win win.

Ladiesman_317 · Post by **Ladiesman_317** » Thu Oct 25, 2012 6:42 pm

Check for squeaks from the bushes when you brake, these perish fast. Other than that, I cant say I've had any major issues with mine. I have a 1.4 16v sport 100 myself, its a decent motor, gets around 35 in town, (if i baby it). On a run you're looking at around mid 40's never seen it above 45 tbh. Oh and check that it has full service history for that peace of mind.

Dub_Dan · Post by **Dub_Dan** » Sat Oct 27, 2012 6:59 pm

short and sweet buddy go for the 1.4 if you can its a much more gutsy engine even if you had the 75bhp over the 65 1.2 3 cylinder.

Ben90 · Post by **Ben90** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 9:37 am

With the mileage he does I'm not sure a diesel would be so beneficial. Then again I guess it depends what you're doing with your 6k miles, if it's all motorway then I might recommend you go for a 1.4 tdi too.

I can vouch that the petrol FSi gets around 46mpg average, and I did about 50/50 urban/motorway driving when I owned it. because it's injected it also needs premium to run at its peak, Tesco momentum 99 was the juice I used, same price as the branded regular unleaded too.

Ladiesman_317 · Post by **Ladiesman_317** » Sun Oct 28, 2012 11:19 am

Oh and the biggest personal advice i could give you, and alot of people on here will probably shoot me down for this, but dont spend 5k on a little runaround, especially a polo dude. limit you're budget to about 3k max.

Eddie9n · Post by **Eddie9n** » Wed Oct 31, 2012 1:32 pm

Ladiesman_317 wrote:Oh and the biggest personal advice i could give you, and alot of people on here will probably shoot me down for this, but dont spend 5k on a little runaround, especially a polo dude. limit you're budget to about 3k max.

What car would you recommend him to buy for 5k then?

benmkiv · Post by **benmkiv** » Wed Oct 31, 2012 6:01 pm

Spend your money how you want pal! ;D u you want a polo get what you like and what you can afford.

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