UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

daffy wrote:Well you learn something new everyday i guess. VW with a Variable Valve Time. I think it was about time they started using it. They've been left donkey's years behind. Personally I don't like VW much as an engine manufacturer. No imagination whatsoever.

As regards a playful car JWC, my previous one was a 106 Rallye so as you can imagine......the difference is a bit more than obvious. But you would think that it would do the basics. Thinking of changing my airfilter too cos the one that it has now is totally smothered. It intakes from somewhere in the front right arch. I'm more than happy with the car's range. Revving it to 6,5 as it is now (stock) won't do much anyway as you already mentioned.

By the way, I definitely need lowering. How far down does the GTi go in relation to the 75hp? I'm not going to lower it so far that it'll effect handling. So the question is......how low do you go on 15'' wheels so that handling isn't affected?

VW, like to keep it simple. The Beetle engine for example was manufactured from 1938 until 2002 with an evolution of mods - but fundamentally still the simple design remains. No other manufacturer can claim such reliability or longevity. They run for 100's thousands of miles. The Polo Mk 2 and 3, Golf GTi and G40's were really very simple engines, low cost, and very reliable. This is what makes the VW brand name. Every now and then they go nuts and stick a charger on it, but then the lifetime is affected, so they do it *very* carefully - and leave it to the idiots to fiddle and knacker their own engines, thus leaving reputation intact.

What is your filter smothered with or do you mean your car is generally asthmatic? We believe in good hi-flow filters, the flow of gas upstream of the cylinders has a larger effect on economy and performance than down stream. Its good to keep it clean, clean filter, hoover out bugs, small barn owls and other stuff it might have sucked in.

If you lower the car at all, the handling will be affected. This is because ther are, camber, toe, thrust axis, castor, setback, KPI angles that need to be spot on for the car to be as it is now, if you lower it many of these will change. Obviously only the GTI has a known approved and tested setup. If you lower it yourself, you'll have to guess at what these settings should be, most people assume that it will all remain the same just lower, as if there were more weight in the car, but this is not the case if you've taken the suspension appart. For example, the track rods point down hill at the moment, so when you lower it they become or go over horizontal, making them effectively longer, thus causing the front wheels to gain toe-in.

This isn't to say that it won't be better than it is now! I've done my fair share of lowering etc, but I have no plans on this one, I now concentrate on it being as comfortable and as quiet as possible, wafting to work, and wafting home again. I inadvertantly became old overnight.... Anyone seen my slippers?

Slippers are right next to the plush robe and the Sherlock Holmes pipe. Right by the fireplace.


Think of the following. A 1,6 WITH a VTEC/Vanos etc. system should easily be able to produce over 120bhp. The Civics used to do 160 and that was 10 years ago. 10 years ago 120bhp was basically the pinaccle for mass manufactured naturally aspirated NON vtec 1,6l engines. So you see what i mean about no imagination. And it's more than that. It's no risk too. 125 with a vtec? When you have saxos and rallyes putting out in 120bhp in stock form with no vtec and running for 100's of thousands of kms then you can't really use reliability as an excuse. :-S Maybe the GTi doesn't have variable valve timing after all? The step that you guys mention can easily be attributed to the cam. An "on cam" effect can easily be achieved without VTEC. (I know i shouldn't be using the acronym but when it comes to variable valve timing sytstems, i couldn't be bothered typing it all out, and Honda is obviously the pioneer in this field so VTEC is what I think of first. I'll use Vanos if it makes you feel any better. But not VVT-i. I hate Toyota's system.)

Now as regards lowering, in all cars there is a lowering threshold where handling will only be marginally affected if all else remains the same. As I've mentioned before, on the rallye this threshold was around the 35mm mark. In the long run, I obviously don't want the handling to remain the same. I want it to tighten up. But first things first so I'm just looking for vague guidlines from people that have already done just a lowering job. Obvioulsy this is my first time at tuning a Polo. I'm guessing that 30mm's would be ok but that's exactly why i'm asking. I don't want to be just guessing.

If that *is* what you want, then just buy a Honda. The Polo has its market, the GTi is a bit of added fun.

It is what it is.

Where did that come from?

Nobody said anything about wanting a Honda. What i did say though is that 125 is a low output if the gti DOES have a vtec.

Don't go getting all "VWs are VWs and Hondas are Hondas" on me now as if i'm 17years old and don't know what car to buy.

daffy wrote:Where did that come from?

Nobody said anything about wanting a Honda. What i did say though is that 125 is a low output if the gti DOES have a vtec.

Don't go getting all "VWs are VWs and Hondas are Hondas" on me now as if i'm 17years old and don't know what car to buy.

Quite, you made your choice. Quit winging.

Reading Comprehension mate.

I never thought the top end of VW's were behind the times in engine technology - variable geometry turbos, common rail diesel engines, first competitive diesel rally cars, and now the FSI direct injection petrol engines. Not to mention a supercharged small car! VW practically invented the affordable performance hot hatch.

The standard range is somewhat underpowered though (golfs particularly). They tend to go for torque rather than power. Saying that though, my 1.4 16v mk4 isn't far off the pace of a VTS, and it's a hell of a lot more refined.

If i wanted reliable, i'd go buy a bike! I want enjoyable!

Problem is, there isn't much you can do with your car to make it as enjoyable as a screaming VTEC jap motor. Why did you buy the polo?

david burton wrote:
The standard range is somewhat underpowered though (golfs particularly). They tend to go for torque rather than power. Saying that though, my 1.4 16v mk4 isn't far off the pace of a VTS, and it's a hell of a lot more refined.

sorry mate, even the gti lag's a little behind he vts do to its weight disadvantage, the 16valve is a long way behind

Why y'all in such a rush anyway?

well i bought the polo because i really like the 6n2. i was going for the gti but i found the 1,4 at an amazing price. much too good to let it fly. if i'd wanted a screamer i would've just bought the rice, or i would've stuck with my previous car. just one point though.....enjoyable doesn't necessarily mean that it's a screamer now does it? it's not all about raw power, or high revs. i mean if anybody's ever driven a mk1 mini cooper, you'll know what i'm talking about.

you've got a point though jwc. we seem to be in a rush. i guess it's too much testosterone being kept in.

I fly aircraft, so if I feel the need for speed I suppose I get it from there. We can pull +5.5 -2 G if we wanted.

No car can do that, even F1 only gets about 2.2 G.

You really in greece?

Yes, but can you go to the pub in the airplane?

Yep, I really am in Greece.

JWC wrote:I fly aircraft, so if I feel the need for speed I suppose I get it from there. We can pull +5.5 -2 G if we wanted.

No car can do that, even F1 only gets about 2.2 G.

as far as im concerned speed doesnt really interest me, i mean where the bloody hell can you go 100mph+ on the roads these days, without getting a) caught by the bacon b) caught up in traffic, hmm maybe i live in a busy area!
p.s: just sat in traffic for 1 n half hours, rather stressed out
-Ben-

polopowah wrote:as far as im concerned speed doesnt really interest me, i mean where the bloody hell can you go 100mph+ on the roads these days, without getting a) caught by the bacon b) caught up in traffic, hmm maybe i live in a busy area!
p.s: just sat in traffic for 1 n half hours, rather stressed out
-Ben-

Norfolks quite quiet - I've maxed the lotus out - picked the time and place tho and done a recy run first to make sure the road was clear (off course it was on an unadopted highway Officer)