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Petrol Engines against Diesel Engines?
Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2005 8:51 pm
by SiDaBa
Right i'm at the point where i'm fed up of my 1.2. Not because the engine doesn't pack much power just for the fact that i've got problems with the coil packs....constantly.
Now am i right in saying that with VW diesel engines there aren't any known common faults unlike the petrol engines (except the fsi engine am i right) where things like the coil packs etc are renouned for giving up?
Any known faults with nay engines is appreciated and people's own experience as i am looking at new cars, i'd like another polo, Diesel probably but i need to know whether i'm going to find this more reliable.
Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2005 11:37 pm
by n3oNx
I have a 1.2l 12v and as far as the engine is concerned I haven't got any problem at all. I think as everything in life is also a matter of luck.
But if it was me looking for a new car I wouldn't go for a Polo, I would go to a Golf =)
Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 9:21 am
by carmadaaron
yeh i think the earlier polos had more problems.
what milelage are you at SiDaBa?
ive not had a prob (apart from sqeaky suspension) so far (fingers crossed!)

Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 9:38 am
by SiDaBa
Well Coilpacks are notorious for failing no matter what the car/engine, although "new and improved" ones are now being used.
But is there any common problems for diesel engines like coilpacks in the pertol engines?
My car has just hit 26k.
It's more a matter of insurance when it comes to chosing a car. So a Golf is slightly out of my league, also in price as well probably, I still want to have some money left.
Maybe i should be looking outside of the VAG group.
Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 10:01 am
by des_pd_ tdi
I've had two Diesel engines, the 1.9 100pd in my Polo 9n, covered 17,000 miles without any problems at all, that's small fry for a Diesel though. I'm on my second 1.9 130pd at 13,000 miles, same deal, no problems!
The only issues I can think of are the MAF (mass aitflow sensor) may need regular cleaning/renewal and thats it. However, I've not had to do mine yet!
You will never regret buying a Diesel, its plus points are MPG, quiet and relaxed cruising, mid range torque, and come trade-in time a Diesel unit is generally worth more than its petrol counterpart.
Des
Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 1:31 pm
by n3oNx
SiDaBa wrote:Well Coilpacks are notorious for failing no matter what the car/engine, although "new and improved" ones are now being used.
But is there any common problems for diesel engines like coilpacks in the pertol engines?
My car has just hit 26k.
It's more a matter of insurance when it comes to chosing a car. So a Golf is slightly out of my league, also in price as well probably, I still want to have some money left.
Maybe i should be looking outside of the VAG group.
When I said Golf I was talking about a used car, probably a Golf IV. Where I live (Portugal) the price of a new car is over the top. Damm the taxes... :S
Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 9:42 pm
by Vitorino
I agree with DES PD TDI, the only fault is the MAF an I have my polo with 70000 Km (43750 Miles) and I it doesn't give me any problem. If you respect the car service (I recomend you to do it in VW official service until you lose your car warranty) and avoid high rpms when the engine is cold.
Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 9:45 pm
by Vitorino
And If you want a new car you can wait for the new polo GTI, it seems to be great. I have read that the would have two new engines: 2.0 FSI 150HP / 2.0 TDI 140HP.
Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 4:32 pm
by scattycat1
I'd certainly keep to a diesel, they may not be as quiet as a petrol, but they're certainly more economical (if you drive them right).
I'm currently in a 1.4 75 bhp, but would want to go up to a 1.9 diesel, I'm certainly going to keep an eye out for possibly a 2nd hand polo gti when my finance runs out in 18 months.
Posted: Tue Feb 08, 2005 6:51 pm
by SiDaBa
I'm test driving a GT on saturday

Posted: Thu Feb 10, 2005 1:49 pm
by Gra-GT
Nice choice mate. Whoever said that diesels were slow were soooooo wrong. There is no better feeling than flying past some barry boy in his chaved up Saxo. The only down side is that if you floor it in 1st or even second on slightly damp roads you just wheel spin it if your not careful
You'll have to let us know what you think anyway
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2005 12:13 pm
by dougmac
Gra-GT wrote:Nice choice mate. Whoever said that diesels were slow were soooooo wrong. There is no better feeling than flying past some barry boy in his chaved up Saxo. The only down side is that if you floor it in 1st or even second on slightly damp roads you just wheel spin it if your not careful
You'll have to let us know what you think anyway
I was going to ask you before, but I take it you are pleased with the car so far. So it is quick then, glad you said that.
Looking forward to finally getting mine in the first week of March.
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2005 1:18 pm
by Gra-GT
Yeah i'm happy with it. And yes i would say it is quick. As soon as I had run it in (think got upto about 1200 miles) i timed my 0-60 at 8.6 secs, although the road was a bit wet and sort of spun it off in 1st gear so I want to try again when I get chance. Think i'll be taking it down the sprint track at GTI Internation this year. Think VW website says 0-60 time is about 9.3 secs or something like that but I read in Driver magazine a few weeks ago they timed it at 8.5, so i'm just curious as to what I can get.
Hey i'm also starting to average 49-50mpg now i've done 3000 miles and the engine is running in. And the insurance was even £20 cheaper than my 1.6 16v 110bhp Clio (sorry for swearing on here

) I had before it.
So I think its a sweet deal
Are you getting yours on 05 plate then dougmac or have they already registered it?
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2005 1:53 pm
by dxg
You should get it on a rolling road - some vRS's are said to produce around 145hp stock.
Anyway, you might be interested in something i learnt the other day...
When speaking to VW, they're now claiming the GT (and the Dune) to be a "limited run" vehicle. I couldn't get them to say how many are in this "run" (500?, 1500?), but it does bode well for the future value of your car. If these become hard to get hold of, it can only be a good thing...
Deek.
Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2005 1:56 pm
by dougmac
Gra-GT wrote:Yeah i'm happy with it. And yes i would say it is quick. As soon as I had run it in (think got upto about 1200 miles) i timed my 0-60 at 8.6 secs, although the road was a bit wet and sort of spun it off in 1st gear so I want to try again when I get chance. Think i'll be taking it down the sprint track at GTI Internation this year. Think VW website says 0-60 time is about 9.3 secs or something like that but I read in Driver magazine a few weeks ago they timed it at 8.5, so i'm just curious as to what I can get.
Hey i'm also starting to average 49-50mpg now i've done 3000 miles and the engine is running in. And the insurance was even £20 cheaper than my 1.6 16v 110bhp Clio (sorry for swearing on here

) I had before it.
So I think its a sweet deal
Are you getting yours on 05 plate then dougmac or have they already registered it?
I never got a chance of a test drive when I ordered it so it is good to hear positive feedback from an owner. But your right you cannot fault those figures.
I used to own an Focus ST170 so the cut in the cost if insurance was a major factor in replacing it with the GT.
After speaking to the dealer yesterday, he suggested that I wait until March to get the 05 plate, after waiting this long 2 extra weeks won't hurt.
So I take that it has not been registered yet.
Think I am glad that I ordered it with ESP then as it sounds like it is easy to get the wheels to spin.