16v driving and buying opinions

david burton · Post by **david burton** » Mon Jan 05, 2004 11:13 pm

Hello!

I'm thinking about getting rid of my 1.0 L...

and getting a 16v. Insurance doesn't seem too bad (humph) but do you guys have an opinion on the car? Are there any things to look for when buying? What are the engines like? I've heard the 8v one is actually better from low down, but surely 100bhp must be fun?! Does the gearbox take the extra oomph? Is it worth the extra grand they seem to fetch?

Cheers for any advice!

Speedlaw · Post by **Speedlaw** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 9:52 am

Hey David, perhaps this thread is useful to you.

As for buying advice, I'd say the regular stuff applies with the 16v. (Can't think of anything in particular I'm afraid...)

david burton · Post by **david burton** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 4:38 pm

cheers

by the way - what's the deal with www.parkers.co.uk as all the prices for polos seem way to ow compared to what they're being sold at.

e.g. a 1998 16v R reg is quoted at 3300, but being sold for around a grand more?! They're all like that.

Is the 16v market up at the mo, or is parkers wrong?

jakethesnake · Post by **jakethesnake** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 8:39 pm

Hi David

I think you will notice a big difference in power over your 1.0L that's for sure

.
You're right in saying that they are not good from low revs. You need to make sure that you are in the right gear all the time. The max power is made at 6000rpm and comes in at around 4400rpm, so you need to keep the revs up.
Do that, and they really fly for just a 1400

.

I know what you mean about the Parkers guide prices being low. Mine's a 97 'R' and isn't worth that much according to the guide, yet private sales seem to be quite a bit higher. I suppose it is just a guide.

Have a look on Ebay, I spotted a cheap 99 on there the other week.

I've had mine over 3 years now and am still pleased with it. I had a 1.6GL beforehand, which was also good. 16valvers are good fun though !

.

chris.

rooboy · Post by **rooboy** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 8:49 pm

I had that engine in my previous fabia, it was a very reliable and brisk engine and good with the petrol (i regulary managed to get 35-40mpg)
and as fast as the short lived ford zetec 1.4 16v in the fiesta

(the 1.4 used in the Focus was a different engine IIRC)

chubbster · Post by **chubbster** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 2:26 am

alright david, erm i feel abit embarresed really cos if u followed that thread speedlaw put up, that was me

. u know how it is with a new car lots of excitment! i did rant abit, but as chris says keep it in the revs and its a beast. well better than the 8v, i have abit of knowledge in this as my mums got the 8v and she lends it 2 me when im back at hers. the pull is ace from high revs and is well its best asset, but the torque should be mentioned 2 cos it has enough to drag u up hills that would make u stop 4 breath on foot, in 4th! its truely a car i luv.

GET ONE!

chubbster · Post by **chubbster** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 2:48 am

oh yeah i forgot to say that the gearbox in mine seems to be fine (touch wood!), i did abit of research on the 16v before i got it and that wasnt a problem i ever read about. personally i think the extra grand is well worth it if ur a keen driver. the difference between the 2 engines is huge, not to mention the uprated suspension, sports seats, anti-roll bars, fog lights, abs and edl (i think the last 2 are options unless on 98+ models) oh yeah and the funkier bumpers, i dont reckon u could get all that in demon tweeks or venom for under a grand! if u got the 8v u'll always wish u got the 16v i can guarantee, go for a test drive u'll see wot i mean

i shouldnt really mention torque after a post from jeff in his ibiza cos hes got enough to realign tectonic plates but gear changing in normal driving becomes a choice between 4th and 5th. put it this way i can crawl at 25mph in 5th and still be able to pull away nicely. after a 1 litre u'll feel like ur in a pocket porsche (shame on me im ranting again!)

david burton · Post by **david burton** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 9:49 am

good for you though!

right, seen one locally cycling to work today (can you believe it!)

it's high miles though. what do you think:

61,000 miles
T reg (1999 or later)
immaculate condition, full vw service history
but a sort of purple colour?! looks ok though and quite rare.
3995 from a dealer

any opinions? I'm going for a test drive on saturday, I've seen a similar one on Autotrader for 3500 with 67k miles. Not sure if it's a good deal or not?

rooboy · Post by **rooboy** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 10:07 am

Not bad, look in the what car price guide to see how much it would cost private, and try to haggle them down. If it is immaculate with full history like you say, it is probably not far off the right money.

david burton · Post by **david burton** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 10:19 am

Â£4313 from a dealer according to what car....

makes me almost suspicious!

rooboy · Post by **rooboy** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 10:59 am

It does'nt hurt to have a hpi check done, or ask the dealer about any possible accidents it may have been in, and what milage was that price for?

david burton · Post by **david burton** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 12:48 pm

It was for 61k (seems quite a high price)

Does HPI flag up any accident claims? What's the best way of making sure it's all ok (does the dealer have to admit if it's been in an accident?)

rooboy · Post by **rooboy** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 4:08 pm

If the insurer was any good, they claims would show up against it IIRC, I'm not sure of the dealers obligation though.

How popular was the colour? How long had the dealer had it? are two other questions that would affect the price (unpopular colours bieng harder to shift obviously)

david burton · Post by **david burton** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 5:22 pm

yeah - any opinions on purple, people?!

I think it looks good on the 16v, the plain car is p00 though.

rooboy · Post by **rooboy** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 6:10 pm

well it's purple, as nice as it is it rarely looks good on cars (see purple corsa, laughingly called: rainbow blue)