UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Hey guys I am thinking of buying a Polo 1.4tdi but had some questions first:

Being a 3-cylinder is it underpowered? My sister has a 1.2 petrol 3-cyl and is slightly underpowered and shakes at tick-over
What is the difference between 70, 75, 80 and which one is best?
What are real world MPG figures and is the car pretty efficient to maintain?
What should I look for when buying? Cambelt change etc
Is it worth spending extra money for 1.9 tdi polo and why?

If anyone with experience could help would be really grateful.

CP

Hello and welcome to the forum

Having driven both 1.9 and 1.4 I still think the 1.4 is pretty nippy and feels lighter. I would have thought the 1.4 would shake due to being a 3 cyl but I didn't notice anything.

I'm pretty sure the difference between the 70, 75 and 80 is purely the ecu software deciding the power output. Obviously go for the 80bhp if you can.

If you want more power you can remap a 1.4 tdi to similar powers of a stock 1.9 (100bhp ish) but that's about your limit. You can push the 1.9 much further if funds allow.

The gearbox is shorter. In a 1.9 you'll be motorway cruising at 70mph on 2100rpm which is comfortable and relatively quiet, the 1.4 is more like 3000rpm. However I find the 1.9 is a bit more effort to drive in town due to the tall gears. It all depends what you use the car for.

The mpg of the 1.4 is pretty astronomical, can't go wrong there.

Maintenance, any of the PD engines (1.4 and 1.9 tdi alike) are renowned for being bombproof as long as they get their oil changes with the correct oil. Be sure to get service history. Anything else costs the same as any other Polo.

Oh and cambelt should be done every 60k I believe, or 4 years.

Hope this helps!