UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Hi guys. This is my first time posting anything.

I am wanting to get people opinions.
I am looking to upgrade my 1.2 polo match to a 1.4 polo gti. I currently have the 2012 1.2 match. I’m just wanting to get peoples reviews on their 1.4 gti’s before I look at buying. I have done some research and heard some horror stories about they are prone to engine failure as it’s so much power for a little engine. I’m not sure how true it is. Any feed back would be grateful. Also if anybody’s has had problems Or things to look for when buying. Or if anybody knows of any potential problems that could happen with them.

Many thanks.

'Pertential'? Are you 'avin' a larf? No such word in the English language, as far as I know.

I see you spelt it correctly in the last sentence of your submission.

'Fraid I can't help you with your 'potential purchase', but I'm sure there are many others here who can.

Judging by the postings from people who have that engine in a Fabia/Polo/Ibiza, you could have a lot of fun, or it could break your wallet - feeling lucky?

Which age/version of that engine are you aiming to buy, the early CAVE one sounds like maybe a lot of trouble, well it caused VW Group a lot of money and was modified very quickly after its original launch and subsequent awards winning - sounds like being a brilliant engine as long as you get a good one, or are very lucky, or are very forgiving towards a company that launches just too many untested engines and transmissions, and thinks that they are too big to get caught out!

Edit:- to limit the risk of failure only go for a later car with the CTHE version of that engine. Maybe curiously these Polo forums are a bit quiet when it comes to discussing issues with these engines, the Ibiza people seem to get very annoyed and the Fabia people tend to go ballistic - and I don't blame them. The word on the street suggests that quite a few of these cars with these engines were quietly taken back in by VW Group dealerships and sent out to auction for some poor unsuspecting person to buy without any traceability of their past history - well not without getting some info from previous owners, which you should always try to do either directly or via owner's forums.

Another Edit:- when you sit back and consider that engine, the all up weight and space it takes up within the engine compartment, and the cost of replacement - then compare that with the later version of the 1.8T engine, then you might understand why VW Group seem to have dumped it in favour of the later version of the 1.8T, for the time being.

Thank you for getting back to me. Oh right so it sounds like the 1.4 could be more haste than it’s worth. I was looking the buy one at the same age as my 1.2 polo, 2012 or there abouts. I may hold on for a few years until the 1.8 turbos becomes a bit more affordable to buy. As from reading reviews and what people say on here it’s the much better engine.

Probably a wise decision as even with a documented history you do not know how it has been treated and early engines were fragile!!