At least Dick Turpin wore a mask!!

[RUM4MO]

What sort of warranty do you feel you have with the battery, I don't know so I'm just asking.

When charging the battery, did you disconnect one of the car's leads - or are you using a 100% safe/smart/modern car battery charger?

Anyway, back to bigger things, the general state of your engine, maybe take a look on www.briskoda.net in the Fabia Mk2 section to see how close your findings are to what some people on there are reporting. Maybe your engine issues are more to do with chain problems, though low pressure in one cylinder is not good at all for a car still in warranty. If you have formally submitted your car to a VW dealer and feel that you have not had fair and honest treatment, first contact VW UK in writing - use recorded delivery and if they don't look like they are trying, then go directly to trading standards people who might just kick them into action.

[wolfie]

As a by the by I've pretty much decided to sell the Polo, I just wanted something reliable and durable to run for a few years. Sods law I picked a lemon with the early 1.2 tsi engine and VW's customer service is simply crap. So I'm starting to look at cheap and cheerful possibly still VAG group (Yeah I'm just stupid and thick) Though I may give Toyota a go. Started to look in anger at the CitiGo, simple, basic, cheap and easy to fix. As far as I can see all of the TSI stuff is just too complex and fragile, maybe OK new with a VW warranty, dodgy as it is. Not not a good second hand proposition.

That said is the diesel engine in the Polo's any good, or is that a dog like the rest of them?

[RUM4MO]

Why not be an older style/trend setter and buy as new as available Ibiza 1.4 16v 85PS as you can find, light, basic, maybe stylish - and very little to go wrong? My daughter has one and it is great just for running about, an honest old school (almost) engine with a modern light body, what not to like! As I seem to have been "minding" that car for almost 3 years while she is abroad working, my Audi S4 seems to get allowed to sleep in the garage.

Residuals seem to be about zero for these cars and they are certainly worth a lot more than their secondhand prices suggest.

Edit:- you might ask, " why did you buy your wife a Polo 1.2 110 SEL - well, she might have fancied some of the bright colours that Seat offer and VW don't, and opted for an Ibiza 1.2 110 FR, but I explained, for a woman, there is an age that you might just not get off with driving an Ibiza - well that is my excuse! I just quietly said, check out the age group of the next 10 Ibiza FR that you see!

[wolfie]

Is the 1.2- 16V a reliable lump? 16V still seems 8V more than necessary...

Just noticed this one about 20 mins away. Ideally I'd like a 5dr, but it would do the job. But at least it's red, the fastest colour... Residual wise the Polo is doing surprisingly well I've had two trade-in prices of 6.5K-7K (that was about 8 weeks back)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... &logcode=p

Though I am drawn to the CitiGo. I think small ad cheap is going to be the way forwards for me

[RUM4MO]

That one looks just right, though at that age it does come with Sat Nav, Hill Hold and TPMS which is handy to have - go boy go!

Lots more room than the smaller city car.

I think that you meant "is the 1.4 16v reliable?" - well, it does not get much competition in these stakes form the rest of the VAG engine range, so it is very easy to say it is reliable!

[wolfie]

I think that you meant "is the 1.4 16v reliable?" - well, it does not get much competition in these stakes form the rest of the VAG engine range, so it is very easy to say it is reliable!

Yeah, you're correct, I meant the 1.4. Is that not the same engine as the 85PS engine in the Polo then?

[Robby71]

Wolfie - take an extended test drive in the Ibiza before you commit and try it on a motorway.
I had 1 a few years ago and with the SEAT bodykit fitted it looked sporty but on motorways it was terrible, you had to drop to 4th to get it up to 70mph and then it would struggle - going up steep hills was a risk

[wolfie]

If I'm honest I will go and have a look at the Ibiza simply because I've never really looked at one in anger and I'm just curious now. The heads-up on motorway performance is appreciated, though I spend hardly any time on the motorway now, it's nice to know the car will be up to it if need be. Even though the 1.2Tsi has a wheelbarrow full of potential problems and niggles it goes very well, especially at motorway speeds.

I have no idea why, but at the moment I'm being pulled like a moth to flame to the CitiGo/Mii/Up. I do tiny miles now, did less the 4K lest year and I can't see that changing. I have some fairly serous heart problem so at least for the time being something that costs peanuts to run has gone to the top of the pile. I'd like an SLK on the drive, but that's not going to happed unless I have a lottery win anytime soon.

[wolfie]

Mulling over cars and the world in general with a mate. I was saying how I liked the Polo but was just hacked off with having chosen the early 1.2Tsi and all the problems that potentially come with it. Of course it takes a mate to state the obvious. "If you like the car but are not the engine swap it for another variant!"

So having run a 1.9Tdi (PD) for nigh on 10 years without a single engine issue what are the diesels like in the current Polo's. Are they generally OK or do they suffer from the same fragility that improved economy and eco-mental mandates seem to bring. I was thinking of possibly a 1.6 diesel? Or would they not be suited to mostly short journeys?

[alexperkins]

The 1.2 TDi engine suffers with reliability issues. My brothers had an injector failure which flooded the engine with diesel and washed the Pistons down. New engine and complete new exhaust system under warranty

The 1.6 TDi is better on longer journeys. It's ok around town, but being a modern diesel with a DPF filter, unless you can complete the regeneration cycles properly that'll cause issues plus economy isn't great when just plodding around town on short journeys

[Robby71]

The DPFs are what stop me buying a diesel as i do short runs

What's your budget Wolfie and how old are you willing to go to on a car?

[wolfie]

The 1.2 TDi engine suffers with reliability issues.

Maybe it's my paranoia getting the best of me but is it reaching the point where "The (insert modern VW engine here)suffers with reliability issues"

I've actually been a little run out this morning and had a look at an Up & CitiGo and can't really see how VW justifies the extra money. Personally I hate the "piano black" dash inserts, the more subdued finish in the Skoda looks far more durable and a bit less "over-excited design student" let loose to my eyes.

Polo is a notch up in trim level and feel. But a CitiGo may well be just the ticket for my needs. I guess the $64.000 question is are the little 3 pot units reliable? I've read a couple of threads with folk who've made it to 100K without issue.

[wolfie]

The DPFs are what stop me buying a diesel as i do short runs

What's your budget Wolfie and how old are you willing to go to on a car?

Yeah my car use had become a series of short runs, hence me considering a CitiGo. Likewise DPF's may be an issue should I go diesel.

I guess budget wise £8.5-9.5K tops. Last trade in value on the Polo was £6.5K so I suppose my budget would be 2-3K on top of that. That would just about get me a new CitiGo, or a pre-reg with some nice options if I could find one that suited.

[Robby71]

Wolfie, with £9k and wanting a small car there are quite a few options

If you don't want to suffer the initial depreciation from a brand new car there are many pre reg and < 1 year old car to choose - few listed below

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2016-Renault- ... SwuR5XPobT
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-Opel ... SwQjZXPlVW
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2016-Vauxhall ... SwB9xXO~-J
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2015-15-FORD- ... SwiYFXLnuf
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2016-Vauxhall ... Swr41XHxCz

[wolfie]

Cheers, there are loads of small cars around at that sort of money.

logically with the tiny miles I'm doing at the moment, even something with a few miles on the clock, or even above average would still drop to less than average over the course of a few years of ownership. I've been lucky enough to own cars from new but I'm not sure I would buy brand-new again. Mainly because the warranty and service that is supposed to accompany a new car is in most cases not what it's cracked up to be. Plus something like an ex-demo or pre-reg will still get you the majority of the warranty with a fair saving on price.

This one caught my eye. It's still too expensive to my eye, but still saves a few quid over the new price.

http://www.skoda.net.r66.co.uk/carview. ... =605693195

By chance my mate has rocked up in a new Vauxhall Viva he's just bought for his Mrs. It's dull as dishwater but it does the job, it stops it goes, it's economical. Which I suppose is what I'm after but everyone has that heart vs the head battle when looking to swap their car. I've seen a "Twingo" this morning, they are quite a nice looking little car from the outside, though inside the are pure 70's plastic, it just made me think of Lego design wise.