Polo 1.2 TDI Bluemotion

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minerva

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Should I buy this? At 4.1 L/100km its the most economic car in SA... All the dealers are saying that it lacks power, but Ive never trusted a car salesman... Any views? Has anybody ever tested one, or bought one?
 
minerva said:
Should I buy this? At 4.1 L/100km its the most economic car in SA... All the dealers are saying that it lacks power, but Ive never trusted a car salesman... Any views? Has anybody ever tested one, or bought one?
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work out how much you actually save on petrol/diesel compared to how much you are paying for the car.
It might seem like a massive saving, but when i worked it out (on the golf 6) i think it was something like 60 - 80 000 km's i would have to drive to start getting the savings.

The polo is not so bad because its priced smack in the middle. Honestly, I would rather get the 1.4 comfortline or 1.6 trend though.
 
R8k more than the 1.4 Comfortline, with ESP (major, major plus for safety) and cruise control that the 1.4 C/Line doesn't have... Not too shabby. It might only be rated at 55kW, but it churns out 180Nm of torque, compared to the 1.4's 132Nm - I'd hazard you can expect fairly similar performance. The pleasure of only having to fill up half (or less) as much as what you're used to is worth quite a bit as far as I'm concerned...

I dearly loved the little 1.4TDI (3-cylinder) Polo I had as a company car years back. It wasn't a ball of fire by any stretch, but it absolutely ran on fumes. I could get more than 800km in town on the little 45l tank and that was with rather, shall we call it, spirited driving more often than not.

I wonder whether the dealers aren't spinning you a yarn because they're battling to get stock? Go drive it - if you find the performance satisfactory I don't think it'll be a bad purchase...
 
I have driven it...its slow. almost painfully slow
 
Khanya said:
What about the i10? At 3.7L/100 or am I wrong?
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im not sure those figures are realistic, neither am i sure i would want to drive that thing
0 - 100 kph 15.2
fuel combo on website says 4.8...i think it will be closer to 6.5 (you will need to rev that thing to death)
and at less than 100nm of torque, i think i could flinstone up hill faster
 
Thanks guys, I have been informed that there is a 6 week wait for this car as there is only one or two in SA and they have been sold already! I like the extra skirtings and the small styling extras on the 1.2 Tdi vs the 1.4 Comfort! The question is to wait or not to wait?
 
If it's a choice between 1.2TDI and 1.4 petrol, wait... at least until you've driven one. Once you've gone diesel you won't want to go back. ;)
 
Naks said:
A highly-stressed, small-capacity turbodiesel is a sure recipe for an ever-dwindling bank balance ;)
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This is not a Tata we are talking about. I've owned 3 high-boost diesels without any engine problems over the last 8 years.

Having said that, OP, don't get the Bluemotion. No use trying to save CO2 with your engine when you'll be compensating by expelling CO2 as you scream in frustration. Get the 1.4 Comfortline for less money, it is about as light on petrol as my diesel Civic is.
 
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minerva said:
I like the extra skirtings and the small styling extras on the 1.2 Tdi vs the 1.4 Comfort! The question is to wait or not to wait?
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A silly reason for basing your decision on, but since you're into looks, keep in mind that the awesome panoramic sunroof is not an option on the Bluemotion.
 
enigma243 said:
If it's a choice between 1.2TDI and 1.4 petrol, wait... at least until you've driven one. Once you've gone diesel you won't want to go back. ;)
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Have u driven the polo blue motion? Its not punchy, or exciting, or hill destroying. Its absolutely agonizing to drive.
I agree with waiting to test drive them both, but from my side i would get the petrol
 
As has been mentioned, I wouldn't buy this based just on its fuel economy. I have heard that the 1.2Tdi is an absolute dog.

And for R170k +- you could do WAY better. I would rather go for a low mileage Golf 5 / Polo Tdi. Probably just as good consumption with some nice power.
 
tau1z said:
Have u driven the polo blue motion? Its not punchy, or exciting, or hill destroying. Its absolutely agonizing to drive.
I agree with waiting to test drive them both, but from my side i would get the petrol
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I haven't - I actually need to. I'm basing my opinion on the old 3-pot 1.4TDI Polos, which took some getting used to but really weren't horrendous. They can maintain a solid 130km/h and, as said, they run on fumes.

It'd actually be interesting to pit a BlueMotion against a 1.4 petrol at Highveld altitude - 180Nm vs 132Nm is quite a substantial difference... about 35% more torque? I just wonder whether the 1.4 doesn't subjectively feel quicker simply because it revs more eagerly.
 
enigma243 said:
It'd actually be interesting to pit a BlueMotion against a 1.4 petrol at Highveld altitude - 180Nm vs 132Nm is quite a substantial difference... about 35% more torque? I just wonder whether the 1.4 doesn't subjectively feel quicker simply because it revs more eagerly.
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You can't just look at torque to determine acceleration - using the power figures is a better measure or performance.
The TDI will pull better at low revs than the 1.4 petrol but at the end of the day it's all about torque, RPM and gearing.
Once the petrol engine is into the "power band" the TDI doesn't have any advantage other than fuel economy.

Also take note that a diesel engine is generally heavier than a petrol engine and you have to add the weight of the turbo as well.
The 1.2 TDI is in fact 26 kg heavier - not much but it does make a difference.

Polo 1.4 Petrol
Kerb mass : 1049 kg
Power : 63kW at sea level (about 53kW at Highveld altitudes - 15% power loss)
0-100km/h : 12.5 seconds (at sea level)

Polo 1.2 TDI
Kerb mass : 1075kg
Power : 55kW at sea level (52kW at Highveld altitudes - 5% power loss)
0-100km/h : 13.9 seconds (at sea level)

I should imagine the performance would be very similar at Highveld altitudes.
I just cannot imagine driving such a slow vehicle - I'd pull my hair out.
90kW per ton is the lowest limit I'm willing to drive.
 
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Paul_S said:
/snip
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Whilst appreciated, I assure you I don't need to be schooled on what does and what does not affect a vehicles acceleration. ;) Anyhat, you've only but confirmed what I said in the first place. :p

As for driving a slow car, it depends very much on one's own priorities. As I alluded to earlier, any mild frustration with the old 3-pot Polo was soon forgotten once the odometer ticked over the 700km mark from the last fill-up and the fuel gauge still had a ways to go to reach empty.

Personally I'd also spend R170k rather differently, but for some one that wants a) a new b) Polo, I think there are a couple of good arguments in the BlueMotion's favour... not the least of which is that it comes with ESP which none of the others in the range do, not standard in any event.
 
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