Polo 1.2 TDI Bluemotion

[syntax]

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.

The 1.4tdi was not bad. Not the greatest, but was very driveable. It also felt quicker than it was.
Maybe i am picky, but the bluemotion was awful.

Another factor, doesnt the blue motion use different tyres to improve consumption? is this true? How much are these tyres?

 

[Paul_S]

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.

I really wouldn't mind driving a slow vehicle and in fact I enjoy sitting back and letting cruise control keep me at the speed limits however the drivers in SA are extremely aggressive and relaxed driving just isn't possible.
I've lost count of the number of times I've nearly been forced off the road by angry motorists for driving the speed limit on single lane back roads.
Having extra power isn't about trying to show off - it's about being able to out accelerate trouble and minimize the amount of time spent over taking.
I average between 7 and 7.5 L/100km with a 2.0L engine so I definitely don't drive like a hooligan.

 

[HapticSimian]

Another factor, doesnt the blue motion use different tyres to improve consumption? is this true? How much are these tyres?

Yeah... low(er) resistance tyres. Not to say you have to replace them with the same once they're shot...

I average between 7 and 7.5 L/100km with a 2.0L engine so I definitely don't drive like a hooligan.

I juuuuust managed to sneak in below 14l/100km on my last 300km or so...

 

[Gaz{M}]

Car Magazine recently reviewed the Polo 1.2 Bluemotion. They had two comments that stood out 1) It is rather slow 2) It isn't that economical.

I bet you could do similar economy in the 1.6 TDI while having way more power and torque and a lot less frustration.

 

[syntax]

Yeah... low(er) resistance tyres. Not to say you have to replace them with the same once they're shot...



I juuuuust managed to sneak in below 14l/100km on my last 300km or so...

I wonder what effect on consumption that would have..at the OP, i would definitely find out the prices and effects if you were to use normal tyres

 

[HapticSimian]

Car Magazine recently reviewed the Polo 1.2 Bluemotion. They had two comments that stood out 1) It is rather slow 2) It isn't that economical.

I bet you could do similar economy in the 1.6 TDI while having way more power and torque and a lot less frustration.

There is of course the small matter of it costing you about R1k per month more, though...

edit

TEST SUMMARY
Though ultimately not as economical as Volkswagen claims, we’re quite confident that this is the most economical car on sale at the moment. But its frugality isn’t its only talent. Fun to drive and well-equipped, the Polo BlueMotion is a very good allround package at a reasonable price – though we’d have liked to see at least a service plan thrown into the deal as well.

Full test here

 

[SilverNodashi]

Before you buy a TD, please do some research on the pros & cons.

Both Petrol & Diesel have their own list of pros' and con's against the other. But anyone who buys a new car today, have cash to service it when it's due, every time it's due, and plan on replacing it 3 to 5 years from now would be wise to buy a turbo diesel over a petrol engine

 

[Grimspoon]

And remember with Diesels there is little or no room for delaying a service.

It is highly highly recommended that you do the service when its due.

The oil turns into sludge and it doesn't play nicely if left for to long.

 

[Naks]

Did you guys catch the debate on Ignition TV this weekend about the quality of diesel in SA? The crux of the matter is that modern TDs have very low tolerances for poor diesel and in SA you don't really know what you're getting at the pump due to dirt and water contamination, not to mention paraffin dilution.

 

[HapticSimian]

Did you guys catch the debate on Ignition TV...

Can't say I did. I actively try to avoid any unnecessary sightings of Marius Roberts. He makes the SA Formula 1 studio team look competent.

That aside, I can well believe that there is reason to be a little cautious as to where one fills up. I just wonder whether there isn't a fair amount of scaremongering involved as well.

 

[Naks]

Can't say I did. I actively try to avoid any unnecessary sightings of Marius Roberts. He makes the SA Formula 1 studio team look competent. That aside, I can well believe that there is reason to be a little cautious as to where one fills up. I just wonder whether there isn't a fair amount of scaremongering involved as well.

IME, if nothing else there isn't ENOUGH scaremongering. I own 2 TDs - A3 2.0 TDi (pump duse) and Defender Puma. We've had a big scare with the Audi last year when it was idling erratically, loss of power, etc. When Audi dropped the tank they found gunk in it. Even cleaning it didn't help, I had to start using injector cleaner to sort it out.

Filling up is also not to taken lightly - there are performance & mileage differences when filling up at Shell vs Sasol vs BP vs Engen. When travelling long distance one has to plan where to find 50ppm as well.

With the 1.2TDi in question, you will find that there is a clause in the warranty that voids it if you use anything other than 50ppm. Good luck finding that in Pof Adder

 

[BCO]

Car Magazine recently reviewed the Polo 1.2 Bluemotion. They had two comments that stood out 1) It is rather slow 2) It isn't that economical.

I bet you could do similar economy in the 1.6 TDI while having way more power and torque and a lot less frustration.

Um, their review said it was a) the most economical car they've tested. b) it was rather fun to drive. 17/20 score which is very good.

The really good news is that the economy-focused tuning hasn’t spoilt what remains a typically nice-to-drive Polo package. Lowering the ride height has probably firmed-up the ride somewhat, and as a result the Polo feels sporty on the road. The only negative is that it doesn’t like transverse ridges, which really get transmitted through the steering wheel and into the palms of the driver with a hefty thud.

The steering does have nice weighting though (particularly when considering this is an electrically assisted system) and the engine, once spinning over the 2 000 r/min mark, delivers enough power to give the driver that typical turbodiesel “surge” that is so addictive. Overall, we’d say the achieved performance figures don’t tell the full story – the Polo BlueMotion is more fun to drive than a 14,49 seconds 0-100 km/h time suggests.

http://www.carmag.co.za/article/volkswagen-polo-12-tdi-bluemotion-2011-02-16

I agree with enigma on this one.

 

[HapticSimian]

With the 1.2TDi in question, you will find that there is a clause in the warranty that voids it if you use anything other than 50ppm. Good luck finding that in Pof Adder

Source? I'd find it odd that VW specifically tune the Amarok TDI to run happily on 500ppm, and then DEMAND the BlueMotion only be run on 50ppm. It'll definitely be happier on the latter, but forgive me if I'm sceptical regarding your assessment of it being a warranty requirement.

 

[SilverNodashi]

And remember with Diesels there is little or no room for delaying a service.

It is highly highly recommended that you do the service when its due.

The oil turns into sludge and it doesn't play nicely if left for to long.

Sure, you need to replace the oil more often, generally on 7500KM, but some TD cars now can handle 15000KM as well. I can tell you many "horror stories" of petrol engines as well

BUT, I've never actually seen a diesel engine seize-up 2KM after the 7500KM service interval. In fact, I often drive my 2.8TD Colt a bit further than the 7500KM interval, simply cause it doesn't have a new electronic dash like my merc that reminds me when to service it.


A well kept Diesel engine will outlast a petrol engine by miles (or KM's if you want) any day. An petrol engines which don't get taken care off also spell disaster in their own way.

Why do you think big trucks use diesel engines and not petrol? That transport company relies on their trucks to run without breakdowns far more than you do.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Why do you think big trucks use diesel engines and not petrol? That transport company relies on their trucks to run without breakdowns far more than you do.

Because of the torque, which is needed when transporting heavy loads. Nothing to do with reliability AFAIK.

 

[Naks]

Source? I'd find it odd that VW specifically tune the Amarok TDI to run happily on 500ppm, and then DEMAND the BlueMotion only be run on 50ppm. It'll definitely be happier on the latter, but forgive me if I'm sceptical regarding your assessment of it being a warranty requirement.

Oops, I meant to type 'probably' somewhere in there!

Just be on the lookout for it in the fine print, some of the new Mercs, the new Jags & Kias have this clause. They don't demand it, they just say if you use anything other than 50ppm, the warranty is void.

 

[syntax]

Source? I'd find it odd that VW specifically tune the Amarok TDI to run happily on 500ppm, and then DEMAND the BlueMotion only be run on 50ppm. It'll definitely be happier on the latter, but forgive me if I'm sceptical regarding your assessment of it being a warranty requirement.

I dont know about vw, the my friends 320d has that clause.

As for car magazines review...i sometimes wonder about those guys. My test drive didnt reflect what they experienced, or even close

 

[Naks]

I dont know about vw, the my friends 320d has that clause.

Yep, all the BMW TD have that clause, mate has a 120d and 520d. He really stresses when he has to go visit the inlaws in Calvinia!

 

[SilverNodashi]

Because of the torque, which is needed when transporting heavy loads. Nothing to do with reliability AFAIK.

True, diesel engines have higher torque, but I can build a petrol engine with the same torque as well. Go and ask a diesel mac (preferably an older more experienced one) and he'll tell you why diesel engines are so much better than petrol. And it's not just about torque.

 

[Fudzy]

So all in all there's about a R15,000 difference between a Polo 1.4 & a Polo 1.2BlueMotion, that's a lot of diesel to justify the cost.

Also what are the service intervals on the BlueMotion? The tech specs on the site do not mention them.