SWMBO wants a new car with a zoom zoom, performance, but as a smaller car. Bear with me. She likes the performance of my 1.4TSI Octavia, but not its size. And VW Golfs , her ideal, are too expensive.

So thinking of a newish Polo 1.4TSI ACT. I know this engine has only been fitted to Superbs in the UK. Any comments about engine performance, reliability and economy?

 

This engine is fitted to SEATs, Skoda's, VWs and Audis in the UK. I had it in my previous A3 saloon for example. In the Polo this engine was only available in the BlueGT model though.

 

I test drove a superb estate with that engine.  It was perfectly capable of shifting the superb around.  In a roller-skate like a polo, it should be very erm zoomy.

I had this engine in an A3 saloon and now in the Skoda Superb. It certainly can shift the car okay. As I say in the Polo it will only be in the Polo BlueGT model. No doubt it's a lot faster in that and should be more economical.

 

I never had problems with the engine with a DSG gearbox in the 3 years and 25k miles I had it for.

I had the 140 PS non ACT in a Seat Leon for nearly 4 years and it was absolutely magic. As said above in a Polo the engine will make the car a flier.

 

But

 

VW's are annoyingly expensive in the UK so I suggest you look at a Leon instead. A little bigger than a Polo but smaller than the Octavia and prices are much lower than VW's. I would buy another without hesitation.

There is a VW Polo BlueGT Cat D on Autotrader with an asking price under £9,000.

Then as for others advertised those asking prices are a wish and a dream if nobody is buying them.

Bargains can be had, but then they are not advertised for long, as for SEAT with 1.4TSI ACT then they can be real bargains.

Audi  1.4TFSI COD's might have crazy asking prices, but again bargains can be had.

There's a three year old A3 saloon 1.4TFSI COD S-Line S-Tronic up for auction at BCA tomorrow 6th November in Manchester. It will probably sell for around 50% of the original purchase price.

Thanks for that. I'd spotted the expensive VW Polo but not the Audi or SEAT. 

There are plenty 1.4 TSI / TFSI Polo , Ibiza, A1 to choose from that are not ACT / COD, a 122 or 140 PS is nippy.

But really the Ex Demo 1.0 TSI are becoming available and worth giving a road test.

They will still be desirable used in another 3 years time if you were selling again then.