Monte Carlo 1.2 TSI 110BHP

[Rf91]

I'm looking at buying a Monte Carlo 1.2 110BHP. It's a 16 plate with 60k on the clock, is there anything I should be looking out for or expecting to replace in the near future and is this regarded as high mileage for this small 3 pot engine? 

[nta16]

Is there a 3 pot, 1.2 110bhp on 16 plate, I thought they were 4 cylinder?  What gearbox does it have?

 

Car battery would be the first thing that springs to my mind, modern computer programs are hard on car batteries and stop/start even more so.

 

60k-miles in itself doesn't mean as much as you might think, it depends how and when the miles went on.  I've no idea about modern 3 pots with higher turbo boost but generally I'd have thought it might be possible they might attract an owner that exploits the performance which is fine if done sensibly and allowance is made for full (or better) servicing maintenance (and perhaps repair).

 

I'd imagine, not looked, there will be threads here on possibly 1.2 1 100bhp pros and cons and I think I've seen threads that are more Monte Carlo specific.

 

Lots of short journeys isn't the best for any car but if that's followed by heartless 'weekend' thrashing both are perhaps low mileage severe use.  Again a "full" service history of annual oil & filter changes is good  but often better if additional servicing and maintenance is done too.  The correct (or better) materials also help in the servicing and maintenance.

 

If there's history of tyre and brake changes that might give you a clue to it's previous treatment or how much is left on the current brakes and tyres.  A set of mismatching tyres never inspires confidence in such vehicles.  And the shiniest cars are not always the best driving/performing cars.

 

Now there are some that like very spirited driving and making their cars look flashy and gleam that really look after their cars well, they soon become obvious especially after you've others that think they do the same and think they look after their car very well, but they don't really. 

 

A scantool readout would be very use whilst looking at the car as many might forget to delete historical error codes that may build a picture of the vehicle.  In the old days some like to chip the car, that reduces the manufacturers margins, some chips were fine if used sensibly but others might not be.  If the buyer is made aware then it's up to them but if the chip was removed (not declared on insurance) and the buyer wasn't told that's a different matter.  I've no idea how these things go on now, they used to be expensive so the seller would want some return on cost and be able to brag.

 

I've rambled enough  . . .

 

  

[SC03OTT]

If it’s a 1.2 is a 4 cylinder, not 3. 

[nta16]

1 minute ago, SC03OTT said:

If it’s a 1.2 is a 4 cylinder, not 3. 

Now you say so.  😄

 

All of above still applies just slightly less so , whether as much as 25% or 33.3% less I don't know.  😄

 

[nta16]

@rf91 - the question of which gearbox would still apply (and perhaps trim level S, SE, SE L).

 

Edited 13 September, 2021 by nta16

[Ootohere]

@nta16The OP posted that the trim level is it being a 'Monte Carlo'  so the beach chair like interior.

 

@Rf91

Welcome.

You want to know what servicing was done and by who if there is a FSH or FMDSH, not just that there was servicing done.

Is it up to the Manufacturers Recommendations at the present time or do you need now to do things like change the 4 Spark Plugs, Air Filter, Pollen filter.

?Are all 4 tyres matching or at least has it matching pairs.

 

If you need others to do any servicing it might be an idea to use a good VW Specialist Independent rather than a Skoda Main Dealer.

 

 

 

Edited 14 September, 2021 by e-Roottoot

[nta16]

2 hours ago, e-Roottoot said:

@nta16The OP posted that the trim level is it being a 'Monte Carlo'  so the beach chair like interior.

Ah, yes, looks like I mixed up my worms again, is it spec(ification) level(?) S, SE, SE L to comply with the British obsession with badge level snobbery, then there's the confusing additions of  factory fitted options, and I don't know are Dealer extras still also allowed.  Thank you Ford for the impossible maths of possible permutations and of course fashions and marketing.  Remember "It's an 'i', it has an 'i' on the boot", fake badges and "poverty" level BMWs with their badges removed to try to disguise the level.  🤣

 

My mate was a sales rep back then with very low basic pay, higher commission and company cars that always had an 'i' on the boot.

 

[Ootohere]

Skoda thought it Simply Clever to devalue Monte Carlo and any sporting heritage or success by using it on Fabia or Yeti then on other models with only a Sporting  look and no performance or handling advantages.    With  the Fabia they talked about Rally Inspired and other Media guff while giving a tyre shreading 110ps and 'sport suspension'. Some even with less than 110 ps.    There was a fwd 125ps /DSG produced in limited numbers and got R5 limited given in the name to these Tribute versions.    All the Rallying success and at least now there will be the new Fabia out with 150ps from the factory. 

[Rf91]

Sorry that's my mistake It is ndeed a 4 Cylinder

11 hours ago, nta16 said:

Is there a 3 pot, 1.2 110bhp on 16 plate, I thought they were 4 cylinder?  What gearbox does it have?

 

Car battery would be the first thing that springs to my mind, modern computer programs are hard on car batteries and stop/start even more so.

 

60k-miles in itself doesn't mean as much as you might think, it depends how and when the miles went on.  I've no idea about modern 3 pots with higher turbo boost but generally I'd have thought it might be possible they might attract an owner that exploits the performance which is fine if done sensibly and allowance is made for full (or better) servicing maintenance (and perhaps repair).

 

I'd imagine, not looked, there will be threads here on possibly 1.2 1 100bhp pros and cons and I think I've seen threads that are more Monte Carlo specific.

 

Lots of short journeys isn't the best for any car but if that's followed by heartless 'weekend' thrashing both are perhaps low mileage severe use.  Again a "full" service history of annual oil & filter changes is good  but often better if additional servicing and maintenance is done too.  The correct (or better) materials also help in the servicing and maintenance.

 

If there's history of tyre and brake changes that might give you a clue to it's previous treatment or how much is left on the current brakes and tyres.  A set of mismatching tyres never inspires confidence in such vehicles.  And the shiniest cars are not always the best driving/performing cars.

 

Now there are some that like very spirited driving and making their cars look flashy and gleam that really look after their cars well, they soon become obvious especially after you've others that think they do the same and think they look after their car very well, but they don't really. 

 

A scantool readout would be very use whilst looking at the car as many might forget to delete historical error codes that may build a picture of the vehicle.  In the old days some like to chip the car, that reduces the manufacturers margins, some chips were fine if used sensibly but others might not be.  If the buyer is made aware then it's up to them but if the chip was removed (not declared on insurance) and the buyer wasn't told that's a different matter.  I've no idea how these things go on now, they used to be expensive so the seller would want some return on cost and be able to brag.

 

I've rambled enough  . . .

 

  

That's my mistake, it is indeed a 4 Cylinder. It was more the spark plugs, cam belt etc and if there was any common faults with the engine and the car in general I should be aware of? I haven't actually seen the car in person as of yet but it looks to be in great condition visually. I have checked the MOT history of the car and its pretty flawless especially the last 3 with no advisories. I appreciate the detail of the reply, I don't have time to reply to everything right now haha 

[nta16]

@Rf91 - good that it's got good MoT results but do bear in mind that an MoT just means that the car passed the minimum statuary requirements at one point of time to one trained person's opinion it does not mean the car is as good as it should or could be.

 

If you look at our posts when you have more time you'll see we've covered what you've asked by me not knowing but pointing you in the right direction and e-Roottoot putting up the Skoda UK servicing schedule which depending on various points of views has parts that are a minimum requirement and others overzealous.  You can't look for magic buttons that solve all but you can look for general good indicators.

 

How long do you expect to keep the car and what sort of use (short journeys, long, illegal racing)?

 

Take a hint - what gearbox has it got?

[nta16]

26 minutes ago, e-Roottoot said:

Skoda thought it Simply Clever to devalue Monte Carlo and any sporting heritage or success by using it on Fabia or Yeti then on other models with only a Sporting  look and no performance or handling advantages.    With  the Fabia they talked about Rally Inspired and other Media guff while giving a tyre shreading 110ps and 'sport suspension'. Some even with less than 110 ps.    There was a fwd 125ps /DSG produced in limited numbers and got R5 limited given in the name to these Tribute versions.    All the Rallying success and at least now there will be the new Fabia out with 150ps from the factory. 

I'm not into any sports or have any emotion about, marques, cars, events or places so just see the marketing as just that.  Having had some cars with low HP and some with a bit more and both with reasonable power-to weight (until I get in the car, and with my "navigator") I never worry about numbers but how a car feels.  I've been in some quick and fast cars well beyond legal limits and some are very boring and been in some slow and lower speed cars that are great fun.  Unfortunately I've yet to get into a proper rally car off-road but used to hitch a commuting ride to the next town in a road going Escort Mk1 in the early 80s, very noisy interior and the driver only seemed to have one ZZ Top cassette as that's all I ever heard but the player must have been good as it could be heard and sounded reasonable (for the time).  Being young it all seemed a quite natural way to travel, faster than the bus, gawd knows what the car would be worth now if it was still around will silly marque and model valuations.

 

[HeavyMetalRich]

3 hours ago, e-Roottoot said:

 There was a fwd 125ps /DSG produced in limited numbers and got R5 limited given in the name to these Tribute versions.    All the Rallying success and at least now there will be the new Fabia out with 150ps from the factory. 

 

That R5 Limited would have been a good goer if only they could have coaxed that power out of the 1.0 TSi. 125ps out of the 1.4 seems a waste, they'd have done well to go straight for the 150ps but hey ho.

Edited 14 September, 2021 by HeavyMetalRich
Information

[TerFar]

I wouldn't worry about the cambelt. If the car is driven normally it will never need replacing. It's just a VAG con to extract money for the garages.

If its a DSG gearbox, then make sure that the fluid replacement is done by competent experts.

Otherwise, the MC is a good vehicle and drives very well especially in sports mode (DSG).

On 14/09/2021 at 10:18, e-Roottoot said:

Skoda thought it Simply Clever to devalue Monte Carlo and any sporting heritage or success by using it on Fabia or Yeti then on other models with only a Sporting  look and no performance or handling advantages.    With  the Fabia they talked about Rally Inspired and other Media guff while giving a tyre shreading 110ps and 'sport suspension'. Some even with less than 110 ps.    There was a fwd 125ps /DSG produced in limited numbers and got R5 limited given in the name to these Tribute versions.    All the Rallying success and at least now there will be the new Fabia out with 150ps from the factory. 

 

My 2016 MC came with lowered sports suspension and 17" wheels shod with 215/45R17 tyres. It handles better than the (now obsolete) vRS version.

[Ootohere]

@TerFarThe DQ200 DSG on the Fabia has no Service Recommendations for changing either of the oils in them.

No Service Schedule to change the oil. 

 

People do have it done, but that should be because they want it done, and not because a Dealership Employee wrongly tells them it is due an oil change.

 

The mk2 vRS did handle better when fitted with 215/40 R 17 tyres as VW, Audi & SEAT fitted to the twinchargers rather than the 205/40 R 17 OEM.

Then them sandbagging the vRS by putting 'Success Ballast' on the rear crashbar of the hatches to make them heavier than the longer estates was just not great for handling.

The sister cars which were heavier yet no faster did not need the rear ballast just as Mk2 Monte Carlo TSI or TDI's did not. 

(The Polo GTI 1.4TSI Twincharger got the battery in the boot and no Spare Wheel as standard which was good for balance / handling, no rear ballast weights and they were Type Approved to allow towing where the vRS was not, hatch or estate.)

 

For anyone that does not know about VW & Vorsprung Durch Technik.

While every other Car Manufacturer was making cars lighter, VW decided the Skoda Hatch could not be lighter than sister cars, or a VED class the same as the VW or Audi, or be quicker or more fuel efficient because the were cheaper.

So Weights were designed, manufactured and added to the vRS hatch.     Oddly when the Mk3 came out a big deal was made about them being on average 60 kg lighter. 

VW will do engineering of figures often rather than just honest engineerig.  The Estate that was 9 3/4" longer than the hatchback was not really 5kg lighter as Skoda had Motoring Journalists and Sales People quoting.

 

eg.

How much did these cost, and why did no Monte Carlo owners add these as a performance mod to add to handling by making the front go light under acceleration and making the brakes work harder because the car was heavier.  

VW should have had to answer for nonsense like adding these.

 

 

Edited 16 September, 2021 by e-Roottoot

[JGrindel]

3 hours ago, TerFar said:

I wouldn't worry about the cambelt. If the car is driven normally it will never need replacing. It's just a VAG con to extract money for the garages.

If its a DSG gearbox, then make sure that the fluid replacement is done by competent experts.

Otherwise, the MC is a good vehicle and drives very well especially in sports mode (DSG).

 

My 2016 MC came with lowered sports suspension and 17" wheels shod with 215/45R17 tyres. It handles better than the (now obsolete) vRS version.

Cambelts should ideally be changed every 5 years due to rubber wearing down. Would you use the same tyres on your car for over 5 years... I certainly wouldn't. (ps look out for a blue colour edition with yellow fog lights in chi, give me a flash if you see me) 

 

For the OP. 

 

The 1.2tsi is a great little engine, the 110ps 6 speed is the best option. I have the 90ps 5 speed which is fine but I do long for the 6th gear on motorways. Skoda recommend spark plugs be done every 40k and cambelt every 5 years (there is no mileage interval on it) the water pump is not driven off the cambelt on these as its on the other side of the engine run off its own belt and this doesn't need to be changed when the belt does. 

 

The Monte Carlo is a dress up of a basic SE trim. (Made to look sporty plus glass pano roof) the extras over normal trims are the seats, dash trim, wheel (red stitch) and dress up kit. The only annoyance with the MC is the lack of cruise control and imho garish coloured trim and centre console. 

 

These engines have been found to go way over 100k without issues and keep going. The issues to look out for on these Mk3 models are as follows. 

 

 - Lower control arm rear bushings can perish around 20k-40k (Mine failed its recent mot on these at 42k) - Easy to spot when looking under the car behind the front wheel, its a large circular bushing that perishes. 

- cracking roof glass on the monte carlos is common so I wouldn't recommend using with a roof rack. (worth checking your insurance windscreen cover covers roof glass... its a £2k+ replacement if it does go) 

- turbo actuator

- door handle chrome peeling off / breaking 

- blower motor resistor (fan only working on setting 4) 

 

Also check to make sure the ice scrapper is in the fuel cap (if missing) ask dealer to order you one. 

 

If purchasing from main dealer, ask for the umbrella to go under the passenger footwell, floor mats and the 2 x services for £79.

[nta16]

14 minutes ago, JGrindel said:

I have the 90ps 5 speed which is fine but I do long for the 6th gear on motorways.

Different strokes for different folks but I've not found my wife's 90ps 5-speed any problem on motorways, I can't remember what the revs are but they didn't seem particularly high to me or excessive noise or vibration.  I suppose if we did regular and long motorway journeys I might feel differently.

 

[TerFar]

35 minutes ago, JGrindel said:

Cambelts should ideally be changed every 5 years due to rubber wearing down. Would you use the same tyres on your car for over 5 years... I certainly wouldn't. (ps look out for a blue colour edition with yellow fog lights in chi, give me a flash if you see me) 

 

For the OP. 

 

The 1.2tsi is a great little engine, the 110ps 6 speed is the best option. I have the 90ps 5 speed which is fine but I do long for the 6th gear on motorways. Skoda recommend spark plugs be done every 40k and cambelt every 5 years (there is no mileage interval on it) the water pump is not driven off the cambelt on these as its on the other side of the engine run off its own belt and this doesn't need to be changed when the belt does. 

 

The Monte Carlo is a dress up of a basic SE trim. (Made to look sporty plus glass pano roof) the extras over normal trims are the seats, dash trim, wheel (red stitch) and dress up kit. The only annoyance with the MC is the lack of cruise control and imho garish coloured trim and centre console. 

 

These engines have been found to go way over 100k without issues and keep going. The issues to look out for on these Mk3 models are as follows. 

 

 - Lower control arm rear bushings can perish around 20k-40k (Mine failed its recent mot on these at 42k) - Easy to spot when looking under the car behind the front wheel, its a large circular bushing that perishes. 

- cracking roof glass on the monte carlos is common so I wouldn't recommend using with a roof rack. (worth checking your insurance windscreen cover covers roof glass... its a £2k+ replacement if it does go) 

- turbo actuator

- door handle chrome peeling off / breaking 

- blower motor resistor (fan only working on setting 4) 

 

Also check to make sure the ice scrapper is in the fuel cap (if missing) ask dealer to order you one. 

 

If purchasing from main dealer, ask for the umbrella to go under the passenger footwell, floor mats and the 2 x services for £79.

 

We'll have to disagree about the cambelt. The 'rubber' composition of the cambelt has no resemblance to tyre composition. The manufacturer of the belts claims a lifetime guarantee and in most of the world outside the EU, the service recommendation is to EXAMINE the belt at 50,000 miles. There's no recommendation to change it. 

[JGrindel]

3 hours ago, TerFar said:

 

We'll have to disagree about the cambelt. The 'rubber' composition of the cambelt has no resemblance to tyre composition. The manufacturer of the belts claims a lifetime guarantee and in most of the world outside the EU, the service recommendation is to EXAMINE the belt at 50,000 miles. There's no recommendation to change it. 

Skoda themselves told me there is no mileage interval but belts are advised to be changed every 5 years. This wasn't my dealer but Skoda UK. But lets not start the cambelt debate on this ops post asking for help and advice. 

[JGrindel]

3 hours ago, nta16 said:

Different strokes for different folks but I've not found my wife's 90ps 5-speed any problem on motorways, I can't remember what the revs are but they didn't seem particularly high to me or excessive noise or vibration.  I suppose if we did regular and long motorway journeys I might feel differently.

 

Oh dont get me wrong I wasn't complaining about the 5 speed, I just sometimes want to put it into the invisible 6th. Its very eco. I've done 14k this year alone in mine with 587 miles / 59.3mpg Logged using Fuelly being my best mileage per tank (achieved this twice). It sits at around 2600/2700 ish at 70mph on the motorway. 

[nta16]

2 hours ago, JGrindel said:

Oh dont get me wrong I wasn't complaining about the 5 speed, I just sometimes want to put it into the invisible 6th. Its very eco. I've done 14k this year alone in mine with 587 miles / 59.3mpg Logged using Fuelly being my best mileage per tank (achieved this twice). It sits at around 2600/2700 ish at 70mph on the motorway. 

I'm not sure you can say any car is very eco.  😁

 

Sounds like you're getting good petrol economy though - provided you're not just relying on a VAG computer when working out distance mpg.  🤣

 

I'm not sure a 6th gear would give you any more mpg, different wheels and tyres (and/or pressures) would and the use of cruise control.

 

I've never measured the difference in mpg having the tyres at the higher pressure makes but the difference in rolling resistance is very noticeable with more time with the foot "off the gas" and difference in braking.

 

Easy to get more mpg, go on the motorway at 60mph or even 50mph, I've done it and I'm from the time before speed cameras with a mate as a sales rep that always drove pedal to the floor in outside lane and only moving to middle lane if the rep behind him had a faster car or a performance car was behind him, those days 70mph was inside lane with the other two lanes going stages faster.  Funnily enough it was a fuel shortage or big price hike, I forget which and exactly when, when I first noticed that I was travelling on the motorway at 70mph in the inside lane, at a quiet time, and no one was coming  flying by me and I was overtaking many cars but were overtaking me.

 

A big increase in fuel prices would dramatically improve mpg, and cut down traffic, seen it more than once in the past, there must be statistics on it somewhere.