Advice or knowledge on a Polo SDI if you will...............also Fiat content.

[snifferdog]

Hey all, Im currently looking to buy the new Mrs a car for around £1K.

Ive found a W plate polo sdi for £1100 locally which seems ok. Its got 106K on the clock and full mot.

Anyway, Im just asking if anyone knows of any common faults with these? Or any known troublesome issues?

I started it up just now and it seemed quite noisy but Ive never owned a diesel before and I gather they are alot more noisy than a petrol engine anyway?!! It seemed to calm down once it had run up to temperature anyway.

theres also a Fiat seicento abarth sporting which, for some reason, I really like!!

Any ideas, tips or advice greatly appreciated.

[Wayne]

I would avoid both Polo has a weak gearbox and is dead slow, the less said about Fiats the better

[snifferdog]

Thanks Wayne.

Yeah, my ex had a polo that needed a replacement gearbox - that was bit older though, I just presumed they had sorted it out by the time these ones were out.

To be fair, I dont think I could recommend the Fiat to her, its so crap inside.

[Bellend]

Are the 1.9 SDI boxes weak on the Polo?

The engines bombproof, dog slow (although probably quicker then the MK4 SDI) but amazing MPG and always start.

Leave the Fiat, cracking fun cars but they rust quite a bit. I'd have one personally but wouldn't reccomend one. Mate had one and it seemed to be running so perfect, so smooth then bang without warning through a rod through.

[topher]

im not aware of any issues with the SDI gearboxes. its pretty much the same setup i had in my old popemobile skoda van... i gave that thing death everywhere and never skipped a beat. 50-60mpg everywhere too.

[snifferdog]

Thanks dor the help guys. I think im gonna go and have a better look at the polo tomorrow.

[mcgee9t2]

theres an abarth near were my ex lives, was pretty nice and that imo. and rapid...not sure if hed done any mods to it though cause thats the only one ive seen and never looked into what there like speed wise.

[danny_p]

SDI gearboxes do seem to made of cheese as said.

the problem with them is the bearing on the layshaft, pinion end that drives the diff   the bearing seems to wear out very quickly and colapse the gears then run all on the piss and eat themselves   bit like all 085 boxes.

best solution is at clutch change time pull the bellhouseing off and swap the bearing its piece of piss to do  all the other bearings in the box will be fine just that one that dies

[Diamond Hell]

im not aware of any issues with the SDI gearboxes. its pretty much the same setup i had in my old popemobile skoda van... i gave that thing death everywhere and never skipped a beat. 50-60mpg everywhere too.

WRONG.

The vans and Polo saloons have the 020 gearbox.

The Polo hatch has the POS 085 gearbox.

It has LT wheelbearings on the mainshaft.

It is nasty.

[Horney]

Sciecento Sporting Abarths are a hoot. I had one which I fitted a bigger and flowed TB to and wen tlike a little rocket.  Check for rot at the rear and rear beam bushes wear out, make the rear tyres wear on the inside and are expensive to replace. Great cars though and the little 1.1 FIRE unit makes a proper Italian growl for such a small cc motor.

Nick