VW Golf Plus - What engine to choose

[Spot the welders dog]

Hello all,

Thinking of changing my Nova for one of these things, but don't have a clue as to what is the preferred engine to look for: Petrol or Diesel I'm not too fussed.
Don't do many miles a year, just want something that can be fixed easily/ cheaply if need be and reliable.
Do any of the VW engines have any major/known flaws.

Speed is not an issue but I would like it to be able to go up a hill.

Thanking you in advance...

 

[slim_boy_fat]

"........Petrol or Diesel I'm not too fussed.
Don't do many miles a year, just want something that can be fixed easily/ cheaply if need be and reliable.
Do any of the VW engines have any major/known flaws."

There's your decision made, right there....low miles = petrol, assuming most of your running is short/local journeys.

As for the flaws, I'm aware that they can have [like any other mechanical device] - best read of a VW Owners' forum for background, although I'm sure some here will have a few pointers.

 

[Robotstar5]

If you plan on short journeys don't get a diesel with a DPF (diesel particulate filter) compulsory from @2010 but fitted earlier by some manufacturers.

 

[rikrobson]

Diesels are not really suited for short journeys. Their popularity has been down to the manufacturers engineering to Government imposed limits. The rules for taxation have been made to peg to carbon emissions, so cars have been made to adhere to these limits and are tested under lab conditions. In reality I suspect that the carbon emissions are exceeding the manufacturers claims. Boris has been Sabre rattling saying that the London congestion charge should be increased for diesels. This is because diesels produce more nitrous oxides, which affect air quality locally.

This has been going on for years though, back in the fifties the tax was on cylinder bore, so manufacturers used inlet over exhaust engines which allowed then to make engines of a smaller bore.

I assume that you will be looking for a polo or golf then? Dont forget that Seat and Skoda are the same and probably alot cheaper too.

 

[Rocketman]

It's about time the diesel engine rubbish was sorted out. Great you can make one with really low co2 emissions but the rest of the stuff it pumps out is shocking compared to a petrol.

 

[mike os]

given the current performance of all engines these days it comes down to how you drive and what you di in the vehicle. as said if short journies then petrol is a good bet, otherwise I think its down to choice and price, and on those grounds there is no real benefit in either fuel type, and seing as diesel is (and is likely to stay) more than petrol, and looks like there will be more and more tax on diesel vehicles the old arguments in their favour are no longer valid

 

[rikrobson]

The next big thing is small engines with huge turbos, Like the new Ford engines (ecoboost) and the current F1s (although they are slightly different)

 

[mike os]

just more crap to break at $1k a pop then

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Mate has a 1.6 diesel Golf (new model) and £30 pa VED. Neighbour has a Seat Leon (Golf floorpan) with the 1.2 TSi and that is economical yet nippy.

 

[AndyStobbs]

It's about time the diesel engine rubbish was sorted out. Great you can make one with really low co2 emissions but the rest of the stuff it pumps out is shocking compared to a petrol.

Euro 6 comes into effect in september and will see most new diesels getting exhaust gas SCR (AdBlue) in addition to DPF's.

 

[rikrobson]

toll the bell for the diesel. Euro 6 diesels will be exempt from the extra Boris levvy.

Most ordinary motorists these days struggle with oil and water chacks. now they are going to need to ad adblue!

I can see adblue getting added to diesel tanks and engine oil fillers etc

 

[AndyStobbs]

Yep its certainly going to get messy. One person every few minutes is unable to differentiate between green and black and consequently put the wrong fuel in their car. More people with university degrees than ever before - really?

Jury still out on EcoBoost in my book.

 

[marlinspike]

Honest John in the Telegraph does good summaries of most cars. Can't do a link but if you Google 'car by car breakdown' you should find it. The What Car site reviews usually say which engine/trim combo is best to buy too. I find the readers reviews on there useful too as they often find flaws that reviewers over look, like seat comfort and real life mpg.

 

[Rocketman]

Euro 6 comes into effect in september and will see most new diesels getting exhaust gas SCR (AdBlue) in addition to DPF's.

True but unless they test the diesel engines on the MOT for all the things these scrubbers are supposed to take out it's a pointless exercise. My wife's driving instructor cars start banging out some right nasty stuff as they start putting on the miles yet they pass the MOT no problem. The one before the one we have at the minute within 2 months of being brand new used to produce a smoke cloud on start up, a 2008 207 it was.

 

[dunk]

Euro 6 comes into effect in september and will see most new diesels getting exhaust gas SCR (AdBlue) in addition to DPF's.

sow...even more pig sales to come then in september

 

[Spot the welders dog]

Thank you all for your replies and thoughts. Initially I had considered the 'Plus' as its smallish size and elevated seating position appealed.
Unfortunately I've renewed my insurance last week and their revised quote was not competitive. Moving to another company at this stage would not only lose me half my policy fee, but more importantly; the ability to 'drive any car', which is not always forthcoming on TPFT
So I guess its me and the Nova with wheelchair stuffed in the back for the time being

Regards to all....