1.4 sport

[GARTHY]

Hi, I'm thinking about buying the missus a polo 1.4 sport but which engine 86 or 100bhp? She doesnt tend to boot it but one of the engines is fsi, which one? I have also read the fsi engine needs 98 ron petrol for economy does it suffer hugely if 95ron is used, hard to find 98ron round Cardiff? Any help appreciated.

[Neimad]

I have the 86hp Polo 1.4l Sport myself -- it's spritely enough around town, but you really notice the lack of power when getting up to motorway speeds -- the engine has to be revved to get the most out of it. The 86hp variant is the FSI unit, and it will run quite happily on 95RON fuel too, although you tend to find it's happier with low-sulphur petrol, beit 95 or 98RON. I do a 40 mile trip to work each day (almost entirely motorway) and average between 40-50mpg depending on prevailing conditions, and the position of the loud pedal.

I've not driven the 100hp variant, but I'd guess it's a tad more ballsy, but the fuel economy and emissions will suffer as a result -- the FSI-engined cars tend to be significatly more frugal than the non-FSI ones, but if town-driving is mostly the call of the day neither will be likely to return much over 30-35mpg I'd guess. A few trips to town in mine knocks the mileage per tank down from > 400miles to between 350-400miles.

[GARTHY]

Wifey has Ford ka at the moment which doesn't go badly, guess we'll have to try them.

Thanks Neimad, so low sulphur petrol is the key not octane rating.do you use 98 ron petrol?

[Neimad]

I've tried most of the different types of fuel in my time, but at the moment I tend to use either Shell 95, or if I'm nowhere near a Shell, Sainsburys 95. I found that Shell Optimax (98) made the biggest change to the car -- more throttle response, slightly raspier exhaust note, while BP Ultimate and other 97RON fuels gave slightly better fuel economy overall.

These days I tend to do so much motorway mileage that I don't find it's worth the extra cost of the higher-grade fuels -- the additional 1mpg doesn't offset the cost, and I've little need for better throttle response when cruising.

[GARTHY]

cheers mate.