Hi all. I'm looking at getting back into vw's and I've found a dealer who'll swap me an x reg polo saloon facelift interior jobby for my is200 sport. Fancy going low and slow (and a bit ugly so what's the sdi lump like? Id imagine being without a turbo its pretty slow but would like to hear from those in the know before I drive 2 hours to look at it

Thanks !

Going from a lexus Is to a SDI is always gonna be a massive shock,

My sdi has just clicked over 183k and still going strong,

It might be sluggish but I'm putting bio fuel in at 75p a Litre, and getting waaaaay over 45/50 mpg's

And these days every penny counts.

I'm prepared for the shock :)

inded every bit of mpg is great. Its a 65bhp engine isnt it?

^^ Yes,in a car weighing more than a Ford Sierra. Its basically a '90s Golf/Vento in a different skin.

I'm afraid my only personal ownership of a 1.9D was a 405 and it was very good.

The 6K TDi has been said to be more economical than the SDi in todays traffic because it doesn't need to be thrashed to keep up. But i think that's down to the driver.

It depends where you live too - if you have the luxury of being able to plod about slowly then its no bad thing.

Just because the latest cars are designed to be so easy to pilot fast,doesn't mean its the way forward.

If you ever needed the grunt of a Lexus anywhere bearing regularly,you're about to realise it.

There are places on my daily routes where anything short of launching it can have me in the firing line,though that's obviously the fault of them driving too fast for the junction.

But if not,then low and slow could be the way forward.

Incidentally,i like the IS200, its the only Lexus i do like,only a 2.0 aren't they? How was its economy? Was it any fun to drive?

Thanks for the info. Its a 2.0 24v straight six auto, lovley to drive and very comfortable and with the usual toys (heated seats and sat nav) but its totally useless in the snow - even with the snow button on - but that's the same for all rear wheelers I suppose.. I do a lot of town driving so economy is around 25mpg - about right for a 2.0 24v

My lasses one was an awesome little car. Was the hatchback version though. Gave brilliant MPG. Wasn't quick at all but never let her stranded. Engines are pretty bomb proof, gearboxes are the thing that goes though.

In the shitty snow we had it was awesome. My Vento was out of use, mums 5 series was out of use but my lasses SDI went everywhere without getting stuck!

Ah see its bomb proofness is deffo a strong point - if its on its arse then speed won't be of the essence.

I take it there's cash your way in this deal? Even ropey IS200s are still going for stronger money than a normally aspirated diesel Polo...

Don't do it.

A nominal amount of cash yes - I suppose I may hold off

Don't get me wrong it will potter along at 70-80 all day long on the motorway but you can't just put your toe down and overtake in it. You need to formulate some kind of plan, taking into account the amount of traffic, weather conditions, wind direction, load in the car, current speed and the speed you will need to be going at to over take the vehicle in front

Could you not find a golf or bora tdi for that sort of price range? Prob be more on par with the lexus you have at the moment.

In my opinion, having owned a few I can't compare the 1.9D hatchback polo with the 1.9D estate/saloon. I had an SDI estate before this polo and it was slooooooow. It wouldn't pull the skin off custard. I now have the 6N sdi hatch version and its much quicker. Of course I'd like something quicker but I don't feel like crying when I'm driving it like I did with the estate!

Having said that they are bombproof and will do 50mpg easy.

Yeah might try and see what else is around in golf mk4 tdi guise or some such