VW Polo TDI or Fiat Grande Punto 1.3 Multijet?

[jordan427]

So, as the title suggests, I'm looking at buying a new car, I've exhausted all google links relating to the two cars and I'm now posting here to see if any members have any opinions! I've read quite a lot of bad things about the Polo TDI (particularly the 02 plate), especially a rather shoddy reliability. My budget is around £4000-£5000, preferably as close to £4k as possible which means it's either an 06 Grande Punto or an 02-04 Polo TDI.

So anyone with either of these two cars have an opinion, I'd be very interested to hear it!

Cheers!

[finlay666]

Why do you need one of those 2 cars?

You can get a 2005 or newer Honda Civic 2.2 CDTi or a 2.0 TDCi 6-speed Ford Focus for that kind of money, both have good resale value and reliability

[jordan427]

I don't "need" them, I'd just like one of them. As for the Honda Civic, I'd love one but I thought they were a lot more expensive.

[abaxas]

Originally Posted by finlay666

Why do you need one of those 2 cars?

You can get a 2005 or newer Honda Civic 2.2 CDTi or a 2.0 TDCi 6-speed Ford Focus for that kind of money, both have good resale value and reliability

Maybe becasue they are cheaper to run and much cheaper to insure.

However as a polo owner (well other half), you might want to look at petrol, yes they are not as economical but the premium for diesel often makes the petrol version much cheaper over the lifetime of the vehicle.

[finlay666]

Originally Posted by abaxas

Maybe becasue they are cheaper to run and much cheaper to insure.

However as a polo owner (well other half), you might want to look at petrol, yes they are not as economical but the premium for diesel often makes the petrol version much cheaper over the lifetime of the vehicle.

1.6 TDCi focus is still 1115bhp, very good mpg and it's group 6 or less

The cars I pointed out were top spec ones in the range, there is still the 1.8 CTDi for the Honda or the 1.6 or 1.8 for the Focus

[Butcher]

Originally Posted by finlay666

1.6 TDCi focus is still 1115bhp, very good mpg and it's group 6 or less

Woah, that's a lot of grunt for a 1.6 diesel!

[[DW]Cougho]

For what it's worth I had a Grande Punto 1.4 active sport, and it was a superb little car. If all you want is comfy, cheap A-B transport its brilliant. Handling was good enough to raise the occasional smile too. In my opinion it was a far superior car to the car it replaced... a Ford Focus.

[dave87]

Originally Posted by finlay666

Why do you need one of those 2 cars?

You can get a 2005 or newer Honda Civic 2.2 CDTi or a 2.0 TDCi 6-speed Ford Focus for that kind of money, both have good resale value and reliability

I don't know about the Focus, but you certainly won't get a Civic 2.2CDTi in the new shape for that money.

You would be looking at the 1.7 (Izuzu? Engined) previous Civic, with circa 50-100k depending on where abouts in the price range you want to sit.

Had you considered something like the Seat instead of the Polo? Same platform, different brand?

[staffsMike]

I don't know about that particular engined punto but I drove a grande punto recently and it was the most shockingly awful car I've ever driven. It wasn't just me either, even the dealer admitted how bad it was.

Road noise: Sounded like it was running on stone wheels
Handling: Felt like it running on stone wheels and no tyres.
Cabin: Awful
Exterior: Looks nice enough.
Engine: It was a petrol, but it was rubbish.

Like most of the other I would be looking at different cars entirely at this budget. Polo's are normally a safe bet depreciation wise but I don't think much of the current/previous crop of Polo's, Ibiza's aren't too bad if you stay in the top half of the range. Skoda's are always an option Plenty of fiesta's in that price range too, might even squeeze a zetec s diesel.

[Jay]

I once had a punto for just under 3 years (older shape facelift) on an 04 plate, I hated it and things fell off it every day! It was a 1.25 petrol though.

[jordan427]

Thanks all for the opinions. I have considered other VAG cars, mainly the Seat Ibiza as I can't stand the look of the fabias, even though they are damn good. I don't do an awful lot of mileage but even so I still fancy a diesel as I've never had one before and would like to experience all the mid-range torque.

[finlay666]

Originally Posted by dave87

I don't know about the Focus, but you certainly won't get a Civic 2.2CDTi in the new shape for that money.

http://tinyurl.com/y9ybl7z

[dave87]

That is a scam, quite simply.

I've got a 2.2 iCDTi - 2006 plate with 37k on it now, and I was offered 8.5k for it as a trade in by a Honda dealership...so 9 ish privately?

[jordan427]

Originally Posted by finlay666

http://tinyurl.com/y9ybl7z

I smell something fishy about that tbh! It seems far far too cheap, and far too good to be true.

[finlay666]

Originally Posted by dave87

That is a scam, quite simply.

I've got a 2.2 iCDTi - 2006 plate with 37k on it now, and I was offered 8.5k for it as a trade in by a Honda dealership...so 9 ish privately?

I thought possibly a write off

Still, pistonheads throws up some decent cars for the price
http://www.pistonheads.com/SALES/1180577.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/SALES/1219944.htm

[staffsMike]

Originally Posted by finlay666

I thought possibly a write off

Still, pistonheads throws up some decent cars for the price
http://www.pistonheads.com/SALES/1180577.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/SALES/1219944.htm

Where? ..

I know people go on about mondeo's being reliable etc.. and I'm sure it will keep going but, we had one very similar to that and at 80K it was falling to pieces. I'm sure it would have done another 100K before the wheels fell off but it had seen many better days.