EXCLUSIVE: Is this the first
customer new Polo GTI in the UK?
It may be raining outside, but here’s something to brighten all prospective new Polo GTI owners’ moods. Is this the first customer 2010 Polo GTI in the country? Our entry reporting on the first UK magazine road tests of the new hotshot Polo has become something of a mini-forum, with Polo GTI-owners-to-be who have placed orders with their local Volkswagen retailers commenting about the various build stages of ‘their’ cars. It seems that the latest Polo GTI is something of a hot ticket right now, and prospective buyers can wait anything between 12 weeks and 6 months for cars to arrive. Our special correspondent collects his car tomorrow and it’s pictured here in the retailer’s parking lot, resplendent in its Flash Red paint and protective polythene. In something of an exclusive, we hope to bring you the proud new owner’s first impressions over the next few days.
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Yes – I just read that John, I don’t know, so complete engine rebuild now and no oil test! There are quite a few demonstrator GTIs now for sale on the VW website I noticed.
PS My dealer (like yours) has also just been taken over by another VW dealership, I have actually booked mine in for a service at an alternative dealer while the transition is taking place.
I am contemplating asking the dealer to measure the oil that comes out of it to give me an idea of how the ‘fix’ is working. Not sure if they will oblige in doing that though.
Good luck with that Paul.
These engine rebuilds must cost a small fortune… would love to know how much. It’s the only crumb of comfort I have, knowing it’s costing them!
Update on mine.
Have been told VW are to replace the whole bottom half of the engine.
John – my optimism about my car may be about to be shattered. This morning I saw some puffs of oil smoke out the exhaust when pulling away, first time I have seen this since ‘the fix’.
It is a drastic improvement for sure, but I am certain now that there must be an underlying design flaw here. I was somehow hoping against hope that mine was fixed. Can’t believe it, 1200 miles in, will check the dipstick in a moment and will advise my dealer when it goes in for normal service in 2 weeks’ time.
Car itself still only has 4400 on it, so still may use a little more, but you should not be seeing oil smoke out the back.
Just checked oil, it is still at the top of the hatching marks, as we know though the dipstick is not linear, think it takes quite a while from a full sump to show a drop on the dipstick.
Paul, what a nightmare. Interesting though that the oil is still at max. For oil smoke to show it’s obvious some of it is still getting passed the rings.
Mine had been fine briefly after the fix but then…
Not all cars seem to react exactly but there is a general theme going on. If you are pals with an oil baron then no probs otherwise get back to your dealer, it could start drinking it again.
Yes, I have been out this afternoon and done about 35 miles in it, put some revs on it and did not see any smoke at all. Like you though John, I can’t be doing with this nonsense. As I recall, I think you got to about 1200 miles before the oil level dropped (on the dipstick at least).
I have asked my new dealer (previous one now taken over), if they will measure the oil when it’s in for service. I don’t want another 1000km test again, I bet though this won’t be straightforward as they can’t be sure how much it started off with; “full” will probably not be a good enough answer.
I used to get the smoke when pulling away from junctions, engine just idling then a power burst needed, not when driving hard in a straight line.
Got GTI back today. Have had a new engine installed, courtesy of VW, complete with the revised engine block. Fingers crossed. Have missed the car…still a lovely thing to drive.
Well as some of you may have read on another Polo Forum
, I think I am resigned to the fact that my piston ring upgrade has not worked.
Certainly the new rings improved the situation but recently I am seeing the oil level drop again and the tell-tale smoke out the exhaust, I don’t know why I did not see this earlier.
I do low mileage (as have 2 cars) so it takes quite a while to get to ths stage.
1st scheduled service on Monday, I am hoping I can use this as an opportunity for the dealer to work out how much has been used as I have not topped it up since the ring upgrade in September (1300 miles ago).
Paul, I had the same problem. I had engine replaced and the same problems started with replaced engine. But, after 10000 to 15000 kilometers, oil usage started to reduce rapidly. Is it possible that break-in period lasts a lot longer that we are accustomed to? I am not sure what to think anymore.
Hi CroTom, yes my car is in the dealer today for its first normal service. I have mentioned to them that there still seems to be some oil burning. I accept that this engine may use more during the early stages of its life, but it’s the smoke out the exhaust I don’t find acceptable. It is a vast improvement since the rings were replaced but I am still not convinced that this fixes the problem properly.
Hi CroTom/All, ok, had my car serviced for the 1st time today, it was due an oil change – LOL, had not been done for 3 months!
Anyway – my dealer did measure as best they could what came out of the car, and they deduced that it had used 0.8 litre in 1350 miles, which to them (and myself) was acceptable, particularly for a low mileage engine, don’t forget I am only on 4,500 miles!
They have given me the option of doing another 1000km (625 mile) test to see where it is after that, but after today, I don’t see that there is any point, unless I can see a drastic change in the consumption.
With that in mind I will keep an eye on it, but not worry about it. I do low mileage anyway so for the moment at least, I am going to accept the situation. My piston ring replacement does appear to have been a lot more successful than others (John/CroTom) and I think you are right (CroTom), these engines I think do take a considerable mileage to bed down.
Can’t explain the occasional oil smoke, but for now, I will see how it goes and report back on here anything that may be of interest.
I think we are getting there with the issues, its just a shame it involves countless trips to the dealer and driving around in 1.2′s!
Good luck guys!
Well, no posts on here for a little while, but I am concerned again about mine. After the piston ring upgrade, mine seemed to be fine but since it’s service a month ago, it seems to be drinking more oil again, I just don’t understand it, I keep thinking it will improve with more miles.
Today while out and about, I saw 2 plumes of blue oil smoke out the exhaust, worryingly as well though, there was a very slight hesitation with the engine causing the car to ‘bog down’ ever so slightly, not good.
I was trying to adopt a more philosophical view on all of this but I can’t ignore it, looks like I will be down the dealer again soon. I am on a 600 mile test at the moment anyway. 200 to go. Not a happy bunny.
I have just ordered one of these and somewhat concerned to read about all the problems.
Does anyone know if brand new cars have now had this resolved?
Thanks!
Hi everybody,
Have not posted for a long time. I have done 4.5k miles and used about 2.5l oil from new. Going to book my first service and voice my complaint about oil consumption. They can’t say I have not given it a chance. I have also not been driving the car hard all the time. Only on occasion. I also used to swear by VW but I doubt I will feel the same again.
Hope everyone is keeping well and safe. I am going to do battle with my dealer tomorrow. Will keep you posted.
Well, I had a new engine under warranty which apparently has a lower block. Latest oil figures are 1 litre used in 2200 miles which is a vast improvement on the previous engine. I’m happier with this engine than the one I had before. The car drives beautifully, but then it did when it was drinking oil too.
Talk is that VW are redesigning the pistons for this engine. Who knows. One thing I do know is that we’ve been the guinea pigs in all this. In the end, the warranty did look after me and VW customer services were first class in chasing up my case.
In answer to PaulC, make certain your engine has the revised block.
Just when I thought this thread was dead in the water, we have some activity again! Mind you that may not necessarily be a good thing!
Hi – all, since my last post (on this forum at least), I have had my 625-mile oil check at my dealer who informed that all was OK. That did surprise me as I had seen blue puffs of smoke out the exhaust on occasion, apparently it had used 0.4/litre in the 625 miles.
So I have been sent away again with an apparently healthy car. To be honest, being a 2-car family – I don’t do enough miles in it to report back quickly, only done 300 miles since early Feb. In that time I have not seen any smoke, but the oil level seems to have dropped a tad on the dipstick.
As John says, there is supposed to be an engine re-design for MY2013 which will be launched in May. As for a generic recall on this issue, I very much doubt that would happen, so in the meantime it is a case of revised piston rings (in my case), or in more severe cases a new engine with revised lower block.
Hi Paul C and all
Been a long time since I have been on here too.
Paul C, mine is an ’11-plate registered last July. I have done just under 10k and put in 1 litre of castrol about 5k ago. This is within normal tolerance and it’s barely used any since then.
I have driven it very hard at times and gently cruise a lot too – I’m rarely in a rush to get to work!
I am still hugely impressed by the car and don’t regret buying it. There was a lot on my short list and I couldn’t be happier.
It’s actually going in for its first service tomorrow and will hopefully come back with a clean bill of health.
I think if you are getting a brand new one or recently registered one you should be fine,so fingers crossed for you!
Hi all,
Went to the dealer and showed the amount of oil used. At that time I had done 4262 miles and used almost 2.5l of oil. Because I do low mileage, I was put on a time/distance service plan. The engineer assured me that the oil used is within the predicted acceptable usage and said that I should come back if the oil consumption gets worse. The car will get her first service on her second birthday. I can honestly say it looks like the consumption is evening out a little. I didn’t push the car hard at all from new to about a couple thousand miles. The exhaust no longer is as sooty. The oily residue has also gone. Will post again after I wash the car and exhaust tail piece, so I can see if the black residue returns – indicating that oil is perhaps being burnt to excess.