Scirocco Central

My 1.4 160 remains in dry dock (http://www.sciroccocentral.co.uk/forum/ ... =2&t=20111), and regardless of whether a new set of injectors solves the issue for now, I have lost a good deal of confidence in the car, especially given that other owners of these units have experienced ongoing problems even after initial fixes. In particular, whilst my car's compression tests appeared to have come back okay, I do wonder whether running a rich mixture might soon be the start of further issues such as bore washing. I'm not inclined to wait around to have to keep taking the car in, as well as having to worry about any potential discussions with vw and Mondial (extended warranty) should extensive repairs have to take place eg engine swap.

I'm not inclined to put the dosh towards a 2.0 roc, since it would feel more of the same really. The alternatives for me have always been the A3 (more of the same) or the ubiquitous series 1, in 125i or 135i guise.

I test drove a series one the other day. I need to take another drive but my impressions were of a better driving experience: the car felt really planted, and the sterling wheel and switchgear were very cockpit like, with a sense of feeling much more involved with the car with than with the scirocco.

I'm not inclined to pay a whole lot of dosh for a nearly-new or ex-demo car, when I don't know where it's been.

With the advent of the series 1, there have been some excellent deals on pre-registered pre-facelift series ones. I'll travelling to view one of these tomorrow, with view to putting down a deposit, which will be returnable should I not be in a position to Px within a month (due to the roc not being fixed).

There no real sense of excitement about getting a series one; but hopefully I at least won't get the sort of 'excitement' than comes with the 160 and the 7 speed boxes.

Very sorry to hear of the issues you have had moulin12, I can understand why you are losing interest in the car and even then, as you say, your confidence in it, will probably not be the same again!

Let us know what you decide to do and best of luck!

Thanks Skippy, appreciated.

Knowing what I know about the particular engine, from the last 12 months of reading around it on the internet, it's most certainty is the case that the car must be considered as being at further risk, even if the injectors solve the emissions issue. I have always suspected the car of running rich (fuel consumption a little higher than I thought it should be, and the occasional puff of black smoke from the exhaust when kicking down). As I've already said, if the injectors had been breaking down for a while, then there could be the start of engine damage.

As it is, it's been for this reason that over the last 6-9 months I'd been thinking what do. The reason for not having done anything about it until now (apart from hoping nothing would happen to mine), was that I would have to pay at least 4K on top of a px just to get 2.0 GT on the same plate and mileage, which is beginning to feel like a lot for a 4 year old car (and an aging model, to boot), with the low 20s required to get you a newish GT.

Against this, the opportunity to get, for the same price, a pre-facelift, pre-registered delivery mileage (~10 miles) 125i M sport auto with as many options as you can shake a stick (in fact, all 4 available packages including m sport and m sport plus, plus 5yr service pack, plus other options) is something that I feel is forcing my hand. The car comes in at 66% of the list price!

Not sure I feel good about it at the moment though: apart from having to dip into the pocket, it feels really showy and ostentatious to have such a car, and despite the great deal on offer, makes me feel a bit foolish with my money.

The only way I'm able to justify it is to view this as an opportunity to keep another car from new for 10 years, as I did my old micra, to get the value from it that way; or there's always the option to trade it in in a couple of years time to get a solid, sensible run-around again.

Of course, I'll also be sad to see the Roc go (but then I was sad to part with the micra, as well!). The Roc's looks did make me feel special.