Should I be carefull of VW's V5 engines ?

[grizz]

Right, these V5 engines from VWhave been around for a while.

I am sure some of you with the eternal NEED FOR SPEED will have had one, or driven them.

What is the general concensus of these engines.

The car in question has a Full service history, and has done 87k miles to date. 3 owners.

I know they are 170bhp.
Tax is not too bad, consumption, no idea.

Any info greatly appreciated.

(PS: Nicola has completely walked away from the Smart car idea, for now ;D)

Please PM or add here.

[ettorebugatti]

It is not a bad engine, but the 1.8T is much better (more low end torque)

[uncleterry]

Mate of mine has a bone stock mk4 golf with the vr5 lump. Plenty rapid and great spec car. Sits in between the gti and the vr6 4motion i believe...
Seem to recall he reckoned it was quite thirsty, but none of us drive anything from a similar period and spec to compare it to lol.
Never really understood that engine tbh. Seems like a lot of hassle to tool up and build up a whole nother engine with that extra cylinder. Not sure how the engineering works on it with two pistons apposing three. Whats the firing order?

[CIH]

V5s always come across as rally nice engines. 1.8Ts sound like dizzles and the 5 valve head seems unnecessarily fussy...

[Davenger]

If it's the same as the one used in the Seat Toledo (which I imagine it is) it's a really nice engine.
Pulls really well and sounds good too

[dickdasterdley]

Really thirsty engines...have you thought about the V6?

[jabbo]

I've had both a V5 and the 1.8T, I'd go with the V5 everytime. Admittedly the fuel consumption is a lot worse, but it's a considerably better engine IMO.

[Raoul Duke]

Aren't engines with odd numbers of cylinders better balanced? Surely there'd be less torsional force on the crankshaft?
Someone tell me I'm talking curse word...

[Rich606]

Jan 27, 2010 18:34:51 GMT uncleterry said:

Seems like a lot of hassle to tool up and build up a whole nother engine with that extra cylinder. Not sure how the engineering works on it with two pistons apposing three. Whats the firing order?

It's less 4 cylinder plus an extra, more VR6 minus a cylinder. It's not a true V5, the V-angle is only 15^o. It's a wiggly straight-five. And that is a technical term ;D

[hairnet]

what he said

its not a rc212v grizzman

its a reihen motor missing bits ;D

red tdi FTW - chip it - as quick and 50 mpg

[ruffgeezer]

Depends, is it fitted to a volkvagen? If its fitted to a seat, walk away. Mate of mine had a cordoba from new and the build quality was pants!

[popuptoaster]

Jan 27, 2010 20:15:45 GMT Raoul Duke said:

Aren't engines with odd numbers of cylinders better balanced? Surely there'd be less torsional force on the crankshaft?
Someone tell me I'm talking curse word...

4 strokes work best as 3 cylinder engines with 120 degree crank spacing, they balance themselves that way, hence you get a lot of V6 engines, its also why I6's are always so smooth and a good V12 feels like a turbine engine, the unbalanced reciprocating forces in an I4 are why most 4 pots stop at around 2 litres and the bigger ones often have built in harmonic dampener shafts in em (Porsche, VW and Ford being three manaufacturers i can think of off the top of my head who've done that)

[skinnylew]

I have one

Available in 150bhp (AGZ) form for early ones or 170bhp (AUQ?) for later ones.
Timing chains so no belts to worry about
Torquey as heck mine will sit comfortably in 5th at 30mph and not bat an eyelid.
If I leave it in second on idle it'll pull me along the road and up the slight hill, even third will pull me along on idle no worries
Toledo has a HUGE boot!

I really love my Toledo V5 for many reasons.
Sounds gorgeous

this was on its way to making near factory figures

Thats with 120k+ under its belt, minimal servicing and various other factors lol (spot the knackered engine mounts lol)


The Toledo is specced to the hilt as well, build quality is no worse than any other VW.
Mine has the most comfortable alcantara/leather elec seats, cruise con, all elecs, climate con etc etc

On the downside though:
Buy the best you can with history. I bought the cheapest at the time (£1800 3yrs ago) and it had no history and had done 94k. Its averaged 18k a year but I have had to replace a few bits: rear beam bushes/wishbone bushes/lower engine mount/gearbox (casing broke with mount)/SUMP/brakes front and rear/Tyres (on my third set on the front)
I've had mine nearly three years now and she just rolled over 130k. However mine is not a good example as I do nearly all stop start suburb driving for work (30-40 miles a dayworth!!).
My MPG has really got bad recently though so I did a 19.4mpg average one tank! Motorways i've got over 30mpg once but I don't drive slow Expect midish 20's round town and probably low 30's mway
Your welcome to have a drive in mine but its not the best impression of one tbh lol

In fact i probably should have got rid of it a long time back but have persevered because it is just so comfortable and useful! I should really retire her this march but i might fix her and see how long she lasts! (she did 1100miles in 4 days through France last summer without a squeak )

[hollywoood]

My bruv's Golf drives loveley,pulls real nice,torquey,smooth,yep I'd agree with skinneylew on just about everything there,standard mpg mid 20's,30's on motorway (i'd love one!)

[cairyhunt]

I've always wondered why did vw only make them for one series of cars?? Must have cost a lot to engineer to only take it out of production a few years later, always made me think something was wrong with it, same applys the the 1.8 20v non turbo, only fitted to a few very early b5 passats then swapped for the less powerful, less econimcal and heavier 2ltr 8v from the mk3 gti???

I'd go for the v6 just for peace of mind, bet second hand parts are a t**t to find for the v5.

Coop

[10mpg]

Jan 28, 2010 0:26:50 GMT cairyhunt said:

I've always wondered why did vw only make them for one series of cars?? Must have cost a lot to engineer to only take it out of production a few years later, always made me think something was wrong with it, same applys the the 1.8 20v non turbo, only fitted to a few very early b5 passats then swapped for the less powerful, less econimcal and heavier 2ltr 8v from the mk3 gti???

I'd go for the v6 just for peace of mind, bet second hand parts are a t**t to find for the v5.

Coop

My brother in law had a 1.8 n/a 20v which he sold to a mate of mine, completely gutless yet really thirsty (sub 25mpg everywhere often much less) despite being pampered from new, no power at all till just before the red line and even then nothing much at all, plus it spat its' factory cambelt 20k before it was due and bent all 20 valves...

I know i had to replace all 20 of the little sods, horrid engine to work on overly complex and good for sod all, mind you the b5 passats are pretty nasty things to if you ask me

Not much to recommend it in my view!

[ChasR]

Regarding the cambelt comment, that can be said for any car with a cambelt. CVH anyone or most cambelt engines? Peugeot XUs rarely do the mileage they say (when it was changed on the TD (20k beforehand) the belt was quite loose. The same story on the Porsche too (20k over 5 years (service schedule is every 48k).

V5s IMO are similar to what you got in the old Audis.

[10mpg]

I hear what you say but if the comes new from VW saying change this cambelt at 65k and at 45k it snaps i would not be happy at all...

I wouldnt expect that from any manufacturer. Once the cars are old that's a different matter..

[grizz]

Right, first time back on here , am at a business meeting for 2 days, no linkup in hotel.

The reason for the post was to find out about the engines, as Nicola was interested in V5 New Beetle.

She is looking at a 2.0 litre Petrol this afternoon, and another which I am not sure what engine.


So change in direction for those looking at this thread, now the truth is out, these New Beetles come with 1.4 , 1.6 1.8, 2.0, 2.3 liter petrol, and various diesel engines.

Mechanically, is there any major watch outs ?

Forget about the fact that you may think they are pants.

All input and warnings gratefully received.

[cairyhunt]

Personally, I don't mind the design, build quality not bad, and seem reliable enough, just seem like an opertunity missed by vw to build something really special rather then a golf in a skirt! Lol

boring everyday car go for the 1.6

sommat a bit faster get the 1.8t

something a bit special but may cost a bit more all round (buying, fuel, spares, insurence ect) but will be rare and should/could make good money come resale, then get the v5.

As for faults or worrys, see mk4 golf.