VW/Seat v5 engine

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Mon 11 Apr 2005 17:08
VW/Seat v5 engine - The Lawman
I am currently looking at a used Seat Toledo with the 170 bhp v5 2.3 engine in it.

Does anyone have any real life experience of this engine, either in a Seat or a vw? What should I be looking out for, and what MPG can I expect?

Does it have a camchain or a cambelt, and what is the best oil to run it on?

I have tested the car and was enormously impressed with the amount of kit, the smoothness and torque of the engine and the pricetag (2000 X reg, 59k on clock £5,495 for a Toledo SE). From what I can tell this is the same or less than I can get a TDI Toledo or Leon for. If the MPG and insurance is not too much of a killer, I would be very tempted.

Any comments?
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Tue 12 Apr 2005 11:10
VW/Seat v5 engine - Jase
If you have a surf to www.seatcupra.net/forums then you'll get all the answers to your questions. It is a great site.

MPG will not be too clever. <=30MPG avg. Probably comparable to my 20VT Leon.

Don't know about chain or belt. Think belt. If is a chain then HJ normally mentions this in the CByC breakdown.

(It's a pair of chains. Engine is based on VW VR6. HJ.)

One thing though. Is a 2000X model definitely the 170 20v engine or maybe the 150 10v engine? You might want to double check.

In terms of specs, the Toledo 2.3 normally comes fully specced with leather and electric seats etc and is certainly great value. However as these cars depreciate quickly, you might be able to get into a 130PDi diesel or a 20vT for not too much more, and with some warranty left. As I mentioned above check out the cupranet site.

Good luck
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Tue 12 Apr 2005 18:18
VW/Seat v5 engine - The Lawman
Thanks Jase, helpful post and a good steer to the cupra site. Very helpful.

Re the 20vt, I am particular attracted to the idea of a "lazy" V5 rather than a "screamer" but each to his own!

From the comments on the site, nearly all the 170bhp V5s have satnav but do not have the memory driver's seat. The one I am looking at has no satnav and does have the memory seat. I suspect it could be a 150 version.

I tested it and loved it (apparently the 10v engine has more low down "grunt" than the 170) so this might be a negotiationg point for me rather than a reason to walk away.

Cheers for your help.

p.s I cannot understand why Seats are not more popular, they seem unbeatable value.
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Tue 12 Apr 2005 22:01
VW/Seat v5 engine - johnny
Is the boot access as impractical as it appears on a Toledo, it's the only thing putting me off getting one. Can you post a bicycle into letter box sized slot?
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Wed 13 Apr 2005 10:13
VW/Seat v5 engine - The Lawman
It's not ideal, for sure. The rear seats fold down so in theory it should be quite practical, but it rules out putting things like big bits of furniture etc. We have a second car (a hatchback) so this is not such a huge problem for me though.
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Thu 14 Apr 2005 18:29
VW/Seat v5 engine - The Lawman
Scrub all of the above, I have just done a deal on a Bora TDI ! Having tested the diesel after the Seat V5 I was fully expecting to be disappointed, but not at all! What a great engine (the 115 version) The car is a 51 reg 2001 Bora tdi S with 44k on the clock. I got it for £6,800.

So it was diesel for me after all... and a VW as well rather than a cheaper Seat. Hope to pick it up tomorrow, I can't wait!
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