(G) 1.8 Hgt

Looks like your mind is already made up sorry for the late input! I haven't had a headgasket problem on mine but the variator went - Fiat covered most of the cost but it was still expensive. It had a new radiator and thermostat as well. Other than that it's been OK. The last service (4 year and 36k) was £200. However, there isn't a Haynes manual for it and some of the parts are quite expensive - the front discs need replacing and they are a lot more money than the smaller-engined cars.

The JTD remap sounds like fun and you would save a packet on insurance (they class my HGT as group 15 but I got a good deal), personally I'n not keen on the low-down torque of a diesel as it can make driving around town a bit tiresome but it would be nice if the HGT had a high 6th gear for motorway driving. I wouldn't change my HGT unless someone gave me a (petrol) Leon Cupra R!

I've had my Punto since June 04, I think (Time goes so fast when you're enjoying yourself!)
I've had faults with mine, Required a gearbox rebuild and a new exhaust front pipe, apart from that I can't fault it- put it all down to the joys of motoring! Beware though, the parts are a crippling price!

Si

Eh?

How can torque low-down make town driving tiresome? The whole point is so long as you have 900rpm on the clock in the JTD it takes-off like a scalded cat. In a petrol car (or indeed I high-boost turbo diesel) you have to rev it to get anything

Torque = Less gearchanges = Relax

One thing worth noting is the JTD has the same front discs as the HGT (ventilated) rather than the rest of the range which have unvented discs and they are expensive to replace

Scalded Cat ?

Starting to think mine is knackered then, cos it don't take off that quick!!

Just personal preference I suppose if you have to drive around Cambridge in rush-hour every day, taking off like a scalded cat would put you in the back of the car in front I do however like the low-revs cruising you get in a diesel.

Definitely agree on the front discs, I'm counting my pennies

Gently remove left foot from clutch (no throttle at all) until the clutch is engaged (about 4mph) and then maximum berries on the throttle, change-up at 3K and repeat; you can scare a few 'better' cars very easily...

In nearly 3-years of ownership I never used the throttle until the clutch was fully engaged unless on a steep gradient. Driving in crawling traffic was reasonably relaxed as you only ever needed a well-judged left foot (and brake if required)

erm. ive got a really stupid question to ask everyone - what is remapping?! im intrigued. lol

Dont know if this is totally true, its just what ive picked up and there will be more to it than this!

Companies have software for each car's ECU on a laptop, so they can access it by connecting the laptop through (im guessing) the diagnostic port in the car. I think they mess with the cars settings like fuel/air mix, timing, turbo boost (when turbo is fitted) and probably other things to squeeze more power out of the engine. Totally electronic, so the car needs an ECU and the comapny needs the software in order to do the work.

TDIs usually gain the most from a remap, due to the extra bhp but most of all the ****load more torque they get! The companies only tune it to a safe figure thats within the car's limits but if extra mods have been done like bigger brakes/bigger tyres/uprated suspension/uprated exhaust/induction mods, more power can be had.