Want to turbocharge a Volkswagen Polo's 1.2L NA engine

If this project is completed, it'll be one of kind. No Polo has a turbo 1.2L engine with a manual gearbox.

BHPian Gorkey recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I am from Assam and I have a 1.2L NA Volkswagen Polo which is over 7 years old and has done over 1 lakh km. I want to turbocharge that engine, no matter the cost. Also the scope of turbo'ing my engine in Assam is very limited, so what do you suggest? Should I go to Kolkata or another metropolitan city to get modification done or let the engine stay NA and enjoy it as it is. I plan to keep this car forever in my garage. And I desperately want to turbo it. Please help. If there's a turbo petrol Swift, why there can't be a custom turbo petrol 1.2L manual Polo? If this project is completed, it'll be one of kind. No Polo has a turbo 1.2L engine with a manual gearbox.

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

Don't waste your time with tuner headaches, unreliability & breakdowns. Time is money. Simplest solution = sell your 1-lakh km Polo and buy a used Polo 1.6 TDI / 1.2 TSI / 1.5 TDI or even better, the new 1.0 turbo TSI and redline away in the sunset.

Since the scope is limited in Assam, its all the more reason you should stick to a reliable, factory setup. Remember, factory horses are factory horses. Some of us learnt this the hard way.

Here's what BHPian TrackDay had to say on the matter:

I too would take GTO's advice. Maybe it is time you looked at a new car if you want something more exciting to drive. It is better to get these kind of works done if you have the time and energy for it. Also it would be beneficial if you knew someone or place nearby to where you reside. If this is a project car, and you have other cars in your garage, do go ahead. However if this is your only ride, think twice.

You have to take the following factors too into consideration when you do works like these such as strain on the engines & mileage. Consider other options instead of adding the turbocharger. I am not that familiar with remapping, but others can comment if that can bring a little more joy into this Polo. Other small additions like an exhaust upgrade, air filter and suspension with better tyres can make the car a bit better.

Here's what BHPian ssjr0498 had to say on the matter:

It sounds exciting and I am sure you could take it up as a project.

Historically this has been a road that people with no basic knowledge shouldn't travel on. But, in the recent decade or so, the availability of parts and the knowledge of how to go about doing these things is now widely available, making this not that big a mountain to climb!

Going turbo is not a biggie, apart from the money. IMO, what you need to do first is to think what is the objective of turbo charging your car?

• Do you want to turbo it for simply bragging rights i.e, xyz bhp/whp, world's first, full custom this, custom that or some nasa tech and all that jazz
• Drag queen!
• Daily driver with good power/torque with reliability.

When you decide on the above, then go about doing your research on the parts!

If I were you, I would look at the nearest cousin, the 1L TSI, and try and see if the placements of the turbo charger, intercooler etc. and eyeball to understand if they would fit onto your car or not and start the journey from thereon.

However, from personal experience, whenever you start such a project and plan on doing it yourself, expect certain things to fail! But then, failure is the pillar of success and you could either 1. fail and give up or 2. fail, try again and succeed.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.