Engine update.

**Lynchy** · 18-11-2012, 11:00 PM

Hey everybody, prospective Bora buyer here.
Quick question, can anyone give me an opinion on the 10 vs 20 valve V5 engines (AQN vs AGZ) for the mk4 Bora?
Redbook ect. says the 20v AGZ# engines make 15 more kW and I've read they also have VVT or eqivalent.
Is the power gain worth it/noticeable?
Does the economy differ between the two?
Thanks for any/all info!

**Wighty654** · 19-11-2012, 10:03 AM

Isnt the 20v just the newer v5 engine?
I have the 24v vr6 and correct me if I'm wrong but they switched switched from 2v per cyclinder to 4v in 01.
15kw in a bora would be noticeable but I'm not sure on the economy.
Personally I'd go for the 20v.

**Lynchy** · 19-11-2012, 04:22 PM

Yeah, the 20v engine is newer, and I've always thought more valves are always better, but the fact it has vvt means the power might not really be accessible per se. If you've seen dyno curves for vvt you'll know what I'm trying to say.

**Wighty654** · 19-11-2012, 04:41 PM

I know mine is the v6 and therefore slightly different but I'm fairly sure mine has vvt as well and the power is accessible right across the rev range.
If your anywhere near Rosebud Victoria your welcome to come down n have a look at mine if it will help.

**Manaz** · 20-11-2012, 09:12 PM

The V5 is literally the VR6 engine with a cylinder removed (and a crankshaft to suit the 5 pot), so in general, most of the same things can be said about the change from 12v VR6 to 24v VR6.

The newer engine is much better. Yes it gets VVT, yes it gets coil-on-spark via the coilpacks (and yes, there are issues with these at times), yes it gets 4v per cylinder, yes it makes more power and torque, and you'll probably find is more fuel efficient to boot.

Of course, the VR6 in AU only came with a 6-speed manual and AWD, and the VR5 came with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed auto and FWD only, so transmissions are quite different. Both the VR5 and VR6 (at least in 2.3L/2.8L guise) came only in a Bora in Australia - the only VR6 engine in a Mk4 Golf is the 3.2L in the R32, and that was limited to 200 cars in 2004. I *think* there was a 4-cylinder engine that was common to Bora and Golf, but then the Golf came with a few other options too (1.8T in the GTI, 1.8L, 2.0L, 1.6L).