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I bought a 03 reg Polo 1.0 in Essex the other day. The Engine Management light (of course) came on shortly after leaving the dealers forecourt, however the car did not immediately show any unusual signs, so I decided to keep going on the 60 miles to my house, but of course playing close attention to any change in the behavior of the car. Roughly 20-30 mins into the drive down M25 at 60mph, the engine did start to feel a bit soggy. It lost some of its bite, but temp was ok so I slowed down a bit and decided to stop somewhere safe to have a look/listen with the car in idle. Looking for a suitable place to stop, I did notice that the car was loosing more and more power. I could not keep it going in 5th etc. and up-hill I could barely do make it run in 3rd. I found a place to stop, and the engine ran with a 'stutter' meaning ever other second or so, it was like setting out for a fraction of a second, enough for the engine block to give a shake. The engine didn't sound troubled at all, but just arrhythmic (for a better word). (It's here important to notice that I at no point turned off the ignition !!!!) Rather than leave the car on hard shoulder in Kent, I decided to see if I could make it to Jct8 which was another 8 miles or so, but up-hill for the most parts. The car basically lost more and more power, and I had serious doubts if I would be able to make the ramp off M25 at Reigate as it's a hell of a long upwards climb, but I managed to get it all way up in partly 1 partly 2nd gear. When first up the hill, the drive down Reigate hill was easy, however had to stop for red lights in Reigate town, and I could hardly rev the car up even in neutral, and the engine then simply died when I was trying to pull off for green... Dammit I thought as I had a line of cars behind me, now I block A25 in the middle of the lights, where there is nowhere to push the car into. For whatever reason, I turned the key to ignition off position and probably out of panic turned the ignition back on, and the engine sprang to life as the previous 45minutes of driving horror had never happened. The car drove absolutely beautifully the next couple of miles to my house. Question, does this 2003 car have some sort of 'idiot protection' which will slowly cripple the car in case an idiot as me decides to ignore the Engine Management lamp ? Whatever made the car drive sluggish, completely disappeared after turning off/on ignition. I just took the car for 10 min drive round town, and it drives beautifully, however Engine Management light of course still on.... Any advise is most welcome...