Glad he's seeing sense and going for the Polo. My first car was a 1991 Polo MK2 facelift Coupe. Loved that car and proved to be very reliable. Only ever requiring an auxiliary drive belt, a repair to the exhaust hanger and tyres in my 2 year ownership.

 

106 gti is great fun to drive, but the pedals are too close together for my number 11 feet, typical french unreliability too..

 

Exactly the problem I faced when trying to drive Saxos or 106s. Try it with size 13/14 feet... the number of times I reved the engine when pressing the brake pedal was unreal!

Try a corsa c instead. Far better cars than the 106/saxo.

I was in a crash with an 03 corsa once. Doing 70 kph, hit a deer outta nowhere, into the ditch, flipped and all four of us walked away with bruises. I had a hairline fracture in my left arm, but aside for that and some bruises, nothing.

Hell, if the insurance isnt as bad, try an astra. Pretty sweet cars, though they lack anything remotely relevant to the words "driving" and "joy".

A good friend of mine had a VTS. He showed up at work looking very proud of himself, showed us round the car. In all honesty it was as clean as you like. Then he leaned against the passengers side wing for us to take in the view of him & his new car. When he stood up, he left an arse shaped dent in the wing!!!!

Glad he's seeing sense and going for the Polo. My first car was a 1991 Polo MK2 facelift Coupe. Loved that car and proved to be very reliable. Only ever requiring an auxiliary drive belt, a repair to the exhaust hanger and tyres in my 2 year ownership.

Exactly the problem I faced when trying to drive Saxos or 106s. Try it with size 13/14 feet... the number of times I reved the engine when pressing the brake pedal was unreal!

We bought an 86c for my eldest who eventually conceded that without power steering she would never manage. I ended up with it and only parted on threat of divorce! 1.05 engine was never going to pull up trees but it was so utterly reliable and simple. I was distraught when it left!

Talking about crappy pedals it's the same problem in the latest generation corsa. Horrible to drive

I was going to write how rubbish they are but then stopped and thought for a second. No they are still poo!!

 

They handle very well and are fun to drive. I have 2 VTS back in 2000 and 2001. Both were riddled with problems with electrics to gearbox issues and even one overheated on the motorway.

 

The 1.1 is a torque little unit and fine for driving around in. But if it was my kid I'd be looking at something a little safer.

Glad he's seeing sense and going for the Polo. My first car was a 1991 Polo MK2 facelift Coupe. Loved that car and proved to be very reliable. Only ever requiring an auxiliary drive belt, a repair to the exhaust hanger and tyres in my 2 year ownership.

 

 

 

I truely miss my mk2 Coupe, best £70 I ever spent!! Picked up with 68k on the clock Covered 20k in just one year in it only needing an oil change and new exhaust for MOT. Sat on the motorway at 75mph with no issues. Sold it 18 months later with 96k for £400. Even though 9-10 years older than the Saxo it felt a lot more solid and safe.

 

Really a great little car! Very fond memories!!

Years back when "Club Polo" use to be known as "Performance Polo's" (Circa 2000) one of the lads on there was squashed in a motorway speed crash in a mk2 polo coupe between 2 HGV's - the car was a pile of scrap metal, but he got out of the crash with just slight cuts and bruises. If he had been in the same wreck in a Saxo the police on the scene said they wouldnt have been calling him an Ambulance!

My cousin and best friend died in a peugoet 106 after hitting a tree at aged 17.

106 / saxo are one in the same and there is no doubt in my mind that if he was driving a more substantial car he would still be here

 

Sorry but pretty much anything vs tree and the tree wins.

 

The 106/saxo were reasonably safe for cars of their design era, however things have advanced a lot since then.

I'd say it doesn't matter if it's vag or french, as long as it's got the basic safety elements from the last few years in it and passes the NCAP with a 4* or better score.

 

 

Years back when "Club Polo" use to be known as "Performance Polo's" (Circa 2000) one of the lads on there was squashed in a motorway speed crash in a mk2 polo coupe between 2 HGV's - the car was a pile of scrap metal, but he got out of the crash with just slight cuts and bruises. If he had been in the same wreck in a Saxo the police on the scene said they wouldnt have been calling him an Ambulance!

 

 

I'm surprised, only because the MK2 polo is very old and 2 HGV's can turn modern cars into a piece of metal where there is no space between the front and rear bumpers. Certain death.

 

I'd say a design that was first released in the late 90's or 2000's is a good starting place for a car for a new driver personally.

Edited 26 March, 201412 yr by cheezemonkhai

I had a picture of the wreckage on my old laptop.

Did anyone know Walshie off club polo?? His modified mk4 polo was t-boned by a coach on the autobahn & the coach was doing about 80mph. He was seriously hurt but survived!!!

Mk2 Polo did have the benefit of a lot of open space in the cockpit. More legroom for the driver than in a B6 Passat believe it or not. Even though the bodywork would crumple like paper there just wasn't the amount of facia/ trim etc in the cockpit to mangle your vitals. 

 

 One can only be thankful that folk have managed to walk away from the accidents they have had. 

I had a picture of the wreckage on my old laptop.

Did anyone know Walshie off club polo?? His modified mk4 polo was t-boned by a coach on the autobahn & the coach was doing about 80mph. He was seriously hurt but survived!!!

 

 

Mk2 Polo did have the benefit of a lot of open space in the cockpit. More legroom for the driver than in a B6 Passat believe it or not. Even though the bodywork would crumple like paper there just wasn't the amount of facia/ trim etc in the cockpit to mangle your vitals. 

 

 One can only be thankful that folk have managed to walk away from the accidents they have had. 

 

 

Fork me that's lucky. Chassis and roof bent like anything.

 

As you suggest, it's the lack of things around the driver that has helped there.

I wouldn't say a Saxo is any more chavvy than a mk1 Fabia complete with eibachs, enlarged brake discs, an upgraded inter cooler and a cheeky remap.

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I had a saxo vtr for 2 1/2 years and it was a great little car.

I had a cv joint fail and the day before I traded it in the oil filter developed a pin hole which leaked oil on the manifold. So was very smokey!

I agree that they really aren't the safest of cars in an accident, so not a car I'd recommend for new teenage drivers.

There was a lad on the saxo forum who ended up with horrific injuries after his friend crashed a 106 into a wall. It's a miracle he survived

There was a lad on the saxo forum who ended up with horrific injuries after his friend crashed a 106 into a wall. It's a miracle he survived

 

 

 I can believe it based on the inability of those cars to withstand a crash. I'm just delighted he's seen sense and binned the idea though it took some confirmation from lads on Clubpolo to drive the message home. 

 There is a distinct chance that our Polo might be coming home after 12 months with a new owner. I'd still be happier than the French connection 

I must admit I've always fancied getting a dirt cheap xsara vts to blat around in, quite good cars apparently..

Did anyone know Walshie off club polo?? His modified mk4 polo was t-boned by a coach on the autobahn & the coach was doing about 80mph. He was seriously hurt but survived!!!

Was it black? If so, think he was a good friend of a friend of mine.

I must admit I've always fancied getting a dirt cheap xsara vts to blat around in, quite good cars apparently..

 

 

 I can confirm they are good to drive but not a patch on the ZX, that car handled so sublimely. 

Don't know how i'd feel about it as a parent but my first car was a classic Mini Cooper - which would be much worse in an impact

 

Maybe it's all about mindset, but being that conscious of impending and certain death tought me a heck of a lot about defensive driving and knowing your limits etc etc which meant I never ended up doing the showing off and planting the car in a ditch thing, which many of my mates at the time did manage in Polos/Saxos/Fiestas fairly regularly.

 

Oh and I had more fun than them and more cheaply!

 I can confirm they are good to drive but not a patch on the ZX, that car handled so sublimely. 

 

ZX, 306 and Xsara were all the same car underneath.

The rear wheel passive steering was nice.

Don't know how i'd feel about it as a parent but my first car was a classic Mini Cooper - which would be much worse in an impact

 

Maybe it's all about mindset, but being that conscious of impending and certain death tought me a heck of a lot about defensive driving and knowing your limits etc etc which meant I never ended up doing the showing off and planting the car in a ditch thing, which many of my mates at the time did manage in Polos/Saxos/Fiestas fairly regularly.

 

Oh and I had more fun than them and more cheaply!

 

I totally agree with this.  I've had a lot of close calls in minis, particularly the '85 Mayfair that was my first car, but not a single bump or scrape. I learned very quickly how much room to leave, how to avoid sticky situations, and how to get out of them where necessary because I treasured my little car and knew full well what would happen if I didn't get every manoeuvre right.  'Defensive driving' is definitely the correct term here.

 

Lesson to take away: Convince your kid they're driving in a death trap anyway, just in case they take a little more care

ZX, 306 and Xsara were all the same car underneath.

The rear wheel passive steering was nice.

 

 The ZX felt a LOT livelier than the Xsara, mind you the latter was around 300kg heavier which probably didn't help. It was still a good drive but the ZX was superb.

Edited 28 March, 201412 yr by sparks03