Hi all,

my daughter has decided she wants a polo to replace her first car which was a 1.1 saxo, she is only 21, so large engines above 1.4 are probably out due to insurance unless anybody knows different?,

 

She is looking at between 2003 - 2006 as a catchment area, so is there any particular model or variant that is desirable to have?.

 

Are the mechanical weak points to check the same as a fabia, or is there any other areas to look for faults, and are there any colours to avoid?.

 

What are the recommended cam belt change intervals on these if anybody has run one?.

 

Sorry for all the questions, but buying for my daughter is a nightmare as she keeps moving the goalposts.

 

Many thanks in advance,

 

Phil.

at 21 a 1.9TDi would be in insurance bracket I think.

That's interesting, hadn't even considered that. Do they suffer from sticky turbo vanes like the octy's do?.

My mum has a 08 plate Black Polo Match 1.4 16v. (Which is the face lift of what you are looking for, facelift looks nicer in my opinion) 

 

Pretty nice to drive. Cam belt is 60k miles or 4 years from what I understand.

 

My mums car has done 73k miles now with nothing gone wrong yet.

That's interesting, hadn't even considered that. Do they suffer from sticky turbo vanes like the octy's do?.

I've got a 53 plate Fabia MkI 1.9TDi. ATD engine. Almost 128K original turbo and no problems.

EDIT, serviced on time if not before and be aware, they are fussy about the oil they get. Quantum from TPS is the OE VAG oil.

I use longlife 3 quantum in my vrs, so presumably I could carry on using this in whatever polo we get?.

 

Funny enough Alan8289, she also ideally wants a facelift, I'm just not sure her budget limit is good enough to get a nice one,

 

All the ones from dealers on auto trader at her price bracket are all code C or D category vehicles. I don't mind risking one of those vehicles for me, but I don't want to put her in one if you understand my logic, as she knows nothing about cars.

Remember you have to pay volkswagen tax on it

You'd be able to get a better car for the money if you looked at the seat ibiza?

As she's young i guess it has to be relatively hip and cool so id plumb for an ibiza rather than a fabia as non vrs fabia's are a bit grandad spec imo (no offence to anyone intended)

I had thought of this, but my son had an early one that turned into a rolling swimming pool, and I was not sure if we just got a rough one or they are all like it.

 

What sort of swayed me a bit against was that our doctor's receptionist has just bought a 57 plate one, and guess what .............. it lets in water badly.

as non vrs fabia's are a bit grandad spec imo (no offence to anyone intended)

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, :moon:

The Fabia suffers from the leaky rear door problem.....easy fix though. I don't think the Polo is immune from leaking either from what I've read. 

I had thought of this, but my son had an early one that turned into a rolling swimming pool, and I was not sure if we just got a rough one or they are all like it.

 

What sort of swayed me a bit against was that our doctor's receptionist has just bought a 57 plate one, and guess what .............. it lets in water badly.

the rear door seal is a common, and cheap to fix, problem. It wouldn't put me off one unless it had been really neglected and not dealt with.

My mums had a 2005 1.2 65bhp polo since new.

Its done 85k miles now and only ever had new shocks on the back. Other than that, its just been consumables.

I drove it for 2 years before i got my fabia. Its a lovely little car to drive.

The 1.2 is a good engine. It has a cam chain so dont worry about that.

The 1.4 of that year is 75hp. Iv driven one and found i had to rev it a lot more than the 1.2 3pot to get the power out of it, which is only a little more. I wasnt fond of it at all. I much prefer the 1.2.

Also, its worth noting that the 1.4 is a lot more of a problematic engine. It suffers bore wear after not too many miles (70k or so). I know a guy who owns a pretty big garage, he told me hes seen plenty of problems with the 1.2, and its just not a good engine at all.

non vrs fabia's are a bit grandad spec imo (no offence to anyone intended)

 

How so?

 

You could just as easily say the vRS Fabia is a bit Chav spec!  

I dont understand that.

The vrs doesnt have any toys any other spec cant have? Apart from a built in oil burner that is

Also, its worth noting that the 1.4 is a lot more of a problematic engine. It suffers bore wear after not too many miles (70k or so). I know a guy who owns a pretty big garage, he told me hes seen plenty of problems with the 1.2, and its just not a good engine at all.

 

Yes neither engine is without it's issues, but the 1.4 has bigger issues, so the 1.2 is the better choice. Of course the 1.4 MPI 8v engine that they put in the Fabia is the pick of the petrol engines.....really reliable and simple, but I don't think that engine was ever available in the Polo. 

Good stuff folks .................... Keep it coming, getting a picture of things now to make a decision on.

 

Is the rear door seal fault the aperture rubber or in the door itself?.

Good stuff folks .................... Keep it coming, getting a picture of things now to make a decision on.

 

Is the rear door seal fault the aperture rubber or in the door itself?.

it's between the window carrier and the inner dor skin. <1hr / side to remedy.

many guides here

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/index.php?app=core&module=search&do=search&fromMainBar=1

Main thing to look out for with Polos, especially 6n onwards are the gearboxes. They can be prone to failure. Also you'll be avoiding pre-2000 ltr models as they lack power steering, my daughter couldn't get to grips with non-PAS. Oddly enough check the seat squabs on 2000 onwards cars as higher milers can tend to sink, especially if they've been jumped in/ out of all day. If you do one thing it is this- AVOID EARLY 1.2 3 cylinder engines. They had myriad issues from EGR valve failure to fractious coil-packs. If you end up with a 9n go for 53 onwards. Ignore any Polo pre 94 if you don't have sound mechanical knowledge as many are either pigs being sold for massive profit or teen-boy mechanical testing grounds. This will be easier to spot in 6n- you'll just know.

 

 As with most things getting on the less things on them to go wrong, the better. Simple, basic and straight forward. And whatever you do don't rule out SEAT Arosa/ VW Lupo. They are on the same running gear but come up slightly cheaper on the insurance from experience. The SEAT will also romp in at several hundred less than the Polo/ Lupo and many low mileage bargains to be had. However an excellent choice for a motor, I do like a Polo. 

Edited 1 May, 201412 yr by sparks03

So would I be correct in thinking that the regulator sits on a large removable metal plate in the door rather than a removable mechanism as in my mk1 octavia?.

Is the rear door seal fault the aperture rubber or in the door itself?.

 

Yes, it's inside the door on the Fabia. I'm not exactly sure the Polo suffers from the same failure, but I've read of plenty of leaks through light cluster apertures etc. 

 

Of course you've got the option of going for a 3 door Polo, which will eliminate the leaky rear door problem.  

 

 

So would I be correct in thinking that the regulator sits on a large removable metal plate in the door rather than a removable mechanism as in my mk1 octavia?.

 

 

Yes....although it is usually riveted in on the Fabia, so not that easily removed!

Edited 1 May, 201412 yr by booke23

Sparks03, is the 1.2 3 cylinder the only option, or is there a 4 pot jobbie?.

 

I don't think we will be looking at anything prior to 2003, she has a budget of 3k, so there seems to be a fair amount out there, she just keeps saying she doesn't like round headlamps of the pre facelift models of 2003 - 2006

Yes neither engine is without it's issues, but the 1.4 has bigger issues, so the 1.2 is the better choice. Of course the 1.4 MPI 8v engine that they put in the Fabia is the pick of the petrol engines.....really reliable and simple, but I don't think that engine was ever available in the Polo.

Yeah. I wouldnt have one if it was fault free after driving one. Having to rev it soo much to get any power doesnt suit my driving style at all.

Although, maybe the one i drive was already suffering from bore wear,,,, i dont know tbh.

Has your daughter got some no claims at all?

If so, even just a year - a 1.9 tdi shouldn't be too much at all to insure, especially if it is a standard model (not gt/Fr/vRS). And also with it being vag cars she's looking at they are reasonably safe and well built therefore easily repairable which lowers the insurance again.

JRJG

Yes, she has a year and 4 months of NCB.

Sparks03, is the 1.2 3 cylinder the only option, or is there a 4 pot jobbie?.

 

I don't think we will be looking at anything prior to 2003, she has a budget of 3k, so there seems to be a fair amount out there, she just keeps saying she doesn't like round headlamps of the pre facelift models of 2003 - 2006

 

 Absolutely- if you opt for 6n2 (2000-2002) there is a spunky 999cc 4 cylinder 1 litre which will do the trick and this is available in the Lupo and Arosa- not quick but is flexible and frugal. That said they will pre-date your budget a tad given that 9n3 is within reach. The 3 cylinder isn't a bad engine, its just the earlier ones had some teething issues which is why you'll find plenty of 02/52 reg motors with running issues. Cheap but screwed.