UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

hi am looking at a polo 1.2 3 cylander 2002 with the front ens with the 2 lights each end can anyone tell me if they are
good cars or not and the problems which to look out for the car seems really nice to drive and very clean ,but have
heard a few storys about them now...
please help thanks

Hello mate. I think the best thing to do would be to have a good look through previous threads on this forum about various different issues, pros/cons etc and make you're own decision based on others experience. It certainly helped me with my decision on buying my 9n.
Most of us polo enthusiasts here are naturaly going to be very biased about our cars anyway.

All i can say is, if its got a VW badge, its sure to be a winner.

Also, never buy french

Thanks mate appreciate the feedback

Mrs Fonzooorooo's had hers from practically new... It's still on it's original exhaust and suspension after nearly 80K. This is a good thing!

Honestly, the overall build/finish is excellent.

Problems we've had:

Dash module that makes beep/click noises etc failed.
Throttle body failed.
Console bushes failed.
Wiring to high level brake light failed.
Rear washer/wiper failed. (look for washer jet moving with the wiper arm - it should be stationary... if it moves, it'll leak washer fluid into the boot!)
A few silly things like sunvisor brackets breaking (they're hollow mouldings - not exactly the most bomb proof!)
The retaining studs on the rear lights break when you remove the light clusters to change a bulb.
Washer pipes detatch themselves and empty the tank into the road every now and again.
Indicator bulb holders can be problematic - loosening themselves at random. Some suffer, others don't


One common one we've not had is coil pack issues... I've had the ECU fall out of it's holder and try to unplug itself though!


Observations:

Fuel economy's not what you'd hope - the car's too heavy for the engine.
The air filter's a pain to change.
I find the steering disconcerting - much too twitchy.
The brakes have no feel.
The clutch has less feel than the brakes... I have NEVER smoothly changed from 1st to 2nd - even on a run of 100s of miles!
There is a huge amount of grip, then the car suddenly breaks away. (Ours always has excellent, premium tyres, but I once nearly wrapped it round a tree following a rover 218 on budgets - in the dry, and at sensible speed too - not looning!)
The A pillars are huge... You can easily lose a car behind them at a junction.

Upshot:

I love VW's 80s and 90s cars - I had a '93 polo for years, a couple of mk2 sciroccos, and now have a mk1 golf and a '95 B4 passat.

The list of failures on our polo is short, and, IF you find the seats comfortable (I don't) it's a comfortable car, that's happy on nearly all roads. It's reliable, and, most importantly, rust free. I wouldn't buy one though.

i have one its an amazing car i love it its well worth it for a 1st car as thats what mine is im looking at selling it if your interested