Polo 9N What do you think?

[Coxy09]

Hey guys,

Just a quick question to post up here, I am looking for a new car for my girlfriend and I am at a bit of a loss as to what to get. It's her first car, she doesn't want a Manual and doesn't have a great deal of money to spend.

I am considering:
2003 Ford Focus or Fiesta
Mk3 golf or something,
a 2002 Polo 9N......

This brings me to my question, what are these cars like to live with? Any common issue's, are they reliable, good on fuel.....you know the usual questions.

Im not really interested in reading "Common Faults" or such threads, I want real reviews off real people. I remember buying my car, and if I went off all the common fault thread's I'd never have bought them, yes they have their place, but as I said, I am after a real review from people who have owned/own one.....

Any other cars to look at would be helpful too....

Cheers

Tim

[rgvlee]

I had a 2003 9n Polo S for about 8 years, owned from new.

Good on fuel, cheap to run
Went through a set of coilpacks, engine mounts and a few sets of brakes.
Had a lot of issues with the aircon, attempts were made to fix it under warranty but it never worked properly.
The clear/paint on the roof started to peel which was disappointing as we did look after it.
In saying all of that it was a reliable car and never broke down on us.

I replaced it with a larger model corolla sedan of the same year and comparatively the polo felt cheap and unrefined next to it, which was interesting as there was so little difference in the RRP at the time.

Overall it was a good car - though I would have trouble recommending a poverty pack polo 9n to anyone. The other models I couldn't say.
It depends on what you want it for? The buyers of my 9n wanted a cheap car that could eat up the miles for minimal cost, and it does that in spades.
I now have a 9n3 polo gti and it is night and day compared. Still some of the cheapness in the interior but a much better overall package.

[Coxy09]

I had a 2003 9n Polo S for about 8 years, owned from new.

Good on fuel, cheap to run
Went through a set of coilpacks, engine mounts and a few sets of brakes.
Had a lot of issues with the aircon, attempts were made to fix it under warranty but it never worked properly.
The clear/paint on the roof started to peel which was disappointing as we did look after it.
In saying all of that it was a reliable car and never broke down on us.

I replaced it with a larger model corolla sedan of the same year and comparatively the polo felt cheap and unrefined next to it, which was interesting as there was so little difference in the RRP at the time.

Overall it was a good car - though I would have trouble recommending a poverty pack polo 9n to anyone. The other models I couldn't say.
It depends on what you want it for? The buyers of my 9n wanted a cheap car that could eat up the miles for minimal cost, and it does that in spades.
I now have a 9n3 polo gti and it is night and day compared. Still some of the cheapness in the interior but a much better overall package.

Thanks for getting back to me,

I am reading that they do have a few issue's, small issues, I am also now considering a mk4 golf also.....Basically I want a reliable car, that is cheap to run, that can be driven around town and the odd trip up to Toowoomba.....as I said, it's for my girlfriend who is still learning to drive and needs a nice easy car to begin with.

The AC issue's seem to be a bit of an issue with VW from what I understand, I had quite a few in my old Mk3 VR6, as did a lot of other guys who had mk3's and even some mk4's. I am more interested in serious problems though, someone was telling me that the gearbox tend to go in the polo's which im not real keen on

Tim

[rgvlee]

I didn't have any gearbox issues.

As I alluded to in my post I replaced it with a corolla as I needed a bigger car and it was a much happier motoring experience compared to the 9n S. It was a conquest badge and it took a while to find the right one but a great car. Boring but a great a to b vehicle that just worked.

I remember a friend in the VW club complaining that his wife's mk4 golf gti was really hard on the brakes. Make of that what you will.

[seangti]

I had thought the auto gearboxes in the early 9n's were crap, along with variable build and reliability. There's also very few of them still on the road. As a first car, I'd be looking at the fiesta, yaris, lancer, pulsar, 323 kind of stuff. Parts (new and from wreckers) will still be plentiful if required, and any mechanic should be right to sort any faults should they arise as they've worked on em for years to date. Considered a hail damaged car??? a few of them getting around Brisbane.

I'll be in a similar position by years end with the brother inlaw getting his first car.

[Coxy09]

I didn't have any gearbox issues.

As I alluded to in my post I replaced it with a corolla as I needed a bigger car and it was a much happier motoring experience compared to the 9n S. It was a conquest badge and it took a while to find the right one but a great car. Boring but a great a to b vehicle that just worked.

I remember a friend in the VW club complaining that his wife's mk4 golf gti was really hard on the brakes. Make of that what you will.

Yeah I don't think I will be going down the GTI path, but it's all handy to know. Thanks for the heads up and advice.

I had thought the auto gearboxes in the early 9n's were crap, along with variable build and reliability. There's also very few of them still on the road. As a first car, I'd be looking at the fiesta, yaris, lancer, pulsar, 323 kind of stuff. Parts (new and from wreckers) will still be plentiful if required, and any mechanic should be right to sort any faults should they arise as they've worked on em for years to date. Considered a hail damaged car??? a few of them getting around Brisbane.

I'll be in a similar position by years end with the brother inlaw getting his first car.

Sean! How have you been? It's been years!

Issue I have with Japanese cars, is for the money in the range I am looking at, you're looking at either a really old car, or one with high milage, while the high milage wouldn't worry me on something German, on Japanese stuff, I'm not so sure, I also worry about how they've been treated. There are a few old Fiesta's that look alright, but that's about it, I am trying to keep it under the 3k mark as she doesn't have a huge amount of money.

Hail Damage wouldn't worry us either, I am looking into it now too.

Good luck with the brother inlaw, what have you got in mind?

[seangti]

I've been going well mate, now sporting two polo's and getting more into track days. I think I still owe you money for swimming in that creek out at Rathdowney many years ago, haha.

That's a similar budget to what I expect of the inlaw so will trawl for the cars I'd mentioned above. Will look at hyundai too, Honda's will probably have HUGE k's at the this price. For much of the older stuff, I feel if maintained they'll be mechanically fine, but it's more mounts, bushings, bearings and seals that'll be worn. Just did a quick search, I'm actually surprised at the quality and mileage of the cars available sub-$5k. Wasn't the same back in my day, haha.

Carsales - sub $5k
Mazda 626 with hail damage for $3200
Corolla Seca

[Coxy09]

I've been going well mate, now sporting two polo's and getting more into track days. I think I still owe you money for swimming in that creek out at Rathdowney many years ago, haha.

That's a similar budget to what I expect of the inlaw so will trawl for the cars I'd mentioned above. Will look at hyundai too, Honda's will probably have HUGE k's at the this price. For much of the older stuff, I feel if maintained they'll be mechanically fine, but it's more mounts, bushings, bearings and seals that'll be worn. Just did a quick search, I'm actually surprised at the quality and mileage of the cars available sub-$5k. Wasn't the same back in my day, haha.

Carsales - sub $5k
Mazda 626 with hail damage for $3200
Corolla Seca

Lol, I can let the money slide, and settle for a beer when we catch up one of these days.

It's amazing what is around, it does surprise me, I saw Mk4 Golf's for sale with 150,000km's on the clock for roughly $3k......will have a bit more of a hunt when I get home and get some decent internet.

So how are the polo's going?

I miss my old VR too =(

[seangti]

The polo's are going well. The silver one is as reliable as ever, though only 70km on it so should be. The red one, track car has been a love hate relationship, like the crazy ex-girlfriend you keep calling, lol. Poured quite some money into it last year and will run it this weekend and VW Happy Laps mid feb before timeattack starts in March.

[Sharkie]

If you want to see ultra reliable, look at what the rental fleets use .... these days mostly Toyotas and Hyundai.

So for a 1st car, I'd say look at a Hyundai Getz. Can be had in your price range with auto and general lowish kms circa 2006-2007. These little beasts are ultra reliable and still reasonable peppy whilst being super economical.

Not a modern VW by any means but unlikely to give you the hassle of any VW you can buy in that price range.