My Spanish Polo 16v

[sports racer]

I bought this last night off Hayden and drove it home from Newcastle (500ks). Great drive, so much fun and I couldn't believe how quick I got home.

It's got a H&R Cup Kit so handles really well together with extractors, big bore exhaust, Garlock EPROM, Adjustable Cam Gear and fantastic brakes. Well, they're heaps better than anything I've driven for the past few years.

I don't know why people say the ABF 16v is only good for top end power, this one pulls well from down low and I had no trouble driving through Newcastle using 3rd and 5th. It has a short gearstick so finding 2nd was a pain for the first 10 min but I'll need a few days of driving to see if I want to put the standard gearstick in.

At it's new home




Not sure about that rooflining. Maybe it will grow on me.



Plans are to do some track days (Wakefield Park is only a hour away). If I can convince my kids this is better to take them to school (100ks away in Canberra) then it will be my daily instead of the boring Passat. That means 200ks a day of driving fun.

And why is it my Spanish Polo? I've been talking to people at work about buying it and everyone scratches their head when I say Seat Cupra but when I say it's a VW Polo with 2 doors they all nod their heads.

That's why I'm going to put VW Polo badges on it.

Cheers

Paul

[HaydEn]

Legend. All the best.

Miss the little rocket already..

[dylan8]

These are a hoot to drive.
Love driving Water Boys 16v cupra, is great hooning around the streets as well as out cruising on the highway.
Any plans other then maybe the shifter and headlining?

[sports racer]

I've already fixed the aerial so it gets a radio signal for more than 20ks away, pretty important when the local community radio station is crap and Canberra is 100 ks away. The fog lights are back in and the boom box is out - I need the space to carry my bicycle.

My old MK2 Golf would leave the Cupra for dead through the twisties so that’s where it needs the most work. As a daily the suspension is too stiff for the roads where I live. It’s got 195x45x15 tyres currently fitted so I’ll take the wheels off the MK2 which have 195x50x15 and that should soften the ride a bit. If it’s still too stiff the MK2 springs and shocks will go in and I want to take the VR6 rear beam as well if it fits. It has a built-in antirollbar and I’ve got a 25mm bar that can go on as well. There's also some 16’s and 17's in the shed which will get some road legal race rubber.

The engine will be left alone for now, it gets to 180ks real easy and there's a lot of other things that can be improved when I take it to the track, including my driving skills.

Long term I'd love to fit a wide arch kit like this and I might have a go at making that front bumper/skirt.

[Water Boy]

VR6 beam will not fit.

Remember is polo ream beam and suspension.

[Sharkie]

Nice!

BTW, these were sold as VW Polo's in South Africa (both sedan and hatch), so you should be able to find the necessary VW badges if you look at parts suppliers there. I had 1 but it was a sedan with the 1.8 FI single cam (MK2 GTI) engine, still a lot of fun though.

Also look here for aftermarket bits .... Vw Polo up to '02 - Volkswagen - Vehicle Categories

[sports racer]

Remember is polo ream beam and suspension.

I thought these had the same suspension as the MK2 which is the same (mostly) as the MK3?

[sports racer]

This is what happens when you've got a couple of old Golfs and have no idea which wheel would look best. First the 15's off the MK2.



Then the 17's.



I ran out of time to try the 16's but here they are with another 15 inch.



Nice disks, no wonder it stops so well.



And which wheel did I end up with? The BBS reps of course.

[Water Boy]

I thought these had the same suspension as the MK2 which is the same (mostly) as the MK3?

They do not. 100% 6n polo rear struts. Much shorter than mk2/3 golf.

[HaydEn]

Mk3 syncro struts