Polo G40 -Talk to me!
Discussion
OK, I'm on about the older ones (Pre 1995) What should I look for on these?
Are they viable daily transport? I was also thinking of getting a Mk2 breadvan but fear it may be too slow (though I do miss my first car!) What kind of MPG ca I expect in normal driving?
Thought about a Mk2 Golf Gti as well, but they're a bit common and I remember my mum's golf feeling heavy (then again it was a 1.6 driver automatic!
Over to you...
Are they viable daily transport? I was also thinking of getting a Mk2 breadvan but fear it may be too slow (though I do miss my first car!) What kind of MPG ca I expect in normal driving?
Thought about a Mk2 Golf Gti as well, but they're a bit common and I remember my mum's golf feeling heavy (then again it was a 1.6 driver automatic!
Over to you...
From experience, the Polo G40 is absolutely bonkers for such a small car - In a straight line.....
Not so great when it comes to the twisty bits, and the brakes tend to get a bit overwhelmed.
Chuck a few quid at the brakes and suspension though, and they're pretty good fun.
As for reliability - You'll be buying a 15+ year old car, and all the problems that a 15+ year old car brings with it
Not so great when it comes to the twisty bits, and the brakes tend to get a bit overwhelmed.
Chuck a few quid at the brakes and suspension though, and they're pretty good fun.
As for reliability - You'll be buying a 15+ year old car, and all the problems that a 15+ year old car brings with it
cheack out:
www.clubpolo.co.uk
www.clubg40.co.uk
iirc the 'chargers last about 40k between rebuilds, not many standard ones left! lots have been re-shelled too!
better brakes, a front subframe and a H&R cup Kit really transfrom them! 200bhp is possible with a turbo conversion...
daily use? stick with a polo GT, 1.3 n/a 75bhp. i tried for months to blow mine up, wasnt having it. with a £40 chip they rev to 8krpm, with a decat, chip and induction kit you'll see 90bhp (seen it on the rollers!) fast road cams are great too, but most importantly a clean GT is sub 1k, and easy to look after, a clean g40 2k+ and has the grenade 'charger.
www.clubpolo.co.uk
www.clubg40.co.uk
iirc the 'chargers last about 40k between rebuilds, not many standard ones left! lots have been re-shelled too!
better brakes, a front subframe and a H&R cup Kit really transfrom them! 200bhp is possible with a turbo conversion...
daily use? stick with a polo GT, 1.3 n/a 75bhp. i tried for months to blow mine up, wasnt having it. with a £40 chip they rev to 8krpm, with a decat, chip and induction kit you'll see 90bhp (seen it on the rollers!) fast road cams are great too, but most importantly a clean GT is sub 1k, and easy to look after, a clean g40 2k+ and has the grenade 'charger.
My friend has a g40 that he did use a daily but he stopped using it daily for 2 reasons: firstly he didn't want to keep adding miles on it as they are becoming quite rare and secondly it costs a lot to run as a daily. It is pretty mental though, as long as you sort the handling and brakes out they are fairly insane for such a small car. Apart from body work he hasn't had too many issues with his however the previous owner did spend thousands on the engine so i'm not sure on the reliablilty issues.
As far a mk2 golf goes, i used to have a Mk2 16v and i wouldn't say it was heavy. I don't think your mums old 1.6 driver is a fair comparison really haha. I would go for the golf as a better all rounder really.
As far a mk2 golf goes, i used to have a Mk2 16v and i wouldn't say it was heavy. I don't think your mums old 1.6 driver is a fair comparison really haha. I would go for the golf as a better all rounder really.
First.
What the hell have you done to my car!?!
Second.
Not buying a G reg Polo G40 that I test drove about 15 years ago is probably one of my biggest regrets. It was £4k at the time, 35k miles, pretty much mint and from a VW main dealer.
On the test drive if felt fantastic to drive, but then I got an insurance quote and my world came crashing down!
What the hell have you done to my car!?!
Second.
Not buying a G reg Polo G40 that I test drove about 15 years ago is probably one of my biggest regrets. It was £4k at the time, 35k miles, pretty much mint and from a VW main dealer.
On the test drive if felt fantastic to drive, but then I got an insurance quote and my world came crashing down!
Emeye said:
First.
What the hell have you done to my car!?!
Second.
Not buying a G reg Polo G40 that I test drove about 15 years ago is probably one of my biggest regrets. It was £4k at the time, 35k miles, pretty much mint and from a VW main dealer.
On the test drive if felt fantastic to drive, but then I got an insurance quote and my world came crashing down!
Had to torch it after I ran down that group of nuns.What the hell have you done to my car!?!
Second.
Not buying a G reg Polo G40 that I test drove about 15 years ago is probably one of my biggest regrets. It was £4k at the time, 35k miles, pretty much mint and from a VW main dealer.
On the test drive if felt fantastic to drive, but then I got an insurance quote and my world came crashing down!
Still have it, so don't panic. Though I'll be moving back to the UK at the end of March and then I'll be selling it to fund an E30 ProdBMW racing car.
Seriously considering a 205 1.9 or Mi16 now. Possibly a Golf 16v (I'll give it a chance!)
Or an MX-5. Damn you pistonheads.
I thought they were a great car in their day. A mate had one in the late '90s and it seemed seriously quick, especially for 113 bhp. I'd love to drive one today, to see a) if it really is as quick as I remember it being in my late teens, and b) to see how it stands up to today's hot hatches. As other posters have said, brakes and suspension aren't great as standard, but this is unlikely to be an issue on any G40 that exists today.
My mate's car had modified suspension, and it used to handle as if on the proverbial rails, but the ride was about as bad as anything I've ever experienced either before or since. The brakes, which were stock, were bordering on dangerous.
In my opinion, they're a little bit too rare and collectable to use as a daily driver, but if you can find an unmolested example, they'd make a great project or weekend car. Just make sure you stick some good brakes on it...
My mate's car had modified suspension, and it used to handle as if on the proverbial rails, but the ride was about as bad as anything I've ever experienced either before or since. The brakes, which were stock, were bordering on dangerous.
In my opinion, they're a little bit too rare and collectable to use as a daily driver, but if you can find an unmolested example, they'd make a great project or weekend car. Just make sure you stick some good brakes on it...
I love these little cars. Been close to buying one a few times. Sure, they don't handle well, the brakes are iffy and on any objective level a Golf GTi is far better but.... they're different and far more interesting and more importantly a wolf in sheep's clothing.
The handling and brakes can be improved significantly over standard but its never going to be a go-kart. But lots of fun none the less. They're also quick, even by modern standards, especially in light of the fact that nearly all of them now seem to have uprated chargers, pulleys etc.
Problems common to seemingly all Polos of that vintage. Rust around the sill area and tailgate. Rust on the fuel filler neck. Head gaskets.
The handling and brakes can be improved significantly over standard but its never going to be a go-kart. But lots of fun none the less. They're also quick, even by modern standards, especially in light of the fact that nearly all of them now seem to have uprated chargers, pulleys etc.
Problems common to seemingly all Polos of that vintage. Rust around the sill area and tailgate. Rust on the fuel filler neck. Head gaskets.
Going back to 1993 My friend had a G40, another had a clio 16 valve and I had a Diahatsu Charade Gtti. In a straight line the G40 and Gtti would start to pass the clio until about 80MPH where the Gtti lost out, However stick in a roundabout or corner and the Polo was terrible. It was expensive at the time to, and accelaration is immidiate with the supercharger. it was as if VW lost intrest after putting a decent engine in the thing. For that reason alone either of the other 2 cars were better cars.
He spent a fortune improving the suspension, which improved things massivly, but it was an extremely expensive package at the time.
He spent a fortune improving the suspension, which improved things massivly, but it was an extremely expensive package at the time.
Edited by nottyash on Tuesday 9th February 16:45
I've done 7,000 miles in my valver and not passed another on the road.Gad-Westy said:
I love these little cars. Been close to buying one a few times. Sure, they don't handle well, the brakes are iffy and on any objective level a Golf GTi is far better but.... they're different and far more interesting and more importantly a wolf in sheep's clothing.
The handling and brakes can be improved significantly over standard but its never going to be a go-kart. But lots of fun none the less. They're also quick, even by modern standards, especially in light of the fact that nearly all of them now seem to have uprated chargers, pulleys etc.
Problems common to seemingly all Polos of that vintage. Rust around the sill area and tailgate. Rust on the fuel filler neck. Head gaskets.
also, chassis legs like to tear away from the bulkhead on G40's especally.The handling and brakes can be improved significantly over standard but its never going to be a go-kart. But lots of fun none the less. They're also quick, even by modern standards, especially in light of the fact that nearly all of them now seem to have uprated chargers, pulleys etc.
Problems common to seemingly all Polos of that vintage. Rust around the sill area and tailgate. Rust on the fuel filler neck. Head gaskets.
check underneath them, loads of room to check, can be stitched back up and braced or re-shelled and braced depending on the damage.
Hello Everyone
first of all can i just say as a g40 owner that while my car is more fun than you can shake a stick at i would not recommend buying one for a few reaons. 1 maintaining it costs a fortune, 2 i have done as much work to the suspension as i can so now it handles OK IN THE DRY !!! but the back end of the car is far too light and i have came off the odd roundabout the wrong way more than once and finaly you would have to pay through the nose for a really good example ( ive seen loads of heavily modified cars that have "never been abused")
first of all can i just say as a g40 owner that while my car is more fun than you can shake a stick at i would not recommend buying one for a few reaons. 1 maintaining it costs a fortune, 2 i have done as much work to the suspension as i can so now it handles OK IN THE DRY !!! but the back end of the car is far too light and i have came off the odd roundabout the wrong way more than once and finaly you would have to pay through the nose for a really good example ( ive seen loads of heavily modified cars that have "never been abused")
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