VW Polo mk2 "Breadvan"?
Discussion
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to.The 5 speed box is a useful thing to have, although it's still revving like hell at motorway speeds. Despite this it's perfectly happy at 85 for as long as you'd care to.
Watch for rust around windows and fuel tank filler pipe. Check for blocked breather which can be a pain to fix.
Mine had over 135,000 and was still going strong
Watch for rust around windows and fuel tank filler pipe. Check for blocked breather which can be a pain to fix.
Mine had over 135,000 and was still going strong
I had a Mk2 (facelifted) breadvan as my first car way-back-when (a 93/L 1.0 "Fox" to be precise) - it was a good car as a first step into driving. Key things to note as I recall are:
- Tough as old boots and will go on forever if serviced regularly
- Very cheap to run (insurance is about as cheap as you'll get)
- Incredibly slow if you get the 1.0 (45 bhp!), and not much better with the 1.3, but then that helps with the insurance
- Handling is understeer-tastic on the super-skinny tyres
- Brakes are not great (and worse on the pre-facelifted Mk2s as they don't have servo assistance IIRC), but then again you're never really going fast enough for it to matter
- Tough as old boots and will go on forever if serviced regularly
- Very cheap to run (insurance is about as cheap as you'll get)
- Incredibly slow if you get the 1.0 (45 bhp!), and not much better with the 1.3, but then that helps with the insurance
- Handling is understeer-tastic on the super-skinny tyres
- Brakes are not great (and worse on the pre-facelifted Mk2s as they don't have servo assistance IIRC), but then again you're never really going fast enough for it to matter
+1, the Mk2 Polo is a great little car, great fun to drive, cheap to run and tough as old boots.
Only thing to watch if it starts stuttering is the rubber boot/ mounting plate the carb sits on - these can split with age and start admitting air when flexed, typically the engine starts cutting-out when you brake; a total annoyance to troubleshoot unless you know the trick!
Only thing to watch if it starts stuttering is the rubber boot/ mounting plate the carb sits on - these can split with age and start admitting air when flexed, typically the engine starts cutting-out when you brake; a total annoyance to troubleshoot unless you know the trick!
My first car was a 1984 Polo in red. It was the rustiest, most unreliable heap of junk I ever owned. It cut out every time you put the clutch in (had to whip out the choke!), if you filled the tank above 1/2 it leaked, it didn't lock, it didn't brake, the steering was rubbish, the power was rubbish, it leaked when it rained, it rarely started without a fight and its foglights didn't work.
It was fantastic - I wish I'd never px'd it!
Unfortunately it is now a cube.
It was fantastic - I wish I'd never px'd it!
Unfortunately it is now a cube.
weve got a 1988 1300cl breadvan , bought it 6 years ago for £300 and its still going strong
good little cars , easy to work on and parts are cheap , theres also a few forums if you need help etc
5 speeder would be an advantage , or theyre easy enough to convert later
they dont have a brake servo though, compared to any other modern car the brakes will feel very poor , but if theyre serviced right they do actualy stop okay , just you have to push harder than a newer car
good little cars , easy to work on and parts are cheap , theres also a few forums if you need help etc
5 speeder would be an advantage , or theyre easy enough to convert later
they dont have a brake servo though, compared to any other modern car the brakes will feel very poor , but if theyre serviced right they do actualy stop okay , just you have to push harder than a newer car
Built like a tank (VW's 'good' era), very practical (massive boot with the seats down), and actually not too bad to drive (in 1.3 guise). Narrow steelies and relatively light back end make it feel quite fun, as well as a fairly willing little engine and 5sp box.
Pattern parts are available for peanuts from GSF/ECP et al, so nothing should cost too much to fix/replace/service. There are probably a fair few littering breakers' yards which succumbed to rust, meaning that more expensive bits can be had 2nd hand. A doddle to repair and service yourself, which gives you an ideal place to start learning.
I had my first ever driving 'lesson' in my mother's 1988 1.0CL (in 1997, at 15), and I currently 'own' a GT coupe (on loan to my Dad, to give him a little project), so they have a bit of sentimental value for me.
ETA: Do yourself a favour, and don't buy a 'modded' example. There are enough of these that have been squirrelled away by old people and families, and meticulously cared-for/serviced, that you don't need to chance an abused one.
Pattern parts are available for peanuts from GSF/ECP et al, so nothing should cost too much to fix/replace/service. There are probably a fair few littering breakers' yards which succumbed to rust, meaning that more expensive bits can be had 2nd hand. A doddle to repair and service yourself, which gives you an ideal place to start learning.
I had my first ever driving 'lesson' in my mother's 1988 1.0CL (in 1997, at 15), and I currently 'own' a GT coupe (on loan to my Dad, to give him a little project), so they have a bit of sentimental value for me.
ETA: Do yourself a favour, and don't buy a 'modded' example. There are enough of these that have been squirrelled away by old people and families, and meticulously cared-for/serviced, that you don't need to chance an abused one.
Edited by Dave200 on Wednesday 2nd June 14:09
I had one of these, my first car, 1989 Polo Fox. (4 speed) In addition to breadvan, have heard them described as a 'Hearse' 
Great wee car - very versatile space in the back with the seats folded down. With it I helped loads of mates do house moves back in the student days. Reliable too and easy to work at. If I could find a mint one I would buy for the hell of it and to carry bikes around in.
In the end mine suffered badly from rust around the front wheel arches. The fuel filler pipe weld at the petrol tank is liable to split. The water drain holes have a crimped plastic pipe and can block in the engine bulkhead, turing the space which houses the heater into a reservoir. Can be difficult to engage reverse gear when the 'box wears. Skinny tyres make it very handy in the snow. Very understeery when pushed. Will do 80mph all day although not particularly economical.
Insurance might not be as cheap as a modern car - they are so tiny and old I wouldn't fancy having a crash in one. Also, are dead easy to break into - common method is for a thief to kick of the back door handle and pop the door open simply by inserting a finger into the hole. It happened to mine on numerous occasions. I'd say a vast majority of cars have the visible traces of the handle being knocked off.
Great wee car - very versatile space in the back with the seats folded down. With it I helped loads of mates do house moves back in the student days. Reliable too and easy to work at. If I could find a mint one I would buy for the hell of it and to carry bikes around in.
In the end mine suffered badly from rust around the front wheel arches. The fuel filler pipe weld at the petrol tank is liable to split. The water drain holes have a crimped plastic pipe and can block in the engine bulkhead, turing the space which houses the heater into a reservoir. Can be difficult to engage reverse gear when the 'box wears. Skinny tyres make it very handy in the snow. Very understeery when pushed. Will do 80mph all day although not particularly economical.
Insurance might not be as cheap as a modern car - they are so tiny and old I wouldn't fancy having a crash in one. Also, are dead easy to break into - common method is for a thief to kick of the back door handle and pop the door open simply by inserting a finger into the hole. It happened to mine on numerous occasions. I'd say a vast majority of cars have the visible traces of the handle being knocked off.
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