VW Polo 1.0 / 1.4 first car
VW Polo 1.0 / 1.4 first car
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Discussion

B3ALP

Original Poster:

491 posts

170 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
quotequote all
The lad is 17 in 4 weeks and after much deliberation we have a winner. He has chosen a VW Polo 6n2 ideally a 1.0 but at a push I will go 1.4 (£225 quid difference on the insurance).
Anyone with any experience of these?
Cheers


73mark

774 posts

156 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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1.4 all day long,the 1.0 will make them want to upgrade sooner.

benwoodcock

60 posts

149 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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I'd be interested ot know more info on insurance costs - fully comp, 3pft, miles py?

cianha

2,175 posts

226 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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Neither will set the world alight in terms of performance (55bhp vs 75bhp afair), but 1.4 MPI has more torque for overtaking, etc.

GeordieInExile

733 posts

149 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
quotequote all
cianha said:
Neither will set the world alight in terms of performance (55bhp vs 75bhp afair), but 1.4 MPI has more torque for overtaking, etc.
I thought it was 50bhp and 60bhp?

God, mid-to-late-nineties VW engines were underpowered.

1.0 - 50
1.4 - 60
1.6 - 75
1.8 - 90
2.0 - 115

Ugh. Even by the standards of the day that's rubbish.

hondansx

4,700 posts

254 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
quotequote all
How did you come to the Polo?

Could i suggest a Mk 2 Clio Dynamique 1.2 16v? Light, 75bhp and - as a dad - you'll be pleased to know it has 4 airbags and a good NCAP rating. With a set of Clio 172/182/Cup wheels, he'll also feel like he's driving a hot hatch great.

Mr SFJ

4,089 posts

151 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
quotequote all
hondansx said:
How did you come to the Polo?

Could i suggest a Mk 2 Clio Dynamique 1.2 16v? Light, 75bhp and - as a dad - you'll be pleased to know it has 4 airbags and a good NCAP rating. With a set of Clio 172/182/Cup wheels, he'll also feel like he's driving a hot hatch great.
Insurers actually see these as a 1.1 because they're 1149cc. But nice to drive.

Synchromesh

2,428 posts

195 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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I had the 1.4 16v (100bhp) 6n when I was 18. Really nicely built and a well appointed little car. Only thing that went wrong in 18 months and 18k was an engine temp sensor. I'd recommend the 1.4 8v (75bhp) as it's actually got a bit more torque in the mid range. Any other questions just ask.

cptsideways

13,881 posts

281 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
quotequote all
A lupo has more space inside imho & is quite a bit lighter


If you can find one with the open full length sunroof they are quite cool, just check the window switches & gearbox syncros as they are made of cheese

TDutchy

661 posts

224 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
quotequote all
I've been running a 2001 6N2 1.0 Polo for the last 7 years.

One of the cheapest cars to run if things do go wrong, the likeliness of them going wrong is slim though.

Around town it keeps up just fine. Motorways you're at 4000rpm @ 70mph, but then that's what the radio is for...




hondansx

4,700 posts

254 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
quotequote all
We are a VW family and have to say, they are not as reliable as they were once upon a time. Had lots of troubles with Polos and once our Lupo hit about 60,000 miles, it fell apart.

I had the aforementioned Clio as my first car and it was brilliant.

cptsideways

13,881 posts

281 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
quotequote all
TDutchy said:
I've been running a 2001 6N2 1.0 Polo for the last 7 years.

One of the cheapest cars to run if things do go wrong, the likeliness of them going wrong is slim though.

Around town it keeps up just fine. Motorways you're at 4000rpm @ 70mph, but then that's what the radio is for...
Flippin eck, my Tdi is 2100rpm at 70mph. The Tdi is the best of the bunch by far but I think newbies struggle to insure them.

anonymous-user

83 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
quotequote all
I'd check the insurance if you haven't already, some of the quotes I hear about are shocking!

B3ALP

Original Poster:

491 posts

170 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
quotequote all
benwoodcock said:
I'd be interested ot know more info on insurance costs - fully comp, 3pft, miles py?
1.0 10,000 miles fully comp Tesco with box no restriction on use
monitors mileage only £1,221 1.4 £1450

Privilege, No Box as above 1.0 £1,776 1.4 £1,712scratchchin


Daughter had a Clio 3 years ago and my nephew is still running it.
But he wants a Polo so Polo it is.

Edited by B3ALP on Thursday 15th May 11:08

B3ALP

Original Poster:

491 posts

170 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
quotequote all
Dave_ST220 said:
I'd check the insurance if you haven't already, some of the quotes I hear about are shocking!
aren't all quotes for 17 year old's shocking? banghead

velocitas

225 posts

188 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
quotequote all
We've gone through quite a few Polo's in my family (Mother passing to Sister) not the one your after but might be some help.

1998 6N1 1.4 16v
Went for the 1.4 as my Dad thought the 1.0 was too dangerous pulling out onto a busy road. Generally a reliable little bugger, sod all electrics to go wrong. It did eat a window regulator once and from what I remember the Steering wheel bearing and gearbox were a bit knackered on the way out but that was probably user error! Sold with 80k

2003 9N1 1.2 SE 55bhp
Avoid! Owned from new, gutless 55bhp 3cyl engine. Went through, an ignition switch, two fan switches, 6 ignition coils and had horrible bouncy suspension. Was traded in with 50k for a new model.

2007 9N2 1.2 Sport 75bhp
Still running! Much better than previous car, nice seats and could be driven in anger if I got my way to the keys. Overall hasn't given any trouble in it's 40k since new although I noticed that the fan switch was broken recently not that my sister had. Likely to be kept for sometime although it's been replaced for motherly duties by a Tiguan mainly due to gentrification smile

anonymous-user

83 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
quotequote all
B3ALP said:
Dave_ST220 said:
I'd check the insurance if you haven't already, some of the quotes I hear about are shocking!
aren't all quotes for 17 year old's shocking? banghead
I'm talking over 6K for a Golf 1.6! REALLY?! I was quoted much less at 18 on things like Saphire Cosworth's.

Sorry, was doing 10 things at once & can see you've checked insurance.

aka_kerrly

12,505 posts

239 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
quotequote all
Also a bit of a Polo fan here.

In our family we had a Polo 1.0 6N from new then at 50k it was given to my 17 year old brother as a first car, he took it to 75k in a year and lets be fair he ragged the car senseless and it only needed a new cat and down pipe beyond normal servicing. It may only be 50hp (the early pre 98 1.0 were 45hp) but it had an acceptable amount of pace for a 17 year old - it was quicker than the 1.0 mk1 fiesta I had as a first car and certainly far better built!! No it was NOT dangerous pulling out of roads or joining motorways - you just press the accelerator... to the floor!!

We also had a 1.4 8v 6n to, there was actually hardly any difference in the performance at all, we dragged the 1.0 vs 1.4 a few times. This one was also stupidly reliable and did 20k in my ownership with only a oil/filter change. The 8v engines really are simply and trustworthy.

More recently my brother bought a 1.4 16v (100hp) 6N, insurance group 10 (on the old system) meant it was really quite cheap for it's fairly reasonable performance. Again it was used for 10k utterly faultless apart from 1 HT lead failing. The engine (now on 90k) is now in a mk2 Polo bready ;-)

My Gran has a 9N Polo 1.2 16v that has also been in the familiy since new, it's a 53plate on 70k and has needed an the power steering pump replaced which was fairly expensive but beyond that has been utterly faultless

We also have a 9N Polo 1.4 16v - much better the extra power over the 1.2 16v is far more noticable than the difference between the old 6N 1.0 > 1.4 8v.

If you can get insured on a 1.4 16v 6N then WOW that's a quick first car!

Also consider the Lupo and Arosa to although they are clearly smaller if that is an issue or perhaps worth seeking a quote on a older Polo 3F GT , those are great fun.

Convert

3,757 posts

247 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
quotequote all
B3ALP said:
1.0 10,000 miles fully comp Tesco with box no restriction on use
monitors mileage only £1,221 1.4 £1450

Privilege, No Box as above 1.0 £1,776 1.4 £1,712scratchchin


Daughter had a Clio 3 years ago and my nephew is still running it.
But he wants a Polo so Polo it is.

Edited by B3ALP on Thursday 15th May 11:08
Are those quotes based on a provisional licence?

If so you can expect them to at least double if not triple once the test is passed.


B3ALP

Original Poster:

491 posts

170 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
quotequote all
Convert said:
Are those quotes based on a provisional licence?

If so you can expect them to at least double if not triple once the test is passed.
No they are not. Provisional is around £700 for both options.