Newly Acquired Polo GTi
Discussion
I recently got this Polo GTi from a friend with intention of creating a track slag......money dependant......
It does however have a few problems:
The HG has gone, the brakes have ceased on (need replacing anyway) previous (now repaired) accident damage as well as the rust in the photo's below (possibly linked tot he accident damage)
Well the car was cheap but is slightly up on the miles 115k+ and is a little dirty from standing for the best part of a year. I am i am highly tempted by a track car but am wondering weather it is worth repairing the areas that need attention or weather it would be a better idea to strip the valuable parts before getting the body scrapped.
The alloys, windows, lights and panels are all straight and in good condition (provided the carbon effect on the bonnet comes off.....) the gearbox is nearly new, being fitted just prior to the HG going.
So the question has to be asked what would PH do........fix and track on the cheap whilst learning something or strip and sell?
Just to add i have little/no mechanical knowledge but am willing to learn
It does however have a few problems:
The HG has gone, the brakes have ceased on (need replacing anyway) previous (now repaired) accident damage as well as the rust in the photo's below (possibly linked tot he accident damage)
Well the car was cheap but is slightly up on the miles 115k+ and is a little dirty from standing for the best part of a year. I am i am highly tempted by a track car but am wondering weather it is worth repairing the areas that need attention or weather it would be a better idea to strip the valuable parts before getting the body scrapped.
The alloys, windows, lights and panels are all straight and in good condition (provided the carbon effect on the bonnet comes off.....) the gearbox is nearly new, being fitted just prior to the HG going.
So the question has to be asked what would PH do........fix and track on the cheap whilst learning something or strip and sell?
Just to add i have little/no mechanical knowledge but am willing to learn
Edited by kiethton on Thursday 14th July 20:20
wackojacko said:
Strip do everything yourself and learn 
You learn so much so quickly when fun depends on it
It'd make a good fun motor.
The rust is horrific though I didn't think they were that bad at all in terms of rust.....
yeah that was the plan, was considering doing some track days in the 335i but wouldn't want to risk damaging it. This may be just the ticket though....the rust is a worry, i was told it did have some accident damage repaired on the back, can only guess that the quality of repair was a little off....You learn so much so quickly when fun depends on it
It'd make a good fun motor.
The rust is horrific though I didn't think they were that bad at all in terms of rust.....
shalmaneser said:
Is a 4 door polo a good basis for a track slag? Looks a bit far gone to me; does it have a good engine?
Doesn't really matter on a "good basis" if you're not spending fortunes it's all about fun whether that be in a E46 M3 track car or a £100 heap.I would say don't spend much on it at all, proper track slag rather than a pristine example
With regards to the engine, read the OP's first post
Wow what a heap of a polo gti they are usually rust free, it must have been in the sea to get that rusty!
They do drive well on the road but when pushed hard they are not very clever, the suspension, brakes and lack of steering feel are not good enough to make it a fun car on track (its a fun nippy warm hatch but lacks the extra bit to make it worth turning it into a track car).
I've had half a dozen of them, they are a very nice little road car, good spec, cheap, quick enough to be enjoyable but dont kid yourself it will be a good track day car.
It will break for a decent amount, the recently done gearbox is worth £500, kids will love the trims off it for their smaller engined polo's (seats, bumpers etc) a/c pump, abs pump, pas pump all have some value if you have time to strip it.
With the money from breaking it buy something like a saxo VTS for a track toy only need a little work to make a good track car.
They do drive well on the road but when pushed hard they are not very clever, the suspension, brakes and lack of steering feel are not good enough to make it a fun car on track (its a fun nippy warm hatch but lacks the extra bit to make it worth turning it into a track car).
I've had half a dozen of them, they are a very nice little road car, good spec, cheap, quick enough to be enjoyable but dont kid yourself it will be a good track day car.
It will break for a decent amount, the recently done gearbox is worth £500, kids will love the trims off it for their smaller engined polo's (seats, bumpers etc) a/c pump, abs pump, pas pump all have some value if you have time to strip it.
With the money from breaking it buy something like a saxo VTS for a track toy only need a little work to make a good track car.
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