Your thoughts: 2011 1.2 VW Polo for a Learner/new driver

[Roman Moroni]

As it's Christmas morning it's only right I've been looking at cars for my Daughter who turns 17 early in the New Year.

She was given a reality (insurance) check when she said she'd like an Audi A1. We've been through the usual suspects: Fiesta (old persons car), UP! (too ugly) Fiat 500 (too Essex: clarification, we live in deepest darkest Essex) Aygo/Peugeot 107/Citroen C1 (naah). She's now settled on a Polo which I think is a good compromise.

I think I've found the ideal car. 2011, 1.2 S, 2 previous keepers, low mileage, good service & MOT history. I'm looking at it on Monday.

Personally I think it's an ideal first car. I've looked into common faults for the age & type of car. The main one I've found is problems with the DSG gearbox which won't be a problem as this one is a manual.

Any thoughts, ideas & personal experiences are gratefully accepted

[Snow and Rocks]

Is that the old 1.2 3 cylinder unit?

I bought one for my wife back in the day to learn to drive and it needed quite a few expensive repairs despite only being about 5 years old with 40k - can't remember exactly but it definitely needed a timing chain and various electrical issues sorted. We ditched it soon after she passed and bought a Honda Accord Tourer of all things.

VWs generally don't age very well either so not sure I'd be queuing up to buy an 14 year old one.

What does she think of the Yaris or Suzuki Swift?

Edited by Snow and Rocks on Thursday 25th December 12:12

[Roman Moroni]

Snow and Rocks said:

Is that the old 1.2 3 cylinder unit?

I bought one for my wife back in the day to learn to drive and it needed quite a few expensive repairs despite only being about 5 years old with 40k - can't remember exactly but it definitely needed a timing chain and various electrical issues sorted. We ditched it soon after she passed and bought a Honda Accord Tourer of all things.

VWs generally don't age very well either so not sure I'd be queuing up to buy an 14 year old one.

What does she think of the Yaris or Suzuki Swift?

Edited by Snow and Rocks on Thursday 25th December 12:12

Thanks for your input.

Re: Yaris. That's a definite 'No' as my Grandmother (my Mum) had one up until recently. I had suggested it to my Daughter but the fact a 90 y/o Woman had one put her off!. She doesn't like my GR either

Re: Swift. That's not a bad shout; I'll mention it to her

[ZX10R NIN]

Alfa Mito in twin air or 1.4i Veloce/Sportiva spec is a good option:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512258...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512118...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506253...

1.4i:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511268...

1.4i DS3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511167...

[Simmos]

My boy has a 2010 Polo which needed a timing chain as well - As far as I'm aware, they stretch and jump a tooth.

[Roman Moroni]

ZX10R NIN said:

Alfa Mito in twin air or 1.4i Veloce/Sportiva spec is a good option:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512258...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512118...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506253...

1.4i:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511268...

1.4i DS3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511167...

Some good suggestions; I'll take a look and may suggest them. My Daughter isn't really a petrol head but may appreciate something a bit out of the ordinary. My only concern is insurance; although whatever she ends up getting it'll be well into the £000's for the first year.

[Roman Moroni]

Simmos said:

My boy has a 2010 Polo which needed a timing chain as well - As far as I'm aware, they stretch and jump a tooth.

Thanks, I was aware about issues with the chain. I would hope that the car I'm going to look at would have been done at least once (maybe twice?) in the past 14 years. The car has done @40k so the wear will be age, rather than mileage, related. It's something I'll be looking for when going through its history

[Rough101]

Ironically the easiest and cheapest car to run on that would be. 1.2 500, can you not find one in a non-Essex colour scheme?

Rusty rear subframe and sump, (if caught in time and 2 decent coats of paint applied will never bother you again) and a leak in the joint in the clutch hydraulic line are regularly issues.

You can get a good engine and gearbox for £750.

The VAG cars punch well below their reputation in my experience.

[HTP99]

The lure of a German badge to the youngsters, first an A1 and now a Polo, got to hand it to the Germans, they've done a phenomenal job with their brand perception.

[BertBert]

Roman Moroni said:

Thanks for your input.

Re: Yaris. That's a definite 'No' as my Grandmother (my Mum) had one up until recently. I had suggested it to my Daughter but the fact a 90 y/o Woman had one put her off!. She doesn't like my GR either

Re: Swift. That's not a bad shout; I'll mention it to her

Hah how things change. When I was doing it they got what was going and suitable for the job!

To the question

1200 skoda fabia did the job very well for 10+ years.

[Easternlight]

HTP99 said:

The lure of a German badge to the youngsters, first an A1 and now a Polo, got to hand it to the Germans, they've done a phenomenal job with their brand perception.

Not just youngsters!

[Sheepshanks]

HTP99 said:

The lure of a German badge to the youngsters, first an A1 and now a Polo, got to hand it to the Germans, they've done a phenomenal job with their brand perception.

Odd, isn't it? One of my daughters wouldn't have a VW as "that's what all the posh kids drive". An Audi would have freaked her out.

Yet SEAT Ibiza was fine - she loved that car. Then replaced it with a Golf.

[HTP99]

Easternlight said:

HTP99 said:

The lure of a German badge to the youngsters, first an A1 and now a Polo, got to hand it to the Germans, they've done a phenomenal job with their brand perception.

Not just youngsters!

Yep, but that is where it starts, so many better and better value cars out there and yet straight to the German badge,

Edited by HTP99 on Friday 26th December 09:33

[Roman Moroni]

Rough101 said:

Ironically the easiest and cheapest car to run on that would be. 1.2 500, can you not find one in a non-Essex colour scheme?

Rusty rear subframe and sump, (if caught in time and 2 decent coats of paint applied will never bother you again) and a leak in the joint in the clutch hydraulic line are regularly issues.

You can get a good engine and gearbox for £750.

The VAG cars punch well below their reputation in my experience.

I totally agree with you.

I had a couple of 595's (I'm not suggesting she goes down that route!!) so my immediate suggestion to her was to get a 500. However, she's been doing her homework; as a result she's seen that the 500 received low marks in its crash test results. She's shown me footage of cars hitting concrete blocks; I tried to explain everything has to be taken into context but there's no convincing her.

[Roman Moroni]

HTP99 said:

The lure of a German badge to the youngsters, first an A1 and now a Polo, got to hand it to the Germans, they've done a phenomenal job with their brand perception.

Yep, not helped by the fact there's a 996 C4S parked in the garage

[Roman Moroni]

Sheepshanks said:

Odd, isn't it? One of my daughters wouldn't have a VW as "that's what all the posh kids drive". An Audi would have freaked her out.

Yet SEAT Ibiza was fine - she loved that car. Then replaced it with a Golf.

My issue is my Daughter is at a 'posh' school; so she sees what the others are driving. She's really grounded and knows that money doesn't grow on trees and isn't really a car snob.

However, I was banned from picking her up in my 2006 Fiesta daily a few years ago; apparently it was "too old". Although its ok for me to turn up 2003 996

[paul_c123]

HTP99 said:

The lure of a German badge to the youngsters, first an A1 and now a Polo, got to hand it to the Germans, they've done a phenomenal job with their brand perception.

Having driven all the cars on the list, and owned many of them, I'd say the reputation of the German cars is partly upheld. Especially if we are talking about the price range of a 2011 low-power model. At that age, all cars need maintaining and condition will vary a lot from car-to-car, so its more about the car in front of you than the make/model. Just avoid known issues (you have already...) such as the Ford Ecoboost (or related engines, eg Dragon in Ford Ka+), anything with the Puretech (could be expanded to anything French) and then judge the cars on their merits. Ideally, you'd want to look at a number to get a feel for the market this end, but the problem there is this kind of car sells quickly so you could miss out too. If you look at a Polo, its a bit more mileage than the others and it needs a cam chain, so what? Replace the cam chain, maintain it elsewhere and it will keep its value to sell on in a year or two or last yourself for a while.

[stevemcs]

Handbrakes, they always fail on handbrakes, and suspension arms, make sure the ac works as they seem to like splitting the evaporator (behind the dash)

The UP is a much better car and more reliable and cheaper to run.

[ZX10R NIN]

Roman Moroni said:

ZX10R NIN said:

Alfa Mito in twin air or 1.4i Veloce/Sportiva spec is a good option:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512258...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512118...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506253...

1.4i:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511268...

1.4i DS3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511167...

Some good suggestions; I'll take a look and may suggest them. My Daughter isn't really a petrol head but may appreciate something a bit out of the ordinary. My only concern is insurance; although whatever she ends up getting it'll be well into the £000's for the first year.

Those cars above normally come back with sensible numbers insurance wise & all are easy to add Carplay/Android auto to.

Forgot to add that the Beetle normally comes back with some sensible numbers.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511197...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512198...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Friday 26th December 10:24

[Fusion777]

Polo is a decent pick. Mini is another possible option, not been mentioned so far. Might appeal to her?