Volkswagen POLO (1990 - 1999)
MODELS COVERED: Second generation (post-facelift) 1990-1994:2-door saloon, 3-door hatchback, coupe, 1.0, 1.3 [Fox, CL, Genesis, G40] Third generation - 1994-to 1999:3 and 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon, 5-door estate, 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, 1.
4 turbo diesel, 1.9 diesel, 1.9 turbo diesel [L, C, CL100, GL, GLX, E, S, SE, 16v, GTi]
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BY JONATHAN CROUCH
The Polo was the car that
Volkswagen always hoped would repeat the success of the larger Golf, the company's Escort-sized family hatch. And the reasoning was good; a smaller more compact version of the same thing was what we got in the Seventies. It never really took off here. The second generation Polo, launched in 1981 and facelifted in 1990, did slightly better, but the rather crude mechanicals and the lack of a five-door option always restricted its impact on the British market.
All that changed in 1994 with the announcement of a completely new Polo range with everything on the UK buyer's wish list; three and five doors, saloons, diesels, automatics, a 16-valve hot hatch even a clever retractable electric opening top. The Polo had at last arrived.
Arguably, the classiest small hatch on the market; even the decade-old ones look good, despite their crude underpinnings. The distinctive boxy shape of the second-generation hatch is roomy. The new-shape Polo (post-94) has been a huge success story for Volkswagen and represents a superb used small car buy.
The post-1990 facelifted models are where you should start; they look better and that servo on the brakes makes them safer. Prices are difficult to pinpoint given the vastly differing levels of condition and mileage on these aging vehicles but most fall into the £500 to £1,200 bracket and there are plenty of good buys around. Its best all-round of course, to buy a newer shape third generation Polo the car has been in demand since its launch and prices were relatively high though the arrival of the facelift model has reduced pre-facelift model prices notably. Pay roughly £1,800 for an early M-plated 1.
0-litre three-door hatch or just over £2,000 for a three-door 1.3CL. The 1.4 varies between £1,900 and £3,500, while the sporty 16V costs between £2,500 (96N) and £3,900 (00V).
1.6-litre prices start at about £2,000. Plusher CL trim is worth about £200 more than L, while GL trim is worth another £400 or so.
Not much goes wrong with the post-94 Polo, but look for starting and misfire problems on early examples and look for oil leaks through the head gasket on hard-used one-litre cars. A full Volkswagen service history is very desirable. Otherwise, the main attention here has to focus on the 1990-1994 second generation car. Rust sometimes starts on the valance below the front bumper and bonnet edge.
Also check the front wings and tailgate (which can leak). Transmissions are good, but check the driveshaft gaiters (rubber couplings on the front wheels) for splits and leaks. Check the suspension struts for leaks and watch for blue smoke from the exhaust (which means the valve guides and seals need replacing). The interior trim can be flimsy; check the headlight switches in particular.
(Approx. based on a 1994 1.0L excluding Vat) An exhaust system is about £120. A clutch assembly will be around £50, whilst a new catalyst will be just under £270.
An alternator should be close to £90 and a radiator around £90. A starter motor is around £100 and a front wing around £80. Brake pad sets front and rear are about £12 and £14, respectively. A new headlamp is close to £75.
A windscreen (tinted) should be in the region of £60. Major and minor services cost around £35 and £75 respectively.
These arent great fun to drive (unless you're in a 1.4 or post-94 1.6 Polo). Second generation cars had vague and heavy steering.
The 1.05-litre engine was slow and geared for economy. The supercharged G40 is quite fast, but wild, and attracts horrendous insurance premiums.
What a difference between second and third/fourth generation cars! The earlier Polo is quite sound if you buy carefully, but it's mechanically crude and poorly equipped plus there are plenty of rogue examples about. The new generation Polo is one of the best small cars ever made; if you can afford one, you shouldnt go wrong.
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