1993 Volkswagen Polo Genesis Coupe 1.3

Summary:

A low cost, very reliable super mini with VW heritage

Faults:

Thermostat needed changing at 68500.

Head gasket blew at 74000 miles.

Front suspension struts went at 94000.

Rear wheel bearings went at 94000.

General Comments:

Overall a good small car which does the job rather well, 5 speed gear box adds fuel economy along with a thrifty single point fuel injection engine.

Always starts first touch, although in the winter it has been known to stall when the automatic choke brings the rpm down from 1000 to 850.

Solid as a rock internally, good seats, good plastic trim etc etc.

155/70R13 tyres it came with are no good for road holding - 165/65's make the car feel a lot more confident on bends at speed.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 3rd September, 2001

18th Oct 2004, 10:30

I have a 1992 polo, and the same things went on it, altho it is a cracker of a car. My little baby!!!

6th Jan 2005, 14:06

Not a bad little car! mines still got it.

1993 Volkswagen Polo CL 1.3

Summary:

Too good to be true!

Faults:

New exhaust back box.

Broken down once, replaced HT leads and plugs.

Engine tuned due to poor cold starting.

Air vent hose came lose (driver's side).

General Comments:

Excellent little VeeDub, great car for a single young person with room for the family. Good image, but parts can be expensive, NEVER take to a main dealer.

Brakes are poor, but the engine and ride are smooth. Supension could be a little harder and trim levels and equipment on the CL are crap!

But car with on a good day can reach 105 mph! Only reached once :)

Door locks are poor and easy for people to break into so watch out!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 13th January, 2001

27th Apr 2006, 09:21

Hi I am an owner my self and I've had mine since new it's a polo cl coupe 1.0L and has never broke down never had to replace anything, but tyres. I was wondering about the backbox why does it go so low to the floor. until I found that when they were built they did not connect properly to the chassis. so what I did I made a mount and welded it on to the original chassis and now you cannot tell if you look under the car.

27th Apr 2006, 09:21

Hi, I am an owner myself and I've had mine since new. It's a Polo CL Coupe 1.0L and it's never broken down, and I've never had to replace anything, but tyres.

I was wondering about the backbox - why does it go so low to the floor? Until I found that when they were built they did not connect properly to the chassis. So what I did I made a mount and welded it on to the original chassis, and now you cannot tell if you look under the car.

6th Feb 2007, 14:30

I have a 1275 cc CL coupe. The car is 14 years old, and still runs brilliantly even in winter. The Single Point Injection engines do tend to be better than carburetor engines (carbs are clumsy devices unless you like squeezing more performance from your Polo). A few squeaks and rattles, and a little rust, but performs brilliantly. Very reliable.

Suspension is very soft however, but you could graft some shocks off a GT for a harder ride. The hanger for the backbox is very poor, and rusts easily.

1993 Volkswagen Polo Fox 1.0

Faults:

Seat adjuster cable needed replacing.

Outside trim and bumpers have come unattached.

Rear parcel shelf clips have snapped.

Window handles are stiff.

Hand brake light kept coming on.

The SPEAKERS ARE COMPLETELY CRAP.

Seat belt came loose from holder.

Rotor arm needed replacing as well as distributor cap.

Clutch cable wore out.

General Comments:

Performance is shocking, around 18 seconds for 0-60!!! First gear has to be the worst, although I once took it up to 30 in first gear, which ended in a visit to the garage. Brakes are pretty naff, they lock up in the wet. Handling is poor, I'm on a new set of front tyres for the second time, £60 for two Uniroyals which hardly improves the handling at all.

Two many bits of fiddly trim on the car, the car is terribly outdated for a 1993 vehicle and many areas of it seem awful. I wish I'd never bought the bloody shed, and I'd rather eat a bagle than drive this car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 7th June, 1999

2nd Feb 2001, 18:13

Anyone who comments that the "speakers are crap" doesn't know a thing about the Polo. If you want good speakers, don't buy a 1.0 litre budget car. If however you are after a great little first car and a vehicle where you will undoubtedly get a good resale value regardless of mileage, buy the Polo, it's a great little runabout, the 1.0 litre will get you 45mpg+, the tax is 55 quid (6 months) and my car, which is also a '91 hatchback has over 220,000 on the same engine.

Hack it, and like any car you will eventually be looking at bills. Great no frills motoring.

1993 Volkswagen Polo Genesis Hatchback 1.0 petrol

Faults:

Head gasket at 55,000 miles.

Rear shock absorbers.

General Comments:

Quite quick for a 1.0, handles OK, supremely reliable, fantastic build quality.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 9th December, 1998

1993 Volkswagen Polo Genesis Coupe 1.0 petrol

Faults:

A puncture, a stolen radio due to the radio being mounted in a prominent position, and the sunroof winder came off in my hand (loose screw).

General Comments:

Very happy.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 18th May, 1998