6th Oct 2007, 04:43

Hello all.

My Polo 1.0L was bought for me, so I didn't really get much choice in all honesty!

I have to agree with some of your comments, it hasn't been 100% reliable for me so far.

I passed my test last Tuesday, less than 12 hours later, the pedal box had gone, apparently caused by 'wear and tear'. £280 later, all was fixed.

This is the only problem I've had so far, but reading your comments... I'm a tad worried LOL!

The car was bought from an auction, checked, double checked and checked again. It had 2 previous owners, so really, I just need to hope they drove 'her' well, because otherwise, like you all point out, I'll be paying for a VW Specialists Christmas bash, many times over in fact!

We mustn't forget though, that VW's are good Cars. If we look after them, they'll look after us. The majority are reliable, every Car has the odd problem every now and then.

I work for a prestigious car company, and some of our cars (which people spend many tens, sometimes hundreds of thousands on), go wrong a lot of the time.

So really ladies and gentlemen, we're lucky... Or lucky-ish, at least =)!

I wish all of you trouble free driving in the future.

Best of luck.

20th Nov 2007, 21:27

Often, Japanese cars get portrayed as being more reliable than European cars. However, I feel that it has to be pointed out that Japanese reliability is based on the fact that they use old technology in their cars that has proven to be reliable. Hence, when the Japanese bring out a new car, i.e. Subaru Outback or Forrester, the technology in this regards is actually rather old and merely the headlights and the grille have changed/ been revamped. The body however, still dates 15 years back and still you are being charged big dollars for a "brand new" vehicle that in fact isn't new. When European car makers launch a new product, it is being designed from scratch and literally all components to the car are new. As a result, you do get occasional faults at the start. However, some Japanese cars have just as many faults. I am possessing a pre 1998 Polo and the car is excellent and there is absolutely nothing to complain about. I think you may just have been unlucky with your experience.

4th Jan 2010, 14:11

My wife has a 1998 1.9D CL Polo and it's been trash from the start. We bought it with 50k on the clock, and the starter motor went, 12k later the flywheel and clutch went, then we had to have loads of rust treated, then the starter went again. I've also had to replace driver and passenger locks and window regulators, the cigarette lighter/power socket has never worked, we had to get the drivers seat re-welded to the floor after the factory welds broke, and finally while I'm typing this, I'm waiting for the RAC because the piece of crap won't start. Oh and I can't wash it anymore because I'm scared that the dirt is the only thing holding it together; seriously, my dad's old FIAT didn't rust this bad.

I have on 07 Civic and have never had a problem in 65k, before that I had a 98 Civic, surprise surprise no problems. Buy Japanese or premium German, VWs suck.