| A recent TV commercial for the Volkswagen Polo | | | | 60bhp and 75bhp respectively. |
| featured a singing dog that was strutting around full of | | | | Volkswagen reliability is legendary, but unfortunately |
| self-confidence whilst it was a passenger in the Polo | | | | that was not always the case and there are a few |
| but as soon as it left the car for different surroundings | | | | Friday afternoon examples around. Owners |
| it became a nervous wreck. The closing caption of the | | | | complained of problems with gearboxes, premature |
| commercial read "Polo Confidence." | | | | failure of front discs and pads and even some rust |
| I guess they were conveying the fact that the dog | | | | problems. Whilst these problems are not found on |
| was unhappy when removed from its comfort zone. | | | | every car they should be checked for closely when |
| The same could be said for people too although | | | | buying a used example. |
| maybe not to the same degree as the poor old dog. | | | | On the plus side the Polo does drive well. It has a more |
| Cars mean a lot to some people and they often feel | | | | solid feel than many of its competitors and interior |
| immersed in their own little world listening to their | | | | space is good. The cabin has a reassuring quality feel |
| favourite song and safe from harm. | | | | about it, and if serviced correctly the engines rarely |
| This feeling can be hard to achieve in a small car but | | | | cause problems. |
| thanks to its solid build quality and good insulation VW | | | | The Polo was given a face lift in 2000 and while the |
| has managed this with the Polo. | | | | external changes were fairly minor, new larger |
| For many years the Volkswagen Polo set the | | | | clear-glass headlamps and a deeper front spoiler, there |
| benchmark by which all other small hatchbacks were | | | | were bigger changes under the skin. VW claimed it to |
| measured. Today the competition has just about | | | | have 70% new components and was effectively a |
| caught up and if you are buying a new small car the | | | | new model, these cars have a wider front track, giving |
| Polo has competition from a number of other | | | | improved handling, a fully galvanised body shell and |
| manufacturers. On the other hand though, with an | | | | antilock braking, twin airbags and power-assisted |
| illustrious 23 years of production behind it and more | | | | steering as standard. |
| than 500,000 Polos sold in the UK, the Polo is still a | | | | At the same time the engine line up was changed and |
| force to be reckoned with. | | | | the 1.4 litre unit was boosted to 75bhp. VW also |
| If you are looking for a used Polo a budget of around | | | | introduced a new diesel engine, the three-cylinder 1.4 |
| £2,500 will buy you quite a reasonable example. | | | | TDI also found in the Audi A2 meaning that the Polo |
| Equipment levels were rather sparse on early versions | | | | finally had a diesel engine to match the competition |
| however with power-assisted steering as standard | | | | from such rivals as Peugeot and Renault. Giving 75bhp |
| only available on CL models upwards. | | | | and plenty of torque, it competes well with a 1.4 petrol |
| It's probably best to avoid the rather under powered 1 | | | | engine on acceleration and is still capable of more than |
| litre examples. Whilst they are quite cheap to insure, | | | | 60mpg. |
| performance from the 45bhp engine is not terribly | | | | Whilst other manufacturers such as BMW with the |
| good and cabin noise levels are high because the | | | | Mini have come close, the Polo can still claim to set the |
| engine has to work hard all the time to get you | | | | standard for small cars. |
| anywhere, a better choice would be the 1.4 or 1.6 with | | | | |