Volkswagen Polo Hatchback (2002 - 2009) 1.4 SE (75ps) 5d (02) (2002/52) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Who cares?

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

The ineffectual/faulty ventilation system and humidity/leaking into the boot is a serious issue. It's very uncomfortable -cold or boiling hot and/or very humid in there and dangerous of course, having to constantly wipe windows whilst driving when it's steaming up.

Would you buy this car again and why?

Never. This 3d Hatchback is awkward, theway the seats fold down in the back makes accessing stuff really difficult - the seats poke up and so lifting things up and out is awkward. The lip from the seatbacks to the boot also makes life awkward as you can't push stuff back so as a Hatchback its a nightmare. The running costs - best I am doing is only about 43mph on a good day, and the license is £190 pa, so neither is better than my 1.6 '94 Astra. So I got an awkward smaller car for no benefit at all. Reviews had mis-informed on this point.

What are you likely to buy next?

Another Astra? Or a wee van.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Didn't buy from a dealer

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£2,000

When did you buy the car?

October 2012

Did you get a good deal and why?

No. I checked out the market price as best I could without paying for each car I looked at and fine, buyer beware, you get what you see and all that but I paid too much for what I got. Owners were not straight with me and dumped a faulty car on a gullible twerp.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Intended to downsize for fuel economy, smaller car generally and cheaper licensing/running costs.

What was the dealer like?

Polite, charming, friendly and untruthful.

What's it like to drive?

I find it stalls a lot - no doubt my fault, but the clutch is very unforgiving compared to my previous - an Astra which I could drive off after brief stop from 2nd gear and was generally very accommodating. This car stalls on manoevering all the time and when driving slowly in 2nd gear. Despite being a smaller car and 1.4 engine it drives as heavily as my old 1.6 1994 Astra and I have to change down to 3rd and even 2nd a lot on uphills. Acceleration is adequate, and not my biggest concern anyway, but I had anticipated better. I thought it would be a nippy little number. Wrong.

What's it like to park?

Fine. Easy.

Have you had any problems with the car?

CAT converter broke within a month of my buying it. the car has a leak which seems untraceable and inrepairable and so causes endless frustration with misting up. Also the ventilation system is either fiercly hot or non-functional and blows humid air ineffectively and is just useless.

What's most practical about your car?

Small and easy to park.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

N/A