Volkswagen Polo Saloon 1.4 S 4d (2001/Y) Owner Review
Want to know everything there is to know about this car?
-
Economy
Value
Pitiful (archaic) levels of standard equipment and poor Volkswagen aftersales service.
Costs
Expensive servcing, expensive parts and expensive maintenance. Modern engines from Ford etc. are far more fuel efficient; low insurance groupings are, however, pleasing.
-
On the road
Driving
Uncommunicative, uncomfortable and scrabbles for grip readily. Power steering is dangerous, providing high assistance during rapid braking before system recalibrates to new low speed assistance mode.
Performance
Excellent levels of midrange (2000-3000rpm) torque. Disappointing gear flexibility and extreme low and high-rev pull.
-
Living with it
Reliability
Bombproof build quality (of what are in my opinion sub-acceptable modern specification parts). Headlights and wipers are inexcusably useless compared to other modern manufacturers levels. Safety??
Image
The yuppie puppy. Bavarian, preppy, on the scene and to be seen. Accepted in Tesco and Tuscany, Poole and Public Schools UK wide. Seen as solid, safe, reliable, unassuming, unostentaceous and discerning.
Comfort
Hidden cost is mandatory acupuncture, chiropractor and alternative medicinal treatments. No comfort features, few if any standard features and seats have all the give of a forty year old oak!
-
Security and Service
Security
Welcome to the 21st Century, which in Volkswagen's terms means irrespective of all other manufacturers, we wont fit alarms, etched windows, deadlocks or lock shields.
Service
My family have owned; Sharan, Golf, Polo, Bora, Passat. Volkswagen customer care is without doubt the most disreputable we have ever come across. Shoddy sales, aftersales, parts and equipment staff.
-
Problems and Ownership
Problems
Engine
TDis stall, loose power, faulty engine management and ABS sensors go wrong. VWs aren't German anyway!
Other
Headlights are dangerous (lack of power), wipers are too slow to cope on 'full speed', etc...
Ownership
Did you buy the car new?
New
Would you buy the same model again?
No
Did you buy from the same manufacturer again?
No