Which Polo for a learner driver?

[karena]

My daughter is learning to drive shortly so we need to get a manual car - she likes the Polo, looking for one about 3 years old, 1.2 engine+, petrol. Are there any models I should avoid looking at it? Is the Twist ok? What price would I be looking at? Thank you so much, I have wasting my time looking at a Yaris, she now says the Polo would be better!

[RickT]

A Polo would be a real good solid first car...

Im going to take a guess here, for example if your daughter is 18 years old the 1.2 would be ideal car for her, the key thing really is looking for a low insurance group and cheap to run.

They did 2 engines, a 55bhp & a 65bhp.. As you have not said a rough budget, I would look at spending about £2k - £4k

For £2k onwards you will be able to get a 2002 with about 50k on the clock, (Cam belts are due around 60K)

In my opinion the squarer headlighs look a bit nicer than the round headlights, the rear of the cars the near enough the same.. Inside is the same (ish)

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www...arch_full.y=15

up to about 4k you can get some nice examples on a 53 plate onwards..

if you are wanting to spend more and get one of the latest styles, you will be able to pick one of these up for around £6000 onwards..

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www...arch_full.y=13

The new space looks nice and modern inside and out... I thought so as i bought my girlfriend one last year new!!

See below.






RickT

[karena]

Thanks for that very helpful info RickT. She is 17, and I would prefer an engine 1300 plus. We had looked at the Yaris, but the 1000cc is not powerful enough, and she has gone off it (old people's car she says!I have an auto 1300 which I like but the image isnt right for her!).
I would spend around £4k to get something newer, and lower mileage - any recalls or problems that I should know about? Thanks again.

[Teflon]

I totally agree with RickT - the 1.2 55bhp Polo is a great little first car and most important of all, it's not too bad on the insurance.
Got one for my daughter. Although it's only a 3 cylinder engine it's perkier thatn the 1.4 Astra we used to have and you only really notice that it's a bit weedy on the motorway. She seems to win her fair share of traffic light grand prix and you don't really want a learner to be burning too much rubber anyway.
There seem to be masses of them knocking about, I think quite a few VW dealers bought a job lot 3 years ago.