Volkswagen Polo 1.2 SE 65 5dr

[Polo Man]

What are the main things to look for when buying a Volkswagen Polo 1.2 SE 65 5dr.

http://www.seremotors.com/details.asp?CarID=9246
that is the car we are looking at. Can anybody tell me what to look out for?

Thanks, Clarke

[aqualung]

Hate to say it but get a Toyota or a Honda!
Steve

[macmillions]

I have used this website and found it very useful to find info.

www.honestjohn.co.uk

Here is a direct link to info on your car, with a little on the 1.2

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=555

For a full road test on the 1.2 here is a link to that:

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/road_tests/index.htm?id=35

If you traul through the Polo section on the forum I'm sure you'll find plenty of info (good and bad) about the specific model you are looking at.

Hope this helps!

[BrickMan]

I havet he same model, 1.2 65bhp 9n 5dr.

Personally I like the car, but it has many problems since I bought it 4months ago, I won't go into the problems as they are mostly specific to my own car.

Biggest advice I can give is DO NOT BUY THE 1.2, even if you got a good working one (better than mine) the 1.2 is a WOEFUL engine, VERY low on power, VERY difficult to drive (there is SO little power/torque that you have to slip the clutch A LOT to get it to move from stationary, so by 50k miles, the clutch is nearly gone, I have seen 3 similar 1.2's locally when buying mine with ~50k miles with virtually no clutch left, one was slipping!)

1) its very low on power
2) it BURNS FUEL LIKE NOTHING ELSE< for a 1.2, the economy is appauling, on the same 20mile each way work commute a modified, 2.0, 16v, turbocharged 265bhp, 1400kg saab gets SIGNIFICANTLY Better economy (39mpg for the polo, 46mpg for the saab), again, might be my particular car is bad
3) on the motorway its a joke, a genunie 70mph is 3800rpm, and fetchs me 38-42mpg at that speed, with just driver, no luggage, good weather, good tyres & just serviced by vw (42mpg is appauling for a car of this type)

the actual car, polo 9n (2002-2005) is BRILLIANT, I like EVERYTHING about it except that 1.2 engine.
On a recent holiday we hired a 9n1 (2007) polo with the 1.4 engine, and th difference was unbelievable.
the 1.4 is much quicker,
but more importantly, easier to drive, less tiresome on the clutch & gears (don't have to change gear so often), MUCH MUCH better MPG (motorway @ 70mph = 3000rpm, driver + 2passengers + luggage + good weather + recently serviced by hire company = 50mpg)

Been a bit of a blab, sorry for that, But I really can't stress enough, if you like the idea of a modern polo, buy the 1.4 petrol (any version) or the 1.4tdi (any version) for the love of god steer clear of the weesly 1.2

[Col]

Biggest advice I can give is DO NOT BUY THE 1.2

In addition, if you read up on here, the 1.2 has a habit of throwing its timing chain a few teeth during the course of a routine oil change.

I believe it has something to do with the hydraulic chain tensioner going slack when the oil is drained. Upon the first re-start the flapping chain can jump a few teeth.

I don't think is that common but I've read of several instances on here.

[sean196766]

i am sorry to say that, but don't buy this car, it will only give u headaches and heartaches, timing chain prone to cause huge problem which cost easily over 1K to fix, electrics and underpowered engine is also a nightmare, the only thing i can praise abt the car is the chassis, sturdy.

[ptolemy]

I had a 2005 Polo 1.2 12v for two years and it ran faultlessly with what I considered to be a free revving, eager engine that returned an average of 42mpg over 15000 miles. It was not powerful but had plenty of mid range torque compared to rival 1.0 and 1.2 engines; In particular the Japanese engines which have impressive power outputs but no useable power at the low to mid range. I am sure that there are plenty of people out there who have had problems with their 1.2 but in the interests of balance, mine was great.
In a former life I used to sell lots of 1.2 Polos and only remember one coming back with a minor engine fault. The reason I bought the Polo over a Toyota / Honda was in part down to the fact that I don't like my cars to feel as if they are made out of paper. (I also used to sell Hondas). Having said all of that, when I buy another Polo it will be with the 1.4 engine. It is a smoother, gutsier engine and gives the car a more mature character.