Volkswagen Polo - Difference between SE and S?

Kemik · 13 Nov 2009 at 19:44

Hey,

I'm looking at Polo's for my first car and found two 2002 1.4L petrol's. Both have similar milage (40,000). What is the difference between the SE model and S? The S in this advert has alloys, whereas the SE doesn't. Both have electric door mirrors, windows and cloth. The SE is £4k, whereas the S is £3750, however the S doesn't have any road tax. It has been recently serviced and MOT'ed though.

iaind · 13 Nov 2009 at 19:49

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/equipment/Summary.aspx?model=1045

[TW]Fox · 13 Nov 2009 at 19:52

iaind said:
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/equipment/Summary.aspx?model=1045

Parkers is rubbish these days, so many inaccuracies.

iaind · 13 Nov 2009 at 19:56

True, it's not to be taken as gospel but its an easy starting point. A polo's not exactly laden with equipment

Kemik · 13 Nov 2009 at 20:45

If it doesn't have road tax does that mean no test drive? Would you advise I don't buy the car from a private seller if I can't test drive it? (been on a 1 yr trip so went off the road). The guy selling usually sells to dealerships but times are hard apparently. It has full service history and was MOTed 3 weeks ago.

iaind · 13 Nov 2009 at 20:48

Really you shouldnt test drive it unless he's got trade plates

[TW]Fox · 13 Nov 2009 at 20:51

Kemik said:
Would you advise I don't buy the car from a private seller if I can't test drive it?

Absolutely I would! NEVER buy a car without driving it.

Kemik · 13 Nov 2009 at 21:48

Which would you go with out of these two then?

S: http://bit.ly/2xlsya
SE: http://bit.ly/15doq

[TW]Fox · 13 Nov 2009 at 22:11

Neither? Both are typical overpriced cars becuase its 'low mileage' and a Volkswagen. Driven on short trips around town by women who never check the oil.

flexo786 · 13 Nov 2009 at 22:20

Four trim levels are available. The simple E does without air conditioning or electric windows, and is only offered with the 1.2-litre petrols or lower-powered 1.4 TDI. Moving one step up to S specification buys you automatic air-con (previously optional), bigger alloys and tyres, electric doors, windows and mirrors, plus a split-fold rear seat, which helps tremendously if you're asked to carry the occasional flat-pack from IKEA. SE cars gain items such as remote central locking, a better stereo, sliding rear seats and more storage cubbies. Finally, Sport models add, on top of everything featured in lower-spec cars, foglights, leather trim on the steering wheel, 'sports' suspension and front seats, and some cabin detailing to set it apart from more humdrum Polos. Parking sensors were added to the options list for the first time in 2005.

http://www.channel4.com/4car/rt/volkswagen/polo/432/9

Gribs · 13 Nov 2009 at 22:22

£4k for a 7 year old super mini is just daft. Even a Corsa would make more sense.

Kemik · 13 Nov 2009 at 22:28

Gribs said:
£4k for a 7 year old super mini is just daft. Even a Corsa would make more sense.

The Corsa's and Fiesta's that I can afford are all the really old shape. The Corsa's are a giant pile of plastic and the Fiesta's of that age are just a square box.

I'm after a reliable car with high mpg and decent speed & acceleration that doesn't look old. A 1.4L and pref in a darker colour like grey or dark blue. Things like a Mondeo are too big for my purpose. It will mainly be spent getting to work and driving down the M6 to visit the gf.

flexo786 · 13 Nov 2009 at 22:30

have you had a look at the mk6 fiestas as they can be picked up for 2k+ on an 02 plate or above.

Kemik · 13 Nov 2009 at 22:33

flexo786 said:
have you had a look at the mk6 fiestas as they can be picked up for 2k+ on an 02 plate or above.

Yeah I'm not a big fan of the shape of the early models. Too much like a box. If I could afford one of the later versions with the slight changes to the headlights and things like that I'd snap one up.

iaind · 13 Nov 2009 at 22:35

Kemik said:
The Corsa's and Fiesta's that I can afford are all the really old shape. The Corsa's are a giant pile of plastic and the Fiesta's of that age are just a square box.

I'm after a reliable car with high mpg and decent speed & acceleration that doesn't look old. A 1.4L and pref in a darker colour like grey or dark blue. Things like a Mondeo are too big for my purpose. It will mainly be spent getting to work and driving down the M6 to visit the gf.

http://apostrophe.me/

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1234300.htm

[TW]Fox · 13 Nov 2009 at 22:35

Kemik said:
Things like a Mondeo are too big for my purpose.

You realise an 02 plate Mondeo with that mileage on it is yours for less than £3k?

That gives you £1k to spend on whatever it is that scares you about a bigger car, some parking lessons perhaps, dunno.

iaind · 13 Nov 2009 at 22:36

Kemik said:
Yeah I'm not a big fan of the shape of the early models. Too much like a box. If I could afford one of the later versions with the slight changes to the headlights and things like that I'd snap one up.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1346601.htm

Gribs · 13 Nov 2009 at 22:37

£4k would easily get you a previous generation shape Corsa or Fiesta. Either of which would give similar performance and reliability to a polo but be a few years newer. They're small boxes that are dull to drive and the Polo isn't any better.

Axeboy · 13 Nov 2009 at 22:44

For info i bought a 52 plate 1.4s polo for the gf with 90k for just under £2k

Kemik · 13 Nov 2009 at 22:44

My budget is between £3,000 and £4,200 (with the view to bring them down to £4,000).

I really really don't like the Corsa's unless we're talking about the latest shape so that's out of the window.

Thanks for the advise btw. I'm looking around at some Fiesta's on the net atm. Struggling to get over the ugly front end but suppose it doesn't make much of a difference once you're behind the wheel.

The reason for not wanting a big car is because I have to find a parking space outside of my gf's house. The smaller cars (no tiny Clio's though thanks) will fit in the spaces that the Mondeos and the likes won't.