As with any cars there are good examples and bad examples. I think the problem with older Polo's is that they were typically owned by old women who don't maintain them or teenagers who abuse them. I'm not going to deny that they do seem to be very finnicky, fragile and temperamental in many ways though, and if you have one like mine with no options, there is very little going for it. They are now of the age where people stop taking care of them properly as well. My car is worth so little now that I have stuck the snapped under tray on with tape, I stuck the plastic quarter panel trim on with velcro, I repaired the starter motor wire with a spade connector and a cable tie, I repaired the ripped lambda wire with tape, need I go on?
They do *feel* like they are built better than most other "equivelant" superminis of the same era, they feel solid at speed (but loud if you don't have the soundproofing), they are very safe, and relatively bulletproof in terms of physical strength.
But when you have an example like mine, it is slow, it is loud, it makes for a very detached driving experience, the suspension is worn out, the brakes aren't very good, the wheels are incredibly narrow, there are no electronic assists, no central locking, no electric windows, no rear speakers, seats which don't grip you, a completely useless fuel gauge, and so on.
I like how they look though. That's what counts right? RIGHT?! The engine makes a fun noise when you buzz it too.
In hindsight, I wish I had spent a bit more on a facelift Fiesta 1.25 or at least an Ibiza 70PS (essentially the same car as the Polo but you can get newer better specced ones for the same money. The 70PS engine is a later 12V variant as well.)
TC light has only blinked once on me
