Right, I haven't ever owned a brand new car before, but a fiar few of my family has.

It just seems to be major things that go wrong with them.

Firstly, my mums Newish Astra Twin-top; the alternator went at 30k, now the roofs got a mind on its own when you open/close it, its also been leaking since new, which has had numorus test leaks and "repairs"

She got the car at 1000miles, by this time it had scratches on the rear bumper, which vauxhall repaired of course. Well I've could have done a better job. Apparently When my mum went to collect the car it wasnt ready and some bloke under a tent was touching up the bumper (while its pouring down) The paints now cracked and you can litraly rub the paint off. Vauxhall say this is how all are independant Sales repair minor paintwork damage

A Gas smell had apeared in the cabin (I say air-con) But vauxhall had a look over it and was stumped.

My brothers currently got a Cadilac BLS (:roll), which is basicaly a Saab/vauxhall underneath. this also shafted its alternator at 38k. A ball joint went at the same time and reduced his inside tyre to the wire very quickly.

Now VW isnt great either.

My brother had an 08 Jetta FSI, His engine mount decided to fail

Also 09 Passat BM, Clutch or flywheel gave up at 20k

It just seems stupid to me, I've had a fair few cheap cars/polos now, and I've never had a problem which needs serous money to fix, obvously some things were covered under warranty but thants not the point.

your thoughts?

Edited 15 July, 201115 yr by mattpolo5491

My opinion is - Mechanically, new cars are mostly hard to fault. New Fords, VW's and some Vauxhalls feel like they'll last an eternity. The downside is, there's that much electricky going off, it's a ticking timebomb as I see it.

The other thing is most manufacturers are going towards forced induction on petrol models to cut the emissions to keep the greenies happy. The downside is, these cars tend to be bloody thirsty, and turbos aren't exactly the magic path to reliability.

The real question is why do people buy a new car these days? theres plenty of decent used cars around, i can't believe top gear have only just decided to raise this topic last week! the people my friend bought his 91 polo coupe off (now mine one year on) had owned the car for a good 16 or 17 years and they had recently moved to a more "upmarket area" so they bought a vauxhall meriva or something similarly bad for about 4 or 5 grand. So after owning a single VW for all that time, and it was sold with 6 months mot on it, they went out and bought a vauxhall!!!! they could have easily bought a 6n2 for about £1500 and stayed true to VW after all that time!

To be fair, if the Meriva fits thier needs, it's not a bad car by a long way.

Also worthy of note - The new shape Meriva Turbo is a hell of a lot of fun on a decent set of backroads.

To be fair, if the Meriva fits thier needs, it's not a bad car by a long way.

Also worthy of note - The new shape Meriva Turbo is a hell of a lot of fun on a decent set of backroads.

suicide doors too

The real question is why do people buy a new car these days? theres plenty of decent used cars around, i can't believe top gear have only just decided to raise this topic last week! the people my friend bought his 91 polo coupe off (now mine one year on) had owned the car for a good 16 or 17 years and they had recently moved to a more "upmarket area" so they bought a vauxhall meriva or something similarly bad for about 4 or 5 grand. So after owning a single VW for all that time, and it was sold with 6 months mot on it, they went out and bought a vauxhall!!!! they could have easily bought a 6n2 for about £1500 and stayed true to VW after all that time!

Are you for real

Wait til lightning hits em.... new cars soon stop..... actually happened to my mate..... boooom electrics gone, couldn't even unlock it!

To be fair, if the Meriva fits thier needs, it's not a bad car by a long way.

Also worthy of note - The new shape Meriva Turbo is a hell of a lot of fun on a decent set of backroads.

suicide doors too

Yeah, unfortunately still has B pillars though IIRC.

yep, o.k. name the benefits of having a 2011 polo compared to a 6n2 for me please

i can name one benefit of having the 6n2, having a few grand in your pocket!

From owning a 9n previously to a 6n now......

I would say same as VW+SWFC=:) you'll have money in your pocket, doesn't cost as much to fix and you dont need a computer to do anything to it..... which to most means a trip to VW or garage!

Older VW's ftw!

I once went to buy a new polo on scrappage but could on realistically get a 1.2 with 60 ponies, I bought a 6n2 for 10 grand less, yes 10 grand. also got all the toys I would have got plus an extra 40 ponies.

Yep, but you can't willy wave like the 60 platers.

can't do 0-60 in an almost respectable time in a 60 plater, also instead of paying £200 a month for the car plus insurance and fuel isn't something I can do in the 6n2 either.

yep, o.k. name the benefits of having a 2011 polo compared to a 6n2 for me please

i can name one benefit of having the 6n2, having a few grand in your pocket!

The 6n2's value's going to take a hell of a dive, mainly as they start rusting, whereas the new ones hold their value really well for a new car.

The new one's very much a baby Golf, in the new era of VW building a car and building it right, and the mk6 golf is a brilliant car.

Don't get me wrong though, I'd far sooner have a Mk2, Mk3's are alright, but beyond that VW really lost their touch. Compare a good Mk2, a 6n and a 6R and you soon realise VW had it, lost it, and got it back.

6n2's are galvanised hombre, rust resistance is the name of the game, also I paid less then guide price for the car

My mums 6n2 looks fine to me, not one problem so far after owning it about 2 years now and definitely no rust creeping in Then again my coupe thats 10 years older (the one from the old couple) has a rust scab on the passenger door and a tiny bit of surface rust on the bonnet where theres been stone chips, other than that its just as solid

i can definitely see the change from a 91 polo to a 01 polo, but i cant think of many developments from a 01 to and 11, one change i can think of is having slightly nicer quality plastics on the interior

one change i can think of is having slightly nicer quality plastics on the interior

slightly better fuel consumption on the urban cycle not sure about motorway economy between the 1.2 12v in the 6r and my 1.4 16v 6n2 as I get 53mpg on the motorway! but only 30mpg in town

but surely the numerous thousands you saved on buying it payed for the petrol costs

and i admit i did word my first sentence wrong in the long message, people will always buy new cars, but i dont see why people feel the need to buy a new one every 3 years when the warranty is out

but surely the numerous thousands you saved on buying it payed for the petrol costs

and i admit i did word my first sentence wrong in the long message, people will always buy new cars, but i dont see why people feel the need to buy a new one every 3 years when the warranty is out

As 90% of them will fail there first MOT. :lol: :lol: You think I'm kidding....

My mate who has a 59 plate kia picanto will enjoy his first MOT, that thing is already rotting but he has a 5 year warranty

I love being in the garage when an MOT virgin comes in as 9 out of 10 times it will be a fail.

I particularly like the look of shock when the owners are handed the FAIL piece of paper and try arguing with the tester that he must have made a mistake, based on the fact that its always been dealer serviced and that its only 3 years old.

i dont see why people feel the need to buy a new one every 3 years when the warranty is out

keeping up appearances basically

The newer cars are holding their value well. I was looking for a 9n tdi 03 plate, and they're still at £3000 which is a fair amount for an 8 year old car.

Although there is nothing really wrong with my rents' 9n they are trading up to a 6r. At 8 years, there are things that are starting to go wrong. The old 9n never did fail an mot though, hence I'm having it

To me the 6n was a bag of Bollocks looks wise, and the interior very drab. Which was remedied slightly in the 9n and the 6r looks fantastic. In the last 2 weeks I have driven a 20 year old polo, 14 year old clio, 5 year old citreon and a brand new corsa. Although all different brands, there is a distinct improvement in comfort and cabin quality throughout. I guess that's what people are after. You may think your car is very nice to drive etc but get in a new one and it becomes apparent how far cars have moved on in interior quality and comfort. Out of all those cars though, the clio (1.4) was the beat to drive. Small, nippy and good steering response. Needs a better gear change. I find the corsa too detached and as if u have little control over where the wheels go! Your averag Joe will look at things like cabin quality and fuel consumption, not how it drives. Newer cars offer that over older ones. Hence people buy them.

Edited 16 July, 201115 yr by prankstar2003

lol at some of the points in this thread.

People will always buy new cars, cos a new car is a brand new car - keeping up a image of having a nice new motor.

I've had a mk8 polo today while my TT has had some work done and can say its in a different league compaired to my 6n2 i owned. In terms of build qualifty/comfort and features. It didnt do anything in the performance side of things having half the amount of cylinders my TT has. But its small, nippy, sharp gearbox, great clutch light steering, snappy looking interior packed with a diecent stereo and a nice place to be. a good economical, very safe small car..which is what alot of people want right now not a 10 year old 6n2 with a cable operated clutch, awkward driving position, keep fit windows and a tape player up front...