Hello all,

I'm Becca :) i'm not by any means new to the scene, and own a MK2 Golf which i've owned 3 years, and driven daily for about a year and a half. Some utter moron crashed into him on New Years Day, would have been written off if I went through insurance but I have a huge attachment to the car and a lot of great friends who rebuilt him for me. Now bodywork wise, he's back and better than ever but the engine took a massive hit in the crash and just hasn't been right since.

I could go into mega detail but i'm not here to talk about my Mk2 so basically, I want to bring the MK2 back off the road, and buy something as a stop gap whilst he has either a. new wiring loom, gearbox and engine rebuild (1.3 4+E GT) ...or I buy a GTI engine off a mate for £30 and stick that in

I've found a Polo for sale, it's a 6N, 'M' reg, 1.6 8v, 3dr, Dragon Green with a few mods, tidy with no visible rust, 113k, T&T, reasonably local, i'm happy with the price.

I'm just wondering on people's opinions on how reliable these are, and how good they are on fuel, because I don't want to end up with a car i'm going to need to spend money on, on top of the costs for rebuilding the MK2 Golf. I'm sure I will only be using it for a couple of months at most. :-)

My way of thinking is that it's a slightly newer and more refined car, but still in my price range. Not expecting it to be amazing and never go wrong, but I don't want it to go horribly wrong, and I end up with two knackered cars instead of just one

So any input will be welcomed :)

Hope this is okay and in the righe place etc. haha!

I'll end on Golf pics if anyones interested :-)

With my Borbet A's on, before the crash:

Crash:

After rebuild:

Edited 22 July, 201115 yr by Beccasaurus

Pics of yourself or gtfo.

But on a serious note, the 1.6 8v's are good engines, They are pretty good for torque and lugging things about. The car should come with the big bumpers as standard and a decent interior and spec.

Polo's are nice an reliable little cars which are much more simple that Golf's meaning less to go wrong.

with no visible rust

check further! it's a 6n!

if you want cheap just find a mk2f (mk3) they sorta look like a small version of if they made a mk2.5 golf and they are cheaper to buy

good example: http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=253279

I have no problems with putting photos up myself, but I am not feeding the trolls thanks for the input though, pretty much what I wanted to hear so thats great I wouldn't say my Golf was overly complicated though, just some idiots have botched the wiring in the past, and the gearbox took a battering in the crash, so it is becoming worse and worse to drive each day :(

As for rust, that's why I put visible will give it a proper look over if I decide to go for it, I had a MK3 Golf GTI 16V previously and that was brilliant mechanically but the shell was literally rotting around it

I want cheap, and reliable, and with a bit more 'creature comforts' than my Golf... something I can re-sell easily and to just about anyone. And the MK3 Polo as far as the engine bay goes is pretty much my MK2 underneath, and i've had nothing but crap off that engine lol! Which is why i'm looking 6N.

Going to ring insurance later to see if it will cost much more, if anything to swap it over as that will be one of my deciding factors!

Edited 22 July, 201115 yr by Beccasaurus

I'm not a troll. I'm not joking either. It's in the clubpolo rule book. :biggrin:

Haha well, you know what I mean :p if it gets me more answers to my question, I am www.facebook.com/beccamayy

you'll get more answers if your relationship was "single"

but yeah get a 6n then

Wow, that was easy. I'd smash you.

Well, as far as reliability goes MK3 Polo's are bullet proof. I've had Mk2, MK3, MK4 and MK5 Polo's, along with Mk2 Golfs, Sciroccos and Corrado's. The Mk3 Polo is by far the most fun and reliable motor I've owned (and I've had about 10 of them all with different engines.)

They are a very simple design, even though they share the same engine block/gearbox design as the MK2 Golf which uses a carb and would be similar to that out of a Mk2 Polo. The MK3's use a Spi fuel injection unit or a Mpi on the higher spec ones such as the GT. for better MPG and reliability.. BUT.. They are very basic with no creature comforts.

The MK4's (6n's) use a very similar designed MPi unit with modifications to the fuelling/inlet system and head design. But are more or less a evolution of the same engine design in your Mk2 Golf, so are pretty bullet proof.

The 1.6 8v is 100bhp and are a high spec car so power steering, electric windows etc amd are more aimed at lugging family around. There is a 1.4 16v 100bhp model simply called a 16v which is very similar spec, just aimed at a more sporty market. Both are good cars, great engines. I think the main weak spot on the 6n's are the bodies and rot. Mechanical wise they are too simple for major problems. Just check for the obvious stuff in older cars, like oil leaks, headgasket, poor idle, dodgy lambda's etc.

Even if they do go wrong they are usually a cheap easy fix.

with no visible rust

check further! it's a 6n!

Rust usually comes with a 6n standard to be fair, aswell as the common problems, to name a few;

-Central locking pump

-locks

-paint flaking under the rear lights

-rusty rear arches

Theres alot more tbh, I've got a 6n and a mk3 and id recommend a mk3 tbh, same(ish) feel of a mk2 golf!

Haha well, you know what I mean :p if it gets me more answers to my question, I am www.facebook.com/beccamayy

wow...... o.O

anyways, my 6n is in a shite condition and has more problems than anything you can imagine but it just keeps on going :) if you can get a vagcom wire on it before u get it then it would be a good start to check for problems :)

Wow, that was easy. I'd smash you.

Well, as far as reliability goes MK3 Polo's are bullet proof. I've had Mk2, MK3, MK4 and MK5 Polo's, along with Mk2 Golfs, Sciroccos and Corrado's. The Mk3 Polo is by far the most fun and reliable motor I've owned (and I've had about 10 of them all with different engines.)

They are a very simple design, even though they share the same engine block/gearbox design as the MK2 Golf which uses a carb and would be similar to that out of a Mk2 Polo. The MK3's use a Spi fuel injection unit or a Mpi on the higher spec ones such as the GT. for better MPG and reliability.. BUT.. They are very basic with no creature comforts.

The MK4's (6n's) use a very similar designed MPi unit with modifications to the fuelling/inlet system and head design. But are more or less a evolution of the same engine design in your Mk2 Golf, so are pretty bullet proof.

The 1.6 8v is 100bhp and are a high spec car so power steering, electric windows etc amd are more aimed at lugging family around. There is a 1.4 16v 100bhp model simply called a 16v which is very similar spec, just aimed at a more sporty market. Both are good cars, great engines. I think the main weak spot on the 6n's are the bodies and rot. Mechanical wise they are too simple for major problems. Just check for the obvious stuff in older cars, like oil leaks, headgasket, poor idle, dodgy lambda's etc.

Even if they do go wrong they are usually a cheap easy fix.

Thats not right.

The 1.6 8V 6n comes with 75bhp as standard. Its not a very good engine in all honesty, not great fuel ecconomy and not that quick. It will only come with the bigger bumpers if its a GLX. I believe as it's an early 1.6 it will also be SPi and not Mpi.

Make sure the cambelt has been done at some point in the last couple of years, check the arches for rust, and the sills, and also behind the rear bumper is possible. Electric windows have a tendancy to go, as does the central locking pump and door locks.

Spares are aplenty as there are so many being scrapped now, I would personally try and find a 1.4 16v though!

Edited 22 July, 201115 yr by deviance

Wow, that was easy. I'd smash you.

Well, as far as reliability goes MK3 Polo's are bullet proof. I've had Mk2, MK3, MK4 and MK5 Polo's, along with Mk2 Golfs, Sciroccos and Corrado's. The Mk3 Polo is by far the most fun and reliable motor I've owned (and I've had about 10 of them all with different engines.)

They are a very simple design, even though they share the same engine block/gearbox design as the MK2 Golf which uses a carb and would be similar to that out of a Mk2 Polo. The MK3's use a Spi fuel injection unit or a Mpi on the higher spec ones such as the GT. for better MPG and reliability.. BUT.. They are very basic with no creature comforts.

The MK4's (6n's) use a very similar designed MPi unit with modifications to the fuelling/inlet system and head design. But are more or less a evolution of the same engine design in your Mk2 Golf, so are pretty bullet proof.

The 1.6 8v is 100bhp and are a high spec car so power steering, electric windows etc amd are more aimed at lugging family around. There is a 1.4 16v 100bhp model simply called a 16v which is very similar spec, just aimed at a more sporty market. Both are good cars, great engines. I think the main weak spot on the 6n's are the bodies and rot. Mechanical wise they are too simple for major problems. Just check for the obvious stuff in older cars, like oil leaks, headgasket, poor idle, dodgy lambda's etc.

Even if they do go wrong they are usually a cheap easy fix.

Thats not right.

The 1.6 8V 6n comes with 75bhp as standard. Its not a very good engine in all honesty, not great fuel ecconomy and not that quick. It will only come with the bigger bumpers if its a GLX. I believe as it's an early 1.6 it will also be SPi and not Mpi.

Make sure the cambelt has been done at some point in the last couple of years, check the arches for rust, and the sills, and also behind the rear bumper is possible. Electric windows have a tendancy to go, as does the central locking pump and door locks.

Spares are aplenty as there are so many being scrapped now, I would personally try and find a 1.4 16v though!

Are they not 100bhp? The one I'm thinking is the GLX, I didn't even realise they did a boggo 1.6 8v. I'm pretty sure they did a 1.6 8v 100bhp model? Or am I thinking of something completely different? I've driven a couple and I thought they were all right, pretty torque-ish for what they are.. The 1.4 16v is a better engine.

If that's the case then don't get a 1.6 8v. 1.4 16v ftw!

For a 1.6 it is a massive let down (75bhp) really higher tax braket then the 1.4 valvers and it gets pissed on by them.

Apart from the lack of power i cant fault it

It can't be slower than my Golf to be fair haha! 55bhp 1.3... and i'm after reliability over speed tbh so it doesn't really bother me. Sounds like it will be reliable enough so far though, cheers for the input though everyone given me a lot to read over :)

Have recently bought the same car with same engine just in a different colour as a cheap run around for now, must say good little car, mpg is ok about 30, quite comfortable too drive, more refined than a mk2f polo. Also check the gearbox as they seem too break alot on 6ns. Mine has been reliable so far

Hey becca, I'm Tom Jacobs from your Facebook lol. Good to see you on here :)

It'll be good for what you need it for. The mk4 has the extra creature comforts like comfier seats and power steering so it'll be easier to whip about and park than a mk3.

The 1.4 is painfully slow, the 1.4 16v take more looking after and noisy on motorways so the 1.6 will be a good option :)

Thanks Dublass and Maherjack, just the sort of answers I was hoping for :) think I may go and look at it later.

A. I'd also smash that.

B. The 1.4 8v isn't that slow and I dare say faster than a 1.3 mk2.

Pretty sure the 1.6 8 valve would get more than 30 to the gallon.

Should feel like its got a bit more poke than your Golf. 75bhp and fair bit of torque. Decent low down power.

Check for rust and dodgy gearboxes. If it's had regular oil changes than the milage won't present any problems.

Welcome aboard love!

on the motorway i get 53 mpg from my 1.4 16v............

so rebecca has reali came to clubpolo lol

Pretty sure the 1.6 8 valve would get more than 30 to the gallon.

with ease, i was getting that (with mods) and i don't drive like a eco freak

you'll get more answers if your relationship was "single"

but yeah get a 6n then

Pff, a female car enthusiast that's single? That'll be the day.