Hi all, i'm not 100% if this is in the correct section or not.

anyway, looking into buying a Mk3 polo GT.

I know that this will remain primarily on the condition of the car purchased, but i was jsut wandering if anyone could spare a minute to let me know whether they feel that the Mk3 is a reliable car?

also any details on ride/running quality of the car will be a great help too.

if it helps, i will be looking at GT's at around the £800 mark, so probably around 100k miles on the clock.

any help will much appreciated.

cheers, Jake. :-)

also if anyone has had any experience with the Mk2 Golf 8v GTI would they also offer any help??

ps. not trying to spam CP, laptop froze and posted this 3 times

they are pretty good 100k+ isn't an issue both my polos had in excess of 120k when I bought them.

its luck of the draw. You can get hold of a 150k one for 600 quid and it not put a foot wrong...or blow 1k on a 80,000 mile one and it need everything from a engine rebuild to rust welding up.

From experience of owning 5 cars now. Both that were around the 100k mark have needed hefty sums of money throwing at them.

View more than one and dont just kiss the bonnet. Theres no harm in being anal looking at everything when its your money your spending.

mk3 polos are generally very reliable,mine hasn't let me down.

but they are at least 15 years old now unless they have been really well looked after they will need money spending on them. when i buy a car i look for rust in all the usual places. under the sills, doors, arches,battery tray,etc just don't don't be afraid to get on your hands and knees to check it over and remember if it doesn't look right it probably isn't.

also check the engine/gearbox for leaks, the condition of the oil etc. check the service history (if available) and proof that the cambelt has been changed recently, if theres no receipt from a garage or a parts shop assume it has not been done and try to knock a few quid off the price. :-)

My Polo GT engine is doing OK at 162k. I have had to replace the head for another one on around 100k though as the original was on it way out. Odd stuff like the coil pack died lately but for its age its pretty impressive.

Its reliable enough, i don't get scared before a long trip.

And my GT was only £50....... But thats because the bodywork is cack haha

I got a GT with 100k and the engine is sweet good for potting around and good for a little blast aswell

Few thing here and their have gone wrong but not too expensive to replace or too taxing as the engine is pretty simple.

And companies such as GSF, volksbits and euro car part still stocking parts you find what you need to fix it.

Ask when the Cambelt and head gasket waa last changed if not done knock the money off

Mk3 Polo's, especially GT's are bullet proof. They are so simple there isn't that much to go wrong. Structural rust isn't that much of an issue in them from what I've seen.

I've had about 7-8 MK3's with mileage ranging from 60k up to 150k. The higher mileage drove the same as the lower mileage ones. Just expect things like brakes, bushes, suspension to be tired on the higher mileage cars.

As for MK2 GTi 8v's.. Most are very tired cars now. Mine was the most unreliable car I've ever owned and I literally had to rebuild the entire thing before it was reliable. BUT.. It's the best car I've ever owned.

The only thing i would be thinking at the moment is that these days an £800 GT wont be much of one

cheers for the help guys!