Hello!

My name is Kacey and this is my first little post about my first car Sheila.

Got a silver polo, 2001, bought it from a friend who spoke highly of the motor. With no tax or mot he wanted £600. After inspection I realised it needed 4 new tyres, plus the spare (which is currently on the car). I offered him £400
and we shook hands. After getting it towed to my house I realised the damage was worse than I first thought. Being a young woman I was very much misguided with the purchase of my first vehicle. Once we jumped the car and got the battery going it was easy to tell that the exhaust was blowing.

After torrential downpour I noticed a small puddle on the passenger floor, turns out the sealant has a break in it somewhere which is causing the car to flood slightly. Alongside this, the glovebox has water inside it which poured out when it was opened which makes me nervous about the possibility of damage to the dashboard. The windscreen has 2 small cracks in it and the door card has 3 holes in it. God only knows how. The rear bumper has a nice red mark on it where somewhere has unfortunately scratched their paint, but silver lining, there is no dent. A few bits of rust here and there and holes in the driver and passenger floor mats. The mirror switch is broken, which as a learner driver, is a sad thing for me. Despite all this, under the bonnet seems a little unloved but all in good shape.

Since being falsely sold this vehicle I have decided to turn it into a positive thing. Not only has my knowledge improved, I have also been excited by the project at hand. And even helped a friend change her wheel last night which is a big step for me!

So far I have sorted vehicle specific alloys and new tyres, vehicle specific floor mats and I have been to a local car graveyard to source an exhaust.

First things first: THE BIG CLEAN!

I have a feeling this car hadn't had a good clean (or service) in many years. So much so that there was moss growing inside the driver window. So we gathered all essential cleaning products and got to work. She is now all shiny with a tarpaulin wrapped around her to keep her clean and tidy while I gather the resources I need to make the car beautiful. Under the bonnet still needs a good clean but all in good time.

Here are some photos of the cleaning of the car and the poor condition that its in, with plenty more pics of the extensive damage to follow when I have picked up my floor mats.

All comments and advice welcome!

https://plus.google.com/u/0/115351211136602645642/posts/iE6EKbTds4e?pid=6080247374642962050&oid=115351211136602645642


http://s1368.photobucket.com/user/Kacey_Baker/library/POLO%20Photos%201?sort=3&page=1

Edited 13 November, 201411 yr by Kaceybaker

Pics don't work

I picked up a car in similar condition to this, in the sense that it had been unloved and didn't seem as good a deal as it did when I first bought it.

My recommendation would be to change serviceable parts early while you can. Ie oil filter, air filter, fuel filter etc. Before you find yourself deep in problems like I have.

Also the pics work for me, nut they may be because I have a Google+ account I don't use. Try uploading photos to photobucket or imgur and then pasting the image url's into the text box (or insert image from the text box toolbar)

Edited 11 November, 201411 yr by mbusby993

I agree with the above, get it serviced ASAP once she's actually on the road. Other than that, welcome to the site and good luck with the car, looks like she'll be in good hands!

Thanks for the advice and warm welcome, it is much appreciated!

here is another link which might work for the photos.

http://s1368.photobucket.com/user/Kacey_Baker/library/POLO%20Photos%201?sort=3&page=1

After a massive break with the car over the last few months we've got our arses into gear and we've done a number of things.

Today, Ellis serviced the car and here's the mechanical work he completed:

Engine Oil - Castrol Edge Fully Synthetic

Oil Filer - Bosch

Pollen Filter - Bosch

Gearbox Oil - Triple QX (via euro car parts)

We were also planning on replacing the Fuel Filter which of course was Bosch too.

Unfortunately we ran out of time.

Aesthetic work:

Fitted model correct alloy wheels with enough tread (miles better than the highly illegal ones we bought it with)

Fitted a sun strip

Fly eyes

New bulbs and headlight restoration

Interior LED's

I de-badged it and attempted to de-wiper the rear.

Is there anything else anyone would suggest?

Kacey & Ellis.