First Car Advice...UPDATE

Carl GILLESPIE · Post by **Carl GILLESPIE** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:41 pm

Hi, im carl and am in the market for my first car.

Im 17 in june.

I went to view a 1997 VW polo 1.0L in red tonight with 59000 miles on the clock.

The car is being sold to me from my uncle who is a dealer for Â£650, exactly what he paid for it-asked to see his receipt, i never trust a dealer lol.

The car is very clean with the exception of a small piece of rust on the passenger side sill and wheel arch. There is only light bubbling around the wheel arch, about a 10p oval of rust.

Also it seemed like the exhause was blowing during the drive.

Are these faults normal of a vw polo of this age and mileage?

How much do you guys reckon it would cost to fix these bits?

Your replies are appreciated.

Cheers

david burton · Post by **david burton** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:57 pm

sounds like a good price for the mileage.

to fix the rust you could probably shop around and get it done for Â£150-Â£200 but it may look like fresh paint and not match the car! The red has probably faded.

as for the exhaust - it wouldn't be expensive to fix if it was blowing - shove it into kwik fit if you trust them - Â£60?

polo-sib · Post by **polo-sib** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:58 pm

Thats not to bad, I payed Â£600 for a Navy polo 1.0L with 98k milage a 6 months ago. The passanger side was dented and so was the rear bumper.

The rust on the arches is always a common problem but you could fix it yourself or maybe about Â£100ish worth of work at a garage.

Could you explain the exhuaste issue please as well?

Tim_GTi · Post by **Tim_GTi** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 12:18 am

Welcome to the site mate!

You didn't trust the dealer even though he was your uncle?!

kipper · Post by **kipper** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 12:32 am

id say u got a deal there..... a car like that with that mileage, assuming it has fsh could prob sell at about Â£1000 maybe or a bit more...... for a first car i dont think u could of choose a better car, my mum has the 1.3 version n reg and theres no rust that i know of, cheap to insure and very reliable, she's owned it about 10 years or so and the only problem shes had with it is an electrical problem which was fixed easily, being a 1 litre tho u might find it hard to get up alot of hills and u will prob start getting bored with the lack of speed but for a first car def a good choice....... i got the 1 litre 6n2 model and ive owned it just over four years and so far had an engine and gear box rebuild new clutch new battery new pedal box but its quite nippy tho, especially as i use it round town and stuff more often then motor ways.

u gonna modify it or keep it standard?

kipper · Post by **kipper** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 12:38 am

Tim_GTi wrote:Welcome to the site mate!

You didn't trust the dealer even though he was your uncle?!

prob didnt mean it seriously but even if he did, at the end of the day his uncle is a salesman and even tho its a family member it still business.....

p.s. please dont go to quick fit......... i dont know how many people on here like them but i personally believe theyre scammers (if thats the right word) they try to find things wrong with ur car to get more money of u. small back street garage is prob better if its a one man garage they charge less cause they dont have n e other staff to worry about. i went in there once to get my wheel allignment checked and ended up having a Â£300 bill. i vowed never to go there again. same with motest.

called KWIK FIT for a reason..... the quicker they fit it the quicker they get ur money.

Polo96CL · Post by **Polo96CL** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 12:45 am

Hey Welcome to UK-POLOS!

You got a good deal there I reckon, I paid Â£750 for my 5 door 1.4CL 1997 in Flash red with 50k miles and service history. Rust is inevitble on a car that old without galvenised bodywork, i've got all my rust (convieniently!) on my drivers side rear door which, would cost about Â£150 to fix but it'll probably be cheaper to get a new door skin tbh.

Get some pictures up when you get it, get clear indicators, drop it down a few inches, whack some decent alloys on and you have a sweet first car.

Tim_GTi · Post by **Tim_GTi** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:02 am

kipper wrote:
prob didnt mean it seriously but even if he did, at the end of the day his uncle is a salesman and even tho its a family member it still business.....

I know, I was joking too

NOZ · Post by **NOZ** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 11:23 am

Welcome to UK-Ps

Seems like a good price for the car. Rust around the rear arches are very common on polo's and easily sorted as mentioned above. Even after you consider the repairs i'd still say its a bargain.

The only problem with that model is not enough power. However, its obviously your first car and any 1.0L car would be like that so its not really as fault as such.

david burton · Post by **david burton** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 11:34 am

kipper wrote:p.s. please dont go to quick fit......... i dont know how many people on here like them but i personally believe theyre scammers

I guess it depends on the branch. I had an old Volvo and they replaced the down pipe on it for about Â£40 including the parts and labour.

That is a b***h of a job, and prone to bolt snapping. For that money I'd say it was a bargain!

I'd never take my tyres there, but for quick jobs and exhausts I'd say they were good - once again it depends on the branch!

iggy350 · Post by **iggy350** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 12:13 pm

Welcome to the forum

I think you should get it. As Noz said the rust is a common thing, i have it on my drivers sill and my rear passengers arch, i got a quote of about Â£250 for it all sorting, plus he'll spray and fit my spoiler as well.

Even tho its red, if you take it to a good spray shop, they'll beable to buff the whole car and make all the panels match. So I personally dont think you beable to till they have been freshly sprayed

The Polo as a whole is very reliable and so much can be done to the car at a pretty resonable price.

I hope you get the car and join our friendly community =D

All the best m8

Carl GILLESPIE · Post by **Carl GILLESPIE** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 2:54 pm

Cheers for all the replies lads.

The paint on the car is very red and shiny, which is very unusual - and my uncle hasn't even cleaned it yet (i was only joking about the trust issue btw lmao).

For the exhaust my friend, who is a polo expert and has had 5 in three years, including 3 1.0's and two 1.4 16v's, is coming down to check it out for me. But by the sounds of it he says may just need mig welded or sumthing which may only cost 3 quid or sumthin..????

As for the rear arches, he reckons could be sorted out by painting on a bit of rust remedy and simply painting. however they are not really that bad so i was considering just leaving them, but on the other hand i dont want them to get any worse.

Your replies are appreciated.

Cheers

I like the sound of the clear indicator lenses and getting it lowered as the old orange ones are awful and the car sits like its afraid of the tarmac. How much are these items and where do i get them?

Also my friend has the optional bbs 1.4 16v alloys on his which look the dogs. Does anybody know where to get a set of these from cheap??

Tim_GTi · Post by **Tim_GTi** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 3:49 pm

For the alloys, just keep an eye out on car forums like this and eBay, some will pop up

Carl GILLESPIE · Post by **Carl GILLESPIE** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 3:55 pm

I seen some there now in the for sale section, i think they are called bbs solitude wheels, but the guy is looking 300 quid and Â£30 postage, which is a little bit more than i wanted to spend as it is almost half of what i am paying for the car lol.

Also i think the postage may cost more because im in Northern Ireland.

But, if i do actualy buy the car i reckon i might stretch because they do look quite sexy. also how would you reckommend to lower the suspension on a budget of around 100??

Tim_GTi · Post by **Tim_GTi** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:00 pm

I'd splash out for the wheels!

You can get shocks and springs for Â£120, up to 60mm

http://www.clubpolo.co.uk/forum/index.p ... opic=35527