2002 VW Polo Automatic first car ?

lehain

Hi all, im thinking about buying a 2002 polo 1.4 automatic as my first car its €3550 and a japanese import i think.

Is there anything i should look out for before buying this car , are they reliable or will i be back to the garage with problems ? does the automatic have any problems associated with it and would it be expensive if anything does go wrong ?

Do you think 3550 is a good price as it seems a little steep to me for a 2002 car ?

Another lil question does anybody know if a japanese made VW is of the same quality as the european made version or are they made in a european factory and exported to japan ?

im nervous about buying my first car nd i really dont want to throw away 3500 euro on something thats crap all help will be greatly appreciated thanks

mullingar

I dont think VW made that car in Japan!

It could be a UK import.

8 year old auto polo? IMO its worth 2-2.5k tops, open to correction by those in the know!

biko

Can you test drive it? Bring a certified mechanic to look it over.
As a first car I'd go for something cheaper or something with warranty.
Automatics are great and usually last a long time. But if they fail it's costly and needs an expert.

mullingar

I just checked wikipedia, NO polos were made in Asia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Polo#Polo_Mark_III_Facelift_.28Typ_6N2.2C_2000.E2.80.932002.29

The newer shape 2002+ (the bug eye version)

Production 2002–2005 (Mark IV)
Assembly:
Navarra, Spain
Bratislava, Slovakia
Anchieta, Brazil
Uitenhage, South Africa
Mexico
Brussel, Belgium

The older shape (the square headlights)

Production 2000–2002 (Mark IIIF)
Assembly
Navarra, Spain
Martorell, Spain
Bratislava, Slovakia

lehain

yep i will definitely have to get a mechanic to look at it and see if everything is ok and yea i thought that the price was a lil steep alright, im gonna give the seller a call this afternoon and see if i can get a test drive. Great info Mullingar thanks none from asia or germany thats interesting , so i can expect the same quality then from the japanese import polo.

mullingar

If its a dealer, they will be looking for €3-3.5k as they must include a warranty (usually 3 months)

Also, if you do buy it from a dealer, Haggle! and get it in writing that its a BUMPER TO BUMPER 3 month warranty

Then 2 months in get a full detailed check on it and bring it back for warranty work

Karmella

I'm not sure about the price or anything, but I have a 00 automatic - 1.4 and I have never had a problem with it (that wasn't self inflicted due to lack of care If you service it regularly you should be fine!). I've had it for 6 years. I think the 02's are pretty much the same model but i'm open to correction. but i can't recommend the automatic enough. The polo is a grand sturdy car too, perfect for a first one. I upgraded from a 96 micra at the time and the difference was brilliant - always feel a lot safer in the polo!

I'd say test drive it, get it checked out by a mechanic, and then look at the price of other similar models around and negotiate that way.

djimi

Is this going to be a car in which you will be learning to drive or have you already passed your test? If youre only learning then bear in mind if you take your test in an auto then that is all you will be allowed to drive. If you want to buy a manual you will have to retake the test in a manual. I am of the opinion that everyone should learn to drive a car properly first, then buy an auto if that is your choosing.

If you already have your license then disregard...!

€3000+ seems very high for a 2002 Polo but my gf is currently looking at the same (in manual) and that seems to be the average asking price. Of course the asking price and the price you eventually hand over are two very different things!!!

My one advice on getting an automatic as your first car, is that if you sit your test in an automatic you're only qualified to drive an automatic. This may not matter to you and if not then go for it (well on the advice others give that it!) but consider whether or not you want the freedom of driving any car or the worry of having to sit your test again!

I'm all for the autos by the way. I would never go back to a manual, but it's handy to have the auto license if you want to drive another car.

If you already have your full manual license then ignore my post!!!!!

Edit: djimi beat me to it!

Velocitee

lehain wrote: »

Hi all, im thinking about buying a 2002 polo 1.4 automatic as my first car its €3550 and a japanese import i think.

Is there anything i should look out for before buying this car , are they reliable or will i be back to the garage with problems ? does the automatic have any problems associated with it and would it be expensive if anything does go wrong ?

Do you think 3550 is a good price as it seems a little steep to me for a 2002 car ?

Another lil question does anybody know if a japanese made VW is of the same quality as the european made version or are they made in a european factory and exported to japan ?

im nervous about buying my first car nd i really dont want to throw away 3500 euro on something thats crap all help will be greatly appreciated thanks

My best friend had a 2002.

His one DRANK oil. He carried around oil bottles in his boot and was pouring it in every 2 months.

It also cut out regularly just before he changed (2007). This was just my friend's experience so I wouldn't apply that to all of them.

Other points was it was very basic (he got alloys as an option but it had no remote central locking for instance! my 00 fiesta at the time had this.) but very solid/heavy feeling as a passenger and very roomy (especially back seats).

When I was in it, I thought it was pretty nippy (1.4 in a small car) but he didn't like the gearbox (said it changed whenever it felt like it and not when he wanted to - i.e. he'd put the foot down and it would decided when it wanted to kickdown* - not instant.)

That's pretty much all I remember about it - never had the chance to drive it myself.

And just to repeat what everyone else said - if you are a learner and do the test in an auto you can only drive autos. (that being said I have a manual licence and will be buying an auto as next car, but nice to have the manual option)

* In case you don't know, kickdown is for overtaking - you press the accelarator to the floor and it presses a button underneath the pedal which automatically makes the gearbox go down a gear