Am I mad to be considering a 2012 Polo?

gnolan

I've been on the lookout for a car for longer than I'd care to admit and it's now coming to a head. My criteria is the following

• Budget €5,000 - 8,000
• Petrol - I'll only be doing a few short journeys a week
• Reliability is a priority
• Preferably 2012 or later. Don't know if this is unrealistic given the budget
• Dealer and not private. This might be controversial but I went through a frustrating run of looking at a few private sales only to run checks on them and find that they were written off in the UK. I'd also like the fresh NCT provided by most dealers

My first targets were Civic and Jazz. These were the private sales I mentioned above that were UK write-offs. The reliability of the Jazz is a draw but I'm honestly not a fan looks-wise. The next on the list was the Auris. I test drove one and found it particularly sluggish. It's also difficult to find one from a dealer within my budget. The Swift looks alright but the boot is too small. I'm not looking for something big but the boot in the Swift is extremely small. Most recently I've seen a few 2012 Polos from dealers that come in around the budget I'm looking at. This being a recent example. Would it be foolish to consider a Polo given that reliability is a priority for me? Any advice is welcome.

CMOTDibbler

A lot later than 2012 but you'd need to be able to charge it. If you're really doing very low mileage then you could charge it from a three pin socket over night.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/nissan-leaf-2018-premium-cold-pack-40kw/32635604

Padre_Pio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122374487#Comment_122374487

Worth mentioning it's a CAT D. Cheapest facelift Leaf on Donedeal and it's been up weeks.

I would go for the pre 2018 leaf if you're just doing short journeys. Can be picked up for very little money and very reliable and cheap to run

User1998

Its only a 1.2 Polo, obviously your not mad for considering it. Its still going to be fairly reliable just not as reliable as a Japanese car.

But if your going to be spending €8k on a 2012 Polo you might as well buy a Jap import 1.2 TSI automatic one. Much better value for money with a better engine and gearbox set up and slightly higher spec.

gnolan

I should have mentioned, full electric would be out of the question as I've no driveway / home-charger.

CMOTDibbler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122374515#Comment_122374515

You don't need a home charger for a Leaf. Would charge to full overnight from a three pin socket - cable usually supplied with them. But without a driveway it probably wouldn't be a runner.

Shan Doras

No, I drive an 1998 polo

HBC08

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122374523#Comment_122374523

Will ya give it a rest?

The poster has outlined what they're looking for.

CMOTDibbler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122374535#Comment_122374535

I just did. Last line.

bazz26

8k for a 12 year old Polo is crazy.

A Ford Fiesta is just as good a car, here is a 2015 model for similar money:

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/ford-fiesta-2015-1-25-zetec-argento-nct/37250928

Mad_Lad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122374933#Comment_122374933

have you see the price of a new polo these days ? 2nd hand cars are also gone nuts as the supply is tight, a lot of people are hanging on to their cars longer and saving money rather than spend on the ridiculous cost of new cars.

if the car is in good condition with a good service history with low enough miles it should last years.

bazz26

But why would you pay 8k for a 12 year old Polo when you can have a 9 year old Fiesta for similar money? The Fiesta will last just as long as a Polo.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122459423#Comment_122459423

And the newer shape Fiesta is the far superior car.

ednwireland

Kia ceed , newer shape should be around 5-8k 2013 or 2014.

Mad_Lad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122459423#Comment_122459423

Fiesta is a good car alright, my Mother has a 2010 Torque converter auto, I really hate the auto box but the rest of the car is great and I really like driving it. Feels lovely on the road and doesn't feel it's age at all, it has around 150,000 Kms.

Mad_Lad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122459473#Comment_122459473

Another excellent car, I recently bought a Petrol 2020 1.0L 3 cylinder turbo manual, I like it a lot, I'd rather a 4 cylinder naturally aspirated of course, the lag is noticeable until the turbo kicks in but I like the sound of it when it does kick in and in reality it's got enough performance for me.

It will do around 6.0 l/100km in town and on a long run 4.8-5.5 l/100 km. So I'm happy with that. It's way better than our Diesel Outlander !

I do like the previous gen too. Love Cee'd cockpits compared to many modern **** designs with lots of stuff controlled on a touch screen.

ednwireland

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122461684#Comment_122461684

i got a 2013 diesel estate. 135000 miles on it clutch is a it high. but needed very little apart from a bushing, tyres, handbrake cable, servicing and replaced the tailgate struts.

don't get me started on the tiguan repairs that we have

see that fiesta sold, was it the OP ?

Mad_Lad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122461761#Comment_122461761

I just saw the add, lovely looking car and to think the b1stards cancelled the Fiesta a car in production so long and so popular, Ford should be ashamed, the Puma is a pos compared to the fiesta.

Look at the lovely spedo and rev counter in the link above, it looks so much nicer than the TFT screen **** you get today, a ugly cheap looking tablet !

They make more money selling cars that ride a bit higher off the ground and fit body kits to make them look bigger, many people want smaller cheaper cars but the manufacturers don't want to make them.

GM's Mary Barra came out not long ago and said they were deliberately curtailing production so they could charge more for cars, something they discovered over COVID when production was limited, they could sell cars at higher cost, B1stards !