Faults:

This Polo has one of the infamous very bad gearboxes, that starts to go after 110 thousand km or so, with whining noises in 1st and 2nd as well as problems to select gears. Only solution is to pull out the gearbox and recondition it, or get a new one. It's a disgrace that the gearbox should go so early, but it appears that VW made some very weak gearboxes around this time. And are trying to wash their hands of the problem, pretending it has nothing to do with them.

On board computer can be a bit iffy too, with ABS and exhaust warning lights coming and going as they please. I just ignore them now.

General Comments:

This car has the potential to be great, but unfortunately has a number of irritating problems. When it goes it goes very well, is comfortable to drive, and the quality of the interior is excellent and still looks very modern after nine years.

VW dealers are cheeky. The car owner manual, unlike any other one I've ever seen, doesn't tell you how to change a bulb, tells you to take it to the dealer instead. So I had to figure out how to do that by myself. Luckily it was similar to other cars. Once the wipers went and I knew I needed a new fuse, and was near the VW dealer, I asked if they could change it. They wanted 100 euros. So I drove through some drizzle to a garage and bought a fuse for 3 euros, and replaced it myself in five minutes.

Faults:

Brake system rusted to bits.

Handbrake cable snapped.

Gearbox broken; jumps a gear or two.

Backfires.

Window wipers not working.

Lights gone.

Door locks by itself when you just open the door.

Rear axle damaged.

Hole in the exhaust.

Radio not working all the time.

Front brake and springs; the whole lot rusted and jammed.

General Comments:

The 1982 model is a very good car, when it works.

I bought the car for 40 pounds, and to get a second hand one here costs 200 pounds.

I have fixed most of the problem, but it comes to about 400 pounds to get all the parts.

If you are looking for a VW Polo 82, get an 85 instead; the exhaust was made of some metal that does not rust, and so was the axle. The VW Polo 82, the metal is thinner and less protected against rust. My car is an 82, but I have all the parts in it that are from a VW Polo 85.

Faults:

The main problem I have besides the warning lights coming on and off, and probably some power loss at times, is that the engine sounds like a diesel! The sound is stronger when it starts from cold, and after a while it's lower, but still there. It's sort of a diesel sound, but in a more mellow tone.

After 2 costly visits at the local VW dealership garage, they said that the engine has been frozen! Some time during the winter from a cold start in low temperatures, and that it needs bottom block replacement or might even need a new engine!!!

At the beginning they said that VW can take it as goodwill and fix the problem, because it's a known problem with these engines and they did fix it in a few cars (my guess is that if the dealership admits 'a few', that really means MANY!) but after the second check they said that in this year model, it's not suppose to happen, therefore I have to pay to fix it myself!!!

My insurance also denies to pay because they said that it happened when the previous owner owned the car, so its his insurance obligation to fix it!

Anyone who had/has the same/similar problem, please email me with any info that might help! My email is: nephilim1973@hotmail.com

General Comments:

HELP!!!