Faults:

Interior is beset with rattles. Dash removed and re-fitted, but rattles remain.

The car vibrated severely at motorway speeds. Traced to unbalanced wheels and faulty suspension mounts.

The ECU has been replaced and loaded with new software. Instrument binnacle also replaced, but still get repeated ECU and engine warning lights.

Boot lining hanging down and boot light hanging by wires.

Car failed to start one very cold morning (ECU software flooded engine).

Stain on the rear seat when delivered and a cigarette burn on the carpet.

The paint is very soft (chips easily) and one side of the car has been resprayed because the paint "reacted" with the clear coat (lots of very small bubbles in paint).

When first collected, the bonnet was not on its hinges straight. The passenger door shut flush with the bodywork, but the driver's door sat proud.

General Comments:

I bought this car as my first VW, expecting to enjoy the supposedly legendary German build quality and reliability. However, my experiences have left me wondering if this is more a myth than a legend.

Overall, I love the appearance and road manners. It's great fun to drive and enjoys being pushed hard, with bags of grip, a nice exhaust note and acceptable performance for a 1.4. The interior design is excellent, with lots of nice "touches", such as neoprene linings to all the storage compartments to stop things rattling around and the chrome door pulls.

However, I am thinking of selling after eight months of trouble-filled motoring.

Faults:

Very disappointed with reliability. Have experienced engine management problems. The speed dial, rev counter and petrol gauger cut out at once resulting in having to stop and restart car. It cut out in the fast lane of M6!

Fans make a loud rattling noise from time to time.

General Comments:

It's OK, but nothing special. Very disappointed considering money paid for reliability and quality.

Faults:

We purchased this car purely for the legendary Volkswagen build quality and reliability.

Instead we got a car with serious engine management problems which now understand is a common problem with these new Polos.

Engine management and emissions warning lights have repeatedly come on and Volkswagen are seemingly unable to resolve the problem.

Volkswagen have released updated software for this problem, but many are suggesting that this is only a hack to stop the warning light from reporting the underlying problem anymore.

Apart from this, it is the build quality is very good, but the experiences that we have had would mean that we will not risk buying another Volkswagen.

Faults:

The fuel filler cap would not shut and had to be replaced.

The dash rattles constantly.

General Comments:

This is a genuinely quick car and I am very impressed with the performance.

Economy is fantastic with an average of 55 mpg despite some enthusiastic driving.

Build quality is considerably worse than the golf and un-acceptable at the price.

The dash is made of poor platic and creaks and groans all the time.

The dealer is incapable of fixing this or indeed returning phone calls.