| Year of manufacture | 2000 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2000 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8 turbo Manual |
| Performance marks | 7 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) |
8.3 / 10
|
| Distance when acquired | 0 miles |
| Most recent distance | 0 miles |
| Previous car | Renault Laguna |
Summary:
Worth every pound spent
Faults:
A few rattles in driver's door and drinks holder, which has been corrected via the dealer.
General Comments:
Could do with a bit more power and stiffer shocks.
Excellent build quality and good image. My wife has an sporty Astra and wishes that she bought a standard GTi now.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 18th September, 2000
| Year of manufacture | 2000 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2000 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.6 Manual |
| Performance marks | 1 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 1 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 5 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) |
4.6 / 10
|
| Distance when acquired | 38 miles |
| Most recent distance | 322 miles |
| Previous car | Volkswagen Jetta |
Summary:
A waste of my hard saved money
Faults:
19 July, 2000
Took delivery of the vehicle late afternoon and discovered: speedometer disconnected (although milage was sitting at 38km), aircon was faulty (not VW problem), front grille was loose, bonnet was not sitting correctly.
24 July, 2000
Turned on the ignition and the hooter kept coming on and wouldn't turn off.
Car returned to dealership and it was returned to me 3 days later.
2 August, 2000
Was driving my car and everytime I turned the steering wheel to the right - the hooter kept going off.
Once again car was returned to dealership, at this stage I wanted to return the vehicle, and was informed by the dealership that they would thoroughly go through my vehicle and replace anything that may be wrong.
They discovered the following factory faults and replaced them :-
Steering slip ring
Indicator
Radiator fan
Shock saddle
Hooter
And they also secured the choke and adjusted the gears.
General Comments:
I purchased a VW due to brand loyalty and was led to believe that when you purchase a VW you are purchasing quality, as well as obtaining value for your money.
My family has only ever owned VW for the above reasons, and this being my first brand new car I was very excited.
Since this ordeal, I have realised that VW is not all it makes out to be, and 3 of my friends who where considering purchasing the Polo Playa / Chico have now gone for Renault and Toyota.
I am very unhappy with my purchase, so much so that I regret ever buying this car and if I could, would return it immediately. How many young people of today do you know that are able to pay cash for a new car. I saved for this for a long time and what I have got out of it makes me feel sick to the stomach.
VW quality is obviously becoming a myth of the past!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 18th August, 2000
I bought a VW Fox 1600 in 1992. After just a little over a year I brought it over to England and did an enormous mileage. Apart from a leaking oil seal which was repaired when it was brand new under warranty and also a faulty temperature gauge, also replaced under warranty, it has been a fantastic car. So reliable. I also had wonderful reliability from a Golf GLS 1500, I had it for fourteen years.
It is upsetting hearing about your Chico. It must have been thrown together during strikes! I lived for 18 years in South Africa.
I now own a beautiful dark blue Seat Toledo TdiSE which was assembled in Belgium at the VW factory. There is not even the slightest rattle or squeak and it has done over 30.000 miles in just over a year. A superb car and it is 100% reliable. It is the new Spanish rival of the new Bora (the English name), you call the Bora the Jetta 4. Well my Seat Toledo has a beautiful front, partly a cross between BMW and Alfa. It has an Audi dashboard and the rest of the car is all VW GTI steering wheel and gear lever.
Sorry, I have done almost 38.000 miles in just over a year in my Seat Toledo TdiSE. Not 30.000 miles as I mentioned by mistake! It really is a superb car and a true credit to all who made it.
I have now done 53,000 miles totaly reliably with my Seat Toledo I mentioned in the previous letter.
I really feel terribly sorry for you with the Chico. It is a total disgrace and VW South Africa should be ashamed. Probably made in a militant strike. I feel sick to my stomach about it.
| Year of manufacture | 2000 |
| First year of ownership | 2000 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2000 |
| Engine and transmission | 6 cyl Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 1 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 3 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) |
5.6 / 10
|
| Distance when acquired | 32 miles |
| Most recent distance | 640 miles |
| Previous car | Nissan Altima |
Summary:
VW was a great disappointment
Faults:
Brake dust baked into rims due to the dealership placing armoral on rims 3 days into owning car. Dust will not come out & the dealership will not take care of it. Extremely unprofessional service department. VW of America does not follow up.
General Comments:
Car is great. VW dealerships are independent so they have a right to handle customers in anyway they feel. VW of America has very little say on the matter.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 25th July, 2000