Faults:

Throttle did not work with EPC and engine management light. 25k miles, after repeat events, solved by cleaning all the gum off the back of the throttle body butterfly valve and resetting using vag com. Now do it every year.

Heating sometimes runs to full hot. Not fixed. Since 30k miles.

Air con does not work. Not fixed. Since 35k miles.

Flashing check engine light and running rough. Ignition coil at fault. 40k miles.

Check engine light due to O2 sensor fault. 45k miles, not fixed.

Alternator failed. 58k miles.

ABS fault light. Fuse on battery cracked. 58k miles.

Inside of tyres wearing fast and poor steering due to worn front wishbone bushes. 61k miles.

Failed ARB roll bar drop link. 63k miles.

General Comments:

Quite sporty when thrashed, and handles well.

49 miles per gallon possible if driven with care.

Comfortable and a nice place to be.

Has been quite robust, despite my best efforts to break it.

Cheap to run, even when it goes wrong, so far.

Faults:

Everything has gone wrong with this car. It has been a total nightmare.

Last week after spending £500 on new injectors, today it broke down. The timing chain has now broken, estimate £400. VW said this chain is a 'common problem'.

The engine management system has been dreadful, and the software reloaded twice.

Please don't buy a 2002 year Polo. The problems were sorted out from 2004 onwards.

Since Xmas I have spent £1500 on the car, and since September the following has been done:

Fuel pump.

Oil line.

Bits of plastic come off the trim inside and on the seats.

02 sensor, heating sensor and air con sensor replaced, but still blows out hot air except on a cold day when it blows out cold.

Suspension t-bone faulty, new parts needed.

Fuel seals cracked and wouldn't reseal.

Cracked injectors with petrol pouring out.

Warning lights flashing on and off for no reason.

Faulty lights and the engine just cutting out for no reason.

The car has been looked after and serviced, but yet again it is off the road for 4 days.

Please avoid.

General Comments:

Unreliable, badly built and not up to VW's older excellent standards.

Crap engine management system.

Expensive to run and maintain.

Awful, car which cost £5800.

Faults:

OK! the first thing to go off was wheel bearings, replaced at VW garage.

Next month, clutch started slipping. Replaced.

Next week the clutch went down, towed back to the dealer! Got the car back in three days! Drove around 20 kms, Clutch went down again!

OK! Towed back to the dealer, I asked them to fix it properly and got the car back next week with new clutch, new gearbox, ABS sensors and some other little things, and paid a bill of nearly 2000 euros! Yes 2000.

OK! Drove it back home, the clutch went down on a motorway at midnight. Towed back to the dealer and asked for a refund, they refused to issue any refund.

I said, OK fix it, everything is under warranty! Now it's been three months, the car is at VW garage. The worst service, and the worst car. I would ask any VW officials reading this to review their dealership in Finland.

General Comments:

The worst car ever made! VW really really sucks.

I bought this car for damn 7000 euros and paid over 2000 euros to get it fixed, but they can't fix it.