1985 Volkswagen Polo C review from UK and Ireland

Starter motor solenoid failed - motor had to be replaced.

Alternator failed whilst in use.

Exhaust corroded and failed while in use.

Carburettor needed cleaning (caused problems with stalling)

Two oil leaks (one was filter, other unresolved)

Leaking from radiator (although this may be my fault for not using antifreeze)

Various headlight etc. bulbs have needed replacement.

The cables going to the back wiper, washer and rear-window heater became frayed and had to be reconnected.

On damp mornings, when the car has not been run for about two days, there are (and continuingly) serious problems with the ignition system with tracking in the distributor cap and possibly coil that cause it to have severe problems starting.

It has had to have the battery replaced (probably in part at least due to the above problem)

The brakes had to be adjusted after it failed its MOT test on one occasion.

The left nozzle to the front windscreen washing is cracked and does not spray water evenly.

The temperature gage has an intermittent fault.

The odometer stopped working completely shortly after I bought it requiring the entire console to be replaced.

The heating/cooling fan makes a terrible noise at high speed.

The pull-open valve in the choke has had to be repaired several times to counter problems in cold weather.

The distributor cap once came loose while the car was traveling at speed, although this may have been because I had not replaced it properly when spraying the inside with WD40 in order to get it to start on a damp morning.

Good, solid handling - always feels controlled and refined.

Very economical to run.

Reasonably comfortable for a car of its class.

Not too prone to rust.

Brakes do not perform too well (no servo), but one gets used to them.

Cabin visibility is relatively poor.

Good, stiff ride: good for handling, not so good if you don't like a stiff ride (I do), but I suppose that you could always have the shocks softened.

Very basic specification.

Older models (such as mine) have no catalyst.

Four speed models are not ideal for motorway driving - this is more of a town car; all the gear ratios are very short.

The headlights are dim by modern standards, but that can be remedied by replacing them with halogen bulbs - at least if you have a post August 1985 model with the more powerful alternator. I am not sure that an earlier model could handle the extra power draw.

I dislike the shape of the "squareback", but that's really personal taste.