1987 Volkswagen Polo C review from UK and Ireland

Head Gasket needed replacing when I first acquired the car

Rear wheel cylinders needed to be renewed

Exhaust back box disintegrated

Alternator failed

Off-side CV joint rubber boot split

Off-side front wheel bearing became noisy and needed replacing.

The above list looks extensive, but most of the problems existed when I was given the car. I decided to keep the car for a year and use it daily so I checked out all the likely areas for problems or potential problems and repaired or replaced anything that looked suspect.

This strategy paid off as the car proved extremely reliable and clocked up 20000 miles in 12 months and only ever let me down once. Even then, this was really my own fault as I had identified the alternator as defective when I was given the car and replaced it with a scrapyard one. This replacement lasted 11 months before giving up one cold wet night in the motorway. (Note: If you're thinking of joining one of the 'breakdown clubs' none could possibly be worse than the AA - try elsewhere!!)

For a 17 year old car with a little 1043cc engine it was fantastic. It ran happily at 70 mph on long motorway trips and returned up to 44 mpg.

I MOT'd the car to sell it after the year was over and it needed only 2 tyres and a new windscreen (the latter cost a total of £20 thanks to the scrappie and a local mobile fitter).

It was snapped by a buyer within a few days and I'm sure will run well for years to come.