New VW Polo 1.4 reliability

I'm planning on buying the new VW Polo 1.4 Trendline.

For me, reliability is one of the most important factors when coming to choose the right vehicle.

Upon reading your review on the "What's bad"(on the Polo), I sense that this calls for bad news... I currently own a 1997 1.4 Polo with 100,000 miles on the engine.

It's a great car for it's size and although it is old it doesn't see many garages. Do you think that the new Polo isn't as reliable as it used to be?

By the way I live in Israel where the Polo imported comes from Spain (if it makes the difference to the ones imported to the U.K from South Africa)?

Perhaps I should choose the Seat Ibiza instead?

Asked on 3 May 2011 by Segev

Answered by Honest John
The 1.4 and 1.6 16v engines as fitted to the new Polo (but not your old Polo) have a bad history. Timing belt failures and more. Look them up in car by car breakdown. Far better the 1.2TSI 105. Our Polos also used to come from Spain, but since the end of the City Golf, RHD Polos now come from South Africa.
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