January 2004
Sure you're all well aware Polo's been for his MOT today.
They just phoned and said there's 1000 miles left on the brakes (funny that - 10,000 miles ago they told me there were only 3000 miles left on them, when they'd only been on a month and were actually fine) and that the rear exhaust box had gone.
Quoted me £111 to do the brakes and £171 to do rear and middle exhaust. I told them not to do the brakes (I don't have a death wish, I just have a handy dad) and asked if the car would fail because of the exhaust. Service Bloke said yes, so I asked if the MOT had already been done and he said they're doing it now. So I said just to fail it and I'd get the work done next week (MOT doesn't run out til next Friday). He didn't seem to like that but eventually understood that I didn't want to give him £200.
He's just left me a voice mail saying that as I was so adamant I didn't want the work done, he's double checked the MOT criteria and although there's a hole in the exhaust (which will grow apparently) it hasn't actually failed the MOT. And don't anyone tell me, as bloke I live with just has, that the hole will be a result of sitting doing nothing on the bodyshop forecourt for 4 months!
You just know if I'd said yes to the work he wouldn't have double checked that one little thing.
Me and this car - nothing's ever simple. Read more
Just prolonging the 15000 word dissertation a bit longer here really...
Been driving a brand new Polo for the last couple of days, and thought I'd compare it to my 1996 one (thanks for the work avoiding suggestion in Technical!)
Mine's a 96 1.4SE 3dr, the new one's a 2003 1.2 5dr Twist
Three words that describe my polo: nippy, fun, young.
Three words that describe the new one: stodgy, square, granny.
Complete opposites these two! The new polo is just too big and feels absolutely huge to drive, yet inside it feels cramped. It sounds like a diesel when you start it up and driving it is like driving an armchair. I've read HJ's roadtest for this car and he seems to think the opposite, so it's possible I have a dud one, or that it hasn't got going yet as it only had 5 miles on the clock when I picked it up. There's loads more 'play' in the accelorator, in that you have to press it a long way before the car actually realises you want to go faster.
Apart from the drive, it's just niggly things I don't like about this car - like the fact that to turn the lights and vents off you have to turn them towards the open circle symbol, whereas common sense tells you it would be the closed symbol. It only has a cassette player - even the cacky new Micras I had last year had a CD player as standard! This polo also mists up at the drop of a hat and has really confusing wiper controls. And only the passenger gets a cup holder - what's that about?! It's far too dark inside, with black knobs and switches on a blackdash. Also many parts of the inside are made of that textured rubber which just attracts dirt and dust.
Don't know if it's just because I'm not used to a 5dr car, but this one has appalling visibility around the car and many more 'blind spots' than on my polo.
I hate the shape of this car, it's just so brick-like. My polo has a smily face (no really!) and looks smart and little, whereas this one just looks like a Golf.
Things I do like: The blue dials, the central locking and the little shelf under the glove compartment.
Trouble is, I will be looking at a new car in about six months time - don't think I'll be a Pologirl again unless I get the shape that ended on the 51 reg (with the smart grilles)...the ones that followed that just get stodgier and stodgier.
So there's my opinion - sorry it's a bit look/feel based, but I don't know much about technical under the bonnet things!
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Driven old 1.4 Polo a few times as a courtesy car and didn't think much of it, actually - rather stodgy handling I thought. If the new one you were driving was the 1.2 2-valve engine, though, I'm not suprised you thought it a bit slow - heavier car, low power output ! I would try the 4-valve version for a start - although I must admit I don't like 3-cylinder engines much - weird noise / slow acceleration.
As for Skoda, I test drove the Fabia with the 1.4 16 valve 100bhp engine - and it was an absolute hoot ! Loads of revs, really chuckable, great ride/handling. These are likely to be cheaper now with the new Polo and Seat on the market I would go have a look - btw, the fuel consumption on this is better than your 60bhp 1.4 !
If not, I would recommend the Toyota Yaris - or even the new Corolla - the online brokers have the base T2 1.4 at £9K - Polo money !
Hi I was wondering if anyone may be able to help me. I have a Pug 306 and when I make a right turn at speed, e.g. a bend on a motorway the whole car starts to shake.
I have jacked the car up and when I shake to passenger side wheel it moves backward and forwards. I took off the road wheel, breaks and popped the drive shaft out of the back of the hub. When I grip the hub and move it from side to side there is movement in the hub.
My friend seems to think this is a wheel bearing problem but I have been told that a wheel bearing makes noise when it\'s faulty. So if it\'s not that does anybody know what else it could be? Read more
Sounds like a driveshaft failure to me!
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groups.msn.com/honestjohn - Pictures say a thousand words.....
I've always associated ANPR technology with big white vans, but there has been half a dozen cars pulled outside work today.
They were pulled by a marked Sierra, but 100 yards upstream of the sierra was a red focus occupied by two large gents in yellow jackets.
There was nothing on the back seat of the focus but there was a very small CCTV type camera pointing out of the rear window, and the focus stayed put while the sierra was out pulling people
does this mean anpr technology is either small enough to fit in the boot of a focus, or has gone RF ?
I know that in the cop's position i'd be careful given what happened in Leeds on boxing day, but they did seem to be cuffing everybody they pulled while they were in the back of the sierra.
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Bora - what Bora ? Read more
"what he can see out the window."
The poibt being that he will see a black BMW 5 albeit not the real one.
Hello!
Bit of Friday afternoon guesswork required!
Am looking at a job I'm very interested in (would also involve relocation away from the ghetto I currently live in) and includes a company car or car allowance. If the allowance was chosen, it would be just short of £5k a year... so, what company car might one expect to get based on that?
(I know I have to apply, be interviewed, get the job and pass probationery period before I can have the car, but I'm just interested!)
Thanks!
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I don't think my Polo (early 80's) does warning lights. The newer the car, the more there is to go wrong, the more there is to tell you there might be something wrong. Like a timing belt light that comes on at 180,000 when it was changed at 179,950. How annoying...
So stick to the old one - or buy an older one & cure that gene!
I've just seen a BMW Z3 on the A40 through Oxford with a numberplate that has a black background and white lettering - just like cars from the 60s and before. The Z3 was black, so the overall effect was stunning.
Does anyone know if this is legal? I have a vague memory that the "white on black" plates are a concession to owners of antiques to let them keep their car in its authentic appearance but are illegal for newer cars. I'm not certain though. Read more
If it was an UK reg. car he can expect his collar to be felt, especially if he foolish enough to drive past a ANPR.
Do backroomers have any views on 3 door versus 5 door cars?
I am about to buy a replacement for the trusty old 5 door Sunny soon. I want an Almera.
The choice of doors arises because I don?t carry rear passengers much or have youngsters and their clobber to carry around.
Previously 3 doors would not have been an option on the grounds of rear passenger safety i.e. exiting after an accident and general convenience.
My impression (and I may be wrong about this) is that 3 door cars are less stiff and not as strong as the 5 door model in the event of an accident.
I looked through the EURO NCAP site but it made no mention of the difference that the number of doors would make. Ncap models are those which are most popular!.
I am surprised that this hasn?t been covered before but a forum search come up with zilch (DD will now oblige I expect).
Cheers
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5 doors for me too every time.
Don't want to worry you Pologirl but if you forget to lock your doors whilst driving someone may well jump in right beside you.
Girlfriend bought above 18months ago. Full service history and good condition apart from accident repair to passenger door/ front wing.
Started fine up until Nov 2002 when car wouldnt start at all some mornings - but then some mornings ok. Seemed ok during day. Plenty of juice in battery and engine always turned over fine. Garage never could work out what problem was as could never find the fault but towing always seemed to start the car.
Garage eventually replaced all possible problem parts they could think of and referred to Ford main dealers without anyone ever really ever finding out what problem was. By end Feb 2003 problem seemed to have gone and car has been fine throughout 2003..
However, in Dec 2003 same problem starting has returned and we just dont know what to do. Fine sometimes and then just wont start.
Can anyone help with any advice - apart from get rid of the car?
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lol, OK I do have a problem with lots of electronics in cars, but that might be because I'm sour at only being able to afford an 80's Escort :-).
It's just when i hear about other peoples niggling problems (sudden revs/jerking/sudden stalling), and the cost of new parts, I wonder if it's worth while or even economical getting a car with 50 sensors connected to the engine. Much harder getting cheap pattern parts for things such as Lambda sensors compared to, say, a carb. jet.
Anyway, that's me done. End of thread highjack :-|.
Hi,
I have to replace the bearing at the top of the front suspension strut on a 1993 Nissan Sunny. Does anyone have a good way of removing the top nut (to seperate the spring from the shock)using hand tools? I don\'t want to take the strut to a garage to do (with an air tool), because this will mean I can\'t do the job on a weekend and the car\'s out of action for a couple of days.
I have a \"workmate\" type bench but nothing else like that to clamp it.
Much appreciated!
Mark Read more
Hi,
Thanks for the replies. I haven't tried yet - but I was assuming I'd need some way of stopping the strut from turning with the bolt.
I was planning to use spring compressors yes - but thanks for the warning anyway!
Cheers,
Mark
Morning...
Well, the fools at VW have given me a brand new (5 miles on the clock when I picked it up!) polo to play with while they give Polo some much needed TLC. I'm not that impressed with it to be honest, but that's a whole other discussion!
There's a warning light that's coming on and off, a yellow steering wheel with an exclaimation mark next to it. The book isn't in the car and my Polo isn't flashy enough to have all these lights so I have no idea what it is, and if I should be driving it.
Any ideas please?
Thanks Read more
I've just consulted my Fabia manual (similar instrument panel but without the blue illumination) and it is indeed the power steering warning light. 'If the light comes on when driving or does not go out within 2 seconds after switching on the ignition, this indicates a fault with the electronics of the power steering system.'
Browse
So is my DIY patch an MOT fail. It doesn't leak, and is patched with a bit of putty, some jubilee clips and metal sheeting (Heinz baked bean tin, actually). Very very proud of it, too!