Ownership Diary - VW Polo 1.4 (MkIV 2004)

Thanks, but mine's too old.

 

It is honestly, mint. Inside there's a small scuff to the dashboard above one of the vents, the drivers side doorcard has a little bobbling of the fabric where someone may have caught a ring on the fabric but only tiny and the top of the plastic door trim on the drivers door (next to the window) has some speckles like a chemical has bobbled it (looks like rain drops have falled onto it) - but all of that is me being particularly OCD and picky.

I'm amazed it has 84k on the clock. If I didn't know differently, I'd assume it had got 10k!

It honestly puts the condition of our 3.5yr old 118d to shame!

 

So, first few problems....

The CD changer I was so pleased with is a dud! Took Beryl out for a drive over to the storage yard to pick up the motorhome and the CD's keep skipping. With every bump, I loose the track. That'll be why god invented mp3's! So, back to the drawing board with that one. I may just stick the changer on eBay and then indulge in a decent headunit from Halfords in due course. We'll see. At the end of the day, it's only really going to be used for 15mins to the station and back, so tunes aren't top of the priority list.

Also, the clutch might be on its way out. The biting point is pretty high, which is no problem in itself and just takes a bit of getting used to, but first to second feels like it's slipping a bit. Could just be me adjusting to it so I'll keep my eyes on it, but I do fear having had a few rubbish getaways on Friday, that the clutch may be on its last legs. What do we reckon - 500quid for a new one?

Other than that, I was pleased to see that water temp came up nice and quickly on the little drive to the yard (just 1.5miles away), so I can at least be happy that the 7mile journey to the station won't be too short.

Oh, and I finally got the V5c from the DVLA. Turns out it's had two owners, not the one that VW Huntingdon said In the grand scheme of things it's not that bad on a 11yr old car. First owner from 2004-2007 and then 2007-2015 so we can forgive that. But it's annoying nonetheless that it was somewhat misrepresented!

 

Ha ha! Yes, don't worry about that!

I've just had a quote from the place who looked after my motorhome - £499 inc supply, fit and VAT for a genuine VW clutch kit. I didn't think that was too bad at all. Will steel myself for checking it in soon.

House move is at least moving along, but have posted a new thread in the Chat & Banter with the latest challenge!

 

So, a quick update on the Polo.

She's now been pushed fully into service and has done over 600miles in the last fortnight since we completed on our house. Not having moved in yet, I've got a regular 50mile each way commute from my Mum and Dads to the house, she's seeing some miles.

I can thankfully confirm that there's nought wrong with the clutch - it was more down to me getting used to the lack of torque low down in the rev range. Once the relatively high biting point and featherweight throttle have been mastered, she shifts cleanly and without slippage and actually between 3-4k rpm, it's got a surprising ability to shift.

I've filled up a few times and keeping careful logs of mileage and fuel, I'm getting around 41mpg even whilst sitting at 80mph (indicated) on the motorway.

I'm really beginning to fall for the charms of Beryl. She's comfortable, amazingly quiet on the motorway, the stereo isn't too bad and even the CD changer which I thought was shot since it kept skipping, actually just needs to be warm in order to play the CDs without skipping. I'm getting used to motoring which does what it says on the tin and doesn't cost the earth. And actually because of that, I'm getting some more enjoyment out of it too. The engine is so bid able, chassis is comfortable but a bit boaty around the corners, but there's so much more to do than the relatively binary character of new cars.

At this rate, I'm afraid to say it, @kleynie but I can't see me saying goodbye to this little car for a long time to come!

 

Shouldn't have been quite so quick to comment on the Polo. Whilst filling up the washer fluid last week, I noticed that the coolant was below the min mark!

Topped it up with Halfords pre-mixed pink stuff and after another 300miles, it looks like it's dropped just below the max mark. Methinks we either have a leak (which I can't see), or worse still, something wrong with the engine (head gasket or cylinder head). I'm going to keep an eye on it and do some careful measuring on the very level floor of my new garage. If it continues to drink the coolant then I'll have to book it in with VW for diagnosis and attention. Thank goodness it's under VW Used Warranty until August!

 

OK, quick update on Beryl. Now on 85,250miles and averaging 37mpg. Cost per mile - 54pence (and reducing).

Coolant issue seems to have gone away, so can only assume that it wasn't fully topped up when I bought it. Have since done a good few miles, in all kinds of conditions and no change.

As reported on another thread, I changed both headlight and main beam bulbs for a set of Philips X-treme Vision bulbs. It was a complete pain in the backside; I spent 1.5hrs skinning my nuckles and then having to dismantle the grill, remove front bumper and n/s headlight to get the n/s bulbs into the Polo due to the battery box being in the way! But what was immediately noticeable is how much whiter the beam is over the standard bulbs. Not quite as white as my xenons on the F25 but certainly whiter and whilst they're not "night & day" different, there is definitely a bigger concentration of light in the nearfield than there was and slightly more (or maybe more defined) around the farthest reaches of the main beam. Certainly gave me more confidence that I was seeing more of the road and less shadows / dead spots within the nearfield beam. 50quid well spent and I fitted a pair of LED (white) sidelight bulbs into the mix too, which has given a bit of a more modern look to it.

I have got a problem with the nsf suspension - when going over speedbumps or craggy roads, there is quite a substantial creaking noise from the nsf end. I was going to get the car up on a jack and have a fiddle around with the suspension components, but when I took a look, there appeared not to be any jacking points and I spotted some rust blemishes on the underside, so didn't fancy jacking up to find me putting my jack through the floor, so think I'm going to take it to VW and get it seen to under the warranty (which is up to 100k).

Other than that, she's running beautifully - proving stellar companion on my 7mile each way commute to the station and home each morning and evening. Starts on the key each and every time. Comfy, nippy, nice little rasp on the exhaust between 3-4,000rpm and typically teutonic in its ability to just get on with it and do everything without complaint. I'm really rather fond of her. I see some lovely metal in the car park - everything from brand new Masers to mostly depreciated exotic machinary. I'd love to think when my cashflow Situation improves, that I'll have something more exotic. But at 37mpg, bought and paid for, cheap insurance & tax - I find it hard to imagine ever wanting to really get rid of her.

Hopefully there'll be nothing exciting to report going forwards, but will nevertheless report if something does come up.

 

Two things:

Booked into Vindis Sawston next Thurs to investigate the source of the creaking suspension. Will update thread with results. Confirmed it should be covered under warranty, whatever it is.

Found out last night that the seat runners are quite sharp! Went on emergency beer.....sorry, petrol run, yesterday evening, where I just happened to pick up some Stella Artois. As I went gently round a 90deg bend in the village near us, the beer slid into the passenger side seat runner and one tin exploded! Upon further inspection, the tin had a 1/2inch gash through the side of it which can only have been from the runner. I now have a car which smells faintly like a pub cellar! This weekend will be spent with wetvac and Autoglym carpet shampoo!

 

Mileage - 86,110 / Av MPG - 38.5mpg

Nothing too much to report on Beryl other than the following.......

I had to cancel the warranty work on the springs due to work, so still need to get her in to get that looked into. I will combine with a service. I had a phonecall from Vindis VW Huntingdon last week informing me that the service was due. I had it in my mind that it was due in August, but a quick look at the very full service book shows that it was indeed 11 months since the last attention. Funnily enough, today by accident, I think I saw a countdown timer for the service - 5.5k or 26days!

Anyway, stupid extravagance given how old Beryl is and the fact that I'm getting rid of her soon, but I can't help but get her serviced at Vindis. She has 12yrs worth of VW Huntingdon stamps in her book and I can't bring myself to break that record. Also, it saves messing around booking two appointments - one for servicing and one for warranty work. It's only an oil change & brake fluid needed, so shouldn't break the bank. Famous last words.......

Other than that, we are still pursuing our love hate relationship. :confused: I love the simplicity, the fact I don't really care about it, the fact it's surprisingly nippy and cheap as chips to own. What I hate is less about the car and more about myself - I miss the toys of the BMWs, I miss the luxury, the comfort, the performance, the glance over your shoulder when you've parked up - pride. Beryl is just an appliance - four wheels to get me here and there. There's no excitement about getting in and going anywhere. And the long journeys to the airports, which I hadn't originally planned upon, are now grating - particularly when struggling to maintain momentum on hills or have any adequate overtaking ability. I'm not necessarily up for mega-fast 0-60s but 12.5secs is a bit slow.

Anyway, Mrs Spuff has decreed that Beryl has to stay until at least August, preferably October. Current vehicles on the shortlist are:

- F10/F11 - 520d / 530d M Sport - with VDC or Adaptive Drive (seen a few come up on AUC recently)
- F25 X3 xDrive20d or 30d M Sport - again, keep seeing a few come up with VDC and given the only thing I don't like about the wife's one is the lack of Sports seats, I wonder if that wouldn't make a great car too. On the one hand, silly to have 2 x same SUV, but it's a good car and there's still the wading issue throughout the winter.
- F30/F31 - something petrol.
- F20/21 - still have a set of winter tyres in the garage, which could suit well. But if I'm honest, I want something a bit bigger.