Rubbish Cars We Love: Volkswagen Polo Mark 2 – The Budget Golf
Then buzz it up
November 4th, 2005 at 15:30 by Chris Laverty
Expect the backlash maybe, but you try and tell us where the little Polo ever fit in to Volkswagen’s line-up. It did have a cute arse though.
It Had a Split Personality:
No, it was more like two separate cars. The Mark 1 Polo was actually an Audi 50, repacked with substantially lower spec and then rebadged with that wonderfully nickable VW logo (this was thirty years ago, don’t forget).
In 1981 the follow up Mark 2 Polo was launched. This is the model you will remember most. It not only outsold the Mark 1 by a considerable margin; it also featured a 1.3 model with a new rev counter. This might not seem like much to write home about, but in the days of lawnmower-engined Ford Fiestas and slimline Fiat Unos, one needed an edge over the competition. A rev counter, although utterly pointless on a sub-60 BHP Volkswagen, showed the potential was there.
The Mark 2 made it through nine years in production. During that time it became a favourite of driving schools, ladies of leisure and junior road hogs. About the only thing it did not do was attain any credibility whatsoever. Like castle wench Danni to Princess Kylie, the Polo was just another Golf pretender.
Golf, Shmolf, the Mark 2 Polo Wasn’t Even a Hatchback:
Well, it wasn’t a coupe either. Or an estate for that matter. It observed a similar design blueprint to that of the Talbot Samba, marketing 0.5%, functionality 99.5%.
The truth is that being able to pigeonhole the second generation Polo mattered little to punters. Despite every man and his dog considering the car to be more feminine than frilly pink panty-liners, the Mark 2 defied its critics by basking in the Golf’s reflective glory. The top selling Golf lead the way for Volkswagen, it still does in many respects (we’ll take an R32 in blue please), with the Polo coming up a distant second for sheer perseverance.
There was no GTI Polo either, though a bunked GT G40 ‘coupe’ featuring a tiny supercharger ensured the Mark 2 was credited with nerve, if not much confidence by its German owners. Sadly the G40 was only available in left-hand drive and never officially exported to the UK.
With its base model priced at nearly £4,000 in old money the Polo was never the cheapest option on the market. A saloon Mark 2 model was also produced, as was de rigeur in the 80’s, bafflingly named the Derby. This car was only bought by Christians, immediately fitted with a mandatory fish symbol and never driven above 40 mph.
What’s to Like With the Polo, Really?:
Balls and attitude. You don’t see many Mark 2’s on modern roads because they have all rusted to shit or been wrecked by banger racers. Love for the Mark 2 has been thin on the ground in recent years, but opinions are slowly changing. The four-sided freakiness of the Polo is bound to take off again soon. We are all sick of the arch, aren’t we? Rigid is the way to go, sparse and lean like the mutant offspring of a Lotus Elise and Fiat Panda. Leave speed to those who can afford the tickets. We’ll take steady progress and a genuine analogue clock instead.
Moreover when was the last time you saw a Mark 2 abandoned at the side of the road? Even joyriders refuse to steal them. If you want to look to like you have fallen on hard times get a Mark 2 Golf. If you really have fallen on hard times get a Mark 2 Polo. It can’t possibly be any worse than walking.
Say, For Arguments Sake, That I Was Keen…
Roll up, roll up, we have found a sweet little number for you on eBay. For the few hundred quid a Mark 2 can command these days, isn’t it worth just buying one out of sheer curiosity?
There is no such thing as a Buyers Guide for a motor that costs less than a half-decent night on the town. We just recommend that you try the brakes several times and check that the seat belts are not made of paper.
Be different, be original, be the owner of a car featured fleetingly in My Beautiful Laundrette.
It’s pop culture, kids. Go with it.
[story by Chris Laverty]
November 7th, 2005 at 12:50 pm
Just browsing over the internet, I have found that of the many cars you have posted as being pure scrap, 100% of the ones I have owned are on here!
Yes its true, I have owned few cars, but they were all part of this. And now, I am looking to buy a Fiat Uno.
I have owned a Mk2 Polo and a Citroen AX Debut. I bought the AX because it was better at stopping than the Polo, which had notoriously bad brakes.
The AX had no rear brakes I found out recently.
Yup, every time I braked, just a little bit more of the fluid seeped out from the cylinders. Still, It stopped better.
I gave the Polo to my friend, because he accidentally torched his Fiesta whilst welding the floorpanel.
Now all I have to do is get him to name me as a benifactor on his will.
My AX now has a nackered head-gasket. Im taking the bus everywhere, and I am hating it more than you can imagine.
I love my shit cars.
November 7th, 2005 at 10:13 pm
Yay! Yay! Hecklerspray: The Polo Mk. 2
Another week, another installment of Hecklerspray’s Rubbish Cars We Love. This time our boy Chris Laverty takes on the second-generation Volkswagen Polo, a wee runabout that never made it to our shores, but boasted a ripping sixty horsepower and…
March 19th, 2006 at 10:29 am
Well, I have two Derbys and I don’t consider myself a Christian neither I have the fish on my trunk lid. Now they’re rather “cult” cars in Germany and around and except for the crap suspension, they’re really a fine driving gadget for tiny money.
April 29th, 2006 at 10:51 pm
i was just wondering if you have ever driven a mk2 polo? because i have one as my first car, it may be old it may rattle but it take it down a quiet B-road and you will find out that the little car has some charater. oh and not to mention that its quicker than some of the moden boy racers cars, which the’re all suprised about, and the G40 was imported to Britain 500 of them and they still would be able to take on modern cars, that is helped by the low weight which gives it 150bhp/ton which is more then a Mini Cooper S
May 6th, 2006 at 2:22 pm
i have recently bought a Mk2 Polo for 150 pounds. Yes it is a bit rusty, yes it rattles and yes it doesnt quite look like an audi tt. However as a first car i cant ask for anything better (within my budget). It is solid, has room for mates in the back, fairly quick (1.3) and has a quality canvass roll back sunroof! So please before you slate an old car just think that i might have made some people very happy! old cars are not always crap, rusty and meant for ebay. I am really fond of older, les popular cars. They have more character than any of these new cars by far!
February 9th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
i hope your not talking about the mk2 coupe gt aswell, as that little motor is a pure babe magnet
mine old one easily did 110mph which took it off the clock as that only went to 100, and thats totaly unmodded, sure its no golf bt it doesnt claim to be, thats like saying the seat ibiza is the poor mans leon and the fiesta a poor mans focus. there diffrent cars. and the g40 would kick the ass of a gti golf.
September 20th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
H reg. Polo GT coupe, bought for lowly sum of £250, only very minor rust(inside of drivers door, 1/4light pillar!!!! How!!! Why!!!, and nowhere else, repeat nowhere else!
a couple of very small ‘carpark’ dings to n/s door. And so to the engine….this car is a pocket rocket! and no mistake, wheelspin in 3rd, in the dry! the scenery outside becoming a blur…..clock says 125000 + miles, when hot, and idling, low oil pressure bleeper and light come on, - raise revs by 200rpm, they stop!, so I added a tin of ‘Wynns Supercharge’ oil additive,-problem solved (possibly only temporarily though!), and still the power keeps on coming…. I’ve driven its modern equivalent, and it’s a different car altogether, feeling very ‘woolly’ and unresponsive, when compared to the raw, and brutal performance, of my ‘mars red meanie’. As far as I am aware, mine is standard, maybe just very ‘loose’.I am very keen to play further, and add whatever mods I can lay my hands on, I quite like it’s street-sleeper looks to, ….especially when it leaves a lot more expensive stuff in a cloud of dust…. it raises a fair few eyebrows!! feel free to pass judgement/ tips/ ideas, ta! regards
June 17th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Well after owning a mk1 golf then two mk2s and now a camper (T25), I got rid of the golfs a while back for problems and lack of funds.
Recently aquiring a new job meant I needed a new car, the camper allthough a great drive, didnt and still doesnt want to drive over 200miles a day.
I wanted something cheap and cheerful. I found a couple of golfs mk2 and 3 all around £500 onwards but nothing that would offer cheap petrol or insurance as we (golf owners) know even the lowly m2 1.3 reaches group 7.
But low and behold I found in my local paper a mk2 polo catalyst 1.4 pink (red originally but fair bit of sun damage) For a measly sum of £450 with one owner from new, an immaculate find with no rust and only one hole found by the front offside wheel arch due to I imagine corrosion over the years. The backseats havn’t been sat in and the owner even went to the trouble of sewing in a denim patch on the driver seat to protect those all so precious seats.
I would never have seen myself owning a polo they are ugly and never really matched the golf for looks or poke but now I have one I must say I’m converted
The sterio is still original as is most of the car including the speakers allof which have no rubber surround meaning some crackly audio, but Ill replace them, (infact that reminds me why I came searching for polos lol)
I really am impressed with the car I hated, it doesnt cost to much in fuel allthough a fith gear would have been nice to help lower that and the insurance is a steal at I think a group 4.
Well thats my two pence worth I’m off to find some replacement speakers.
Regards
Sean
June 24th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Well.. I’ve taken the plunge and bought a D reg Mark II 1.3 for £400.. The reason? This car has barely been driven, I very elderly lady, who had it from new, put all of 18,000 miles on the clock, and I am not missing a ‘0′.
July 12th, 2008 at 1:42 am
Popularity/cult status seems to be nearly on the cards for the old polo,
I drive a E reg 1l light gold polo, mint condition inside, and I get some happy looks from people when cruising slowly by, new carburetor so car now could surely beat newer 1.4s even 1.6s,
my advice(lol): if you see a mint one, or even a rusty one(project only) go get it!
August 3rd, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I have just this week come into the posession of a Gold 1984 1043cc MkII Polo, with 65k on the clock and in VERY good condition -mint inside too: from an older lady who let me have him for free as I’m a VW man, and I promised him a good home.
I love the lil bugger! I’ve taken every opportunity to drive him over the last few days. Obviously not the most rapid of machines, but he’s eager & feisty. And everything clunks solidly when you shut a door or flick a switch. I’ve never been too sure about the tiny-estate looks, until I noticed one living up the road a few months ago.
Now I own one, I think I get it:
The ease of a small car, with the practicality of a larger load area! Essential with a family, and something that 60’s Beetles are severely lacking!
I’ve had a few thumbs-up already, so I reckon cult status has all but been achieved!
August 7th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
i just bought my second mk2 polo for £100 with no rust and 82000 on the clock and its just as youd expect from a old vw, it doesnt miss a beat, cheap to run and insure, and has so much character.
everyone must own a polo at some point!!
August 7th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Quality cars not rubbish cars, look how many are around today compared with other makes & they have a hug following.
August 7th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
I currently own one and have worked on dozens of them, I know there is no better car out there.
if money was no object I’d have still bought my little olop
August 7th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
mk2 sallons rock - but my mk3 loon pimps hard
August 8th, 2008 at 12:56 am
have had my polo just under 6 years, MK2, and i foookin loves it! hence the reason of having it this long! its been abused, looked after (if that makes sence) and is STILL strong,
like Alex said.. everyone must own one at SUM point!!!
DOOOO EEEETTTT
August 8th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Mk2 polo`s are awsome little cars,they are fun to drive and cheap as chips to run,the old man used to have one and it never missed a beat considering it was d reg and had over 120k on the clock,dont knock them until you try them.
August 9th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
come to http://www.httuning.co.uk and check out some pimp cars