Polo GTI 6N: A Funny Story

[acolonna]

Hi everyone, I'm back here now to tell you my story over the past year .

As some of you know, I live in Italy and got a second hand VW Polo GTI 1.6 16V (6N) 2001 with 26.000Km in 2004.

When I got the car, everything was pretty normal and working fine (0-100Km/h in 8.5 seconds and 228Km/h maximum speed, as read on the ClimaTronic diagnostics).

On the dark side, clutch felt quite finished, first-second-third gears were sometimes hard to engage and rear gear was impossible to get in without putting it into first gear first.

When the car reached 40.000Km the CheckEngine signal went off. I took it into service and had my instrument box replaced (they said that the main communication port was broken). When I got my car back, after spending €450.00 I got my car back, with the light still on (they said that there was in fact some sort of problem with the fuel supply, but they should have opened the car to find out the problem). I said no, and drove off.

After a while also the ESP signal went off. Service told me the G200 sensor (side accelleration etc...) had to be replaced for a total expence of about €680.00. Didn't do it...no real driver needs ESP anyway...

When the car reached 58.000Km, it started becoming too noisy, from under the front (I already knew that sound: it came before my former VW Polo SDI 1.9's gearbox melted into one whole piece of s__t).

I got the GTI into my friend's garage (always the same one in Rome) for a checkup.

Service told me the clutch had to be replaced, along with a series of bits and pieces in the gearbox (all the bearings, the compasses etc...).

Total expense €1285.00. I didn't have it, so had to ask for a few months to retrieve the money. They said I'd have to pay €100.00/mo for car deposit.

After 45 days I say I have the money. They take more than two months to give the car back to me and want €265.00 for car deposit. After yelling at them I get that down to €100.00, so I pay a total of €1385.00.

Driving away I notice that the clutch is just as before and the gears are stiff as s__t.

After two months and 9000Km (I know...I just mist it so much that I drove it too much), the clutch breaks down (pulls when driving from still). Take the car back to service, finally in a new garage. After a month and a half, I get the car back with a new clutch (this time, finally, with no charge on me).

The VW guy, confidentially tells me that the clutch they removed was the one that came with the car back in 2001, but wouldn't confirm it officially.

Now the clutch feeling is good like that back in 2004, when I bought the car.

The gears are ok (as much as they can be on a Polo 6N), rear gear is always impossible to put without going into first gear first...but better than before.

A week ago, at 70.000Km I take the car to another garage for inspection (the 60.000Km inspection). Inspection is good, just have to replace brake pads.

The VW guy tells me that I should have to pay €260.00 to replace the G200 ESP sensor (instead of the €680.00 that another VW garage asked for).

In the mean time they checked the CheckEngine warning, and told me that the problem was easily found with the computer, and very little handwork: the bearings of a camshaft and an exaustion valve have to be replaced, for a total expense of €380.00 (only €30.00 of handwork).

I thanked them for honesty, and said I will soon come back for that operation, as soon as I have the money.

This is all, for now.

What I have in my hands is a Polo GTI with lower performance, the ESP and CheckEngine indicators lit and a very noisy air conditioning clutch.

But I'm very happy, as I put the Lupo GTI gear stick (the 5-gear version with the GTI badge)...cool!

One thing I know. I will never buy a VolksWagen again. Their cars are cool, but I don't trust the brand anymore...in any way.

Cheers to all!

Ascanio.

[Ritey]

Sorry to hear your troubles continue, I think I've read all your posts and I'm glad to hear your enthusiasm for the cars are still high, even if stealer experience is rotten.

After seeing / driving the new Polo GTI hopefully out next year, I wonder how tempted you will be to trade up