Is the Polo 9n3 GTI a unicorn?

[HiddenTaco]

Click-bait title but a serious post.

I've been looking at a track car / run around for a while and can't find anything like the Polo GTI 9n3.

• Under $10k
• Less than 100,000Kms
• Engine with no glaringly obvious defects (reliable)
• Manual
• Parts/mods galore
• decent 0-100

My thought factors

• I don't want to spend big on something I or another driver could write off on track.
• FWD is my preference because I don't trust my self in a RWD.
• Looks and size don't matter to me, I have a Corolla and an Arteon as well.

My questions:

• Should I care about age and mileage?
  Better to spend $9k on a <100k or <$6 on a 150k car and do maintenance
• Is it a unicorn or am I missing something negative?
• Admittedly I've never driven one. Will I be underwhelmed?

[sambb]

These cars were around before a Vw hatch was every second car on the road. Because of that the owners that bought them felt there was a bit of exclusivity about them and tended to look after them I think. If you hunt it is still possible to find low kay garages examples.
Mileage is important with respect to engine health, gearbox health etc if you do not intend on rebuilding the motor. Having said that, the weak spot in the motor is the rods when you approach 300 lb/ft apparently so if you are after big grunt then you'll need to do the bottom end anyway which makes the above a moot point. But I don't believe you need that much power to make a quick track car anyway. A low kay car will have hoses/coils/ seals eg cam cover gasket, vacuum hoses, that kind of thing less in need of attention.
You will be underwhelmed initially. The engine is under tuned from factory and they are softly bushed, damped, sprung, bar'd so don't handle. Realistically $2k minimum is needed for suspension, bushes and first stages of tune but then you do end up with a car that will be level pegging with today's mini hatches. It'll need a clutch which is another chunk of money too but that's the same for anything you buy at this age. The main thing in your favour is weight. Yes most of the super mini hatches today have 150kw but they also fill them with so much rubbish that they weigh 1250-1350kg+ so aren't any quicker than the pog will be. Some are knocking at 1400kg. They generally have the exact same underpinnings as the Polo too so chassis-wise arent really a step ahead majorly in any department except nvh comfort and more buttons to push. If you want to track one you are better off being taken for a drive in one by someone who has properly modded there's and then you'll know what you are heading for.
Bang for buck they are one of the good ones. They can be made to handle very well, the standard brake are very capable, thy have decent seat/seating position, a tune completely changes the engine performance, the gearboxes are strong and apart from some very well known things that can go wrong with them (SAI, coils that are therefore a cinch to fix) they are reliable. These engines are like lego too with other cars like golf mk4, audi - manifolds, turbos, inlets manifolds etc giving a high degree of interchangeablility. On the chassis side the interchangeability of parts isn't as high as with other VAG cars as not that many were sold with this chassis so suspension, intercooler kits etc will be overseas brands or sourced with less stuff from the wreckers.

[simon k]

I've found it to be a Unicorn - I paid $4k for mine about 18 months ago to do exactly the same as you, daily driver plus sprints. Sambb is the same, daily driver and hillclimbs. I was replacing an '03 Focus 1.8 and wanted something with a turbo and some scope for modification. My preference was AWD (WRX or Evo) but the minister for finance and recreation specified a car under 10 years old - finding something AWD in the budget was never going to happen, turbo meant Polo GTI or Focus XR5, Focus was too much money, cheap Polo popped up

Mine was cheap at $4k, had 100k on the clock but was unregistered with a few cosmetic problems and needed the timing belt done. Values seem to have dropped a fair bit since I bought it, at the time I couldn't find anything under $6.5k. There was a heavily modified car for sale on here a little while ago for $5k that was a bargain.

Sam has been very very generous with his knowledge and experience. He's already done anything and everything I've wanted to do and his build thread is full of great information.

It's been really reliable, and (mostly) easy to work on. It's "stage 2" now and I'm loving it. 17yo daughter is doing a track training day in it on Sunday

[seangti]

I had a similar approach when I bought my first one in late 2008. Had to meet a similar criteria and carry roof racks.


Other than the clutch comment, agree with everything above. May need to consider a clutch if you do a LSD and run semi's, but there's been cars with 150-170kwat on stock clutches with 150-180,000kms. Being light and tyres spinning takes some of the pressure off the clutch. But always safe to keep a clutch budget just in case.

As the car gets more modded, it can be a bit more difficult to find good mechanics. Also, given the age of these cars, there's not too many tuners around these days, so takes a little more searching, going aftermarket ECU, or build the same as someone else and see if their tune is available (you didn't hear that from me). Sourcing used parts is also somewhat of a challenge, so that can get pricey buying all new parts for a $6k car, e.g. my LSD cost $3k and I pulled the gearbox out and reinstalled myself (didn't open the box myself). But you can build a fast, reliable car for reasonable dollars, there's a few build threads on the forum with tried and tested results.

If the cars for track, I'd chase something with some tasteful mods to get you running and not too bothered with mileage. You can than mod from their to suit yourself.

But for the power they can produce and being comfortable to drive daily, there's not much else in the market. XR4 won't make the power, but probably a better stock chassis, Ralliart Colt - each to their own, probably a better stock base car for hard driving, but a little compromised for daily.