Advice: Purchasing second-hand 9N Polo

[rayray086]

Hi guys,

My younger sister is about to get a P's and as a brother and Volkswagenist, I've only done the right thing and suggested a Polo for her She likes the styling of them (both the 6N and 9N style) but there's a particular 9N on the market that I'm keen on.

It's a 2003 fully-optioned SE (1.4L) model, silver, automatic, 3-door, regularly serviced with logbooks... and 190,000km on the clock. Yeah, the owner loves it I think What would be the things to look out for in the 9N Polo? In the ad, he/she claims that it's in excellent condition and drives well, yet later in the comments makes a statement about the gearbox "needing work". However, he/she is advertising it at $7K, which I think is a steal for a fully-optioned 5 year old Polo. I presented an idea to my sister and father that she should go for the car, and swap in a low-km engine+gearbox. Is this a good idea? How reliable are these 1.4L engines? Could we save a bit and keep the engine, and just replace the gearbox? How much would I be looking at, including labour? My guess was it would be around the $3-4K mark. Is it worth it? I've looked at other ads, and can see the 6N2 still sells $10K strongly, so I think we could jump at a good deal here. Also, keep in mind that she'll be using the car for regular 30 minute commutes to Uni.

Another car that caught our attention is a 1998 white 6N Polo, also with an auto transmission and full service history, asking price at $6.7K. Looks promising and is decent for the 150,000km it's done. Is there anything that I should look out for, for the 6N? I've yet to contact both sellers though.

Any help would be fantastic!

Cheers,
Raymond.

[DaveMack]

If that pic is the 9N, Ray ... it looks in tidy nick. The little 1.4 donks are strong little runners (not powerful ... but long-lived). Do you or a family member have AA membership? Get them (or someone who's mechanical knowledge you trust) to check the car out.

But generally ... fully optioned, 9N for 7K ... I think it looks pretty good.

Dave

[rayray086]

Unfortunately that's just a generic pic they put up. I won't be able to know until I get to see it in person. Good to hear that the 1.4 inherits VW's knack of building long-living engines.

I didn't think about getting it professionally inspected; we have NRMA membership so we'll probably get that done some time too, if it leaves a good first impression!

[VW GTI]

I wouldnt buy a car with 190k on the clock. Soon as they hit 200, noone wants it which means you get nothing back. Also, 190k in 5 years is a lot/year. But that's just me (I just got out of my Honda Civic with 215k on the clock, no breakdowns ever).

[gpk_gti]

200k for a 10 yo car is reasonable and not something to make you worried although ray,200k for a 5 yo car means its been driven alot and probably had a hard life.they even havent used a photo of the car.I personally would not look at it.

as you know with most of the VW motors,they are tough! but its all the bits that connect to it that stuff up!!!

[rayray086]

I wouldnt buy a car with 190k on the clock. Soon as they hit 200, noone wants it which means you get nothing back. Also, 190k in 5 years is a lot/year. But that's just me (I just got out of my Honda Civic with 215k on the clock, no breakdowns ever).

Yeah I normally wouldn't either, but at $7K, it's hard to pass. Keep in mind that an engine/gearbox swap would be done if I do go for that car. I'm just not sure how much it will cost in the end.

as you know with most of the VW motors,they are tough! but its all the bits that connect to it that stuff up!!!

Yeah, gosh, that's the truth. Would it still be worth a look? The guy mentions he has logbooks so it might be worth checking out what he has done? It's been taken to a VW service centre (Chatswood) so there shouldn't be any dodgies...

[gpk_gti]

of course check it out,,,and get someone PROFESSIONAL to look at it like LOON or similar(not those ***kers nrma etc etc)...

how much do similar 5yo polos go for with low k's??? red booked it??

[Sharkie]

It says in the add it has been used as a delivery van. Cargo barrier and rubber rear mat.... means no back seat. Do you want to buy an ex-delivery van. Those things are really abused by the drivers.

[gpk_gti]

ouchhhhhhh..run a mile!!! ITS BEEN BASHED HARD!!

[ope126]

Stay well clear of that BARGAIN...!

(However as an added bonus you can Legally park in loading zones!)

[rayray086]

It says in the add it has been used as a delivery van. Cargo barrier and rubber rear mat.... means no back seat. Do you want to buy an ex-delivery van. Those things are really abused by the drivers.

Ahhhh thanks for that. I really didn't know what it meant I'll look towards the 6N then, as it's more to our price range at the moment!

Farout, of all cars, why would you use a Polo to move stuff around?!

[Mischa]

Farout, of all cars, why would you use a Polo to move stuff around?!

lol thats true.

isnt around the 150-200kms mark the time you need to get an auto tranny reconditioned usually? i guess shes not interested in a manual? theres always the vr6...

[MissVuks]

If you wana get them checked out professionally my brother and I always use Sydney Vehicle Check..

My brother was looking for a car for his fiancee, found a car, looked pretty good, had low k's, decent price but he had his suspicions. The guy kept pushing for him to buy it, but my brother decided to get it checked out first.

In the end the car had been hit from all 4 sides of the car, basically every panel on the car had been damaged, there was considerable damage to the structural integrity of the car, and what made it even worse when the guy put down the sun visor there was BLOOD STAINS on the carpeting on the roof of the car!!

My brother ran a mile from that car and the owner denied everything saying it had never been in an accident and the the guy who checked out the car was a liar. The guy who checked the car said that was the worst car he has ever in his career.