Volkswagen Polo ? The Car With No Holes
It always amazes me how efficient the Germans are. Whilst settling down to watch Grand Designs the other day, I saw an entire house built in a Bavarian factory, shipped to England and built in three days, all without mistakes and of course - with a top quality finish. It?s the same story with sport, I bet Michael Schumacher could waltz back into the Formula One paddock, shake Lewis Hamilton?s hand before demolishing him on the track, without breaking a sweat.
German cars are no different and a perfect microcosm of this can be found with one look at the Volkswagen Polo. Staggeringly this car has been with us for 33 years and is just as popular today as the first model was in 1975, which sold over 500,000 units worldwide in just six years. Originally a rebadged Audi 50, the Polo was sold alongside it?s Audi counterpart but was cheaper to buy. Unsurprisingly, the Polo outsold it?s identical twin and Audi stopped production of the 50.
Buoyed by it?s success a face lifted Polo appeared in 1979, with subtle styling changes to bring the baby Polo into line with the design of the existing Jetta Saloon (this included square headlights on the top-of-the-range ?Derby? derivative). It was VW?s intention for this to act as a stop-gap until the Mk II Polo arrived in 1981.
It?s fair to say that Porsche are often criticised for having a lazy design studio, after all the 911 has looked almost identical for 40 years, but Volkswagen made a fair fist of clinching the title in 1981. The Mk II Polo was essentially identical to it?s predecessor, although crucially what it lacked in originality of styling, it more than compensated for with build quality and reliability. Whilst it?s main rivals the Renault 5, Fiat Uno and Austin Metro have long since gone to the great scrap yard in the sky, the Mk II Polo is still in plentiful supply on Britain?s roads.
Built until 1994, the Mk II also allowed Volkswagen to pioneer new technology ? most notably a G-supercharged engine that would later be the basis for the one found in the Corrado and Golf. As with the Mk I, the second generation Polo received a subtle facelift in 1990 for the final four years of production. Despite new headlights and bumpers it still bore a near identical resemblance to the original 1975 model. One notable feature however was the introduction of a removable stereo/cassette unit, allowing for increased security and was a hit with buyers and is now de-rigueur with all in-car audio units.
1994 finally saw a significant update of the Polo. Available in 3 and 5 door hatchback versions, the car sat on a new chassis shared in part with the SEAT Ibiza (VW also owning SEAT) and the Polo?s big brother the Golf. Eight different engines were available, the largest choice yet in the Polo range and more contemporary styling was also on offer. The turn of the millennium saw the obligatory facelift with 70% of the components being changed, although this wasn?t outwardly visible. The car certainly continued the tradition of being better made and having a more upmarket feel than its rivals and sold well. It also won a number of awards including best ?Supermini? from Top Gear, Auto Express, and Which? in the late nineties.
The Mk IV Polo was launched in 2002 and further built upon the heritage of it?s predecessors. Again sharing a platform with the SEAT Ibiza and additionally the Skoda Fabia, the Polo?s appearance was dramatically changed, with quad headlights similar to the smaller Lupo featured in the new design. No fewer than 11 different engine options were available, each with different levels of trim to complement. Despite early promise, the Mk IV didn?t sell as well as previous Polos and faired poorly in many customer satisfaction surveys, including high profile ones such those conducted by Top Gear.
With this in mind, the Mk IV, was redesigned in 2005 and is the model found on the roads today. Subtle exterior changes were made for the car to again share the design style of others in the Volkswagen range, particularly the Passat and interior components were redesigned in the light of previous criticism. The latest model is the Polo Bluemotion, specifically designed to be more environmentally friendly, by reducing the vehicles weight, electronic equipment and engine emissions.
Reliability and value for money continue to be the Polo?s standout features, although there is no doubt the latest model is a very classy looking vehicle. The best way to sum up this car is to steal the phrase from the German company themselves ? ?small but tough?.
Jake Delur is a motoring enthusiast who has a passion for all things Volkswagen. He is currently working to promote the VW Polo at Alan Day VW in London.
Volkswagen Articles:
Cheap Auto Parts Why Discount Auto Parts Are Better Than Used Car Parts
It is extremely common for a car to break down and need a part replaced. Most car owners have already experienced this, and those who haven't, will do so at some point in the future. Many car owners are also aware that cheap auto parts are available if one knows where to look for them. However, this is where most people's understanding of cheap auto parts available at discount prices ends. Either most people end up paying premium prices for the parts, or trust that the cheap used car part being installed by the mechanic is indeed the best deal available. But is this true?
VW Polo - A Small Car With Big Plans
There was quite a commotion going on today outside our house As it is normally so quiet you can hear an Ant?s footsteps I thought perhaps it would be a good idea to see what all the fuss was about, just in case there was some kind of apocalyptic alien invasion or such like
Used Auto Car Parts
Every year many people sell off their car and buy a new one, and that too just for fun. We know that nowadays, it is easier to buy a car through an Internet than from a local used car dealer. At present, you will find many car models moving around. However, buying any of them might blow up your budget. Meanwhile you work hard to earn enough money to fund you car, you have a valuable option of used car. In addition, you can buy used modern car accessories so that you can use that for your car. Isnt this a good deal to use well maintained car part with your car to enjoy a super ride?
'Enter to Win a 2009 Volkswagen Routan' at Bernardsville Volkswagen
Bernardsville Volkswagen is giving away a two-year lease on a 2009 Volkswagen Routan.
Hybrid Diesel Cars From Volkswagen and Peugeot
Living green, save the planet and Earth Day. These are all phrases that we have become familiar with over the past couple of years. A few more words that you may have heard that just started to evolve might include hybrid diesel, Peugeot, electric cars, and Volkswagen. Why are these words so prominent in today's society? It is because gas prices are on the rise and so is air pollution. We are striving to find vehicles that offer the best gas mileage as well as the healthiest choice for our earth. So, what exactly is a hybrid diesel? Hybrid diesel is a vehicle that is eco-friendly and will soon be in the top spot of the green-car market. A hybrid diesel is a mix between diesel fuel and electric to power the vehicle.
Volkswagen Touran Hymotion: Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle Plus Top Rate VW Replacement Parts
Automakers know that rising oil prices and tougher environmental rules will increase the public's interest in vehicles that use less fuel with reduced tail pipe emissions.Hybrids increase fuel efficiency by capturing the energy normally lost to friction braking and storing it in a battery for later use when driving power is again required.
VW Polo- Still the Small Car to Beat
A recent TV commercial for the Volkswagen Polo featured a singing dog that was strutting around full of self-confidence whilst it was a passenger in the Polo but as soon as it left the car for different surroundings it became a nervous wreck The closing caption of the commercial read ?Polo Confidence
Vw Bug Parts ? Their Only Little Industry
Maybe it was Herbie that did it. Maybe it was the flower power movement. It seems like everyone wanted to have a VW Bug ? and they still do. Why else would Volkswagen begin manufacturing the Bug again? There are still millions on the road today and this has lead to an entire industry dedicated to VW Bug parts. This is true in the US and the rest of the world. With the demand for VW Bugs, parts companies have created their own little niche.
High Performing Auto Parts for the Worlds Best Selling Sports Car – the Mazda Miata 2006
A risky venture in 1989 yet the shrewdest move for Mazda, this little Japanese roadster eventually chalked up 700,000 sales worldwide as it capped the Guinness Book of World Records world's best-selling sports car. Mazda is now looking toward the 1 million mark with the third-generation, 2006 MX-5.
Volkswagen Passat 2005: Body and Chassis for Volkswagen Parts at Parts Train
The Volkswagen Passat 2005 features a powerful design. The new VW face with its chrome radiator represents the greatest design progression since the creation of the series.
Chrome Plating Your Car Or Auto Parts 1, 2, 3
It can be said about chrome plating your vintage or hot rod car parts that ?All that glitters is not gold?. What are the basics of chrome plating your parts well? What are the ABC?s of chrome plating your auto car parts for best results, appearance and long durable wear? First and foremost it is vitally important to know and understand that chrome is just one facet of the process known as ?electroplating?. What this means is the deposition of a metallic coating upon the surface of a base metal through the application of electric current. More simply put a thin coating of chrome (nickel, copper, brass etc.) Is applied to a part when it is connected to a piece of the plating metal which acts as the positive pole in a full and ...
Car Brief: 2007 Volkswagen Passat Wagon
You need room for your stuff, but you don't want a clunky SUV or pudgy crossover and can't live with the daily-driving restrictions of a road-hugging, fun-to-drive sports car.
Guaranteed Lifetime Auto Parts Offered At i Auto Body Parts
There are a lot of mechanic shops or performance stores which offer various auto parts. Some may tell you that they are offering products which are guaranteed to be of finest quality. However, when you install a certain auto part on your vehicle, it does not last long. In this case, you need an auto parts store which is reliable and provides products which last for a long time.