USED Volkswagen Polo Hatchback (94 - 02)

My car

I have a 2000-registered 1.9 SDI. I bough it second-hand from a dealer two years ago.

Running costs are great - it's in a low insurance group and gives superb fuel economy, despite me sometimes going pretty fast on the motorway. I think it has the best 64bhp I've ever seen. Looks are also great, especially from the front. The interior is OK, but I think equipment is scarce - I especially miss air-conditioning.

On the negative side? Well, having owned it for only a few months, I had to replace the clutch, but I put that down to bad luck. It also has needed wheel alignment once, the rear wheel drums have corroded quickly, and there's one electric niggle with the back door water pump and the driver's side indoor handle refusing to open occasionally... and that's it.

Driving is dull, but you have to remember that it is an utilitary car. The brakes are great, though. Rear space is just non-existant as well as boot space. I always have the back seats down to have some cargo space. However, it's very reliable, cute and economic.

My car

This car was my first car and she has served me well.

Volkswagens are great cars - reliable, efficient and hard as nails (I had a pretty nasty crash on the motorway).

However, I've had troubles with the spark plugs - having to get them changed twice within two years, and the wiring loom likes to come detached from the clips and attach itself to the engine - if you smell burning, it's probably the loom!

In cold and/or wet weather she can be juddery, but she's a joy otherwise. Town driving is a dream in this little, easy to park car, but on the motorway in a 1.0 is no fun at all.

Because of the increase in motorway driving, I'm selling my Polo, but sticking to the VW Group - for their cars are reliable and the local VW garage is brilliant.

My car

I own a 1999 T-registered VW Polo 1.0 Match which I inherited last year on my 17th birthday. It was previously used as a town runabout car when my mum and dad didn't want to use their cars.

I am thoroughly impressed with my Polo - I absolutely love it, we've owned it from new and have not had a single problem in six years.

It's very easy to drive. Mine is a distinctively bold blue/purple colour and the Match special edition came with little VW alloys which really enhance the look when parked next to a regular Polo with cheap-looking steel wheels.

I find the kit a little spartan, yet sometimes bemusing - for example it has luxury car-style electric door mirrors yet no electric windows. Bizarre!

The 1.0 litre engine is absolutely fine for how I use the car, it can happily handle regular motorway jaunts without any problems, and it's so quiet thanks to that excellent VW build quality.

I recently test drove a brand-new 55-plate VW Polo 1.2 for a day and found it really boring and unresponsive compared to my much earlier model.

My verdict: it's a great little car which stands out from the boring (albeit cheaper) Fiestas, 106s, Corsas, Clios and Puntos in the Sixth Form car park. For a classy, peppy small hatchback, nothing beats a VW Polo. The perfect first car.

My car

Highly reliable and economical runabout with a bit more style than most of its competition. Mine is nine years old and it still looks contemporary. Solid build quality. Quite roomy inside. Being only a 1.0-litre it struggles carrying five adults but is ideal for running the kids around. Downside - no rear headrests (like most small cars of same era).