Volkswagen Polo Coupe G40 3d (1991/J) Owner Review
-
Economy
Value
I paid £2700 for a 1991 example with heavily modifed engine and recent charger build.
Costs
Good fuel economy off boost, cheap to maintain, even with G40 specific parts if you find the right place: www.pitstopdevelopments.com. VW garages haven't a clue.
-
On the road
Driving
Mine was bought modified and sits on Koni shocks and Eibach springs and sits lower than standard. Very predictable and easy to recover when it does get into a slide. Brakes are appauling and should be upgraded ASAP. Quiet and stable at motorway speeds.
Performance
Engine performance is fantastic and with a few modifications, can see 6 seconds to 60 and low 15-second quarter miles.
-
Living with it
Reliability
Standard examples are rock solid, engine tuning requires a bit more attention. There are none-smoking examples with 180,000 on the clock still going strong. Eaton conversions by www.pitstopdevelopments.com should take way the risk of charger problems.
Image
With a few minor touches they can look really clean and smart. However, they are best kept in standard form, as this is half the fun. They have escaped the barry-boys, so for this alone, they rate 5 from me! The image displayed is a Mk2 Saloon, NOT a Mk3.
Comfort
Nothing fancy in the comfort department. G40 sees sports seats over other Mk3s.
-
Security and Service
Security
Nothing fancy in the security department either. After-market security is a must!
-
Problems and Ownership
Problems
Engine
Rock solid if allowed to warm up before heavy load. Chargers also reliable if properly serviced. There are a few approaching the 200,000mile club without a rebuild!
Other
FUN little car. The ultimate street-sleeper.
Ownership
Did you buy the car new?
Used
Would you buy the same model again?
Yes
Did you buy from the same manufacturer again?
Yes