Volkswagen Problems

There’s no reason why the Polo wouldn’t handle the country conditions well, it’s well built and strong, I don’t see why you shouldn’t buy it.

There’s no need to do anything, VW is fixing your current concerns, and who know what might happen in the future. You could have further problems and you might have to pay for the repairs, but you might not have any and you wont have to fork out anything. I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it, but if you are really worried, sell the car or trade it in.

They’re not any more or less expensive to maintain than the Mazda or Ford. A VW dealer will be more expensive than an independent mechanic, but there’s nothing to prevent a regular mechanic from servicing it.

Your best option would be the 1.4-litre turbo manual in the Mk 6. It’s more fuel-efficient than the base 1.6-litre engine in the Mark 5, and being the newer model there are less likely to be any issues with getting spares for it.

Take it to a car radio specialist and have them check it. They should be able to tell if it’s the antenna that’s the problem.

You’re buying a used car, it’s not new, so you have to expect some wear-and-tear issues. The older the car, the greater the wear-and-tear, and the more likely it is to have suffered mechanical failures or even a crash. That means you have to thoroughly check the car before purchase, and you have to rely on the honesty of the vendor. If the car has had clutch problems it should be recorded in the service book. It’s the same with the others you’re looking at, check them thoroughly, and if you’re uncertain have an expert check them for you. Of the three others you are considering I would avoid the Passat as a potential money pit, and go for the i40 in preference to the Commodore.

 The GTi is a great car; the problem is the dual-clutch auto that has been a running sore for the company. I wouldn’t rule it out, but I would go for the latest model you can afford. If you aren’t sure go for the Hyundai.

The Golf Highline would be a good choice for your daughter.

You’re right to be wary of the Golf, but apart from the well publicised stories of trouble with the DSG gearbox a few years ago it has been in more recent times a sound vehicle. We get very few complaints from owners of these later cars, so I wouldn’t be concerned about buying one. The Cerato is also a fine car and would be a good choice. If I were forced to choose I would probably gamble on the Golf for its driving dynamics.