VW Polo mk2 Breadvan: Walkaround and Review!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ส.ค. 2024
- Join me for a look around this fabulous 1990 Volkswagen Polo mk2 'breadvan'. I have a look at the boot and interior, dashboard, and then take it for a drive. What do I think of it compared to my Metro and my Fiesta?
I always remember Quentin Wilson banging on about how well built they were on Top Gear and wondered what all the fuss was about. Their residuals were really strong in the 90's, so I guess the market reflected that! Certainly didn't seem to rot away like some of their competitors. Congratulations for pulling off a shell suit in 2022!
I think it’s from this era that VW gained its reputation for solidity and reliability
And thanks…the shell suit is not my everyday outfit, just seemed appropriate for a German car from 1990 🤣
Beautiful car! I have a even more base spec one, with blanking plates for the rear wiper, cigarette lighter and ashtray :) but these cars actually all have glove boxes, mine does, and this one in the video is missing one. You can see in the video, where it's supposed screw in, and that's why the wires under the dash are exposed :)
Mmm blanking plates.... 🤤
Great review. I love the random VW92 on the Hazards switch.
I know! It's so industrial to have that marking on the front. Bizarre!
The engine sounds like an aeroplane very smooth
It really is SOO smooth
First car vibes. Loved my Polo in 92. Took me back in time. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Exactly like my first car at 16, a few years ago now mind.
First time i ever drove it whilst still a learner I crashed into a wall due to in experience and those "brakes"
Nice to see one again
Oops! I'm very glad I didn't quite have that much trouble with the brakes!
"A step-up in austerity" fantastic line, I'll use that from now on.
Thank you!!
Becoming a rare sight nowadays so was surprised to see one on the road just the other day. I did think at the time that its diminutive size compared to modern superminis was really striking. Enjoyable review Sion - keep up the good work! 👍🏼
Most kind, thank you!
I drove one briefly back in the mid eighties and the lack of a brake servo was a bit surprising even back then. It was, to be fair, more refined and seemed better built.
I think it's the RHD cars that don't have the space for the brake servo, which was a shame
@@MorselsAndMotors thanks, I wondered why, always seemed a bit odd. Possibly RHD sales weren’t initially envisaged.
Always been a Polo fan. If you are ever in North Yorkshire, you are more than welcome to have a look at my 1991 Micra K10 base model.
Lovely. I traded a C-reg Metro in for a B-reg Polo back in the late 80s and it was definitely a step up in refinement and solidity. It didn’t feel small so much as more fitted - the elbow room is similar but the side windows slope inwards more, and the windscreen has a shallower rake and lower scuttle while the window sills are higher and more enclosing.
The brakes weren’t a strong point but you soon get used to stamping 😉
That's interesting that you did have a 'real world' comparison with the Metro. Which did you prefer?
Yeah, as I said I did get used to the brakes as the drive went on
@@MorselsAndMotors I preferred the Polo, and went on to have another two afterwards, one of them a mk2.5 G40 which was another level again. (I’ve still got a soft spot for Metros though.)
Never had a ‘Breadvan’ Polo, although I ordered a new Formel E version when they first were launched, but as they were thin on the ground I ended up with a Golf Mk1 Formel E. Prior to this I had owned 5 Mark 1 Polos and a VW Beetle 1300L.
Wow, 5 mk1 Polos!
@@MorselsAndMotors yes a P, an R, an S and a facelift T reg, alI in base spec. Then later, after a secondhand Mark 1 Golf base model I had a secondhand facelift Polo GLS Mark 1. The Formel E Golf followed this, then 2 years later a couple of VW Type 2 campers, first one M reg, the second a couple of years later P reg. I have only owned one VW since, not because of price, but mainly I went through a classic car phase and did have a VW 1303 Automatic for a year or so, then hit hard times and sold it, very quickly I must say, to a VW specialist in Berkshire. I often regret selling this Beetle because it was in pretty good condition and rare being an auto and fitted with the optional metal sliding sun roof.
Soz Siôn, didn't realise this account wasn't sub'd to you 😬 All sorted now.
Always loved the bread van shape and you done an ace job showing us what it's like..especially the handbrake being so handbrakey 😄
Looking forward to more of these review vids.
A handbrakey handbrake is essential equipment 👍
Lovely little motor. When VW were building soild reliable transport. I owned one on a D plate. Went on for years, even after I sold itl. Nice video!
Thank you 😊
Ahhh memories lol, I had one of those, a GL model, Y reg in metallic green, with the four headlamps, chrome trim in the bumper, chrome round all the windows, a brown (!) dash, chrome wheelhubs, but I loved it! Like you say, they are very refined. Think yours is the nice Tornado red. Great video!
I had an A-reg Polo of the same shape, it was the 1.1 "Formel E" with 3+E gears, econometer and an LED indicator on the dash to recommend when to upshift. Great little car. It was more grown up and refined than the Metro I had before, but the Metro was more fun to drive.
I always forget how great fun the Metro is to drive, the steering is super precise. Did the Formel-E gearbox make the Polo slower?
@@MorselsAndMotors it was quite a torquey little engine, quite nippy around town (definitely more so than my 1.0 metro was). Fourth (E) gear was very long and just for cruising, you could get to top speed in 3rd gear, change into "E" and it wouldn't go any faster! In 1985 (the year after my car) VW introduced a stop/start system on the Polo Formel E, a good 20 years before they became commonplace!
Oh wow that’s quite a rarity there was a mk3 golf made that had stop start technology for economy around the early 90’s always thought that was very advanced
Really enjoyed this video on the Polo. It’s strange that when they were everywhere I didn’t think much of them, now I think they look so cool!
You’re welcome to test drive my Citroen BX anytime! Maybe do a BX/Xantia comparison?
Thank you, they really are an iconic shape aren't they, especially that rear wheelarch. All vanished now.
I would love to do that! Where are you based?
Great first foray into car reviews. Love the jacket, very 80s!
Thanks - I've done reviews of my own cars before, but doing others is new to me.
The jacket was very deliberate 😂
Alles ist gut! Thanks for having a look around my car! It was a pleasure to meet you and interesting to see someone else's perspective and watch it go for a drive. Nice thorough review of all the features too. Look forward to seeing what is to come on the channel and I'm sure we'll meet again soon. Danke schoen or should that be Danke Sion?
Danke Siôn 😂😂 Love it
Great review! I also liked the booted version of the Mk.1 Polo, which was called the 'Derby'. It'd be good to see one of those again!
Mmm the Derby is really rare these days, sadly
My first car was a booted version of the Mk2 here , but with square headlights, grey tweed trim, no folding back seat. 1982/X. Austere, but for me it was freedom, especially after I fitted a cassette player (was only a push button radio originally fitted). Drove it all over the UK.
Great job on the video as always, my first car was a 1989 one of these. Would love to get another one.
Cracking little review, I'm buying one in the next couple of days just waiting for the guy I'm getting it off to slap an MOT on it. Looking forward to having something I can pour a bit of love into
Brilliant! Enjoy tinkering with your new purchase
Gut gemacht! Very nice video, thank you. I run a 1995 6N with the 1.3 engine that was carried over until 1996 from that 86C you have there. Although the two cars have typical VW styling features in common I think the 6N was a huge jump up in terms of space and refinement. I would love to have one of those 86Cs and also a Polo I/Audi 50.
I'm sure you're right, the 6N was launched not far off 15 years after the 86C, so it's no surprise it's a very different car.
Lovely review, subscribed. Keep up the great content
Thank you 😊
I do miss my breadvan. I'm trying to save up for one
I had a1986 (D) Polo C, and it had a number of bits that this one seems to be missing. For example, a clock in the dashboard, Auto Choke, the GTi pattern seats, standard rear screen wiper and spoiler, glove box and black trim on the B pillar. All very basic for now, but at the time, it was not bad for what it was.
Another excellent video.
It's great that you can make comparisons with the Metro and Fiesta.
I grew up with a number of base spec Renault 5's from 86' to 94' model years and my own first car was a1988 example only one model above base spec.
The Polo has a lot of similarity with the exposed metal door tops, lack of centre air vents or a glovebox.and dint even get me started in four speed gearboxes and engines often producing under 50 bhp. It amazes me today when young drivers complain about modern base spec cars which are by comparison complete luxury.
Oh that's very kind thank you!
You're absolutely right, base spec now really doesn't mean anything 😂
Reminds me of VW vehicles of the mid-70's, very familiar.
And fuel injection was standard on US VW in 1977.
Yeah, we were so slow getting automotive tech in Europe!
@@MorselsAndMotors We have had catalysts for cars starting 1975, rear seatbelts around 1966!
I had one. Loved it.
My mother had a 1986 Polo C (German spec, so there may have been slight differences to the British spec of the time). It was a proper C, not a Fox in C clothing, so the seats looked less quilted, upholstered in a grey tweed-like fabric. The steering wheel was thinner with the Wolfsburg badge and may have been slightly larger. Otherwise, the interior looked much the same (it had a glovebox though). When driving, the car always felt like it was too light to properly sit on the road as if you would be blown away when the wind became too strong (the very thin wheels certainly didn't improve road holding). It somehow felt nice, though, and the little sewing machine in front that posed as an engine didn't inspire sporty driving, anyway.
What bugged me with that car was the interior space, though. It wasn't too bad as a passenger, and the back seats were really fine except for legroom, but whenever I drove it I couldn't find a comfortable driving position. I'm over six feet tall, so I either touched the headlining with my head (hitting the roof on bumps), or I had to recline the seat more than felt good while driving.
I never have that problem, being short!
Love it!😍
My grandma/mum’s mum had a C reg breadvan Polo in white for many years, I remember it well 😁
Not been in one of these in years! Really takes me back & not forgetting the fright of non-servo brakes on initial application. I'm almost certain the rear speakers were optional as they only came with a single speaker on the dash & basic radio. There was a glove box on models higher up the range, but that car is missing a black vinyl covered hard board panel to conceal the wiring.
Ah that's interesting, I did think the visible wires didn't have the same air of quality as the rest of the car
@@MorselsAndMotors Looks like an untidy stereo with random loose wiring, but is easily remedied.
I remember my uncle had one and he found it spacious - then again he traded up from a FIAT 126 to a Polo lol
That would have been a big upgrade!
m6 favourite car of alo time
Great review, nice to see a mk2 polo been preserved, credit to the owner. I still own my first car, 1987 1.3 Ranger, but still austere, just fitted new pads & discs
Wow, how long have you had that?
@@MorselsAndMotors Owned it twice so 21 years combined. I bought it in 1989, my Gran had it in 1992, she gave up driving 2004, and I have owned it ever since. It will be at the festival of the unexceptional again this year. Pure VW Austere luxury
@@MorselsAndMotors Lloyds vehicle consulting, Joseph, did a review on his sensible second hand classics, Lashed it down with rain. He mistakenly says I owned it from new, but I have owned it a very long time.
I bought a Polo like this once for 1p! As you can guess it was rough as hell. That one looks great!
1p!!! Those were the days 🤣
I've had a 1986 Mk2 Polo saloon with 1.3 litre engine. It weighed only 750 kg so it was quite fast off the lights. Sadly it turned out to be a very poor maintained car so I've had no end of problems with it, final nail in its coffin was an engine mount giving in so the gear linkage was torn apart
Oh that's a shame. I can imagine the 1.3 must make this a very capable car
@@MorselsAndMotors it did! It was a car in basic C trim (C stands for Crisis) but a previous owner fitted 165/65-13 tyres and a set of driving lights so it looked allright. It was a hoot to drive until one night I shifted back in second gear to enter the street where I lived, heard a bang and I was left with the gear shift lever loose in my hand...
My very first car was a 1988 Polo C breadvan in white. Good fun and very economical. I could change 1st to 2nd and 3rd to 4th gears without pressing the clutch… no idea how it worked!
A good friend of mine had a red breadvan - just like the review car, but older - it was a B reg. I always found it a bit dull, but there’s no denying that the breadvan shape is practical. It did feel like a well screwed together little car - he kept it going for 10years or so. I seem to remember that the brakes were a bit dire!
Yeah it felt so solid and planted on the road
Is the "C" badge really original on that 1990 car? Over on the continent the "C" was replaced by the base model (without further designation) by about 1986 I think. By 1989 the Polo was only available with the 55PS engine with "Digijet" fuel injection system (VW's own) and a 3-way catalyst. I noticed that more often, that cars in the UK were still available with a carbureted engine some years after they were all replaced with fuel injected ones over here.
I had one of these with the 1.05 engine. It was acceptable until I had passengers and then it was absolutely gutless and the lack if the brake servo made me feel very vulnerable. You mentioned the rear speakers which mine had but nowhere to put a pair of front speakers without hacking holes in the doors, very odd.
I would have thought you should have a glove box there, it's probably dropped off!
Yes the rheostat by the light switch dims the dash illumination.
Looks like this one has an aftermarket choke on it, the factory ones would have featured an extra yellow LED on the dashboard!
And the earlier ones had a yellow LED for the high beam instead of blue.
The formal E models had an ecometer on the dashboard along with an 'E' top gear instead of 4th. I think some of them had auto stop/start??
Grilles in the doors?
"It's basically a Testarossa"
I had one first car A595XDP
I have a desire for one of these. I’m 6’3” do you think I’d struggle for headroom?
Here in Germany i've never seen a Polo 86C without brake booster. 😵💫
I think it's to do with the right hand drive - there was no space for the servo booster. I think the mk1 Golf might have been the same
👏 P-R-O-M-O-S-M!
My name is John cudjoe from Ghana please help me get this car, vw polo. Please please
I'm a fun old car, l be on person for the three years please help me
Numberplates really are they ugliest thing ever