Registration Number – S903 WSU
Colour – Alpine White (later Candy White)
Date of First Registration – August 1998
In April 2009, I picked up this 1998 Polo CL in Alpine White with 1 previous doctor owner and 54,000 miles. She was affectionately known as “Wee Sue” on account of her number plate.
Around a month later, we borrowed the battery to jump start a friends car which was parked nose-end into my dads garage. Once reconnected, the car would start but immediately cut out again. We towed it to a friends workshop where we hooked it up to the diagnostic equipment. It displayed a fault with the throttle body, so we took it off for further inspection.
After cleaning and refitting, I attempted to start the car. As before, it would start but immediately cut out again. A few helpful people on the forums suggested an immobiliser fault, triggered by the removal of the battery, so I decided to seek the assistance of Ingram VW in Ayr. We towed the car down to Ayr and left it with them for a few days. They replaced the immobiliser (at a cost of around £250 iirc), and the car was now starting. However, they noted that the car was running very rough and wasn’t driveable. We declined their offer of further investigation, deciding to have a look ourselves, and towed the car back home. Further investigation found that somehow, whilst the throttle body was off, something had managed to get into the engine (possibly a screw or something, we never did find out what!) and cracked one of the pistons. Cue an engine rebuild!!
We replaced the damaged piston and valves, had the head skimmed, new gaskets and refitted everything. We also replaced the timing belt at the same time. It was now driving normally, but I decided to go easy with it for a while incase of any further issues. After around 1,000 or so trouble free miles, I decided to begin with some body modifications that I had planned. First of all was fitting a Kamei grille, clear 16v indicator lenses, smoked side repeaters, 6n2 gear knob and a new stereo. And also getting a fresh MOT on her.
Now confirmed mechanically sound and with a fresh MOT, it was time to get some of the bodywork seen to. When I bought the car it had a few small car park dings and light surface rust appearing in places, so the plan had always been to get 16v bumpers fitted and give her a full respray. Next began the preparation work.
We opted for a full respray in Candy White with a Sapphire Black roof, mirrors and B-pillars. Next was test-fitting of the 16v bumpers and starting the paint process.
Painting complete, we started fitting the bumpers and lights, having now sourced a set of smoked 16v rear units.
Next was getting rid of those awful wheel trims, by preparing and fitting a set of Seat Ibiza alloys which were painted Sapphire Black to match the rest of the car.
Next was the suspension. With the new alloys it was sitting a little high. I bought a set of 40mm lowering springs, which were then fitted.
Other than fitting a 16v interior a short time after, she remained pretty much the same for a couple of years.
By late 2012, she had started to cause some issues mechanically. The gearbox had failed, and she began cutting out when going through puddles… not good in the Scottish weather!! We bought another Polo to use as a donor car for the gearbox, which we replaced.
I then had the offer of a newer 6n2 Polo, so decided to buy that and sell Wee Sue. This is the only photo I have of both cars together…
I then listed Wee Sue for sale. These were the photos I took to use for the “For Sale” advert. She was bought a few days later.
In the 4 years I had her, I covered just under 37,000 miles. She is one of the best cars I have ever owned. Here is one last photo, taken just before the new owner drover her away! A quick check of the DVLA site sees she only lasted another year (click here). RIP Wee Sue.
