30 best selling car (single model) of all time

[UtwigMU]

Now that I'm all automotive (I've spent past few weeks reading up car sites), I dug up this interesting list. You know how Corolla is always on top of list of best selling cars, despite the model changes and this comparison isn't fair to the likes of VW Beetle, Ford T, Fiat Uno, etc...

http://www.arabia.msn.com/Autos/Guides/un/2011/january/bestsellingcars.aspx

I've driven 7 out of the 30 and I own one.

Very interesting list: No Japanese makers, only 3 American cars (though you can count Opels/Vauxhalls as GM). Making the list however doesn't make your car better, it only means you were better at selling it globally and better at selling it in 2nd and 3d world markets after you stopped production in your country of origin.

Also you guys from across the Pond probably don't know most of these cars.

[Mehen]

My parents are on their 4th Passat (91ish, 01,03,07) and 2nd Jetta (90ish, 95).

[Fat Tone]

I bought a good fraction of those Vauxhall Astra's myself. I am suprised they aren't higher up the list. I still see many of them doing sterling work around about.

[Evildead666]

405 is a very good car in its 1.9D version. Mate of mine did Taxi in one, and it was stolen at 500000Km, otherwise he was going to see how far it would go.

Love my Passat II 1.8i
Still have the Renault 4 I rolled onto its side in '94 sitting in the driveway. Engine still works and only has 20000Km's on the clock.
And the Clio II 1.9D now belongs to my parents.

[VJ]

I wonder why they differentiate the different Polo and Astra models, but not the different 307 or 405 models... Seems a bit unfair...

I had a Polo MkIII (but after the 2000 facelift): but had so many issues with it I sold it back to the garage after 2 years and got a ... Polo MkIV (they made me a good deal). While I don't have that many issues with it, I'm still not fully satisfied: too many issues to my liking (2 airco, 1 towed due to failed electronics, ...).

[Evildead666]

afaik the 307 and 405 didn't really have any new bodyshells or anything. The 405 stayed as it was until it was replaced by the 406.
The 307 may have had a tiny nosejob, but not much else. Not sure if there is a 308 yet, 3008 yes, but just 308, not sure.
Polo had many versions, like the Golfs and Passats, and the Astra went through quite a few variations over its very long lifetime.
Wouldn't mind a Vauxhall/Lotus Carlton. 3.6L Turbo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Carlton

[UtwigMU]

VJ: which issues did you have with Polo, which engine did you have? I have 2000 6N2 Polo now and it has some issues (vital things are OK, I knew about issues before I bought it and price was accordingly reduced).

Evildead: 6N (1994-1999) and 6N2 (1999-2001 facelift) Polos look virtually the same (different interrior, slightly different lights, different VW logo and licence plate position in the back) and have mostly same engines, so I'd say it's the same car.


6N


6N2

[VJ]

UtwigMU: where do I start... Just of the top of my head: broken fuel meter (on the day I picked it up), central computer was replaced, keys replaced, ignition lock replaced, door hinges replaced, central computer replaced again, satellite navigation sent back for repair, car was sent back for fuel test (it did 14 l/100km), airconditioning leaks fixed, headlights replaced, brake lights replaced, keys reprogrammed again, satellite navigation sent back for repair again, ... and in the end it lost traction twice (as if you would shift it to neutral) while driving: you're just freewheeling to the side of the road.

I did not have it fixed after the last problems but just sold it back to the garage, who made me a good deal if I bought my next car there.

This all in a 4 year time span.
Many of the problems look small, but he cause of the problems was sometimes not straight forward, and sometimes took weeks to figure out (e.g. the first replacement of the computer was decided on after I suffered for weeks with the car stalling in low RPM - try parking then). I did learn that my engine was taken out of production less then a month after I bought it. The fuel consumption stayed that high (if I took good care, it could get it down to 12 l /100 km, but then I also had to be lucky with traffic, if I drove it a bit more aggressively it went to 18l/100 km), but they said it was normal (and of course all evidence of the fuel consumption of my engine vanished). The automatic gearbox was also not suited to the engine and often refused to shift to 4th gear.

I had to go with it to the garage almost every week...

[UtwigMU]

Which engine did you have? Was it Spanish or Slovak?

I have 1.4 16V AUB (101HP) 2-door, made in Bratislava

The problems with mine:
- engine consumes a bit of oil, will need to do a thorough service, otherwise It's quite a bit more lively after doing few 200km highway drives at 150-160km/h. Still it doesn't attain it's rated top speed.
- need new brake discs
- need new battery
- need summer tyres (came with winter ones) and perhaps new wheels
- driver door controls (windows, mirrors) are not working (common problem)
- the wiring for rear aftermarket speakers is funky and one speaker is not working - means new rear deck panel, I'd upgrade the factory front speakers before rear speakers
- central lock isn't locking/unlocking the door knobs (signal reception is OK)
- spare key transmitter isn't working
- missing cigarette lighter
- station display/track display on aftermarket crappy stereo isn't working but it does play MP3s. Since I have 2 iPod shuffles not seeing track info doesn't bother me and I never listen to radio stations. I also have original VW casette stereo.

Consumption is about 8 liters but I prefer to spend 15 Euros a month more for fuel and enjoy driving.

Otherwise no rust, no scratches, only 130k km (based on documents and receipts i got they're realistic), air conditioning works, it has aftermarket xenons from GTI and aftermarket sporty suspension, drive is really nice.

[UtwigMU]

Pic of the car as taken by previous owner. I have removed the sticker on rear window and I have gotten silver licence plate holder without any branded inscriptions.

[Evildead666]

You have to be careful the sporty two doors haven't been thrashed.

The Cambelts can go well before their due time.

edit : @VJ, I thought Polos were indestructible, you just seemed to get the concentrated bad luck on that one though

[VJ]

UtwigMU: I don't know which engine it was, it was the 55 KW one, which for sure was not enough for the car, especially when coupled with an automatic gearbox. I suspect that is one of the reasons it got pulled.

Oh, forgot to add: after driving 70 km on highway (120 km/h) on a hot summers day and parking the car, after switching of the engine its cooling system powered itself on again and kept cooling it for about 5-10 minutes. It is weird to hear the car making noise when you have the key in your hand. Good that this feature is there (and that it works), but this should not be necessary for it to kick in with outside temperatures of 30°, highway with moderate traffic.

And I got the satellite system mixed up: that one was in my new car...

The funny thing is that the importer kept sending me these question forms to evaluate the garage. But if I would answer it truthfully, it would make the garage look very bad even though it is not their fault. So after I got the 3rd evaluation form, I wrote an angry letter to the importer saying that I'm very pleased with how my garage handles the numerous issues I have with my car, but I'm not happy with the car. To my surprise, I got a letter back, saying they are sorry I'm not satisfied, but that of course did not help me.

Evildead666: Even with my new one I was not that lucky. Just a quick rundown: airconditioning leaks fixed, rear suspension changed (started leaking oil and would not pass technical check), windscreen wiper motors repaired (they basically suffered a cold shock after a night outside at -10° - the lubricant in them was destroyed so I was lucky not to have used them - I stopped every couple of km to clean my window on the way to the garage; but -10 is not that extreme!), new battery after 2.5 years (it just went dead) and as a kicker it had to be towed as the lambda probe incorrectly read too much fuel residue in the exhaust, causing the engine to make the mixture so poor the engine failed to start. Apart from the windscreen wiper motors and battery, all the other repairs were quite expensive and everything was outside of warranty (e.g. 700 euro for the lambda probe repair).

But despite them, I'm still cheaper off now than if I would have taken the optional Volkswagen service (fixed price a month to cover all repairs).

I too was convinced VW are indestructible, and I must say none of my friends have issues with them, but for me personally, I'm not sure my next car would be a VW. But you hear such horror stories from every manufacturer...

[Evildead666]

Thats why i'm happy with my '89 Passat. Its the last model with no Lambda/Catalytic Converter.
Apart from a fuel leak onto the inlet manifold, and a slight problem with the temperature valve in the cooling system staying shut, it runs just fine. 1.8L multi-point injection, 112bhp.
Its got 270000Km now, and still does 8L/100Km motorway, and I can get it down to 6L/100Km normal usage if I drive carefully.
It'll also hit 200Km/h no problems, although I only tried once a few years ago, just to see if it could get there.

@UtwigMU : Whats the rated top speed of the Polo ?

[UtwigMU]

It's 188, I got it up above 170 on straight highway. It doesn't pull better than a Focus 1.6 with 74kW (Polo 1.4 16V also has 74kW but less torque).

[Evildead666]

How many forward gears ? 5?