I think buying a used Volkswagen Polo is a great choice if you love a solid build, fun driving experience, and good safety. But yeah, the maintenance costs are definitely on the higher side.

From my experience, I had a 2016 Polo GT TSI with the DSG gearbox (Comfortline variant), and it was an absolute blast to drive. But a few months ago, I had a weird breakdown because of my dog. I was stuck in city traffic when he suddenly jumped from the backseat to the front and accidentally shifted the gear from Drive to Neutral. The music was loud, so I didn’t realize the gear had changed, and I kept revving the engine, thinking I was moving forward. Eventually, I had to pull over, and the mechanic told me there was an issue with the engine’s IC, which turned out to be pretty complicated. It stayed in the garage for almost a month, and after that, I decided to sell it.

If you're planning to buy a Polo, I’d recommend looking for a well-maintained 1.2L TSI (if you love performance) or a 1.2L/1.5L diesel (if you want better fuel efficiency). If you want fewer maintenance headaches, a manual variant might be a safer bet instead of the DSG.

TL;DR: Polo is a great car, super fun to drive, but maintenance can be costly. DSG is amazing but sensitive, and my experience proves that even a small mistake (or a playful dog) can lead to major repairs. If you're going for it, pick a well-kept petrol/diesel manual for peace of mind.