Used Volkswagen Fox review and buying guide (2006 to 2012): which one to buy and what to check

Which used Volkswagen Fox should you buy?

Buy the Fox with the clearest record of oil changes, because the 1.2 three-cylinder has a serious timing chain fault that's tied to skipped or wrong oil. The Fox was sold between 2006 and 2012 as one generation, so there's no newer version that dodges it, and later cars haven't been shown to be any better. Judge each one on its paperwork and how it sounds from cold.

There's also a 1.4, but there's next to no evidence either way on how it holds up, so it isn't a proven safer pick. A 1.2 with oil changes on time and a quiet cold start is the one to shortlist. A Fox with gaps in its history, or a seller who's vague about what oil it's had, is the one to leave.

Which Fox engines and gearboxes are the safe choices?

The 1.2 three-cylinder petrol is the engine to be careful with: its timing chain can stretch and its tensioner can fail, letting the chain jump teeth or break. That wrecks the engine, bending valves or finishing it outright, and it shows up anywhere from 38,000 to 100,000 miles. Oil changes left too long or the wrong grade of oil are often behind it, so the oil history matters more than the mileage.

Very little has been reported on the 1.4 either way, so treat it as an unknown rather than a safe bet. On the gearbox side, one owner reported the manual failing at around 6 years old. That's a single report, not a proven pattern, but it's reason enough to take the gearchange seriously on the test drive.

What should you check when viewing a used Fox?

Ask to start a 1.2 from completely cold and listen for a metallic rattle lasting a few seconds; that's the timing chain warning you. Lumpy running, misfires or the engine warning light are the other signs. Then go through the paperwork for oil changes at regular intervals with the right oil, and if the chain's been replaced, ask for the receipt naming that job.

An emissions warning light can be down to a faulty cam sensor, but don't assume it's that simple. One owner's 2006 1.2 kept losing power and juddering, and the emissions light came on days after a new cam sensor had been fitted. On the drive, make sure every gear goes in cleanly, given that one owner's manual failed.

Pull the handbrake and make sure the ratchet holds, since one has been reported failing. Run both electric windows up and down, as one owner had the cables snap at 5 to 6 years old. Try the rear wash and wipe too: in very cold weather it can fail and blow the fuse that also runs the front wipers and washers. Sit in the driver's seat and check you can live with the blind spot at the bottom of each windscreen pillar.

Paste the advert into the free check and it runs these against the listing, the MOT history and the DVLA record before you travel.

What does a used Volkswagen Fox cost to run?