So I have owned my Polo GTI (I say owned, I borrowed it for 2 years but stay with me here, it's going to be worth it.....perhaps) for just over a year and a massive 6500 miles. On that basis I thought I should share my deeply thought out, highly analytical and deeply incisive thoughts. However, before I do that, knowing the limited attention span we have here, some pictures.
So there you go, the same old pictures reimagined.....as they say these days.
For me it's been a cracking little car, leased for keeping miles off my R8 and using to go to and leave at stations, airports, town centres, local offices and generally go anywhere I want without a car in the world. For that it's been great and it does that job very well. It is quicker than most basic road warriors cars, it is more fun cross country than most road warriors cars and it goes unnoticed by people in most situations, other than the common comment of "nice Golf mate".
Frankly I took it because it seemed a cheap (circa 1200 down and then 24 months @ £163 with a 3.1p excess milage charge) and my father has one for pretty much the same reason (not the GTI) and raves about it and each time I went in it I felt it was much bigger, quieter than any pocket hatch has a right to be and is well screwed together. I have it for 2 years and I will hand it back and for me that was perfect. I just got some paperwork, signed it, sent it back and 4 weeks later it arrived. Didn't visit a dealer, just spoke to a chap I know and car turned up.
It is basic in terms of options so is manual and has AC but not climate and to me that matters not in the slightest. I like a cool car, so I tend to set the temp and head off, bit of tweaking here and there, but thats about it. No SAT Nav but I have Waze and TomTom so don't really miss it outside of the integration. Outside of that I'd probably add active dampers and DSG but nothing more. Good little hifi, good phone integration and good all round. I have not measure fuel consumption at all, but I would estimate around 35-40mpg would be the norm, but I tend to drive it like I stole it everywhere.
Only issue has been birds in the trees dumping curry on the bonnet and that will need detailing out before it goes back and when the car arrived the heater knob was not connected! Back to VW to have that done and then 500 surveys afterwards 300 calls to see if I was happy with the surveys. So in summary this:
Good
- Front end turn in, goes where you point it and grips like dump on a blanket
- Engine, pulls really well for a 1.8 turbo and feel a lot quicker than I expected it would
- Size and ability to carry 4 in comfort, better than my RS4 ever did for example
- GREAT steering wheel, just feels right and the right size
- Good tech (within reason) and makes phone connecting and playing music easy
- Looks relatively good and gets lots of positive comments
- Discreet and just another car, but shows every Dave the rep a clean pair of heels, I like that
- Makes me smile when I push on, goes well and feels very planter
Bad
- Zero steering feel, like most modern cars. Great grip and turn in, but numb
- At very slow speeds on low/part throttle it is jerky, seems bad fuelling
- Far too stiff. Doesn't move around, stays planted but GOD you bump up and down
- Engine is silent, embarrassed to admit I did a grand dad once. On limiter, didn't know....oops
- Paintwork like our old Mk5 GTI far too soft, bird poo killed it badly
- Seats too high
- Brakes can get a bit hot, especially when really going for it
So i'd have another in a heartbeat. It is far from the best at going and stopping but as an all round and most of all cheap nippy run about that can make you smile on the right road and make you forget the miles on a long road (a very rare combo in such cars) it is ace. I recommend it to the house...though it is too much car for anyone who can't do the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs.
So there you go, the same old pictures reimagined.....as they say these days.
For me it's been a cracking little car, leased for keeping miles off my R8 and using to go to and leave at stations, airports, town centres, local offices and generally go anywhere I want without a car in the world. For that it's been great and it does that job very well. It is quicker than most basic road warriors cars, it is more fun cross country than most road warriors cars and it goes unnoticed by people in most situations, other than the common comment of "nice Golf mate".
Frankly I took it because it seemed a cheap (circa 1200 down and then 24 months @ £163 with a 3.1p excess milage charge) and my father has one for pretty much the same reason (not the GTI) and raves about it and each time I went in it I felt it was much bigger, quieter than any pocket hatch has a right to be and is well screwed together. I have it for 2 years and I will hand it back and for me that was perfect. I just got some paperwork, signed it, sent it back and 4 weeks later it arrived. Didn't visit a dealer, just spoke to a chap I know and car turned up.
It is basic in terms of options so is manual and has AC but not climate and to me that matters not in the slightest. I like a cool car, so I tend to set the temp and head off, bit of tweaking here and there, but thats about it. No SAT Nav but I have Waze and TomTom so don't really miss it outside of the integration. Outside of that I'd probably add active dampers and DSG but nothing more. Good little hifi, good phone integration and good all round. I have not measure fuel consumption at all, but I would estimate around 35-40mpg would be the norm, but I tend to drive it like I stole it everywhere.
Only issue has been birds in the trees dumping curry on the bonnet and that will need detailing out before it goes back and when the car arrived the heater knob was not connected! Back to VW to have that done and then 500 surveys afterwards 300 calls to see if I was happy with the surveys. So in summary this:
Good
- Front end turn in, goes where you point it and grips like dump on a blanket
- Engine, pulls really well for a 1.8 turbo and feel a lot quicker than I expected it would
- Size and ability to carry 4 in comfort, better than my RS4 ever did for example
- GREAT steering wheel, just feels right and the right size
- Good tech (within reason) and makes phone connecting and playing music easy
- Looks relatively good and gets lots of positive comments
- Discreet and just another car, but shows every Dave the rep a clean pair of heels, I like that
- Makes me smile when I push on, goes well and feels very planter
Bad
- Zero steering feel, like most modern cars. Great grip and turn in, but numb
- At very slow speeds on low/part throttle it is jerky, seems bad fuelling
- Far too stiff. Doesn't move around, stays planted but GOD you bump up and down
- Engine is silent, embarrassed to admit I did a grand dad once. On limiter, didn't know....oops
- Paintwork like our old Mk5 GTI far too soft, bird poo killed it badly
- Seats too high
- Brakes can get a bit hot, especially when really going for it
So i'd have another in a heartbeat. It is far from the best at going and stopping but as an all round and most of all cheap nippy run about that can make you smile on the right road and make you forget the miles on a long road (a very rare combo in such cars) it is ace. I recommend it to the house...though it is too much car for anyone who can't do the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs.
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