Talk to me about the MkV Polo...

timbob · 6 Feb 2012 at 22:33

As title really... As I'm advancing along the driving instructor training process, I'm starting to think about what car to go with for my business. I'm not going with a franchise (you pay BSM £1400 a month before you make anything for yourself!) so will need my own car - and my 175,000 mile Civic was never going to do!

So, having thought plenty for the last few months about which cars I'm interested in, sat in a few to assess the visibility and suitability for my purposes, I'm drawn to the new shape VW Polo, specifically the new 3 cylinder 1.2 TDI engine (although probably not the Bluemotion, as it's very long geared and probably not suitable for first time drivers).

Any owners on here? Any experiences of how it drives? Or any interesting technical details on the engine?

OpenToSuggestions · 6 Feb 2012 at 22:42

Many people I knew learnt in a 1.0 Micra or a 1.0 Corsa. The power or long gearing might be poo but that is not of importance.

Plus the Polo is majorly overpriced. You would be better with a used current model 1.4/1.6 tdi fiesta. The mother got a 7 month old 1.25 [82] zetec with city pack and parking sensors for £8600 from Motorpoint in Derby.

timbob · 6 Feb 2012 at 22:51

OpenToSuggestions said:
Many people I knew learnt in a 1.0 Micra or a 1.0 Corsa. The power or long gearing might be poo but that is not of importance.

Plus the Polo is majorly overpriced. You would be better with a used current model 1.4/1.6 tdi fiesta. The mother got a 7 month old 1.25 [82] zetec with city pack and parking sensors for £8600 from Motorpoint in Derby.

I'm training (and took my Part 2 test in) a new shape Fiesta, and have decided that's not the way to go (for me):

I'm not a fan of the interior in it - it feels cheap and has rattles in the dash after only a year of use, and (more importantly) the visibility out the back or the rear 3/4 isn't up to much and you can't see anything below the 80mph mark on the speedometer from the passenger seat. My instructor has to faff with a GPS app on his phone in order to see what's going on.

Experienced reviewers have commented that long 1st and 2nd gearing in the Bluemotion Polo can catch them out in town - which makes me think it'll be unsuitable (but I've not driven it), but the standard 1.2 TDI appeals.

Brookert · 6 Feb 2012 at 23:26

Driven a 1.6tdi mk5 polo a lot. Great cars, good solid feel. I would say the smaller the diesel engine the better for learners. The 1.6tdi has bags of torque, so it chugs along a bit too quickly when your trying to pot along at low speed (in a car park say). So I reckon the 1.2tdi would be great.

However, I think the 1.2tdi has a DPF, same as the other diesels of the same model. It may struggle to get hot enough to cycle with your average city journeys. Its needs motorway/fast driving to get hot to make 100% sure its clean and healthy.