Polo GTI at Sydney Motor Show. Interior included.

[MariusGT]

funny. when i was shopping last year i did seriously consider 2 other options (outside of GOLF GT Sport TDI/TSI and also GTI) which were the clio sport and also cooper S JCW (John Cooper Works).

basically the reason i stepped away from those 2 were size. i'm married and knew a little addition wasn't far away. so the 3 golfs mentioned above became my shortlist. test drove them all (loved them all) and found my GT Sport w low kms for a good price. done deal.

[Buller_Scott]

funny. when i was shopping last year i did seriously consider 2 other options (outside of GOLF GT Sport TDI/TSI and also GTI) which were the clio sport and also cooper S JCW (John Cooper Works).

basically the reason i stepped away from those 2 were size. i'm married and knew a little addition wasn't far away. so the 3 golfs mentioned above became my shortlist. test drove them all (loved them all) and found my GT Sport w low kms for a good price. done deal.

yeah, see, i think we are likeminded... i drive a polo, and when i took a GTD for a test drive (as well as a GTD and GTI around sandown), i hopped inside the golf and thought "wow- this is a BIG car inside, for day to day duties".

i can understand why cars are getting bigger and bigger, but at the same time, i dont have to like it. i love micro hatches- polo, fiesta, clio, prev gen xr4, mini, corsa, etc etc... i'd look into a DS3, but i cant justify $50k for a 1.6T in the same ''micro-mini'' class.

the new polo gti really has me bent- it looks gorgeous, the interior of the new polo that i sat in felt upmarket and refined, it's light, it's solid as ever and well built, etc etc.... and then you've got the fact that it's a non-manual + supercharger flap issues + dry clutch 7sp dsg issues + non-manual + ridiculous wait times + non-manual......

if i were to keep my polo tdi as a daily, and bring something out to play in the twisties on the weekends, it's looking much more like it'd be a renaulsport clio 197, rather than a new polo GTI, even if you DID chip the polo + exhaust + intake + coilies etc (by which time, it'd be more expensive than a clio 197 anyway).

[MariusGT]

I never did take the renaultsport clio for a drive - but i did test a JCW and a "normal" cooper S.

and when you say you are thinking of a car for the twisties and must be a manual: These cars have it in spades. go drive one.

can pick up an S for quite a good price these days. JCW are still pricey.

[Hail22]

YouTube - VW Golf R - DSG versus manual by autocar.co.uk This isn't a polo but explains very minimally the power the DSG has over a manual, even with the extra weight

please note yes the red R is a 5 door (manual) and the blue R is a 3 door (DSG) Apparently the weight is equal as the DSG box is quite heavy compared to the standard manual box.

Enjoy the vid

[break]

3 door vs 5 door is all very good, but what really ****s me is that i find myself more and more, looking at the renaultsport clios in carsales, late at night, rather than looking at the new polo gti

From a recently converted Polo GTI to Renaultsport Clio owner, you'll never look back.

Sure, the drive to work won't be as comfortable... but you'll find some twisty road and quickly remind yourself where the Polo has it wrong

[limmy]

NA power in a compact hatch is the way to go...i.e. RS clio

plus

i can't think of a hatch you can buy today for $40k that have 4 pot brembos on them as well as recaros!

[noone]

Sure, but for 40k you could have the Golf GTI...

Mo doubt the Clio is a good car, but it is a different price point...

[pologti18t]

NA power in a compact hatch is the way to go...i.e. RS clio

plus

i can't think of a hatch you can buy today for $40k that have 4 pot brembos on them as well as recaros!

And for 45K on road you can get a Megane RS 250. I think that is 3-5K well spent.

[Hail22]

So has this become the unreliable french car forum now? or are we still VWwatercooled? lol

[Allegiance]

I think the Clio Cup editions are pretty cool. Although I wouldn't go for one because it is only manual.

[leasaunce]

DSC_3461 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!



DSC_3464 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!



DSC_3404 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

[poloplayer]

Haha, that's a bit unfair though. THAT megane costs a fair bit more...

[limmy]

apart from the demos supposedly due in november, i was told ETA of polos is going to be May/June 2011!!! if it turns out to be true...that is absolutely ridiculous.

[pologti18t]

apart from the demos supposedly due in november, i was told ETA of polos is going to be May/June 2011!!! if it turns out to be true...that is absolutely ridiculous.

You believe that? Why the hell would they "release" a car 7 months before you can buy one?

[Highlander]

You believe that? Why the hell would they "release" a car 7 months before you can buy one?

Peugeot dealers have RCZ in showrooms from October. Even if you buy the demo you can't pick it up until February. So that's 4/5 months. Interesting to see when you get an "ordered" car.