Evo hot hatch test - includes Polo GTI

[pologti18t]

Yeah, the non-cup spec 172/182's are all pretty reasonable at absorbing the bumps... but the steering and particularly the clutch are just sooooo heavy for such a small car. Not to mention the driving position is horrible if you're anything bigger than a midget.

Yes, the driving position is a tad bus like - lol
A mate had a 172, the only problem it seem to have was the gap between 2nd and 3rd when attacking a steep mountain road (Oxley hwy). 2nd was too short... 3rd too tall. My Astra SRI of the same period had a similar problem. My old Pug 306GTI6 (with a 6 speed box) did not

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2nd was too short... 3rd too tall

This isn't actually a big issue in the 172's... you just have ignore redline and wait for fuel cut instead

[Gambit]

My old 172 was fantastic low down felt very torquey for a n/a setup, and felt more raw and chuckable than the polo gti. Miss it .

[Buller_Scott]

Anyone read the latest Wheels? From that report, though the Clio is more viceral... the Polo did a faster lap and qas quicker in a straight line.
I think the Megane RS250 is well worth the extra

i just read that article, and saw the hillclimb times. the polo haunted hills time was 62.41 sec, the clio's was 62.47 sec...

couple of questions to anyone who might know:

1. can you left foot brake in the polo 6R? because in my 9N3, you cant - if you have both the accelerator and the brake depressed at the same time, then the computer cuts in and drops the engine to idle speed until your foot has released the brake pedal, and has been off the brake pedal for like 3 or so seconds.

2. if you CANT left foot brake in the 6r gti, then does that mean that, as a control, they didnt left foot brake in any of the other cars either (particularly the clio, whose lap time might benefit from better driving)?

curious....

[JaneAusten]

i just read that article, and saw the hillclimb times. the polo haunted hills time was 62.41 sec, the clio's was 62.47 sec...

couple of questions to anyone who might know:

1. can you left foot brake in the polo 6R? because in my 9N3, you cant - if you have both the accelerator and the brake depressed at the same time, then the computer cuts in and drops the engine to idle speed until your foot has released the brake pedal, and has been off the brake pedal for like 3 or so seconds.

2. if you CANT left foot brake in the 6r gti, then does that mean that, as a control, they didnt left foot brake in any of the other cars either (particularly the clio, whose lap time might benefit from better driving)?

curious....

The 6R GTI comes as 7 speed DSG standard, manual not available... I suspect left foot braking isn't going to work as well...

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Even if the 6R doesn't have left foot braking disabled like the 9N3, I don't think it would have made a difference... the lack of torque really would have hurt the Clio.

Regardless, the Clio has never been about the performance figures... it's always been about the driving experience. I mean, I've been so frustrated with the rear wheel bearing dramas I've only just resolved this week with my Clio, was really fed up with the car as a whole.... until I took it out tonight to get fuel and blow out the cobwebs. 5mins of hard driving and I had a huge smile on my face and once again remembered why I put up with a Renault

[Buller_Scott]

Even if the 6R doesn't have left foot braking disabled like the 9N3, I don't think it would have made a difference... the lack of torque really would have hurt the Clio.

Regardless, the Clio has never been about the performance figures...

i agree that the clio's figures are laughable by today's standards when it comes to other hatches, but at the same time, there's plenty out of stuff on the web that speaks to the clio's awesome handling (e.g. clio taking down stg 2+ focus st, even mitsu evo 9's around nurburgring)...

hell, even with my very limited experience, comparing the mk6 gti around sandown on the driver day last year, with a simple test drive of the clio on the road (with a dealer who wanted me to play with it, thankfully), it's pretty obvious that a mk6 gti aint got **** on a clio when it comes time to hook it in.

i just cant stop thinking that, if the 6R has left foot braking disabled, and the clio were to be driven by a left foot braker, that there might have been more in it than a 0.06sec deficit for the clio...

[Gambit]

True but if you look at the options list for a 172 it's nothing to sneeze at even by today's standards ie rain sensing wipers, xenons. Try and option that into a comparable hatch today.

[GTI JOE]

Just read the Head to Head article in this Saturdays Age, Drive Section.
Polo GTI v Golf GTI.
The Polo only wins one category, VALUE and the GOLF wins the next 5 categories INSIDE, ENGINE, PERFORMANCE, HOW IT DRIVES and VERDICT.
I think there are some valid points raised, but they service two different markets. I am of course biased, as perhaps I suspect the columnist, Jez Spinks is. At the end of the day, I feel it's all about "bang for buck"...you get a lot more from the Polo. They both deserve the GTI badge

Not the best review I have read, pretty basic and not very informative. I'm afraid Mr Spinks........stinks

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True but if you look at the options list for a 172 it's nothing to sneeze at even by today's standards ie rain sensing wipers, xenons. Try and option that into a comparable hatch today.

It sounds great on paper, until your rain sensor detaches itself from the windscreen, the CD stacker jams disks, and your climate control fan in the roof light control panel starts making a really fricken annoying whirring noise.

So yeah, those options on a German car would be fantastic... but when the French do them it just becomes more things to go wrong

[Gambit]

It sounds great on paper, until your rain sensor detaches itself from the windscreen, the CD stacker jams disks, and your climate control fan in the roof light control panel starts making a really fricken annoying whirring noise.

So yeah, those options on a German car would be fantastic... but when the French do them it just becomes more things to go wrong

Looks like you got a lemon, and there are many french examples of that hahaha!
But in all my years of ownership of my 172 not one of those issues crept in. its like playing russian roulette, you take your chances.
Anyhow the comparison was on standard base inclusions against what you option in dollar for dollar. Just goes to show that comparable differences between certain marques..

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Looks like you got a lemon, and there are many french examples of that hahaha!
But in all my years of ownership of my 172 not one of those issues crept in. its like playing russian roulette, you take your chances.
Anyhow the comparison was on standard base inclusions against what you option in dollar for dollar. Just goes to show that comparable differences between certain marques..

I started to think the same thing, but it could just be the age (130k on the clock now)... and given the things that have failed are minor fixes I'm not particularly worried.

Still, you can't expect German build quality from a budget French hatch

[domlebo70]

I started to think the same thing, but it could just be the age (130k on the clock now)... and given the things that have failed are minor fixes I'm not particularly worried.

Still, you can't expect German build quality from a budget French hatch

You can, just prepare to be VERY disappointed

[bigfoot]

a comparo in the SMH today

Head to Head - Volkswagen Polo GTI v Volkswagen Golf GTI

[Gambit]

Read that today, despite all the shortcomings, the Polo GTI is the better mannered road car day to day in city traffic with great fuel economy to boot !