Polo gti vs mazda 3 sp25 vs BMW 120i hatch (used)

[kane]

Hi all,
Have tried searching but could not find a similar post, I was all set on the polo gti however with availability issues I am forced to look at other options am starting a new job which will involve a peak hour comute so needs to be auto.
Have you driven either of these? If so what were your thoughts?

I understand this is a VW forum so I expect a little bias.

Thanks In Advance
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[Corey_R]

I test drove the Mazda 3 SP23 (Luxury, manual) and 3 MPS (both previous generation of course) and BMW 120i Hatch Auto when looking at a car back in ~2005. I also test drove the Mini Cooper S JCW, Audi S3, Golf R32 and Golf GTI... amoung others. I ended up with a Golf GTI.

I drove the 120i Hatch Auto with the knowledge that the 130i Hatch would be coming and it'd give me a good basis. The fact that it was Front engine but RWD and offered the BMW "driving dynamics" was awesome. The handling and balance of the car brilliant. But the fit and finish of the cabin was a bit of a disappointment for the $60k otr that this particular 120i was new. The engine was also just so disappointing - probably even more so considering how great the chassis was. The rear seat next to useless (except for children), making the fact that we only got the 5 door model further frustrating, and the boot space also pretty average.

To be honest, a BMW 120d is a better option, as at least it has decent torque and faster acceleration.


The Mazda SP23 was pretty average. Average ride, average interior, average engine (with below average power and economy) and yeah. I mean, the engine was no worse in its lack of power than the BMW, but the fact it was a 2.3L was just comical. Whilst I haven't driven the SP25, the "upgrade" in power and torque makes me wonder if Mazda are even trying! To be honest, the whole experience was just unmemorable. The most memorable part was the fact my girlfriend was so "colourful" in her description of how much she disliked the car.
About 2 years ago a workmate bought a second hand one. Dark metallic green with a red and black striped interior... I must say, apart from the fowl colour combination, it really didn't change my opinion of them being "unmemorable".


As I said, I ended up with the Golf GTI, albeit, not till mid 2008 when I went back and tested even more cars. Cost much more than the Mazda, but far less than the BMW 120i. Whilst the BMW had more balanced handling due to the RWD, the GTI still had very good handling - but just a different feel. The Golf GTI engine absolutely killed both of them in performance, yet used less fuel than either. The interior of my GTI was more impressive than that of the 120i (having been in a few 135i's recently, it seems BMW have woken up to themselves and improved them over time, so it's possible newer 120i's are much better than the ones I tested in ~2005), in features for the money, and fit and finish - although the BMW leather sports seats are really nice! The back seat of the Golf is much more practical than the BMW, as is the boot.

So maybe you should look at a MKV Golf GTI?


I unfortunately only had my Golf for 4 months when, whilst stationary, a bus rear-ended it and wrote it off. On the advice of someone here (can't remember who), I went and looked at a Polo GTI as I needed a car to keep me going until the MK6 Golf GTI was available. The 9N3 Polo GTI was so good that I ended up waiting even longer for the MK6 Golf R.
Despite being smaller than the Golf, the Polo GTI had a rear seat which is still more usable than the BMW, about the same boot size (from memory), and whilst certainly nowhere near the features and luxury of the BMW, it's ergonomics and finish still kill that of any Mazda 3 I've seen. The 1.8T is a cracker of an engine, and the handling is great... BUT it's a manual....

Enter the Stage I ECU. Any competent companies' stage I ECU (although mine was APR's V2 Polo GTI). If the 1.8T was not already good enough, having a Stage I ECU flash pumped that up to ~152kw and 328Nm in a just under 1200kg car. This has so much torque that you can LITERALLY "accelerate" through each of the 5 gears without touching the accelerator once. Put it in first, easy out the clutch, the car starts moving and will get to about 13km/h, where you can put it into 2nd, ease out the clutch, and repeat all the way to 5th at about ~34km/h - without touching the accelerator pedal once. Whilst you wouldn't do that in traffic, I mention it to show you literally how torquey and easy the manual is to drive... even after having a DSG previously.


So yeah, I wouldn't discount VW at the moment. Have a look at the 2nd hand Golf GTI market and even 9N3 Polo GTI market...

[kane]

Thanks for your in depth reply,
I really try to love the mkv but I would prefer white and the non colour coded bumbers don't tickle my fancy

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[DoggieHowser]

I think my previous cars spoilt me. I can barely drive small cc NA cars these days.

I actually found the 1.2T 77TSi Golf more responsive than a Volvo C30 2.0 NA. Even though both had a DSG option.

The only NA cars I've had some fun driving recently were a 3.4l Boxster S manual and an S2000 with the final drive modified.

I test drove the Polo GTI and IMHO it was a really fun car to drive. Immensely chuckable, more so than my MkV Golf GTI and the twin charged engine felt far more responsive than the 2.0T in the Golf.

Had a big smile on my face

[Corey_R]

Thanks for your in depth reply,
I really try to love the mkv but I would prefer white and the non colour coded bumbers don't tickle my fancy

My brother just bought a MKV Golf GT TSI for his wife. It's white too. She also don't like the black rear lower bumper. You could drop it and a mirror cap off to a body shop so that they could colour match the rear lower bumper if you really want... or leave the entire car if you have time for that. That's what they're going to do. It's also what I did with my red MKV GTI (but I actually replaced the front, side and rear spoilers/skirts). But yeah... don't let that lower bumper put you off cause that's easily fixed.

[kane]

My brother just bought a MKV Golf GT TSI for his wife. It's white too. She also don't like the black rear lower bumper. You could drop it and a mirror cap off to a body shop so that they could colour match the rear lower bumper if you really want... or leave the entire car if you have time for that. That's what they're going to do. It's also what I did with my red MKV GTI (but I actually replaced the front, side and rear spoilers/skirts). But yeah... don't let that lower bumper put you off cause that's easily fixed.

Sounds OK dare I ask how much it would cost?
Both the new skirts and or re-painting the originals?

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[triode12]

Sounds OK dare I ask how much it would cost?
Both the new skirts and or re-painting the originals?

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About $350-500 to color code the rear skirt. $250-350 for the side skirts. The skirts have to be sanded down to get rid of their dimpled surface hence the high cost (labour).

[Vaku]

my last ride was an SP25 and apart from resale value I can only say positive things about it, its no VW ofcourse but it is an excellent car in terms of value for money and is pretty well equipped (BT/GPS/CC etc)

the 'activematic' is decent, obviously not on a DSG level but it shifts pretty quickly, steering is nice and light and engine is perfectly fine for the daily commute.

personally I would buy a second hand one or wait until the end of the year as the 'sky' engine series (aka series 2) will be out and prices on the SP25 will drop dramatically..

they can look pretty badass also with the right mods..



mine before I sold it.

[Corey_R]

Sounds OK dare I ask how much it would cost?
Both the new skirts and or re-painting the originals?

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oh... well, "new parts" are going to run you into the several thou if you're going aftermarket, so that's completely unnecessary.

As for the how much would a body shop charge you to colour match on the existing parts... it depends on colour (especially metallic vs non-metallic), and it depends on what model you get... a GTI has black front and side skirts and rear valance. A non-GTI has only the rear valance.

It should be comfortably less than $1k though... especially for a cash job.

[kane]

oh... well, "new parts" are going to run you into the several thou if you're going aftermarket, so that's completely unnecessary.

As for the how much would a body shop charge you to colour match on the existing parts... it depends on colour (especially metallic vs non-metallic), and it depends on what model you get... a GTI has black front and side skirts and rear valance. A non-GTI has only the rear valance.

It should be comfortably less than $1k though... especially for a cash job.

Thanks corey...

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[pologti18t]

Why not look at a Golf 118tsi with sports pack?

Another point.... if you are starting a new job i would honestly wait the 3month (??) probation period before investing in a new car (or whatever)

[yas786]

You could buy mine Kane. I'm wanting to sell our Polo GTi and buy a Golf GTi for the added boot space and rear seat width. PM me if you want any details.

[astro]

You could buy mine Kane. I'm wanting to sell our Polo GTi and buy a Golf GTi for the added boot space and rear seat width. PM me if you want any details.

You have very unique car if its a GTi cause I only know of GTI's....

[pologti18t]

You have very unique car if its a GTi cause I only know of GTI's....

groan... What's with the apostrophe?