and the winner is ...

[sVWatt]

2011 Drive Car of the Year Best City Car: Volkswagen Polo 77TSI

“It’s a bizarre experience to get into something the size of a post box and find that it really goes,” said two times Bathurst winner John Bowe. ... and thats before it's DNA enhancement

[bigfoot]

haha was just about to post that...go Polo!

[Eaglehawk]

I still think that the Polo GTI should have won the "Best Performance Car under $60K" category...

[gavs]

Except that a high percentage of Polo GTIs are constantly in the workshop and run like a 2 stroke

It really is a joke that they only judge these cars on the time they are testing them and generally, these press cars are tweaked (great example is the Ferrari 360 Modena when released to the press....) so that they are in optimum condition to avoid bad PR.

If the journos took any time at all to do some research into the new polo and all the inherent problems (DSG failures, wheel bearings commiting suicide, fuel line rattles, air con line rattles, dash rattles, b pillar rattles, polo gti oil consumption issues, polo gti supercharger clutch issues) I am sure these cars would never win another award. Take into account one of the worst customer service records in the world.....

[sVWatt]

Except that a high percentage of Polo GTIs are constantly in the workshop and run like a 2 stroke

It really is a joke that they only judge these cars on the time they are testing them and generally, these press cars are tweaked (great example is the Ferrari 360 Modena when released to the press....) so that they are in optimum condition to avoid bad PR.

If the journos took any time at all to do some research into the new polo and all the inherent problems (DSG failures, wheel bearings commiting suicide, fuel line rattles, air con line rattles, dash rattles, b pillar rattles, polo gti oil consumption issues, polo gti supercharger clutch issues) I am sure these cars would never win another award. Take into account one of the worst customer service records in the world.....

Gavs was just thinking the exact same. A real world 'living with the car' would be better. I too would be hard pushed to say I'd buy another as they seem too 'fragile'

Is that what happens when parts are built in seven different countries, shipped to South Africa for assembly and then shipped down under?

Too many outsourced sub contracted fingers and machines.

[pologti18t]

Is that what happens when parts are built in seven different countries, shipped to South Africa for assembly and then shipped down under?

Too many outsourced sub contracted fingers and machines.

That's how most car companies work. Just in time, external suppliers etc.

Considering how complex a car is then the number of problems reported is quite minor. A lot of the problems seem to be "a rattle here, a buzz there".

[VW Convert]

Gavs was just thinking the exact same. A real world 'living with the car' would be better. I too would be hard pushed to say I'd buy another as they seem too 'fragile'

Is that what happens when parts are built in seven different countries, shipped to South Africa for assembly and then shipped down under?

Too many outsourced sub contracted fingers and machines.

Only seven countries? I would bet my left one that parts fitted to any given VW (or any other volume produced brand) would be produced in many more than seven countries. Vendor companies that supply car manufacturers produce (or buy) those parts worldwide.

As for outsourcing, this has been the way since day one, no company has the expertise to produce everything in house.

Cheers

George

[VWindahouse]

A wise man who has owned Mercedes and Mazda dealerships for more than 30 years once told me "always wait for the facelift model of a newly released car to avoid head aches". I think this advise is even more valid as technolgy progresses more and more over time.

[gavs]

That's what ford said about the territory and every model has been recalled

[Acko1991]

Seems like the problems that people are finding are very minor......you should of seen my 1997 BMW M3...it was on a tow truck 6 times. I knew the guy who towed it by first name basis. By turning the key i unleashed a whole tank of BP ultimate onto the gym car park in 40 degree heat. i lost power on a hill in rush hour and pushed it by myself up the hill to get it out of the way.

I don't think a few rattles are gunna really hurt anyone. If you are on a tow truck a lot then i would be concerned.

[kaanage]

A wise man who has owned Mercedes and Mazda dealerships for more than 30 years once told me "always wait for the facelift model of a newly released car to avoid head aches". I think this advise is even more valid as technolgy progresses more and more over time.

Funny, that's how I treat Microsoft system releases

Seems like the problems that people are finding are very minor......

The owner of the Polo GTi that is on its third engine and still drinking oil may beg to differ

[Buller_Scott]

fcking modern technology... mum's test driven a few cars, and the two "better" options are from the VAG group, which isnt bad at all....

if it werent for frigging land rover's horrific track record as of late, it'd be a no brainer (discovery 4, one of the best looking cars on the road IMO)

[Acko1991]

The owner of the Polo GTi that is on its third engine and still drinking oil may beg to differ

That sucks......

---------- Post added at 11:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:22 PM ----------

if it werent for frigging land rover's horrific track record as of late, it'd be a no brainer (discovery 4, one of the best looking cars on the road IMO)

Land Rover are very reliable if they are maintained correctly.....my 2002 land rover disco TD5 went really well...only had to change a fuel pump......It was a fuel guzzler though thats why i got rid!

[pologti18t]

Funny, that's how I treat Microsoft system releases

I think that is more appropriate for Apple releases nowadays

[sVWatt]

Land Rover are very reliable if they are maintained correctly.....my 2002 land rover disco TD5 went really well...only had to change a fuel pump......It was a fuel guzzler though thats why i got rid!

Agree....had old 110 and RR - no issue. Period. I think the Disco would be an awesome (and safe) buy.