Polo Comfortline rarely seen here - why?

[Libran]

I am considering buying a Polo Comfortline 77TSI. I am wondering why I don't see many Polos on the streets in Melbourne, despite this car having won several awards. The VWs I see all seem to be Golf. Does that mean there are reasons to be cautious about a Polo? Or perhaps the Golf represents better value?

[LunchboxVRS]

There are plenty around, Melbourne's just a big place. Don't be put off. Read http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/...ter-45487.html. Mainly issues with the Dsg or burning oil in gti. But have a look and search for other info but you can't really go wrong with a manual 77tsi.

[nomadx38]

There are a lot of comfortlines' around trust me. Besides me and my brother having one, I have seen hundreds in the eastern suburbs.

I was siting at Doncaster shopping centre once having a coffee looking out the big dome window onto the intersection bellow and I kid you not every cycle of the lights a polo (trend, comfort or GTI) was going through. They are more popular than you think. But I would say the majority are in the eastern suburbs. I work in the west and rarely see any over there, except my babe of course.

[alexaescht]

Polo Comfortline rarely seen here - why?

Don't be put off. The Polo is an extremely popular car around Melbourne and I think the only reason you'll see more Golf's is because most people when buying cars believe that VW=Golf. I see plenty of Polo's (mainly the 77 TSI) around where I live and in other eastern suburbs and the odd GTI and occasional TDI as well. Even though I own a TDI I would definitely say that you cant go wrong with a 77 TSI manual, that way you have the joy of a fun little turbo-charged engine, a great gearbox and you avoid all of the issues surrounding the DSG gearbox and the DPF exhaust filter.

Alex.

[kam]

you never notice a car until you start noticing them, if that makes sense

eg: your friend buys a honda accord. all of a sudden, you start noticing them on the road

same goes for the polo, i literally never knew they existed until a month ago when i bought mine, now i see them everywhere

[alexaescht]

you never notice a car until you start noticing them, if that makes sense

eg: your friend buys a honda accord. all of a sudden, you start noticing them on the road

same goes for the polo, i literally never knew they existed until a month ago when i bought mine, now i see them everywhere

Yep. Same here

[Diesel_vert]

It's all to do with numbers.

Traditionally, C-segment vehicles (Focus, Golf, Corolla, etc) have always sold in higher numbers than B-segment vehicles (Fiesta, Polo, Yaris, etc) in Australia.

In addition, the Golf is Volkswagen's best selling model in Australia, where they sold nearly three times as many Golfs than the Polo in 2012. Similarly, Toyota sold twice as many Corollas than the Yaris.

Even in Europe, VW sells more Golfs than it does Polos, overall.

[alexaescht]

I wouldn't blame anyone for buying a Corolla over a Yaris

[Libran]

DSG?

There are plenty around, Melbourne's just a big place. Don't be put off. Read http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/...ter-45487.html. Mainly issues with the Dsg or burning oil in gti. But have a look and search for other info but you can't really go wrong with a manual 77tsi.

Thanks to everyone for the replies. Special thanks to lunchboxGTI for pointing out the Polo problem register thread. Several people who replied to my question have suggested that a manual is the way to go, although the problem thread doesn't highlight DSG issues in particular. Is it just because a manual is less complex and therefore less likely to be problematical, or should I stay well clear of the DSG?

[nomadx38]

Manual is less complex so it has less chance to fail. I would say the 7 speed DSG is getting better but it is still a far cry from the reliability and smoothness of the 6 speed which is a wet clutch system. I think the main problems with these gearboxes is heat, the lack of fluid cooling the clutches and in turn the gearbox means that in this hot country is more prone to failure. They have changed the clutch material to make them last longer and so far appears to be working.

I can't say this problem is with vw boxes only. Ford has had similar issues with the fiesta which again is a dry clutch 6 speed box. You then have the 6 speed box in the focus which is a wet clutch and far smoother in comparison.

[alexaescht]

Thanks to everyone for the replies. Special thanks to lunchboxGTI for pointing out the Polo problem register thread. Several people who replied to my question have suggested that a manual is the way to go, although the problem thread doesn't highlight DSG issues in particular. Is it just because a manual is less complex and therefore less likely to be problematical, or should I stay well clear of the DSG?

I would say it all depends on how long you plan on keeping your car for. If you are going to keep you car until the end of the warranty period and then sell it, I don't think it really matters which 'box you choose because VW will fix any problems if your DSG is defective. If you know that you will keep your car well after the warranty period ends then I would certainly stick to the manual because it is much less likely to fail outside the warranty period (where any repairs will be of your cost).

[kam]

have 7 speed dsg owners considered getting transmission coolers ?

i know when i put my fmic on my other car, i had to get one, otherwise there was a high chance of overheating

[alexaescht]

have 7 speed dsg owners considered getting transmission coolers ?

i know when i put my fmic on my other car, i had to get one, otherwise there was a high chance of overheating

The 7 speed DSG has a dry clutch setup. I don't think it's possible to add a transmission cooler to something that has no cooling/lubricating fluid in the first place.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

[amazeer]

Plenty of Polos in each tsi/tdi/gti version in Wollongong. 4 or 5 in my work carpark alone. Maybe demographics say we cant afford as many golfs.

You should avoid the diesel if you arent doing longer trips or freeway drives to keep the particulate filter clean. Its worse if you are a lead foot city driver. There is nothing at all wrong with the tdi if driven within its parameters. Dealers dont seem to be passing that crucial bit of info on. Perhaps they dont know? Hard to believe.

I personally dont like the dsg. I drove golf and polo tsi with dsg and they both had the issues that I found annoying. When you are at the traffic lights in a conventional auto and the light changes green, you put your foot down and the car moves. Sure, it moves off a little sluggishly as the torque converter takes the strain but it moves. The dsg just sits there for a moment while it puts its pants on. Once moving and accelerating it is silky smooth and all is good. But then when you slow down to an intersection and turn, the gearbox is always in 3rd gear and it takes that little hesitation to get into 2nd and pull away. 2 dealers told me to drive it like a manual. If I am going to do that, why not just save my money and get a clutch pedal. I think there has been a software upgrade recently that may have fixed it, but the damage in my psychology is already done. And should I be unlucky enough to have one of the too common issues my car will be on the hoist for a few days. Regardless of whether it is covered by warranty that is going to piss me off. Unless I get a scirocco loan car.

[nomadx38]

No the way it is designed makes it impossible to put aftermarket cooling in. I have to say the Volkswagen automotive group made a technological marvel with the 7 speed gearbox, been the first gearbox in the world with 7 forward gears, in a dual clutch config (which is a marvel in itself) which is designed to be 100% maintenance free (via internal cooling systems for the gearbox and mechatronics unit, lifetime filters and heat dispassion through design) and weighs next to nothing so it can be put in transverse mounted cars.

I think they got into trouble when they decided to put it in worldwide cars because of the way it is designed, it is for European climates and in so has very few problems over there and is very successful over the manual transmission which Europeans have hated to move on from because of its usefulness in the snow. All the problems around the DSG I would say are linked to hot climates, Purely just my opinion but having DSG problems in South Africa, China, Malaysia, India, Singapore and Australia would lead me to believe that heat is an issue.

I would say the issue more specifically is that there is NO cooling for the clutches what so ever as they are dry to reduce weight. The clutches start burning up and the heat that comes of the clutches are heating everything else in the gearbox up to the point were basic air cooling can't cool it, especially in start stop traffic for hours in the city. I think it is this reason why the DSGs are failing especially in comparison to the 6 speed DSG which is pretty much proven over here.