Does a Polo Gti handle properly?

[Ben_GTI]

I recently drove a 997 and I found the oversteer was challenging at times, eg rear-end sliding out, almost made me appreciate the FWD predictability of the Pog. A lot depends on what you're used to..

Must be the way I drive, but the oversteer in the Pogo irritates me. My MkIII golf at the same speed through some chicanes off the freeway near my place is much more settled.

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?client=firefox-a&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=-37.865537,144.77354&spn=0.002562,0.005686&t=h&z=18

The Polo can take the freeway corner about 30km/h faster than the golf, but through the chicane the back end slides out on the correction following the chicane. I'm hoping when the new suspension goes on it will help keep the backend attached to the road a bit more.

[Jmac]

Must admit my Pug Gti 1.9 was on rails and much stiffer than the Pog, still love the Pog but for a car back then (1990) the Pug was So so good!!!!!
JMac

[firdausasri]

Having been up and down my favourite routes for like upteenth of times, I felt the same way as like you guys here. The body rolls more, steering felt a wee bit vague (too light), and turn in not as sharp as I'd like. But you could tolerate with the rolls and play around with the throttle & steering (adjusting the front grip), it's shouldn't be as bad. On the Polo, I still can manage to keep up my old Satria GTi cornering speed. Mind you, this one have properly setup monotube adjustable coilovers and sway bars. Just that I wish it had firmer damping and LSD so that we can mesh the throttle out of corner when the turbo motors at its best delivery.

I understand why the suspension are being set up this way. The Polo GTI is intended for first-time performance car drivers and you don’t really want them to start get it out of shape mid corners, especially if they panic and lift off the throttle completely and loosen the tail.

But then again, take it to motorway and you'll sense that chassis is perfect, never floating or wallowing even on the most challenging long undulations and when you drive over shorter waves, it never bumps or crashes. You could hold 220-230 on the bend living you in awe.

[MINTpolo]

I also found the polo to be a dissapointing car in terms of handling, one of the reasons i sold it actually (also because the boot was too small). I thought it was a bit wobbly, and it also gave me the impression it was toppling over its outside front tyre. the steering rack kickback and rattle it was prone to on rough corners diddnt wow me either. However, on very tight twisting roads and situations with rapid directional changes, with a rear swaybar, the small size and grip made it feel quite capable.

I think you just have to accept that the polos strongest suits lie elsewhere -looks, interior, the engine!-and decide what you want from a car. For me it was better handling so I traded for a type-s and find the cars combination of ride comfort (less crashy than the polo) fwd poise and adjustability, rock solid front end feel and weighty steering to be much more satisfying, even in softish stock form...it also it has a huge boot.

[Bukefal]

not having driven the Pug GTi/RS Clio/etc, i will just comment through observation: the comments above confirm many reviews that the Polo GTI is not the best handling supermini out there. even the XR4 is supposed to be better. so if you're looking for the purest go-kart experience, you'd wanna look elsewhere. but as an overall quality package, it's hard to beat it.

[NickZ]

Whenever I get sick of the handling, I just get into my dad's ute and drive that for a bit around some twisties.

Then I stop complaining!

But seriously, if going around corners real fast is the be all and end all, there are much better cars than the polo. As said before, the Polo is a compromise with its advantages focused more on power than handling, and that's the way I'd rather have it

[VW GTI]

But seriously, if going around corners real fast is the be all and end all, there are much better cars than the polo. As said before, the Polo is a compromise with its advantages focused more on power than handling, and that's the way I'd rather have it

Having said this, I'd rather a Polo with good suspension over an XR4. Even for the extra money.

[GTI POLO]

Ive just read a few other threads where people praise the Polos handling?? What cars are these people used to Falcon station wagons?

The Polo is not bad but not in the same galaxy as the Peugeot Gti.

Maybe because my car has the APS tune on it, that extra torque probably unsettles it earlier.. On a sweeping left bend that tightens, The Polo didnt want to hold the line... Lucky there was no cars on the wrong side of the road.. It felt like it fell over its front wheels..

The Polo feels overpowered for its chassis,

The Peugeot feels underpowered for its Chasis.. Maybe thats why the Peugeot appears to handle better.. On the same sweeping bend, I was applying throttle more and more in the Peugeot which held the perfect line..

[VW GTI]

I think you'll find that's more a driver issue - no offense.

When I got my GTI I came from a Civic VEi - 55kw. I could corner at full power cos it had nothing. Now I can lose traction just by putting my foot down so I have to drive totally differently.

[bahjah]

Having said this, I'd rather a Polo with good suspension over an XR4. Even for the extra money.

Lol how can you justify that? I understand that it's a VW and a tad more refined, but on a handling/dynamics basis alone, it seems unreasonable. Just my opinion.

[marko]

Having had my Polo GTI for about 7 or 8 weeks now I am really happy with the handling, especially for the money you pay. I came from a lowered VX SS commodore, via a new mistubishi lancer to the Polo. The commodore is a terrible handler, even with aftermarket springs, of course this is no suprise to anyone. The mitsubishi was just as bad, it gave you no confidence to throw it around and standard driving elicited huge amounts of body roll and some suspension noise (admittedly not a performance car though). I have found the Polo to be fantastic, especially on cambered freeway off-ramps and through roundabouts. I haven't driven a pug, and i haven't done trackwork, but for everyday driving and for the money you pay i'm really happy with it.

[NickZ]

Lol how can you justify that? I understand that it's a VW and a tad more refined, but on a handling/dynamics basis alone, it seems unreasonable. Just my opinion.

Because it is easier to upgrade the handling of a polo than the power of a NA XR4.

[s1831559]

Because it is easier to upgrade the handling of a polo than the power of a NA XR4.

agree! in addition, XR4's isnt as well equip/comfortable as polo.
no doubt XR4 is a corner fighter, but everyday driving, i'd prefer a turbo.

my previous car was a celica, approx. same power output as the chipped polo. but u really got to drive it hard to feel that power as the lift kick in at 6000rpm. everyday driving? i dun think so.

[FL00DY]

I couldn't live in the drivers seat of an XR4 after having the luxury and comfort of the Polo. XR4 is a nice car, only a fraction slower but handling it has it over the Polo. As an overall package, there is a reason the GTI is more expensive.

Mines not chipped, and I've found I almost don't want it. Sway bar is essential I think, if you love a mountain pass or do any kinda of track or skid-pan work.

But stock for stock, the Polo GTI compared to the Pug GTI is chalk and chese, we should all know this by now. I've always said I can go nice and fast around corners, it just might not look as pretty as say a MINI or a Golf GTI. Meaning it wont be very flat.

This corner coming from Hume Hwy onto Narellan Road is still lots of fun in the Polo. In my old VS stock commodore with ordinary tyres I could go round that at 80km/h, in the GTI I can take it at 100 (obviously when know one is around). However it does take some skill to take it at that speed.

[firdausasri]

True Floody, and driver makes a lot of difference too