Polo GTI v Golf GTI on a Track

[T Go]

Hey Guys,

Just wondering if anyone has any experience in how far off the Polo would be in a head to head on a track with only short straights?

Both cars stock, but maybe some decent springs on the Polo to stop it rolling all over the place....

[DubSteve]

Use the search button, there are like heaps of threads similar to this!

Oh and a Golf!

[Mischa]

you post in the polo section and the polo will be equal with the golf

you post in the mk5 section and the golf will crap on the polo

useless thread.

[Flaps]

A Golf GTI will set a faster time(2 seconds minimum) on a track then a Polo GTI if they are driven by the same driver. The Golf's suspension/chassis is far superior.

[VW GTI]

It depends on the driver...

Stock, you would expect the Golf to take the cake - but both tuned it would be a lot closer as the gain for a tune on a Polo makes it's power:weight a lot better.

At the Warwick track day I was lapping faster than a tuned Golf but another one (and of course Guy's monster) were killing my times.

So with the same driver I'd imagine the Golf would be quicker stock.

[Flaps]

you post in the polo section and the polo will be equal with the golf

innnnnnnnnnnnncorrect

[T Go]

I had a quick search and came up with pretty much chipped Polo's vs other cars n Golf GTIs...
but was abit more interested in unchipped and around a track...

you post in the polo section and the polo will be equal with the golf

you post in the mk5 section and the golf will crap on the polo

useless thread.

Im not really lookin for OPINIONS, thats why I asked for EXPERIENCE. I understand the owners of each car will be biased... just askin 4 people who, by chance, may have seen/driven em both.

[VW GTI]

A Golf GTI will set a faster time(2 seconds minimum) on a track then a Polo GTI if they are driven by the same driver. The Golf's suspension/chassis is far superior.

Surely the difference in lap times would depend on the length of the track?

[VW GTI]

Im not really lookin for OPINIONS, thats why I asked for EXPERIENCE. I understand the owners of each car will be biased... just askin 4 people who, by chance, may have seen/driven em both.

Tgo: Not many people that track their car would have either stock.

[T Go]

Surely the difference in lap times would depend on the length of the track?

Yea, thats why I was just interested in knowin if it was mainly corners, and less about str8 line speed, and if the Polo had its dynamics sharpened abit with decent suspension, if it would be a close call?

(alot of "ifs" i know! haha)

[Flaps]

Surely the difference in lap times would depend on the length of the track?

Yep it certainly would. The longer the track the greater the gap will be in favour of the Golf.

If there's more corners then straights on the track the Golf's ability to carry corner speed will just make the margin bigger too.

[RhysQ]

Yea, thats why I was just interested in knowin if it was mainly corners, and less about str8 line speed, and if the Polo had its dynamics sharpened abit with decent suspension, if it would be a close call?

(alot of "ifs" i know! haha)

So basically you want to know is a Golf handles better than a Polo? Of course.

It may just be me but i've driven a Golf GTI and Polo GTI and to be honest the Polo's suspension is far from 'rolling all over the place' in comparison. It's not that much softer than the Golf's. You would expect the Golf's suspension/chassis to be superior (which it is) but in that saying that, it's still not exceptional.

If you upgraded suspension in the Polo and tracked it against a stock Golf, wouldn't that just make any comparison useless

[seangti]

If you're doing track days, 99% of people won't give a rats if you're a few seconds slower than the next guy (which if playing fairly a polo will be slower than a golf at probably all points) - get out there to enjoy and learn, not use it as a trouser measuring contest. You'll have a blast

If doing it, cover your rego plates and rego sticker to maintain ya warranty

[Timbo]

A lot of people forget that when you go to a track day (and I mean one that's timed), you really shuld only compete with yourself (a bit like golf...the silly game with a funny stick and small white ball) and aim to improve your times through better driving.

It seems to me a lot of people (me included ) egt caught up in trying to compete/compare against different cars with different mods, and different drivers with different experience levels...and try to make some sort of point out of it all...which is really difficult, when you think about it.

There's no question Jamie Whincup in a stock Polo will be faster around any race track than any ordinary punter in Golf GTI, or equally, that JW will set faster times on the same track in the Golf over the Polo -- that's the nature of the cars.

So, as seangti says, the best idea is to go along, work on your own driving and times and you'll have a ball. A great example here is FLOODY, who has a basically stock Polo and has improved his times each time he goes on a track.

If you want to 'race' where the winner is the first over the line, then clearly the cars have to be equal spec, otherwise what's the point

If you want to show the benefit of mods, then clearly it's about improvements in laptimes with the same driver.

See...just like golf...the silly game with the funny stick and small white ball!

[VW GTI]

All this talk makes me want to go to another track day - most fun I've ever had.

I wonder if an X3 condition allows you to drive on the track