Fiesta XR4 vs Polo GTI

[astro]

i emailed a vw dealers and seen when i can get a test drive of a stock one first as that is what it will be for a bit. thanks for the offer once i had a go at that i will see when we can go for a spin in urs.. look forward to it.

[Gti Dave]

In general if you're looking at modding the car, then bang for bucks it would have to be a factory turbo charged vehicle like the polo gti as any significant power increases (if any) would generally cost a hell of a lot more coin for any NA car than it would for an already forced induction car straight from the factory. For example an ECU tune, exhaust and air filter and maybe an enlarged throttle body may see a noticeable power increase but when you make the same mods to a turbocharged vehicle, you're more likely to get behind the wheel and go "whoooaaaa" whereas in the NA car you'll more likely to feel "Hmm...yeah I can sorta feel an increase...".

However, there are some car enthusiasts out there who would prefer NA over turbo in that its more 'el naturale' (he he he...kinda sounding like going to a nudist beach...LOL). Hence best to drive both cars and see how you feel personally.

[GTI_jim]

I still own a zetec fiesta (only the 1.6L) and i can tell you i find myself taking corners ridiculously well. Even my 2004 WP model (before the WQ/XR4, but same DNA) handles like a dream (it did as standard but i've now got it lowered and plan to chuck on a Rear Sway Bar (Whiteline have one).

The Polo GTI which i drive on a regular basis too (un-modded basically save K&N Filter and SEAT intake), has a slightly jiggly rear end... but as its been said, this could be easily fixed by getting springs/coil-overs, RSB etc... Whereas trying to squeeze more Horsies out of the XR4 is harder.

Tuning companies do exist for the Fiesta: Dreamscience, Code:Red, Mountune, PumaSpeed, Milltek do Flexipipes/Cats/Full Exhausts.... And if you want to really go off the chain, go down the Cosworth path. but its the same old NA story, although the Mountune package sees as jump to 138kw, but you'd be hard pressed to get it down here as its only sold in the UK.

These aren't going to give you the same BFB as getting the GTI and spending perhaps about the same amount of money or less and getting a whole lot more bang......but do remember that the XR4 has won MOTOR mags BangForYourBuck two years running...

I drive both for equal amounts of time, and am a member of.....yes......a ford forum and eurofordclub.com and can say that if you've got 20k+ to spend...get the Polo for sure.

[Chipped]

http://www.mountuneperformance.co.uk...=137&Itemid=55

sorry, maybe its because im an oiler, but whilst it sounds nice to have kilowatts kilowatts kilowatts, the sound of only ~200nm of torque, sounds........... sorta sounds like crap.

see, i'd rather have 100kw and 350nm than 350kw and 100nm.

even with the NA xr4 upping its power by however many kw, it still wont have the pulling power of a forced induction car.

exactly - as they say KW's sell cars. nm's win races 350nm torque on a chipped Polo puts a stock RX-8 at 260nm of torque to shame...now thats bang for buck!!

[Kiel_GTI]

g'day astro,

my family has both a polo gti (mine) and an xr4 (my mums) i drive the xr4 a fair bit.

in my opinion the polo is a better all around car. good power decent handling, comfortable.

the xr4 has decent power but its shown up by the polo easily, even as stock. it has crazy handling. however, it is the most uncomfortable car i have ever been in. stiff springs, and 205/40 rubber makes for a harsh ride. interior is also very tacky unlike the polo.

as people have said, the best way to find out is to test drive both and decide for yourself.

[DeanB]

I test drove a mates XR4 before test driving the Polo. I liked the cornering feel of the XR4, but found the turning circle to be huge, I also couldn't get over the interior .... for me the interior was very polarising and I hated it. I personally preferred the look of the Polo, some angles of the XR4 I just don't like. I also liked the turbo response and tuning options for the Polo. Like with any car it's a personal thing, unless you are obsessed with a manufacturer and you will only buy what they have to offer.

Oh, and I don't know how anybody can like this, that blue plastic trim is so cheap looking ....

[seangti]

plus 1 on what everyone has said. I took both for a spin and within 500m of driving the polo (gti) I found it much more refined and comfortable as a daily with some mongrel in it. The handling and brakes were a disappointment after the test drive compared to the XR4, though as a car I intend to track reasonably often, the base and tuning options of the polo are thought to be much better.

Now after a couple of track days and 5000kms, the brakes are fine, ride vs handling is good (though not too impressed with the H&R lowered springs i've since installed, but each to their own). My car is otherwise totally stock.

Drive em back to back if you can.

[Flaps]

Oh, and I don't know how anybody can like this, that blue plastic trim is so cheap looking ....

It's a Ford. It is cheap. Same as Holden, Toyota etc.

[astro]

Thanks for everyones response waiting on the reply for dealer to get a test drive will see how much spare time i have after the test drive the polo to see if i can get to a ford dealer. looks like the polo is winning it for me

It's a Ford. It is cheap. Same as Holden, Toyota etc.

Hey i can agree with the holden and ford but i am a big fan of toyota and can't say that are cheap i can think of many other companies that are cheaper then them.(well there new stuff is pretty ****)older stuff isn't that bad

[GTI_jim]

I can't agree with the ford quality... Eurofords anyway. Although the actual materials they use may not feel as quality, I feel like the polo interior will come away quicker than my fiesta. Maybe it's just me, or the way the interiors put together. Let the ribbing begin

[Buller_Scott]

after my boo boo in the vr, i was looking for a new car and the obvious choices (given that i wanted something newish, and like small hatches) were the suzuki swift gti, the xr4, polo, and mitsu colt ralliart.

swift had underwhelming figures, and the colt looked more like a tiny van than a hatchback- and at 30k, i wanted more rear seat legroom.

funnily enough, the two 2-door cars had the best back seat leg space when i sat in them, and i was set on an xr4- i LOVE the look of that car.

that all changed when i was standing outside the rydges hotel near melbourne uni, though. heard a BOV (****y, i know), turned around to look at the car that made that noise, but the car was already up the road. that's when i thought 'i want that car'.

it would have been a tough sell though, if it was xr4 turbo. i just love the look of that car.

[Blitzen]

I was the same as Scot when I was looking for a car to replase my Barina SRI. I looked at like this...
Astra SRI 2.0T: Too expensive for what it is, crap chassis, Torque Steer.
Swift Sport: Liked the outside, didn't like 4 doors though, too small of an engine, bugger all torque, No spare tyre, just a can of air.
Ralliart Colt: Loved the look of it, especially in Red, liked the front seats, but sat too high, didn't like the lack of full size spare.
XR4: Love the outside look of it, and liked the layout of the interior, but not the way it was made. Very small feel inside. When I oringinally read in wheels that it was coming to Australia, it said (in Wheels) that it was coming as a 2.0L Turbo, but when I went to the dealer to have a look at one, I found they were N/A. Also, no full size spare.
So I bought the Polo GTI, and I havn't looked back.

[mikepologti]

as above cept i looked at the mitzy colt ralliart, swift, xr4 then finally the polo gti. after much deliberation and trolling forums the pog turned up the goods, when i took it for a test drive i certainly wasnt disapointed.

[Gti Dave]

Prior to deciding on the polo gti, I looked at the suzuki swift but got put off with the low rent carpets, lack of boot space and it being NA. ALso though about the Mitsi Colt but didn't like the styling and lack of boot space. Seems to have a very high centre of gravity too as the body is quite tall. Loved the mini cooper s but once again was too small and way too expensive for what it is. XR4 was also looked at but for the price being comparable to the and it being only NA and the costs associated with upgrading NA vehicles, I just said nah and went straight for the proud lil pogo (golf gti jr).

[PeterHBne]

XR4 - a great choice for blatting around town - great handling. Nice grunt for an NA car (loved 2nd gear). You just want to flog the guts out of it all the time.

Ralliart Colt - you either like it's quirky looks or you dont (I do) really good handling to a point. Good power but a big painful lag from 1st to 2nd. Cheapish interior.

Polo definately the better all rounder but the handling, brakes and gear change should be better. The 1st choice if your plan is to modify for grunt.

Swift Sport - I owned the very first Swift GTI back in 89 and loved it - great little car. Fantastic donk. The current model is just a big dissapointment.