Thinking of buying a Polo GTI

[kevvie]

After 25 years of car ownership I can honestly say the Pogo is the most reliable car I have had - 3 years in the only thing I have ever worried about is getting the gearbox oil changed.

I find it refreshing to log into a forum where most of the questions are about wanting to spend money on the car to make it go better, rather than complaining about the money spent just to keep it going....

[kelvniii]

After 25 years of car ownership I can honestly say the Pogo is the most reliable car I have had - 3 years in the only thing I have ever worried about is getting the gearbox oil changed.

I find it refreshing to log into a forum where most of the questions are about wanting to spend money on the car to make it go better, rather than complaining about the money spent just to keep it going....

Totally true!

[blackbetty]

yeah i tend to agree with the majority here...when i bought my gti brand new, i did it after researching the hell out of everything in the same price bracket. i picked it because i was sure it was a car i could live with every day because it wasnt a hard edged sports car. it has good performance for what it is and is very reliable. and if i want i can spend a bit and hot her up.

i've had problems too, radio/cd player fried and needed replacement, plus i has some front suspension noise issues which results in balljoints and bushes being replaced, and then it all went away.

but i love the car and its by far the best i've ever had (previous cars are valiants and toranas).

so it depends on what you want - if you want a small great handler and performance car grab the CleoSport....its quicker and handles brilliantly. but if you want a car that will age gracefully and give reliabel performance, go the GTI.

[Servo]

Mind you having say that the Cleo is friggin ugly.

[tooch]

Mind you having say that the Cleo is friggin ugly.

Not to mention French build quality isn't held in the highest regard!
I'd hate to think how many squeaks and rattles the Renault would have after 1500km, given how many my Pogo has already!

[Gti Dave]

Yeah that's true cause judging by Clarksons and Hamsters comments in Top Gear on french cars, it seems that they aren't well built or reliable etc. LOL

[blackbetty]

the cleo's do rattle and squeak and bubble and fart and snort etc....my mate had one.

but back to the point, the GTi is a dam good value car and anyone thinking of buying one could do far worse. i guess when comparing it to other cars, you do need to compare apples with apples. naturally the little gti isnt comparable to be an R32 or an BMW M3...

[noone]

When I decided I wanted a different car early this year, my criteria was for something small, fast and newish.

After I discovered the chipping potential, the Polo was hard to beat. Other cars offered better handling designs as stock, but to get the same power as a Chipped polo was going to be an expensive exercise.

After being in Jamesatfish's polo at a Wakefield track day, I was amazed at the handling potential of the Pog. He payed good money for the kit, but he has ended up with a car that handles very well.

If I had my time again I may not have got the Polo as getting local support can be difficult and after market parts all have to come from the UK. I'm very glad for this site helping me spend all my hard earned dollars well and getting good bang for buck.

[Servo]

That's exactly what I wanted when I first wanted to buy the car. Something small and zippy, people see it as a girly car cause it's small and doesn't have 4 doors. But when they jump in and I take them for a drive respect comes instantly.

[seangti]

my biggest complaint is not getting to drive it enough. love to get out in the mountains or out on the open road.

As for a complaint about the car, it'd be the handling, partly my fault for only going H&R's, but will rectify that when funds permit. stock power (for now), comfort etc is fine for me.

[AcoustiK]

Im with you, I hardly take my GTi out, and done so much to it, not enough time, perhaps if I was single i'll have more time. Funny though I see myself just keep modding and modding without really appreciating the improved limits right to the point I end up selling the car!!!

[triode12]

Hi again,

Just an update on what's been happening with things and to say thanks to all that have helped me in the last two weeks with helping with my decision making.

I've just put down a deposit for a used Golf GT with DSG today.

We decided to go with a GT over the Polo GTI bec my wife can't drive a manual all that well, the Golf is has 5 drs and the 1.4 twin charged engine is less thirsty than the 1.8T engine of the Polo GTI.

The insurance is also half that of the Polo GTI (go figure)!!

While the GT isn't as nimble as the Polo (read: less fun), it does have the same handling and driving characteristics as the Golf GTI (which ain't bad). My wife is already used to driving our Pirelli so there won't be a learning curve for her when she drives the GT.

I would like to extend a special thanks to Ben (aka noone) for his very kind offer to let me test drive his Polo GTI.

I guess will see you guys around the traps. adios amigos!

[noone]

Traitor!

Nah, all good! I'm sure you will have plenty of fun with the DSG. Feel free to give us an update down the track, especially if you do any work to it!

[triode12]

Traitor!

Nah, all good! I'm sure you will have plenty of fun with the DSG. Feel free to give us an update down the track, especially if you do any work to it!

Will do. If I do anything i'll just be a tune and RSB.