Anyone else not that thrilled by the new Polo GTI?

[busytimmy]

I took the new one for a spin recently and I honestly wasn't impressed. The power seems very linear and there's no real excitement. The old one was exciting to drive. Not as fast, but at least you felt like you were going somewhere. The thing had character and the noise it made ...

Don't get me wrong. I still think it's a cracking car for the money. I just don't think it's as good as it could have been. The 1.4 lacks the torque to make it a fun driving experience.

Kind of like the Golf R.
Again, cracking value for money, but just somehow manages to be unexciting because it's too smooth. The Mark V Golf GTI had it; the 9N Polo GTI had it.


Anyone else share my disappointment?

[barrenjoey owl]

I took the new one for a spin recently and I honestly wasn't impressed. The power seems very linear and there's no real excitement. The old one was exciting to drive. Not as fast, but at least you felt like you were going somewhere. The thing had character and the noise it made ...

Don't get me wrong. I still think it's a cracking car for the money. I just don't think it's as good as it could have been. The 1.4 lacks the torque to make it a fun driving experience.
Kind of like the Golf R.
Again, cracking value for money, but just somehow manages to be unexciting because it's too smooth. The Mark V Golf GTI had it; the 9N Polo GTI had it.

Anyone else share my disappointment?

Nope, great drive...........loved it.

[Ralfi]

The "fun factor" of the new GTI is starting to concern me. I haven't had a chance to take it for a spin yet, but hope to soon so I can judge for myself, but there have been a few who have stated VW have gone for refinement over fun.

That plus the space saver tyre, (which incidentally didn't help with boot space, as it's significantly smaller than the current model) are my main concerns.

Fuel economy, 5door practicality, looks, & some extra features are what I need to weigh up against the lack of fun (if this proves to be true).

[DeanB]

Took one for a spin from Barloword Five Dock when I was last in there for a warranty fix to mine. It didn't impress me like the 1.8 ... just lacks the feel of the grunt in mine. Nice and refined, even more so than the 9N3, but just seems to lack something. Horses for courses, I prefer a manual as well, so that makes a difference over what car I would prefer as well.

[Greg Roles]

Must say this new "refined" feel carries across the range with the GTD losing the kick of the MKV GT, the whole reason I bought it. Same power and torque, but feels like a Commodore in comparison.

I guess car enthusiasts are after a puncy "fun" car, but the vast majority of non car people are after refinement, and a big turbo hit would spill their MochaLatteCapachino.

I still reckon the Polo GTI interests me the most of the affordable MK6 VW's out now.

[busytimmy]

Thanks for the responses, everyone.

The way I thought of it recently was like this:

My wife and I purchased our 9N3 GTI sight unseen and never test-driven. When we got the car I was thoroughly impressed, and I still am (6 months later).

Now, had we taken delivery of the new GTI I can honestly say I would have been disappointed.

Wifey and I constantly play-fight over who gets to drive the 'Polo' to work and who gets to drive it when we're in it together. If we had bought the new one I probably would have just let her have it as 'her' car altogether and not been enthusiastic about getting to drive it.

Paddles may have something to do with it, but it's more than that - it's not as exciting.

Then again, it was a test-drive and I know there's a chance my opinion is biased this way because I 'own' the previous gen Polo GTI.

BUT -and here's the but- I think the old Polo GTI is more fun to drive than the Golf R.

[sssstew]

yes i have heard that the new 1.4 twin charger isnt as good, i think its down to its lack of torque, the 1.8T has a very good amount and thats what you feel, thats the grunt. I think the new GTI would need some engine tweaks to get it back on par.

And space saver spare.... i was surprised when i lifted the boot carpet!

[DeanB]

And space saver spare.... i was surprised when i lifted the boot carpet!

I assumed the space saver would give an increase in boot volume. When I looked it up the figures, found it gives nothing, it's actually to bring the boot up to the same volume as the old model !!!!

9N3 GTI
270/1030L seat up/seat down

2010 Polo
261/952L seat up/seat down <- 3 door
280/952L seat up/seat down <- 5 door

[flat6]

I find it lacks the same excitement the old model has, looks wise i still recon the old one has a better ass on it, the new shape is about as unexciting as when BMW brought out the E90, it just looks like a car whilst the E46 had a BMW character to it.

[sssstew]

I assumed the space saver would give an increase in boot volume. When I looked it up the figures, found it gives nothing, it's actually to bring the boot up to the same volume as the old model !!!!

9N3 GTI
270/1030L seat up/seat down

2010 Polo
261/952L seat up/seat down <- 3 door
280/952L seat up/seat down <- 5 door

Yeah and also reduces their production costs to help profit margins.

[End User]

Fingers crossed this means better resale values for 9N3's!

[DeanB]

Yeah and also reduces their production costs to help profit margins.

Seriously a space saver tyre does not create a massive profit margin difference on a $30,000 car. It's penny pinching to the extreme and a reason why I wouldn't buy a car with a space saver in Australia and use it for any "decent" trips. Works in the UK and Europe where distances to the next town with an auto shop are small, here it is bloody ridiculous to expect someone to do >100km on a country road using a space saver.

[busytimmy]

Seriously a space saver tyre does not create a massive profit margin difference on a $30,000 car. It's penny pinching to the extreme and a reason why I wouldn't buy a car with a space saver in Australia and use it for any "decent" trips. Works in the UK and Europe where distances to the next town with an auto shop are small, here it is bloody ridiculous to expect someone to do >100km on a country road using a space saver.

Completely agree.

[seangti]

Seriously a space saver tyre does not create a massive profit margin difference on a $30,000 car. It's penny pinching to the extreme and a reason why I wouldn't buy a car with a space saver in Australia and use it for any "decent" trips. Works in the UK and Europe where distances to the next town with an auto shop are small, here it is bloody ridiculous to expect someone to do >100km on a country road using a space saver.

I've also got a similar opinion about the fuel range. 500kms of country driving to drain a tank shouldn't be considered acceptable. Geez, commodores (SV6) will get ~800km+ of hard country driving. Give me 600km+ and a 60lt tank.

well thats my off topic rant...

[philthy]

500kms of country driving to drain a tank shouldn't be considered acceptable.

Don't buy an evo