Wheels Group Test

[MACCAA]

New Wheels[December] has a group test of Polo GTI,Fiesta XR4,Ralliart Colt,and Suzuki Swift Sport.Mike McCarthy ,whom I rate as a tester,did the report.
He even came up with the Pogo's gear ratios>Good one Mike!
Read and enjoy.
Cheers
Len

[GermanwithaVdub]

whats the outcome of it? why is the swift in there... just because you can get it with racing stripes...

[MACCAA]

I think you'll find it's the Fiesta with the stripes....and the winner is.......the Polol!

[GermanwithaVdub]

they both do. i like the stripes on the fiesta

polo ftw!

[GT3]

Read and enjoy.

Len, do you have an extract or similar on the conclusive summary? Not that it would alter my opinion, the choice between a bona fide GTI and the Japanese offerings isn't difficult. ...wonder how the resale values between them all will compare in a few years?

[Wand Weaver]

the choice between a bona fide GTI and the Japanese offerings isn't difficult. ...

The Fiesta is about as German as the Polo is. Both were designed in Germany, and both are built in Spain (although Ford also has a factory churning out Fiestas in Cologne - but I think that factory produces for the LHD market).

I'm wondering if Drive.com.au (read, SMH, The Age etc) has something against VW. In all the tests they have of small, hot hatches - the Polo GTI is never listed in the list of competing vehicles.

[GT3]

The Fiesta is about as German as the Polo is.

Fiesta has normally aspirated engine (and it aint no VAG 1.8T 20V that you can extract heaps more power from). Have a look at the interior -see steering wheel (bland) and temp/vent controls (look cheap).

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=36431&GalleryType=2&ImageID=5&ReferringArticleID=-1

Although generalising, Oz motoring journos tend to be more biased towards Jap cars in these sorts of shoot outs. What makes the Polo GTI unique is that it actually matches (and some cases beats) the competition on price. Some Oz Motoring journos are still having problems accepting this so they exclude it in some comparisons.

[Timbo]

One could always add to the speculation by wondering what the result might be if Mazda executed the rumoured 2MPS, and sold that in the market

[PeterHBne]

Hey MACCAA - new Wheels shouldn't be out until Wed - are you a subscriber or didi you buy in a newsagency?

I think subscribers get theirs earlier via the mail.

[PeterHBne]

I drove the Fiesta and for the money it's better than you might think. Great little go kart but not the complete all rounder that the Polo is. Fiesta would be a good choice if most of your miles were just blatting around town from traffic light to traffic light. Feels faster than it probably is. Handles better than the Polo IMHO

[MACCAA]

Hey MACCAA - new Wheels shouldn't be out until Wed - are you a subscriber or didi you buy in a newsagency?

I think subscribers get theirs earlier via the mail.

Subscriber.Arrived in the mail today.On sale wednesday.

[ryan_GTI]

I think you'll find it's the Fiesta with the stripes....and the winner is.......the Polol!

... does this mean that the Colt's BFYB title is no longer valid

[Ben_GTI]

I drove the Fiesta....... Feels faster than it probably is.

Well I know in real world performance they aren't faster than polo's.

[PeterHBne]

No they aren't - but they feel fast - particulalry 2nd gear - perfectly geared for the motor. Thats why i think it'd be a good choice for mostly city miles.

Generally speaking I find people don't match the car for the majority of their driving miles.

It's like getting a Border Collie when you have no yard and can't exercise the dog. Get a lap dog instead!

Like these wankers who get a super car to drive from their innercity house/unit to their innercity place of work.

Thats why you'll see plenty of Lambos, Ferraris, Astons, etc, up for sale with 2500kms on the clock. The owners get frustrated with them.

Thats why I've always liked hot hatches. Perfect for point to point stuff around the city - they get into their sweet spot easily. And the great thing with the Polo is it's great for highway stuff as well.

[PeterHBne]

I also really liked the Colt - I liked it's odd mix of hotted up 4 door soccer mom with a fair bit of go.

It also handled well (up to a point) and when it came on boost felt great.

But was ultimaltely flawed, pretty cheap inside and just didnt have the overall appeal of the Polo.

And if you arent mad on the Polo's gear change (I kind of like it now), the Colt is waaay worse.