Polo GTI is a girls car!!!!

[Timbo]

n: Read what I wrote...I am not saying anything about turbos, rather about a cheap n cheerful standard spec production car series

[Wand Weaver]

And you can't realy compare a normal fiesta with it, they're decent cars for what they are but when you don some stripes and bang in a motor from another car, it doesn't make it a decent hot hatch.

Eh? You mean, just like firming up the spring and damper rates, and banging in a 1.8T doesn't make the GTI a decent hot hatch? Substitute '1.8T' for '2.0L Duratec' and you've summed up the Fiesta XR4 in one.

Without taking into account modifications - the Fiesta XR4 would show a Polo GTI a clean set of rear tyres on a winding road - it's by far the better handling car of the two.

Don't get me wrong - I love my Polo, and if I were to make the decision again, I'd choose the Polo over the XR4, but that would be in spite of the fact that it doesn't handle as well as the XR4 (which in turn has nothing on a Mini, 206 GTi or a RenaultSport Clio). The flipside is that it's a brilliant 'everyday' car - and pretty much the only light hot hatch (besides maybe the Mini) that I'd be happy to do motorway kilometres in.

As a small motorway car with the ability to lift its skirts and play in the twisty stuff - the Polo GTI is almost peerless, and that is why I bought it. I can spend a few hours behind the wheel of the Polo on, say, a Sydney to Canberra run, and jump out of the car feeling almost as fresh as when I jumped in. If I did the same in a XR4, or even a Corolla, I'd be nursing a sore lower back and a headache and be feeling anything but fresh.

[PeterHBne]

Hear, hear Wandweaver.

To believe that the Polo GTI is the Greatest Car To Ever Live is silly.

In its sector and for the money it is great value.

But lets be honest - the handling & brakes could and should be better.

And the donk in non-chipped form is lacking a little in character.

Really, the Cup should be the standard GTI.

Having said that, I love it and it is the best amongst it's competitors. And as others will atest to, with relatively little money spent on it, it becomes a true giant killer.

[GT3]

the handling & brakes could and should be better. And the donk in non-chipped form is lacking a little in character

and that's why VW commissioned the Cup GTI - which was in response to criticism from Euro motoring journos - who compared it to the Clio Sport etc which they'd become accustomed to (and expected).

IMO, the brakes and handling on the Pog are sufficient in stock form (110kw), and comfort considerations would have played heavily on VW's choice of standard equipment. Another consideration would have been the Golf GTI factor. As a VW dealer pointed out to me when I asked why the Polo GTI wasn't more highly spec'd, he responded .."bc no one would pay the extra 15k for the Golf if it had the same performance levels".

In terms of the limitations of the Pog (see above) in stock form, they're easily addressed and rectified. Chip a Polo GTI, add rear sway bar and sports suspenion kit and it would leave a much more expensive Cup GTI with it's pretty body kit for dead.

[Golf Houso]

The XR4 is poorly made, with a hyandai spec interior, there is so little room for either driver passenger due to the window its claustrophic and quite upsetting to drive for more than 15 minutes.

I almost broke the light switch in an attempt to turn it on and it went 1 step more than full, it was that flimsy. And has as many or possibly less features than my MK3 Golf. The car constantly squeaks everywhere from the suspension to the dash, to interior fixtures during normal driving let alone during spirited driving. The car does not feel composed on the road, and Ford got the suspension somewhere between soft enough to compensate to cope with the rather low profile 205/17/40 series tires and "sportiness", but fail to provide and performance benefit I honestly believe that the tires are doing most of the work, Pirille P 0 Corsa's I think they were.

The seats are bad, with leather upholtery is like vinyl you find at your grandma's house and are poorly designed pushing you even close to the windsheild in that god forsaken coffin-cabin. The brakes aren't that great either and the car, I can't say corners particularily well.

This car would be fantastic for teenagers who were just coming from a 1990's corrola or a ford laser and would bring them all a world of joy! But with my experience being in higher end VW models, I find this car in the most part dissapointing. And hence, my opinion and and position towards this car is not a favourable one. But I'm probably looking at it wrong anyway...

Driving this car in isolation would sure be fun, heck a race series would be excellent, but having to put up with all these problems and more would be a nightmare for me and a great deal of other drivers.

[GT3]

poorly made, with a hyandai spec interior, ...quite upsetting to drive for more than 15 minutes.

Yep - and in Aust, the Polo GTI is compared and reviewed against these cars The fit/finish/quality of the VW barely rates a mention in so-called 'objective' reviews. The way it works is simple - fly these journos around the world to 'test' their cars, spend lavishly on them, top hotels, gifts, tickets to events etc etc. Come time to write their reviews, chances are they'll write a more favourable review and claim it's as good as the Polo GTI bc ..hey, who wants to miss out on junkets?

[VW Convert]

Yep - and in Aust, the Polo GTI is compared and reviewed against these cars The fit/finish/quality of the VW barely rates a mention in so-called 'objective' reviews. The way it works is simple - fly these journos around the world to 'test' their cars, spend lavishly on them, top hotels, gifts, tickets to events etc etc. Come time to write their reviews, chances are they'll write a more favourable review and claim it's as good as the Polo GTI bc ..hey, who wants to miss out on junkets?

I knew I chose the wrong career! Should have been a motoring journo or a car company PR man.

[PeterHBne]

"As a VW dealer pointed out to me when I asked why the Polo GTI wasn't more highly spec'd, he responded .."bc no one would pay the extra 15k for the Golf if it had the same performance levels". "

True - this is why we didn't get the Cup. VW claim because there were cooling issues for the car in Aust which is nonsense.

I don't know which XR4 you guys drove because my experiences were quite different.

It is smaller inside, the interior is not of the same quality as Polo (but I wouldn't call it bad) and the one I drove was as tight as a drum and, as several very, very respected and experienced motor journalists will tell you, handled extremley well and is a more involving car to drive than the Polo.

And remember it's list price is around $4,500 less than the GTI - thats quite a percentage when you are talking cars in the $20's

As I've said before, if all you do is 90% city kms blating from one set of lights to the other and boy racing around city corners with the occassional 80 - 100km road it would be a good choice becaue it feels faster than it is - so you get that speed kick without actually having to go that fast. And it points, steers and turns in very well which is exactly what you want in point to point city driving.

[WEDEL.1]

The XR4 is poorly made, with a hyandai spec interior, there is so little room for either driver passenger due to the window its claustrophic and quite upsetting to drive for more than 15 minutes.

I almost broke the light switch in an attempt to turn it on and it went 1 step more than full, it was that flimsy. And has as many or possibly less features than my MK3 Golf. The car constantly squeaks everywhere from the suspension to the dash, to interior fixtures during normal driving let alone during spirited driving. The car does not feel composed on the road, and Ford got the suspension somewhere between soft enough to compensate to cope with the rather low profile 205/17/40 series tires and "sportiness", but fail to provide and performance benefit I honestly believe that the tires are doing most of the work, Pirille P 0 Corsa's I think they were.

The seats are bad, with leather upholtery is like vinyl you find at your grandma's house and are poorly designed pushing you even close to the windsheild in that god forsaken coffin-cabin. The brakes aren't that great either and the car, I can't say corners particularily well.

This car would be fantastic for teenagers who were just coming from a 1990's corrola or a ford laser and would bring them all a world of joy! But with my experience being in higher end VW models, I find this car in the most part dissapointing. And hence, my opinion and and position towards this car is not a favourable one. But I'm probably looking at it wrong anyway...

Driving this car in isolation would sure be fun, heck a race series would be excellent, but having to put up with all these problems and more would be a nightmare for me and a great deal of other drivers.

In my opinion, Volkswagens seldom beat any other make in any one area. They are never the quickest, the best handling, best build, most economical etc. They are howeverver, the BEST allround car, exceeding the standard in each catorgory so that OVERALL it becomes the best buy.

Maris

[99gti]

In my opinion, Volkswagens seldom beat any other make in any one area. They are never the quickest, the best handling, best build, most economical etc. They are howeverver, the BEST allround car, exceeding the standard in each catorgory so that OVERALL it becomes the best buy.

Maris

There are some wise words there. Pay attention you youngens!

[Golf Houso]

I'm sorry, but I'll say it again. The XR4 is sheit. Its a Claustrophobic coffin which is a poor excuse for a sporty car.

Complete and utter sheit...

And yes, the VW's are not the best in any area but are good overall compromise which provides in my opinion the best package. And the issue I have is that XR4 is worse in every possible way than its competitor polo with the exception of pricing and perhaps marketing appeal to 17-21 year olds.

But thats it...

But yeah my mate, who is also on this forum... somewhere... has a modded up MK4 GTi, and that doesn't get much consideration and mainly ridicule until they're sitting in the dust behind. A number of V8's included.

Yeah the XR4 is awful end of story...

[Wand Weaver]

And the issue I have is that XR4 is worse in every possible way than its competitor polo with the exception of pricing and perhaps marketing appeal to 17-21 year olds.

This might be a VW forum, but I, for one, am not into ragging the opposition, especially when half-truths are concerned.

If I was going to go to a trackday and do 20 laps around Wakefield in each, I'd bet I'll set a quicker time in a stock XR4 compared to a stock Polo GTI. The only place the Polo would be quicker is across the flying quarter mile, where it's extra grunt helps it.

I've been in some sweet handling hot hatches in my time - a Peugeot 205 GTi, a RenaultSport Megane, and both the old and new Mini Coopers. Does the XR4 handles as well as those? With the exception of the LSD-fitted RenaultSport Megane, very possibly.

Does the Polo GTI? Not a chance in hell, unless you start putting aftermarket kit on them (Swaybars/Antiroll bars seem to be popular, with coilovers a more expensive choice).

[The_Hawk]

Haven't you girls finished talking up your cars yet?

I'm in the process of talking my mother in to upgrading from her Lancer Coupe to a Polo.

Also one of my mates who is on the hunt for a good and cheap car. At it's price point the Polo is a very good buy... for anyone.

[PeterHBne]

In fact, i love the XR4 SO much I'm trading up to one today - with stripes - so there.

[Golf Houso]

Yeah I think thats enough from me, theres actually a personal reason why I dislike that car and why I can't help myself rant about it.

I recommend anyone who is looking into any of these cars does an extensive test drive like over an hour if you can and make up their own mind. And until you do, you don't realy have a valid opinion, much in the same way as I have been in very very few cars. I don't like the XR4 plain and simple:
the switchgear makes me cry and the interior is claustrophic.

But we can all agree upon the whole try before you buy idea and for everyone to form their own opinions...

And back on topic, I think VW hatches in general are considered "A girl's car", I've only recieved this once which is much against the usual positive response to my car.