Polo gti? to buy or not to buy

[ronny]

Hi guys,
i am new to the forum. i have been thinking about buying a new or second hand polo gti. i have never owned a european car so im not sure about servicing costs, and also alittle bit about reliability. i dont intend to do crazy driving in the polo gti or do any modifications. my question is for those that own one - are they reliable and will it break the bank to service? i have been looking also at the fiesta xr4 (this would help with servicing) but doesnt appeal to me as much and also the lancer vr because i like how it drives and what you get for the price.
anyways any info would be kindly appreciated.
thank you

[mazgtr]

Hey mate,

Being a European made car, parts and serviceing will always be higher than with either a locally made car or even a Japanese or Korean alternative.

The serviceing intervals are 15,000km or 12months, so certainly not too often. With most only requireing basic materials to be changed. Note that most car dealers make money back on cars that have to be serviced by them to keep warranties valid. But when you come to sell car, it will have a fully stamped dealer history with it, and will be worth more than one that was skimped on.

But on balance with that is the added reliability and build quality that goes into a European car, especially a German car.

Haveing owned 4 Japanese cars in a row, Suzuki, Mazda, Nissan and Mitsubishi the VW is hands down the best put together car ive owned. It feels solid, well specced and put together with more care and attention than most other brands.

VW certainly have a world wide reputation for reliability born on many many years of satisfied customers.

Like with any brand there wiil be horror stories and poor service from certain dealers, but on a whole the little VW is hard to pass.

With the added warranty i recieved from my dealer the car is covered for up to 160,000km in the first 4 years, thats confidence.

The other thing that European cars excel at, and VW in particular is re-sale value, not something a lot of people consider when handing over money for a car, is come 3-4 years how much will i get back if i sell. This is an area that Australian, Japanese and Korean cars really struggle. But well looked after Euro's with service histories still command high dollars.

Im happy with my choice, even if its only for 2-3 years.

[SoVeReIgN]

psssst.

The XR4 is an european car aswell.

[FL00DY]

To be honest, you'll scrap the Lancer once you drive either the XR4 or the GTI. Not in the same league, the VR badge is just a marketing piece of BS. GTI however is one of the greatest names in budget performance motoring, and it doesn't disappoint with this car. The XR4 is a great little package also, it might come down to the power delivery of the two cars and which you prefer. The XR4 is a N/A 2L, I haven't driven one but they apprently handle the twisties a little better then the GTI.

The GTI is the better alrounder as the XR4 interior is not as nicely spec'd as the GTI. Test drive them back to back if you can.

[FL00DY]

psssst.

The XR4 is an european car aswell.

Yeah that's right, the Fiesta ST in Europe is the same car.

[ronny]

thanxs guys. i am looking to hold onto my car for more than 2-3 years unless i start earning bucket loads of money. i have read on forums about a number of quality problems that people face be it the radio or changing gears from 1st to second at 6000rpm. have you guys had any quality problems with your car. i have driven the polo gti and was amazed at how much power the car had low in the rev range. my budget may only allow me to buy a second hand one which worries me a little bit because it sounds like people who buy these cars thrash the living day lights out of them. i still havent yet fully decided to buy a car cos it is a lot of money and just wanting info to make a more informed decision.

thanks alot for your input

[NickZ]

Quality problems...... well a fair few polos on this forum have had gearbox problems. However, they have all been replaced under warranty, and other than a few rattles people complain about the polo is a well built car. I have had a few interior issues myself but nothing that makes me hate the car.

The turbo bolt issue seems to only be an issue for people who track the car regularly. Certainly not as bad as the gearbox issue!

The VW is a well built car - but I wouldnt say that a VW is more reliable than a Toyota, Honda or Subaru - Hondas and Subarus in particular also seem to have very good resale values here. But the VW has a bit more 'soul' than the jap offerings out there. I would rather drive a car with a bit of character (even if it has a couple of minor rattles) than a car that is extremely reliable but feels 'sterile'.

I sat in an XR4 at the motor show and inside it felt very cramped and tacky. I didn't feel like it was anything 'special', where as the GTI with the touches like the seats, door sills, steering wheel etc and the overall fit and quality of the interior makes it feel special. It also feels like a much larger car inside. A lot of people have sat in the car and were surprised it only cost $28k.

But the XR4 does handle better, has larger wheels and is $2k cheaper. So, I suggest you take both for a proper half hour test drive round some fun roads and pick the one that gives the bigger smile.

Good luck.

[ronny]

well i test drove the xr4 yesterday and was suprised at how well it did handle but your right it isnt as nice as the polo gti at all. the only thing it has over it that it is cheaper and will be cheaper to service. i have decided that i wont be able to afford to buy a new car unfortunately cos i cant afford it but i thought maybe getting a second hand one if i can. i still have to do my finances to see if i can afford to buy one but if i could i would have bought the gti after i had driven it. anyways thank you very much for your help

[Grant]

i also sat in the xr4 at the motorshow.. the interior seems a lot older than the polo. like its from 1995. the polo in the other hand is extremely nice inside

[s1831559]

both xr4 and gti are great
test drive both and decide from there
keep in mind that every car is worth buying if u like it

[Bubu]

Every car will have issues, dont think that the GTI gearbox thing makes the VW unreliable. The VR and the XR4 probably come with their own set of problems, they may just not be documented as much as the GTI. Having said that, some cars dont have any issues at all. I have not had my GTI for as long as some of the others have on this forum but I have not experienced any problems with it.

[RhysQ]

i've got a copy of Motor magazine in which they had a sub $30K shootout between the Polo GTI, the XR4, Colt Ralliart turbo, and Swift Sport (not sure why they even compared the swift with these cars).

end result was the Polo had a clear win with best 0-100km/h performance, exterior and interior quality, features, styling, and technology. the Polo did, however, lose significantly in the fuel consumption sector.
next in line was the XR4 for best handling and N/A performance, obviously lacking the performance of a turbo car.
next in was the Colt Ralliart, it had a better 100-160km/h time (which would never be necessary), however interior fitout was considered inappropriate, pokey, difficult, and overall cheap for the type of car, and not to mention it is butt ugly.
last in obviously was the Swift, which basically lacked in all the above.

[Bora Sport]

If you are thinking XR4 then get yourself a Seat Ibiza Cupra 16V. You can get a good one for around $7K ish maybe less if you are lucky + $2,000 for coil overs (less if you go lowered springs and coilovers). Small car with great handing, VW quality and a 2 litre 16V engine with 110kW.

I have a smile on my face every time I drive it.

[ronny]

well it looks like i have made the decision to buy the polo gti (hopefully in black) and i am wondering what prices people paid for theirs - if that is not too personal a question. the best figure i have been given has been 27 grand new on the road. has anyone done better than that?
that is through their corporate plus program as well

[NickZ]

For stock with metallic paint, I think thats as good as you will get. Especially if it is 2008 build and compliance. Seeing these prices I think I paid too much for mine!

If that is with leather or sunroof, then that is a steal.