RE: Shed of the Week: Volkswagen Polo GTI
Discussion
BeirutTaxi said:
That's a bit unfair. Also if you look at any supermarket car park there is normally a huge variety of cars. Not everyone can afford a mid engine whatever (although this is PH so normal being looked down upon unless you own a V8 mega car).
I try to judge in the context of a car's rivals etc. and keep things relevant. - I'm not suggesting it's rubbish only because I'm comparing it to a Ferrari! 
BeirutTaxi said:
To live with the Polo GTI is very good. Fantastic seats, quiet enough, good ride quality, 40mpg. I also fitted a full suspension mountain bike and camping gear into mine no problem.
To drive.. Good up to about 6/10. After that it starts to go all wrong. For example if you're slow with the gear change its okay, but if you reach for a gear quickly it's all sloppy and frustrating.
Likewise the chassis balance which suffers from the same issue every VAG car I've driven suffers from. Feels great up to 6/10 but past that the steering gives no confidence, the back axle feels redundant and it's difficult to judge what the front tyres are up to.
Brakes are Girling callipers and definitely the standout point dynamically. I was running EBC pads and Continental Sport Contact tyres. The braking force was perfect, and the pedal feel was excellent (the only VAG car I've driven without a horrible middle pedal).
Engine was a good sport. Sounded great and was good to rev.
Well apart from listing general hatchback characteristics, that reads like a whole load of negatives! Some of it's rivals from the time (e.g. Clio 172) are also as practical but better to drive with it...To drive.. Good up to about 6/10. After that it starts to go all wrong. For example if you're slow with the gear change its okay, but if you reach for a gear quickly it's all sloppy and frustrating.
Likewise the chassis balance which suffers from the same issue every VAG car I've driven suffers from. Feels great up to 6/10 but past that the steering gives no confidence, the back axle feels redundant and it's difficult to judge what the front tyres are up to.
Brakes are Girling callipers and definitely the standout point dynamically. I was running EBC pads and Continental Sport Contact tyres. The braking force was perfect, and the pedal feel was excellent (the only VAG car I've driven without a horrible middle pedal).
Engine was a good sport. Sounded great and was good to rev.
BeirutTaxi said:
Build quality at older age - Shocking. The electrics were just awful.
...and yet it seems that a non-german rivals are the only ones singled-out by the masses for this kind of thing. When a German car falls apart, it's dismissed as unusual but when a British, French or Italian car does it, it's typical.BeirutTaxi said:
The modern day equivalent is the Suzuki Swift Sport. The Suzuki has fantastic quality (no common issues with the first generation cars which are 10 years old, Suzuki always top of quality surveys and you get forged pistons) plus the Suzuki is more engaging in every respect. Better than any competing cars from VW/SEAT in my opinion.
Can't argue with that though! 
"Specc'd up to the tits"* is now my phrase of choice for June.
New here but always enjoy the wit & grit from Shed - who is this masked man? particularly when it stimulates such responses. But admit to being puzzled by so many icons. What's that about?! Is it an English thing?
(*previous comment somewhere).
New here but always enjoy the wit & grit from Shed - who is this masked man? particularly when it stimulates such responses. But admit to being puzzled by so many icons. What's that about?! Is it an English thing?
(*previous comment somewhere).
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