Polo GTI 9n3

Author
Discussion

stugolf

Original Poster:

473 posts

203 months

Monday 30th March 2015
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Hi Guys,

I'm looking at one of these, I'm after something for around the 4k mark that's quite small and fun but with reasonable running costs and is well build, I did have a 6R Gti which is obviously a lot newer but had the dreaded oil issues so rejected it with VW in the end so I gauge the 1.8T in these is far more reliable and over the years VW have ironed out the issues.

I've come from a remapped BMW E90 330D so not expecting it to match that kind of performance but I would be interested in a remapped one so maybe 200bhp and 1184kg make it quite a nippy car?

Any comments greatly appreciated particularly if you own one!

va1o

16,032 posts

207 months

Tuesday 31st March 2015
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For £4k you might as well just go for a Mk5 Golf GTI? 200bhp out of the box and performance to match a stock E90 330d.

You'll get into a 2005/ early 2006 car with a few miles on the clock. There is lots of abused crap out there but if you look hard enough you should find a clean and looked after example for that money.

Its better than the Polo in every way really. Sounds arrogant but I think true.

EngageSportMode

41 posts

138 months

Tuesday 31st March 2015
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There's known gearbox issues on early cars (around 2006). Found this from when I looked at one a few years back. There was an unofficial recall to replace the gearbox oil.

Rear suspension bushes can also be a problem too, apparently.


Dr G

15,170 posts

242 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
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I really like the Polo 1.8T; there's a pleasing simplicity about them. They're very compact, light and have a decent quality feel about them.

With the torquey 1.8T they move as well. Generally a very strong engine but they need regular oil changes (20k/2 years is far too long) and can suffer minor sensor faults.

Not the absolute last word in dynamic finesse but they're still plenty good fun and make a very competent all rounder. If you're not regularly in need of more space then why buy anything bigger?

stugolf

Original Poster:

473 posts

203 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
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va1o said:
For £4k you might as well just go for a Mk5 Golf GTI? 200bhp out of the box and performance to match a stock E90 330d.

You'll get into a 2005/ early 2006 car with a few miles on the clock. There is lots of abused crap out there but if you look hard enough you should find a clean and looked after example for that money.

Its better than the Polo in every way really. Sounds arrogant but I think true.
I had a look around for a Golf Gti and couldn't find a decent one and as I've had one in the past and it wasn't quite the last word in reliability, also I do think the Polo is a little more exclusive

SuperchargedVR6

3,138 posts

220 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
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I had a 9N3 GTI 5 years ago and apart from torn console bushes (very very common), it was faultless. Ibiza cupra solid console bushes are a worthwhile upgrade.

It used zero oil between services and put down 165hp on a dyno day. They map out to 220ish hp before the turbo runs out of steam, which puts it into standard Edition 30 territory, but nearly 200Kg less bulk to haul around.

I disagree a MK5 GTI is a lot better. I currently have an Edition 30 and the Polo feels more chuckable and lighter on it's sneakers. The only advantage the Golf has is the independent rear suspension handles bumps round corners better, so doesn't get deflected off it's line quite so easily. The MK5 suffers more from electrical problems, uses a shed load more oil and that's before we even get to the infamous worn cam follower and chain tensioner problems. The BJX 1.8T in the Polo is a venerable unit and the best iteration of the 1.8T I've experienced.

The interior plastics aren't MK5 quality and the suspension is very choppy on broken up roads, but other than that, it's a great little car.



Edited by SuperchargedVR6 on Wednesday 1st April 14:45

stugolf

Original Poster:

473 posts

203 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
SuperchargedVR6 said:
I had a 9N3 GTI 5 years ago and apart from torn console bushes (very very common), it was faultless. Ibiza cupra solid console bushes are a worthwhile upgrade.

It used zero oil between services and put down 165hp on a dyno day. They map out to 220ish hp before the turbo runs out of steam, which puts it into standard Edition 30 territory, but nearly 200Kg less bulk to haul around.

I disagree a MK5 GTI is a lot better. I currently have an Edition 30 and the Polo feels more chuckable and lighter on it's sneakers. The only advantage the Golf has is the independent rear suspension handles bumps round corners better, so doesn't get deflected off it's line quite so easily. The MK5 suffers more from electrical problems, uses a shed load more oil and that's before we even get to the infamous worn cam follower and chain tensioner problems. The BJX 1.8T in the Polo is a venerable unit and the best iteration of the 1.8T I've experienced.

The interior plastics aren't MK5 quality and the suspension is very choppy on broken up roads, but other than that, it's a great little car.



Edited by SuperchargedVR6 on Wednesday 1st April 14:45
Thanks for the useful feedback SuperchargedVR6, I have looked at both cars and it seems the Polo suffers slightly less issues mechanically and electrically than the Golf, particularly one for 4k

SuperchargedVR6

3,138 posts

220 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
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stugolf said:
SuperchargedVR6 said:
I had a 9N3 GTI 5 years ago and apart from torn console bushes (very very common), it was faultless. Ibiza cupra solid console bushes are a worthwhile upgrade.

It used zero oil between services and put down 165hp on a dyno day. They map out to 220ish hp before the turbo runs out of steam, which puts it into standard Edition 30 territory, but nearly 200Kg less bulk to haul around.

I disagree a MK5 GTI is a lot better. I currently have an Edition 30 and the Polo feels more chuckable and lighter on it's sneakers. The only advantage the Golf has is the independent rear suspension handles bumps round corners better, so doesn't get deflected off it's line quite so easily. The MK5 suffers more from electrical problems, uses a shed load more oil and that's before we even get to the infamous worn cam follower and chain tensioner problems. The BJX 1.8T in the Polo is a venerable unit and the best iteration of the 1.8T I've experienced.

The interior plastics aren't MK5 quality and the suspension is very choppy on broken up roads, but other than that, it's a great little car.



Edited by SuperchargedVR6 on Wednesday 1st April 14:45
Thanks for the useful feedback SuperchargedVR6, I have looked at both cars and it seems the Polo suffers slightly less issues mechanically and electrically than the Golf, particularly one for 4k
No probs. It's a simpler car than the MK5 and it was reliable and fun! I would never buy a MK5 for that kind of money! Mine was more than twice that and it has issues!

culpz

4,882 posts

112 months

Thursday 2nd April 2015
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va1o said:
For £4k you might as well just go for a Mk5 Golf GTI? 200bhp out of the box and performance to match a stock E90 330d.

You'll get into a 2005/ early 2006 car with a few miles on the clock. There is lots of abused crap out there but if you look hard enough you should find a clean and looked after example for that money.

Its better than the Polo in every way really. Sounds arrogant but I think true.
Where the hell are you looking at to find a MK5 GTI for 4K? If so they must be absolutely shagged!

I'd say go Polo. Find a much better condition and looked after model for that price plus you barely see any on the road so a bit more exclusive. Much nicer than the newer Polo's IMO which to me are just scaled down Golf GTIs. Not really a bad thing but gives a car it's own character.

va1o

16,032 posts

207 months

Thursday 2nd April 2015
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A 10 year old Golf GTI with 100k miles isn't worth over £4k, no matter how well or otherwise it's been looked after

OliPolo

84 posts

178 months

Friday 10th April 2015
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I owned one for a couple of years and found it to be a brilliant car for the money. I also had a MK5 GTi for about 6 months which, in all honesty, felt no more special, quite a bit heavier and only slightly quicker than the polo.

I'd recommend a test drive in one to see if it feels quick enough, and if it does then the rest of the car should tick the majority of your boxes.