New Polo GTI

Dangerous Dave · Post by **Dangerous Dave** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 9:53 pm

Read in Evo today the release of the Polo GTI has been delayed in the UK until approx June as the Polo GTIs are selling well in Australia so all the right hand drive production car including the ones for the UK have went to them. I have just checked the Australia webpage (http://www.volkswagen.com.au) and taking into account what price they charge for a Golf Gti down under compared to our money it appears the Polo is going for Â£13.5k (just over 12k in a direct exchange rate)

If the Polo is that price when its relased here I can see it being very popular a quick remap should see 220-230bhp. If I ever got one I would have to change those back lights though.

Si_GTi · Post by **Si_GTi** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 10:11 pm

The price for the GTI is out now in the revised price guide (issue 4) for the Polo 9n3.

Polo GTI on the road RRP:

3-door: Â£14,785.00
5-door: Â£15,385.00

Both these prices are with cloth 'Interlagos' trim and climate control plus the usual standard-fit equipment such as ESP and ABS. You have to add extra for metallic/pearlescent paint, winter pack, leather upholstery, rain-sensing wipers and dimming rear-view mirrors, amongst other things.

Dangerous Dave · Post by **Dangerous Dave** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 10:56 pm

DOH ! Never actually thought to check the UK price list !

Â£14,785 is a bit high considering the spec is lower than the old GTi (bar the engine anyway) don't even have the option of Xenons and full climate control is Â£310, the two main things I would like in my next car.

Si_GTi · Post by **Si_GTi** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 11:12 pm

It is rumoured, and it is at the moment just a rumour, that xenons will become an optional extra after a few months of the car going on sale, so by the end of this year? Looks unlikely to me though IMHO, no Polo has had xenons factory fitted since the 6n2 GTi ceased production.

Post by **Josh_PoloGTi** » Mon Jan 16, 2006 11:59 pm

Not having xenons as an option is really daft.

Even my Fabia vRS had the option (which I took of course) for Â£450.

andyg · Post by **andyg** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:11 pm

I wonder does it have the same poopy strut that keeps the bonet open as the other 9ns ?

On the Polo 6n2 the bonnet is held up with gas struts, a small but nice little option (saves the hastle when you wanna top something up quick).

Â£15k for that spec i am not impressed, I would save up another Â£2k and get a second hand golf mk5 GTi with 20k on the clock.

VW have tried to make the Polo more "grown up" because of the introduction of the Fox. The polo interior and general appearance is more like the golf, I dont see the point in getting a polo when there is so little difference.

ModifiedMadness · Post by **ModifiedMadness** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:16 pm

I second that, it is just a mini Golf really

nickpolo · Post by **nickpolo** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:30 pm

at least with the 6n2 gtis they re a car in their own right, the new one is like a mini-me of the golf

Redline · Post by **Redline** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:51 pm

Seems they've done what they did with the 6N2 GTi, and made it more expensive to give it the prestige position within the VAG small hot-hatch collection.

For example the Seat Ibiza FR (1.8T 150bhp), with climate control as standard costs just Â£12'955. Even the top-spec Cupra (180bhp) is only Â£15'500. The GTi also sits pretty close to the MINI Cooper S (Â£15'495).

So I wonder just how much VW can play off the GTi badge, and the halo effect around the Golf GTi with the Polo. Be interested to see just how many they do sell.

jj86 · Post by **jj86** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:56 pm

andyg wrote:I wonder does it have the same poopy strut that keeps the bonet open as the other 9ns ?

On the Polo 6n2 the bonnet is held up with gas struts, a small but nice little option (saves the hastle when you wanna top something up quick)....

I have gas struts on my 9n

andyg · Post by **andyg** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:56 pm

I have gas struts on my 9n

Ahh thats weird, I borrowed an '05 9N SE from VW and it didn't and I drove another 9n of my mates and it didn't either, which models do?

oscar olop gti · Post by **oscar olop gti** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 10:43 pm

An old duffer i parked next to had his bonnet up on his tdi 9n & it had nice looking chrome or aluminium gas struts on it. Think it was a 55 plate. I want some for my gti

jj86 · Post by **jj86** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 7:46 pm

andyg wrote:
I have gas struts on my 9n
Ahh thats weird, I borrowed an '05 9N SE from VW and it didn't and I drove another 9n of my mates and it didn't either, which models do?

Mine's a 1.4fsi Sport. I think they were standard on either just the higher trims (se, sport) or across the range, until ~late '04. Then only reintroduced recently.

I think it's when VW go through these 'cost cutting' (aka skanky bastard) phases. E.g on launching the mkvii, there were no side airbags, no third visor, stuff like that. Then they were later introduced.