The Mk3 is the last real Polo.

Speedlaw · Post by **Speedlaw** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 9:43 am

Here's something that's been bugging me lately. Every once in a while, I come across someone saying; "The Mk3 is the last proper Polo." Or, "The Mk4 is just a SEAT Ibiza."

This annoys me.

From an academic viewpoint it annoys me because there's no argumentation to go with it. From a driver's standpoint it annoys me because I don't believe the Mk4 and the Ibiza are that closely related.

Now, I've thought about what the reason for this point of view could be.

First and formost, I'd say because they share a platform. But is that enough reason? Not only is the platform modified (not the case with the Variant, sorry Stationwagon/Estate, and Classic/Sedan), it is also a very 'light' argument. The TT shares its platform with the Octavia, if you follow the same train of thought. However, I think most would agree that both cars are considerably different.

What's more, the Mk1 Polo shares its entire body with the Audi 50. The rear end of the Fridolin is made up of parts of T1 Bully, the Karmann Ghia shares its underpinnings with the KÃ¤fer. Does that make them any less worthy of their name?

Another argument could be that the 6N shares a lot of parts with the 6K Ibiza. But do they really? I haven't checked this, but I'm pretty sure nearly all of the body panels are not identical or interchangable. Perhaps with the Variant/Classic - but then, they share the model code (6K) too... The lights, bumpers, bonnet, boot, doors, doorsils, it's all different.

Other bits that are identical then? The dash, sure. But the SEAT Leon shares the Audi A3 dash. Doesn't cut it. The seats? Sure, they're interchangable, but so are the Passat 35i's and the Golf Mk3's seats with the Mk4's. I know, it's the handles! The handles are the same! Oh, but wait. They can be found on the Sharan too. Maybe the Sharan is really a Polo underneath then.

Maybe the engines! Must be the engines then. Wrong. No Ibiza engines will fit in a Mk4 without extensive modifications to the chassis of the Mk4. Instead, they would actually fit in a Mk3 Golf. Odd, innit?

Instead, a Mk5 Polo GTI engine will actually bolt up in the earliest of Polo engine bays, because the bottem end is, in fact, a Polo bottom end. Will it bolt up in an Ibiza? No.

Sorry for the rant, but I really wonder what the arguments are. I can't think of any proper ones. Maybe you can?

Post by **Josh_PoloGTi** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 10:11 am

You're right Alex...

The Polo is not an Ibiza.

Nothing wrong with Ibiza's, but they're not a Polo!

There are far too many differences between the two.

The sills are exactly 1 inch longer on the Ibiza (I found this out when fitting my Ibiza side skirts to my MK4)...

The front bumper has lots more depth...

The body pannels are all different

The engines are different

Apart from the chasis, the dash (although the Ibiza always seemed to come with an "old" polo dash), switchgear, brakes etc... It's a completely different car!

Speedlaw · Post by **Speedlaw** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 10:41 am

Yeah my thoughts exactly. Maybe were missing something.

I'm not alone in hearing these comments/opinions, right? Even Der Salzi (owner of Salzmann Tuning Products) has been quoted to say the last real Polo is the Mk3, yadayadayada.

toXXin · Post by **toXXin** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 11:24 am

Does that mean I have to leave?

Linz Polo · Post by **Linz Polo** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 11:27 am

lol nah i wouldnt have thought so.

i know alot of pug 106 drivers that get grief as peeps say there car is a saxo in desguise which i can see the point the engines etc are very similar but a polo and an ibiza???? nah yeah VW and seat are similar in there manufacturing but i dont see the similarities in the polo and ibiza

sbp · Post by **sbp** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 11:43 am

I've been hearing these comment too. I don't pay attention to them though.
My brother says I ride in a granny-car, and even that doesn't make me wanna slap the hell out of him. I know better

Speedlaw · Post by **Speedlaw** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 11:43 am

toXXin wrote:Does that mean I have to leave?

Eh?

No way!

I love All Things VAG. I'm sure most of us here feel that way too.

There's nothing wrong with SEAT's, or Ibiza's, Skoda's or Audi's for that matter, but when I see someone posting 'a Mk4 is really a SEAT Ibiza', I know it's meant to be derogatory. And I don't agree with the statement for multiple reasons (see above), but also because there's absolutely nothing wrong with SEAT's. Some people just need to get their head out their dark and smelly place.

Most Ibiza's would whoop a Polo's butt anyway, because you lot get all the good engines first.

Post by **Josh_PoloGTi** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 11:45 am

sbp...

I get that all the time...

"when you gonna get a proper car?"
"shopping cart"
"granny's car"
"mother & child car"
"why didn't you get a golf?"
"when are you going to buy a golf?"
"etc

"

rooboy · Post by **rooboy** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 12:20 pm

The current models (mk5 Polo, mk3 Ibiza and the Fabia), the only thing in common is the chassis and engine bay, they are different lenths, widths, the quality of the plastics are different, the suspension and handling is set up differently.

All this comes down to really though is how much extra you want to pay for an extremley similar car, where the only notable interior difference is what colour the led lights are at night (green, red, or blue)

The Fabia vRS and SEAT Ibiza tdi sport, have the same engine and lowered suspension, but the Ibiza still looks like any Ibiza out there and costs Â£2000 more for otherwise the same car(5 door)

at the end of the day, you pay your money, you make your choice.

tornado_ally · Post by **tornado_ally** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 5:30 pm

I, and most of the members on this forum are Polo People. Other cars made by the VAG group are quality in their own way but the Polo has a certain charsima. I think for every1 on here the appeal is different but we all have Polos in the end- bar a few, ( Ibizas and Fabias are still part of the family)
A Polo is not Seat Ibiza because it is a VW Polo. Simple as.
As for Josh, I get that whole Golf is more suited rubbish but I don't think the Golf has the Polo's flare just like the Leon doesn't have the Ibiza's nice back-side. You have to love those lights.
This is why Josh has a Polo and so do I

Wouldn't mind a 1.8T Polo though eh

rooboy · Post by **rooboy** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 5:40 pm

tornado_ally wrote:I, and most of the members on this forum are Polo People. Other cars made by the VAG group are quality in their own way but the Polo has a certain charsima. I think for every1 on here the appeal is different but we all have Polos in the end- bar a few, ( Ibizas and Fabias are still part of the family)
A Polo is not Seat Ibiza because it is a VW Polo. Simple as.
As for Josh, I get that whole Golf is more suited rubbish but I don't think the Golf has the Polo's flare just like the Leon doesn't have the Ibiza's nice back-side. You have to love those lights.
This is why Josh has a Polo and so do I

Wouldn't mind a 1.8T Polo though eh

Must say, I prefer the look of the Ibiza and Fabia over the overall look of the Polo. But if we all thought the same, life would be as dull as boy bands

david burton · Post by **david burton** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 5:47 pm

"When are you going to get a golf"....

... when I want a bigger car. why go bigger for no reason? small and light is best. (except for crashing into other cars)

dub envy · Post by **dub envy** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 6:17 pm

The Mk3 is the last real Polo.

should read.

the Mk3 is the last good looking Polo.

only my opinion.

Speedlaw · Post by **Speedlaw** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 6:33 pm

Yeah, but that's an opinion, not a statement meant to be factual.

Tahrey1043 · Post by **Tahrey1043** » Sun Jan 11, 2004 4:02 pm

I drive a granny carriage and am proud of it

Silly bleeders with their young peoples cars, they're missing out they really are. It's even got little recesses in the glove box lid to rest your dentures in.

Isn't the Ibiza still one half Fiat Uno anyway?