Foppiness... is it to be expected?

[tegwin]

Been driving the GTI for a couple of years now.... and I have always been aware that the steering/front wheels seems a little vauge... for example if there is a slight rut on the road the wheels seem to "bend" free of the steering wheel... it just feels un-natural... hitting a pothole does the same... Its like the suspension is too floppy and then geomotry is all wrong....

I drove a 60,000 mile Ford KA sport to work this morning... and although it lacks the power of the GTI, it feels a LOT more planted... you can hammer around uneven corners and it doesnt feel scary.... the gearchange is nice and tight and you feel in control.....

Are all polos a little "vague".... or is mine just getting tired.....

[ticki]

well.............you sound just like me 2 years ago mate . My previous car was a Mk2 Punto Sporting on Apex springs, and althought not very powerful, its was magic in the twisties.

Now i have taken steps to try and cure the unresponsive steering and horrible understeer, by doing the following.

1. Lowering the car, a suspension kit is gonna give you better ride and handling, than a coilover kit imo.

2. Negative camber on the front wheels. I have -1° camber, this has helped corning and a little steering response

3. Rear anti-roll bar, this has made the most impact to dial out some understeer and has improved responsiveness and body roll.

Hope this helps,

[chrisjames]

Mine feels really "unplanted" since lowering. It goes round the corner pretty well but just feels like it wont, therefore giving you less confidence.

In general polos dont feel great at handling. A Ka will feel better. Your car may be miss aligned however. Is your car lowered, nose down stance? I poly-flex'ed my car and it felt better. Not good enough for the money though.

I think its something we have to live with

[tegwin]

The car is totally standard...

I do try... pretty damn hard, and all I can manage is some slight 4 wheel drift with a tad oversteer.... it does grip like s**t... it just feels so wobly and cack..... Its quite a nice place to be... its just a bit depressing...

My 40 yearold TVR on polybush suspension etc handles MUCH better.... you dont get the same "wondering wheel syndrome".... I guess thats the joys of rubber bushes....



Does anyone else get a kinda engine thump when they lift off...... IE if you are in 1st gear rolling along at 1200RPM.. and lift off the gas, or put more on, do you feel the engine shift and kind make the car feel like its bumping along?

The Ka didnt do that this morning... I guess I am used to having to dip the clutch in the polo to take up the "slack"

[6N2 GTI 00]

My Car is fairly standard and I am also not that impressed with the handling.

It does take the tighter corners but I sometimes find myself clutching onto the passenger seat to take the sharper corners.
My Gti is my daily driver so normally I am just pottering along to work at 60mph, but when I do want to push the car a bit harder it doesnt give me alot of confidence in the corners.

My 1986 MG Metro handles better than the GTI in the corners, I can throw that thing into any bend and it responds.

I am fitting some fully adjustable coilovers to my GTI in the next month so I am hoping it will improve the handling slightly.

Ticki - where abouts did you get your anti-roll bar from? and am I right in saying its the same one that fits on the Skoda Favia vRS?

Tegwin - I too get the thump everynow and again when I take my foot off in 1st, its a fairly big thud as well. I think most cars tend to do that though but the GTI seems to be alot louder and harder than any other car I have driven. Your not alone on that one!

[tegwin]

Hmm... its all these small things that add up and make me want to change for something else.... but what do I buy..... nightmare!!!

[6N2 GTI 00]

Hmm... its all these small things that add up and make me want to change for something else.... but what do I buy..... nightmare!!!

Every car has its faults at the end of the day. Unfortuantly the Polo GTI has several faults that are normally expensive when they go wrong ie, gearbox & cambelt tensioners.

If you were to change cars, would you be looking for something similar in terms of performance & size???
There is always the 9N3 Polo GTI

I think you will struggle to find a better looking Hatchback than the 6N2 GTI, great looking car. The Seat Ibiza Cupra are also very nice but I am sure there is a number of cars you have in mind.

[tegwin]

You are right in that the 6N2 GTI is a nice looking car... its got a nice interior for its class as well!

The Ibiza cupra is an ok car but its looks are crap, it doesnt have xenons and I cant find a decent standard one anywhere! the three I have looked at are total mongers...

The other alternative is an S3.... 1.8T but thats a lot heavier than the polo... and if you think the polo is expensive to repair if it goes wrong... the S3 is in its own class....

The polo GTI 9N is stupidly priced....


All I want is a small/light car that handles well and has good power... the 6N2 is good but it would be even better with another 50hp!

[6N2 GTI 00]

Your best bet for a fairly small car with alot of power would be the Clio Sport 182 or the Honda Civic Typre R.

Both Quick and not that expensive. The problem with the 182 Clio's is they always go wrong, like all french cars do.

You can't really go wrong with the Type R! fast, reliable, stylish, sound amazing and will just keep going.

Other alternatives Corsa & Astra VXR, MG ZR 160, Fiesta RS Turbo, Saxo VTS, Clio 172, Clio Williams, Renault 5 GTT, Fiat 500 Abarth, Punto GT, Toyota Starlet GT, Nissan Sunny GTI, Nissan Pulsar GTiR, Seat Ibiza Cupra, Audi S3, the list goes on and on.

Good luck with it though! I say the car with the most value for money is the Sunny GTI, 2.0 non turbo will do 0-60 in 6.5 seconds (standard) will run forever and will cost you under £1500! not very good looking cars though it has to be said

[Redline]

The other alternative is an S3.... 1.8T but thats a lot heavier than the polo... and if you think the polo is expensive to repair if it goes wrong... the S3 is in its own class....

To be honest if you find the GTi a bit vaugue and uninvolving, an S3 won't be any better believe me! It's a good car, but I do miss the "chuckability" of the GTi in comparison. Also you're correct about the costs too.

If you want the ultimate in small hot-hatch handling then the Cliosport 182 Trophy is quite possibly your best bet. Although the dampers apparently wear quickly and require rebuilding.

I'd also suggest an Integra Type-R. Not as common as the Civic, superb chassis and pretty quick. Just try finding a nice standard one though.

[tegwin]

Just try finding a nice standard one though.

and insuring one!!! Its silly money!



Anyone driven a standard ibiza cupra in anger? Are they any better than the polo in terms of vaguness etc?

[chrisjames]

+1 for the cup clio's.

192 looks best and drives well.

[tegwin]

They do look quite nice.... but I dont think I can do it... a french car with a plastic interior just doesnt do it for me.... even the steering wheels are plasticy

[ticki]

read this thread Tegwin http://www.uk-polos.net/view ... hp?t=29307

[ticki]

what about one of these, i think it s 1.4 turbo charged baby lambogini apparently.