1.2TSI - first thoughts

[AndyGTi]

I have to say that I am not keen on the armrest. I thought it was just me being old.

I wish they had stuck it on the option list, but its standard on SEL and GTI. I have noticed that it is an option on the Audi A1, so I might have to get one of those instead.

23 weeks is a long time to wait, I think it is very dependent on the dealer whether you get one that knows where the car is some seem to have been giving buyers updates every two weeks according to reports on the internet I've read.

Overheard one salesman in my local dealer saying the VW are quoting 26weeks straight off for anything with DSG gearbox.

[Grey_Polo]

The arm rest takes a bit of getting used to. I have the DSG 7-speed automatic, so only use the handbrake at the start and end of a journey. Mine has 'hill start assist', which means if you take your foot off the brake it increases the revs and moves forward. So any stops in traffic or for lights requires the foot brake and not the hand brake.

The arm rest is a useful storage space and comfortable to rest my elbow...

[Bradley]

Ben you're looking at the weight of the lightest model to be fair.

MK3F Polo 1.4 TDI is 1091KG (Heaviest model)

Mk3F Polo GTI is 1084KG (GTI Model)

MK3F Polo 1.0 is 982KG (Lightest Model)

Whereas the new shape is

MK5 Polo 1.2 is 1067KG (Lightest model)

MK5 Polo GTI is 1269 KG (Heaviest model)


6N2 is overall lighter like you expected new GTI is 185 KG heavier.

[Edi30]

Car looks great in Met Grey and the interior with the upgrade looks very up market. I really think the new Polo looks great in all models.

Nice car!

Edi30

[AndyGTi]

Hi Carole

Just wondered how you were getting on with your 1.2 SEL are you still enjoying it. How is it to live with, economy and performance, etc

I am planning to test drive one on Sunday.

Many thanks

Andy

[rs2315]

Nice car in Nimbus.
I ordered mine Oct 2009 arrived beginning of Jan 2010.
Made in S.Africa shipped to Germany for pre-flight checks, back to blighty and dealers.
I was happy I'd got my scrappage allowance just in the nick

rs2315.

[rs2315]

Car looks great in Met Grey and the interior with the upgrade looks very up market. I really think the new Polo looks great in all models.

Nice car!

Edi30

Very nice front end, lights front lip spot on for me.
Side, nice enough, back end for me was where the ideas ran out.
Cool front end, dull rear end.

rs2315.

[Carol]

Cool front end, dull rear end.

I disagree. Whilst I like the front end, it was the back end which really sold it to me. I just love the cute square lights and the way the lines along the sides gather up to a tidy rear end. The front end is a bit too similar to a Golf to my eyes, and I keep mistaking approaching Golfs for Polos.

[Carol]

Just wondered how you were getting on with your 1.2 SEL are you still enjoying it. How is it to live with, economy and performance, etc

Well, we've had the car 8 weeks now and done just about 900 miles. Still loving it and can't get over how easy to drive it is (compared to our previous Focus diesel which was pretty heavy and sluggish to get going). A few pluses and minuses in my eyes so far:

Love:
*display showing which gear you're in and when to change up. It's become a bit of a game to try and avoid the 'up' arrow (ie change up) which I suppose is what it's designed to do - fuel efficiency is what it's all about. Incidentally, I wondered aloud if it would ever show a 'down' arrow, and can confirm that indeed it does - whilst driving in the snow (high gear, low revs), I encountered a few down arrows.
*handling and light touch at low speeds. Most of my driving is around town and the Polo is nippy and responsive
*the admiring glances
*the interior is just lovely. Switchgear is really solid (apart from the switch for heated mirrors - see my point below). Alcantara seats are gorgeous - nice and supportive too
*daytime running lights are good, and I really like that if you don't switch dipped lights on when it's dark, the instruments stay dark which is a good reminder to turn your lights on
*it fits in the garage ever so easily - the Focus *only just* squeezed in, and depending on the angle you put it in would have a helluva job getting it back out. No troubles with Polo!

Not so much in love with:
*I can't get the multifunction display to show total mileage whilst moving. I understand that VW have taken the decision to remove kph from the speedo which means they have to display it somewhere else, but I just don't like not being able to see total mileage as I'm travelling along. How am I supposed to celebrate the milestones in Polo's life if I can't watch them happening?
*heated mirrors switch is in an awkward position, and has quite nasty action. The first time I turned the knob, I thought I'd broken it. There's also no indication on the dashboard or display that it's on, so pretty easily forgotten about. I think it turns off after a set time, but still.
*really regret spending the extra on the multifunction steering wheel. The only thing on there is the stereo remote control, and I have to say it's in an absolutely useless position - not in the least ergonomic. What the heck am I supposed to do when the wheel isn't straight? Why they didn't put the stereo remote controls on the steering column, I have no idea. It seems that the multifunction steering wheel on the GTI is different again, and has more controls on the right hand side - maybe these would be useful, maybe not.
*with six forward gears, reverse is push down and up past first which takes some getting used to when you've had reverse in 'sixth' for an absolute age. Still can't get used to this, but I don't know where else reverse could live if I think about it
*the driver's mat has a huge great gap under the accelerator pedal, so the carpet underneath gets nice and grubby. What's that all about?
*the boot is a wee bit smaller than we'd hoped it would be. The weekly shopping *just* fits, but it would be nice to have a teensy bit more space in there
*have filled up three times now, and keep having problems with the pump cutting off automatically. Maybe I'm shoving the nozzle too far in, but it shouldn't be terribly difficult to design a petrol tank that doesn't have kinks or other contortions in it which makes refuelling difficult. Should it?
*the front armrest - which now lives permanently in an up position after it kept getting in the way of the handbrake and gears now gets in the way of my crooklock which lives in the rear footwell. Sigh.

Other comments:
*mpg seems to be averaging around 37 on three tanks of fuel. Not unexpected as most of those 900 miles have been tootling around town
*we've had our first stone chip . Himself has touched it up and it's barely noticeable, but still sad
*in a similar vein, we drove into a rather nasty car park the other day and managed to rip part of the plastic/rubber under skirts partly out of its housing . Himself got most of it to pop back into place, but it's a bit wonky now - fortunately not really visible unless you get under the car

All in all though, despite a few little niggles we're really pleased with our Polo.

I am planning to test drive one on Sunday.

Have fun!

[rs2315]

Cool front end, dull rear end.

I disagree. Whilst I like the front end, it was the back end which really sold it to me. I just love the cute square lights and the way the lines along the sides gather up to a tidy rear end. The front end is a bit too similar to a Golf to my eyes, and I keep mistaking approaching Golfs for Polos.

Cute!!

rs2315.

[Edi30]

I think the new Polo looks great from all angles. As it's sits on the drive next to the Golf GTI MK6 it does look very similar which I like. I think it's a bonus that it looks like a Golf as there is likely hood most road users would not think it a small car. However I would say that the Golf looks fantastic but the Polo is sharper and a little more angular and not slab sided like the Golf so all in all I think the Polo looks the better of the two.

[Verity]

*with six forward gears, reverse is push down and up past first which takes some getting used to when you've had reverse in 'sixth' for an absolute age. Still can't get used to this, but I don't know where else reverse could live if I think about it

Most VW reverse in the same way (push down and up past 1st) except a small handful, the only one I know of is a certain passat, and some of the vans. (Which I think is down and to the right? So yeah where 6th would be)
Tho I can see why being able to go into 6th would make things confusing. I guess if you wernt able to put it into the 6th gear space then you would get used to it a lot quicker.

Good review of how things are going with it. And his things are working out for u

[AndyGTi]

Carol

Thanks for putting together a great update for me to consider.

I agree about the Total mileage (hadn't thought till I read your comment), you're absolutely right no more giving a littel cheer as those landmark mileages are exceeded.

Glad to hear it has the gear selected on the central dash, I think that's a great idea.

I am used to the boot space of a Polo, so if I do upgrade, then new boot will be a sligth improvement, but I can imagine you feel you've lost some versatility with the boot.

Had a laugh to myself with your comment about reverse, only 1 of the 4 cars I've owned hasn't been a VW and even after years owning the clio if I wanted reverse quickly, I still went down, left , up ...or at least tried for reverse. Then muttered something about stupid French car makers and pulled button up and over to get reverse.

I'm looking forward to the test drive and the armrest will certainly be staying up.

Thanks again for your comments

Andy

[Carol]

I am planning to test drive one on Sunday.

How was your test drive?

[AndyGTi]

Hi

Had a good test drive, its a lovely car. I had to drive 45miles down to the Salisbury dealer to have the test drive as no-one in immediate vicinity had a 1.2 TSI.

It felt a little nippier than the Audi A1 I drove(even though that has a 1.4 122ps engine) and the ride was smoother than my GTI (but then I expected that). The car had boavista wheels fitted and I think the car looks great with this option. The car was also Nimbus Grey. I am warming to that colour, but still not sure. I'm really tempted by Red, but I like metallic too much so think it would be nimbus grey or shadow blue.

I liked the Gear indication (like the A1) on the dash and the trip computer looks better than my Polo, but operates just the same as mine. The speedometer seemed rather plain without the additonal dials such as engine temp and fuel.

Although the seat were the standard upholstery they felt quite snug and supportive, but I think I would still go for the Alcantara sports seats

I really am very tempted, but I liked some of the features in the A1 too. Do you think VW and Audi would let me select various bits from their range to make my ideal car... most of it would be from the Polo though.

Much as I liked the 1.2 SEL, I think I would miss the performance of my GTI. I thought taking the 3 test drives over the weekend would help me decide, but it's A1 and Polo neck and neck.

I'll let you know what I decide....if I ever make a decision

Think I might go made and test drive a new GTI too

Andy