Polo newbie - please help

[Tex]

You are right Dink, same as the 1.4 TSI, just different oil etc,

With the exhaust now that I think about it, there was only drone when I had both the res and the muffler deleted, as just the res didn't do any justice on the DSG farts, I guess a sports cat, res delete and maybe a miltek back box would sound nice with no drone.

Anyway, if he can get some warranty then he won't worry to much about the DSG, the manuals are really fun , but with traffic and coming from a auto, it's a pain to have a manual as a daily for some.

[jackdanes]

I had a M235i and got rid of it for a Polo GTI. Only had the Polo a couple of weeks, but happy I've made the switch. Picked it up from Newcastle and did a 4 hour journey home with a variety of roads. I personally think it's more fun to drive, and way more responsive. I haven't got the sport button as I read it pumps sound into the car, stiffens suspension and makes the steering heavier, wasn't fussed if it that's all it did, I could be wrong, it may do more, others will know. I found one under 35,000 with sunroof, parking, cruise and heated seats in my budget and the sport button wasn't a 'must-have'.

What I found on my M235i was a turbo lag, which used to really annoy me, it felt 'sluggish' at points. Yes it's quick and does 0-60 in 4.9 seconds, but I find the Polo way more responsive and more fun. It's much better on insurance, tax and fuel. Also, depending on what you're after I find the Polo more humble than the M235i. Also, got 46mpg on the motorway compared to 34mpg in the BMW.

Hope this helps

After parting with my M135i I've decided to save on fuel and go back to the fun, lightweight hatches. I'm dead set on polo gti, I just need help getting the right one. Any previous m135/140/235/240 owners opinions would be great!

[Jerry Buzzard]

I had a M235i and got rid of it for a Polo GTI. Only had the Polo a couple of weeks, but happy I've made the switch. Picked it up from Newcastle and did a 4 hour journey home with a variety of roads. I personally think it's more fun to drive, and way more responsive. I haven't got the sport button as I read it pumps sound into the car, stiffens suspension and makes the steering heavier, wasn't fussed if it that's all it did, I could be wrong, it may do more, others will know. I found one under 35,000 with sunroof, parking, cruise and heated seats in my budget and the sport button wasn't a 'must-have'.

What I found on my M235i was a turbo lag, which used to really annoy me, it felt 'sluggish' at points. Yes it's quick and does 0-60 in 4.9 seconds, but I find the Polo way more responsive and more fun. It's much better on insurance, tax and fuel. Also, depending on what you're after I find the Polo more humble than the M235i. Also, got 46mpg on the motorway compared to 34mpg in the BMW.

Hope this helps

After parting with my M135i I've decided to save on fuel and go back to the fun, lightweight hatches. I'm dead set on polo gti, I just need help getting the right one. Any previous m135/140/235/240 owners opinions would be great!

Great to know, cheers mate!

I'm going for nav, heated seats and a sunroof myself. I think it looks much nicer than the 135 albeit a bit less aggressive.

I agree with the fun part. My 135i is good fun, but only really when doing licences losing speeds. The sound is addictive but that just leads you to reach silly mph and endless trips to the petrol station. I prefer the idea of a lightweight car you can have fun with at safe (enough) speeds and miss the nimbleness of my old small hatches like the st and ep3.

I actually mapped my m135i because it was struggling to pull away from a polo gti until around 60/70mph by which point the road is ending or you're saying bye to your license if caught. I just cant see the point anymore.

I'm gonna miss the motorway pulls and the kickdown throwing you back in the seat, the sound too, but it's good to know you don't regret it!

What gearbox did you have in the bm and polo?

[SRGTD]

I have the Sport button (aka Sports Performance Pack) and in nearly 4.5 years of ownership have only used it a handful of times. I wouldn’t miss it if I didn’t have it.

I’m not a fan of the fake noise that’s pumped into the cabin as it sounds too fake to me. I also find the suspension in Sport mode is too firm for everyday use, but it’s OK for the occasional spirited drive. However, I prefer it in Normal mode, which I find firm but not uncomfortably so. I do like the heavier steering feel in Sport mode though.

It’s a shame you can’t change the settings of individual elements of the Sports Performance Pack - if this were possible, I’d have the suspension in normal mode, steering in sport mode and engine noise in normal mode. In the current model Polo GTI it is possible to select individual settings within the Driver Profile Selection, which is a standard feature on the GTI and GTI+ models.

[jackdanes]

Great to know, cheers mate!

I'm going for nav, heated seats and a sunroof myself. I think it looks much nicer than the 135 albeit a bit less aggressive.

I agree with the fun part. My 135i is good fun, but only really when doing licences losing speeds. The sound is addictive but that just leads you to reach silly mph and endless trips to the petrol station. I prefer the idea of a lightweight car you can have fun with at safe (enough) speeds and miss the nimbleness of my old small hatches like the st and ep3.

I actually mapped my m135i because it was struggling to pull away from a polo gti until around 60/70mph by which point the road is ending or you're saying bye to your license if caught. I just cant see the point anymore.

I'm gonna miss the motorway pulls and the kickdown throwing you back in the seat, the sound too, but it's good to know you don't regret it!

What gearbox did you have in the bm and polo?

Completely agree with the licence losing speeds. One of the many reasons I decided to make the switch. I found the M235i too impractical for day to day use. Like you said,the real speed is at 60/70mph. Whereas what I'm enjoying with the GTI is the responsiveness and enjoyment driving it under 60mph. It's also got a solid and the gearbox is as good if not better than the M235i. I prefer the size too, and I really recommend the sun roof, first car I've had with one and it's great.

Having been looking at GTIs for a few months before buying one, I snapped at buying the one I've got because it was the first one with heated seats, cruise, parking sensors and the sun roof, put a deposit down within 24 hours of being online. I think if you want one with heated seats, sun roof and nav, it'll most likely have cruise and parking as well. The right ones go quickly once posted online!

Both cars were 6 speed manual. On a side note, I think if I got a car again that can shift 0-60 in under 5 seconds, like a M2, I'd go automatic.

[jackdanes]

In the current model Polo GTI it is possible to select individual settings within the Driver Profile Selection, which is a standard feature on the GTI and GTI+ models.

Where can I access the Driver Profile? I've got a 2017 GTI

[SRGTD]

In the current model Polo GTI it is possible to select individual settings within the Driver Profile Selection, which is a standard feature on the GTI and GTI+ models.

Where can I access the Driver Profile? I've got a 2017 GTI

As per my previous post, it’s a feature of the current model Polo GTI / GTI+. Unfortunately, it’s not a feature of the previous generation Polo GTI which your 2017 car will be.

[jackdanes]

In the current model Polo GTI it is possible to select individual settings within the Driver Profile Selection, which is a standard feature on the GTI and GTI+ models.

Where can I access the Driver Profile? I've got a 2017 GTI

As per my previous post, it’s a feature of the current model Polo GTI / GTI+. Unfortunately, it’s not a feature of the previous generation Polo GTI which your 2017 car will be.

Okay, no worries. Thanks!

[Jerry Buzzard]

Great to know, cheers mate!

I'm going for nav, heated seats and a sunroof myself. I think it looks much nicer than the 135 albeit a bit less aggressive.

I agree with the fun part. My 135i is good fun, but only really when doing licences losing speeds. The sound is addictive but that just leads you to reach silly mph and endless trips to the petrol station. I prefer the idea of a lightweight car you can have fun with at safe (enough) speeds and miss the nimbleness of my old small hatches like the st and ep3.

I actually mapped my m135i because it was struggling to pull away from a polo gti until around 60/70mph by which point the road is ending or you're saying bye to your license if caught. I just cant see the point anymore.

I'm gonna miss the motorway pulls and the kickdown throwing you back in the seat, the sound too, but it's good to know you don't regret it!

What gearbox did you have in the bm and polo?

Completely agree with the licence losing speeds. One of the many reasons I decided to make the switch. I found the M235i too impractical for day to day use. Like you said,the real speed is at 60/70mph. Whereas what I'm enjoying with the GTI is the responsiveness and enjoyment driving it under 60mph. It's also got a solid and the gearbox is as good if not better than the M235i. I prefer the size too, and I really recommend the sun roof, first car I've had with one and it's great.

Having been looking at GTIs for a few months before buying one, I snapped at buying the one I've got because it was the first one with heated seats, cruise, parking sensors and the sun roof, put a deposit down within 24 hours of being online. I think if you want one with heated seats, sun roof and nav, it'll most likely have cruise and parking as well. The right ones go quickly once posted online!

Both cars were 6 speed manual. On a side note, I think if I got a car again that can shift 0-60 in under 5 seconds, like a M2, I'd go automatic.

If only there were any available with the right spec! Only 1 for sale with a sunroof right now and it's a bag of sh*t after driving it. Clearly been treated like a rental car for all its life. Also for what its worth, the "Car Shop" franchise is one of the worst companies I've ever had the displeasure of dealing with and would highly recommend anyone avoids them like the plague (or covid).

Why didnt anyone spec polos with sunroof?? Or the sport button? It was only 300 quid!

I'm thinking I'm gonna have to compromise on the sunroof just because I cant find any and I could be waiting a year for one to come on sale, even then it could be a bad example.

But I know I'll regret it if I ever see one and you can guarantee the day I after I got one without it, another would come on sale right away!

How long were you looking for yours and who did you end up buying from?

[Dink]

Getting a sunroof on mine was at the very bottom of the list tbh.

I choose the electronic climate control as I'd much rather have sub-ambient cooling.

I've seen people have the rubbers on the sunroof eaten by birds and it's just an extra thing to go wrong or start rattling.

[jackdanes]

If only there were any available with the right spec! Only 1 for sale with a sunroof right now and it's a bag of sh*t after driving it. Clearly been treated like a rental car for all its life. Also for what its worth, the "Car Shop" franchise is one of the worst companies I've ever had the displeasure of dealing with and would highly recommend anyone avoids them like the plague (or covid).

Why didnt anyone spec polos with sunroof?? Or the sport button? It was only 300 quid!

I'm thinking I'm gonna have to compromise on the sunroof just because I cant find any and I could be waiting a year for one to come on sale, even then it could be a bad example.

But I know I'll regret it if I ever see one and you can guarantee the day I after I got one without it, another would come on sale right away!

How long were you looking for yours and who did you end up buying from?

I was looking for about 6-8 weeks. When I saw it I put a deposit down very quickly and I think I beat a few others to it. I got it from a Lookers Garage in Newcastle (Volkswagen approved). I'd recommend going for a more established garage for a bit of peace of mind and the warranty, I've got 12 months warranty, MOT cover and roadside assistance. They serviced, MOT'd and replaced 2 front pads and discs before I picked it up, refurbed the front alloys and a machine polish. Obviously, I'm going to clean and decontaminate it properly anyway. I've looked at the Car shop and Car Supermarket, once you start looking into reviews on Trustpilot, Google and Cardealer reviews they all seem a bit crap. And you have to pay for extended warranty most the time.

My requriements were mainly parking sensors and cruise. I wasn't overly fussed about heated seats and the sunroof, I think I was lucky with the one I found. I would recommend waiting for the right one and not rushing it. If the sunroof is what you want then wait for it.

I've seen an automatic on Autotrader that's done about 35,000 also with climate control (I've got the manual AC), but it's a bit overpriced for what it is. I'd wait and act quickly when you see the one you want.

[jackdanes]

I've seen people have the rubbers on the sunroof eaten by birds and it's just an extra thing to go wrong or start rattling.

I assume this is when the sunroof is open? It's pretty flush when closed.

[SRGTD]

I've seen people have the rubbers on the sunroof eaten by birds and it's just an extra thing to go wrong or start rattling.

I assume this is when the sunroof is open? It's pretty flush when closed.

You can see the damage that’s been done to the sunroof seals on a Golf R - picture at the beginning of the discussion thread over on VWROC.com at the link below;

https://www.vwroc.com/forums/topic/2242 ... of-issues/

I’ve also read of window rubbers and seals also being attacked by birds - I can remember a few owners over on fiestastoc.com have had this happen to their cars.

[jackdanes]

Thanks for this. Luckily, I've already bought a cover as the car is close to a tree and there's lots of sea gulls around, don't want to constantly cleaning bird s**t off the car. I'll check it later and see if there is any damage and hopefully can claim under warranty if it's worn.

[Jerry Buzzard]

Update - I've now got a nice little 3dr 6c with the dsg box. Reliability is a bit of a concern but I have a 3 year gold RAC warranty which I'm hoping is worth its 500 quid premium if the dsg ever goes bang.

Its got every option I can think of, sunroof, heated seats, cruise control, performance pack, armrest, even climate control which I havent seen on any other examples for sale.

Initial thoughts is that it seems the perfect daily. Its fast enough and fun enough to enjoy yourself, I much prefer laughing in my polo than sweating in my m135i. It feels very similar to my old fiesta st, but a bit faster and much nicer to be in.

The steering feels great and sports button really does help change its character when driving quickly.

I averaged 40mpg on the motorway, without really trying and doing a few acceleration runs on a 2 hour journey.

All the options make it such a nice car to drive at normal speeds. The climate control is brilliant in this weather. Cruise control is a god send on the motorway. Armrest completely changes the comfort of long journeys and also gives you somewhere for your phone and wallet. And the sunroof just makes the car look and feel more expensive and really does make the cabin feel a lot bigger. It feels just like a golf, but with the handling of a tiny little polo.

After a week of ownership I love it. I dont miss the m135i power and it's just as comfortable, if not comfier to be in when just cruising around the streets and towns. The mpg is cracking for the performance on offer imo.

Things I dont like, the exhaust sound is still a bit dull (getting a cat back fitted tomorrow so that should be fun), the touchscreen infotainment is just terrible compared to the audi and bmw wheel you can get (I'll never like touchscreen in cars), and the door seals seem to be really weird. No leaks or anything, just not satisfying to open and close, it's a bit odd but the bmw had a really "satisfying" door open/close (sounds daft but it just felt premium).

As long as the dsg lasts I'm very happy. Surprised these cars go under the radar. They're the only auto hot hatch that is relatively cheap but great fun to drive, aside from the clio 220 which is made of plastic and rattles like a kids toy.

Looking forward to owning it