Normal mode a big 'sluggish'

[AnnieGTI]

Good morning everyone,
This isn't a complaint, more of a question as to how other people are driving their gti models.

I bought a new Polo gti nearly a month ago with 7 miles on the clock. I only ever really 'plod' around in my cars, I'm old (51) and so quite sensible these days.
I have always had quite quick cars like S3, Cla45, cupra 300, C43, slc43 and recently an S4. None of these cars were really used other than once or twice a week at the most so I felt like they were wasted sitting there in my garage (nothing to do with covid, I just don't use my cars much but I do love driving so would never be without one). I decided to downsize so sold my S4 and ended up with cash back into my savings after buying the little Polo. This suits me as it doesn't feel like there is such a chunk of cash sitting there waiting for me to use it and it feels nice to have a car that nobody else has owned.
I used to own a B reg golf mark 2 in the 80's and loved it and thought it would be nice to go back to a smaller vw.

In no way would I expect the Polo to be anything like my previous cars, but, it does feel rather sluggish in normal mode. I've never used paddles on a car and I'm the sort of driver who goes 30 in a 30, 60 in a 60 etc so definitely not a boy racer. All the other cars I've had have been happy just leaving the auto box to do it's own thing in 'normal mode' and have never felt sluggish. I recently borrowed an audi 35 tsi while my S4 was back at the dealer and that even felt more responsive than the Polo. I can't remember what the figures are on the petrol 35 tsi but it is one of their slower ones but to say it was a big car, it was a lot nippier than this polo.
I did put it into Sport mode via the gearbox yesterday and it felt a lot more like I expected it to be (more responsive and 'perky' even though I don't race around).
Is anyone else feeling the same that it needs to be in Sport mode on the gearbox or does everyone else use their paddles to stop it changing up the gearbox so quickly?
No way am I expecting it to be like any of my previous cars but I just thought that I would ask about the gearbox
Thanks anyone

[iichel]

Driving casually in D in a DSG tends to be a bit of a fuel saver while S is a lot quicker in response, so I think what you're feeling is 'real'. If you want to be fast on acceleration, use S or use the paddels.

[SRGTD]

@AnnieGTI - My car is the pre-facelift model (I have a 2020 GTI+), so it has slightly less power (200 ps) than your car (207 ps) and a six speed rather than seven speed DSG.

I’ve always felt that in ‘normal’ mode the DSG changes up sooner than necessary which may be an economy / emissions thing, and being in a higher gear than is really necessary will make the car feel sluggish. I personally feel that ‘sport’ mode is a bit too frantic for my liking and hangs onto each gear for too long in normal driving conditions and IMHO, the ideal would an intermediate setting between normal and sport. That can no doubt be achieved through getting the car mapped but that’s not something I’d contemplate doing while the car’s under warranty - I can override the car’s willingness to change up to the next highest gear by using the steering wheel paddles which is what I do.

I’ve read that it takes time for the DSG to ‘learn’ the driver’s driving style; I personally think that’s rubbish - either that, or my car’s a very slow learner , as my car would know after two years of me owning it from new that I don’t like to change up gears as soon as it does, and in certain situations (e.g. going up a very slight incline) it changes down when there’s no need to. Also, if the DSG does learn the driving style, how does it adapt to who’s driving if more than one person regularly drives the car?

With ever tightening emissions regulations, it’s possible the gear ratios in the seven speed DSG that your car has are biased heavily towards economy, which would have the effect of blunting the performance and could explain the feeling of sluggishness you’re experiencing. Also, don’t forget that with your car being very new, the engine won’t have fully loosened up yet. The Audi you were using may have covered more miles and if it was a courtesy car, it could’ve been driven ‘enthusiastically’ by a number of different drivers, which will have helped to loosen the engine up (courtesy cars and hire cars are the fastest ). I’ve read on forums that some owners of performance Golfs and Polos have noticed that when the car has covered around 600 miles / 1,000 kilometres, there appears to be a bit of a step change in the the car’s responsiveness, which suggests VW may programme some form of ‘running in’ mode into the car’s software. I seem to remember that my car did feel a bit more eager once I’d covered 600 miles or so.

It’ll be interesting to hear the views of forum members who’ve owned both the pre and post facelift GTI’s (johnpolo2 and lancslad1985) to see if they feel the current model GTI feels sluggish to them compared to their previous GTI, although it might be a bit early for them to give a representative view if they’ve not driven many miles in the new GTI.

[AnnieGTI]

Good morning again,
Thank you both for your replies.

That's very interesting about it possibly loosening up at around 600 miles. I will let everyone know. I added quite a few miles driving it home from collection nearly a month ago so it hit 500 miles yesterday. That will probably be the most miles it does in a month while I have it.

You are correct about the audi that I borrowed. It was a new one but already had a few thousand miles on and yes, it was a courtesy car so will have been driven more enthusiastically than I drive. I have since checked this morning and it was only 150 bhp but felt a lot nippier than that. I thought at the time, this would be enough power for me

I've never actually tried paddles in any car but even just changing the gear lever to sport, made it feel like a different car (better). I will see how I go. I'm not thinking of getting rid of it as I have been changing far too much and it's lovely having a new one rather than a pre reg or something. I will report back when I've driven a few more miles. I'm even getting on with the steering wheel controls that seem to cause a bit of controversy on the golf models

[lancslad1985]

Well I’ve got my original gti back and it’s more or less run in now. It felt sluggish original but after 600 miles it felt much smoother. Could just be your car needs running in.

[johnpolo2]

I have to say I'm not feeling mine is sluggish and I have felt like it covers ground well and with more determination than my 2019 model. Curious.
I'm with @SRGTD on the sport mode, couldn't live with that switched on all day, would drive me nutz. Great for short bursts of fun but not all the time, too hyper.

[TheRacingRat]

Pretty sure there is a power limiter up to 1000km. I had a 150bhp 1.5evo r line before this and the Polo is far quicker-as it should be with 50 more BHP. you just need to run it in more.

[AnnieGTI]

Thanks everyone

[AndyGTi]

Hi @AnnieGTI

Congrats on your Polo and glad you are enjoying it. I did like reading your previous list of cars, quite a collection.

I think @SRGTD summed up the gearbox and available modes perfectly. I have just come from a 22 Reg RS3 (it was my 50th present to myself for short term fun...it just turned out to be a bit shorter than I expected).

Anyway, I noticed the normal mode on that was "sluggish" especially as I came off roundabouts. (I think I was just being too easy on the accelerator pedal). Anyway I solved that with flicking the level back into S mode. There was no stopping it in S mode but it just meant coming off roundabout that it hadn't changed up and kept the revs to drive smoothly through the roundabout.

I would say the Polo feels more sluggish, but then difference in power and torque, it isn't surprising. LIkewise if I want to get away smoothly I always flick level back to get S mode. Just for better driveability. You don't tend to notice the increased revs but when you stop I have flicked it back to D as it does sound too much with the increased revs at standstill.

I have done 1250miles in my Polo now. I am not sure I could say I have noticed a difference (as others on other forums have suggested). But now its over 1000miles I am exploring the limits a bit more. I do like downshift blip when in S mode, which makes me grin.

[AnnieGTI]

Hi Andy
Thanks for your reply Yes it's quite a list I've had. I forgot the cupra ehybrid I had a few cars ago but that is definitely best forgotten
I never dared go for anything like the rs3 as I always worry about them being pinched. I've never raced around in the cars, I've bought them more for their sound. I did briefly look at a used golf R this time (because they sound nice) but I didn't want it to become a target for thieves (even though I park in my garage, I do think about it) so I went for something a bit more understated in the polo gti. It's so nice to have a car that nobody else has owned too. I'd forgotten how nice that feels. I have wondered if I'm about 30 years too old for one at 51 but I have seen that there are a few polo gti owners on here at a similar age

I will pop the gearlever into S and I'm sure it'll be fine. I was happy with it the other day when I tried that for the first time and was just wondering how others felt about the normal mode. I knew it would no way be near other cars I've had but it was just when I found it wasn't as nippy or responsive as the 1.5 148 bhp audi I had as a loan car when my s4 was back at the dealer that I was a bit surprised.

When you say the downshift blip makes you grin, is that using the paddles? Thanks. Perhaps I should have a go with the paddles sometimes too but I've usually just left the auto box to it''s own devices sort of thing

[AndyGTi]

Hi

Yes, I was secretly quite glad when the 12month wait for Polo GTI turned into 5 month delivery. I was slightly paranoid about the RS3 from a security point of view. It went in the garage but it was a much tighter fit that was comfortable. I had thought changing from 3dr Golf R to 5 door would solve the problem of tight squeeze but of course the RS3 was wider with bulging wheelarches.

So from money, size and security side, I was glad to part with RS3. Amazing car on the road and so fast too.(up to 70mph obviously). I was paranoid about the Golf R for first few months but being a 3dr I think it was fairly safe. but RS3 needed to have a tracker and even though they accepted App based tracker, I never wanted to have to test it with a claim.

No it wasn't via the paddles. If you are in S mode then when slowing for roundabout junction, the gearbox will change down any there will be a distinct blip in revs as the gearbox changes down. its a minor thing but it makes me smile.

I know @SRGTD gave a good rundown above as to why Polo might not have felt as nippy as A3, but also without knowing the gear ratios for each car, its hard to know.

So normally when driving I am keeping it in D mode and if I feel I need some extra go (at a junction or roundabout) with a quick flick of lever back into S for that point in time.
In terms of the paddles, I have used them once or twice but prefer to let car do its thing. I decided early on with RS3 that Audi engineers had probably spent hours working on gearbox settings, so I thought I would just trust their engineering, so likewise with the Polo and VW engineers

[AnnieGTI]

I agree, I've always thought the engineers who make the car know more about the gearshift etc than me faffing with the paddles. I also can't be that bothered. I like the fact I don't have to change gear with the auto.
I've been out again today, trying to get past the 600 miles in case that makes a difference as someone suggested. I'm at 550 miles now
I had the gear lever in S and it was a lot better.

I too have the narrow garage issue. I always have to check the width of cars before I buy. This one is the narrowest car I've ever had I think. It's a breeze getting it in and out, even with the mirrors out which makes a nice change so that's another plus for it.

I have only joined this forum recently so didn't know that you have had the golf R. I had been reading the forum a while before joining but missed that.

When I look back, I sometimes wish I'd have kept my 19 reg C43 estate. It was 6 months old when I bought it but sold it due to lack of use. Nothing to do with covid etc. I was too paranoid with that one, not wanting to park it anywhere if I went out. That sounded lovely and the boy racers didn't bother me in it. I think they thought it was just an oldish lady in her dog wagon

Out of interest, are you using the E5 petrol rather than the E10 in yours?

[AndyGTi]

Hi

It is making car ownership far more relaxing now with a narrower car, so really enjoying being back in a Polo. I had the Golf R for 6 yrs are loved it, think if I had specced it differently in 2016, i might never have bought another car, thats how much I liked it.

The C43 sounds good, the AMG do sound good, so I can imagine it was good fun.

Oh dear, the great fuel debate, surprised someone hasn't commented already. I think most motoring forums have huge threads on Unleaded v Super Unleaded. Its a massive hot potato and I think even more so with cars like ours at approx 200ish bhp. I think the answer is much easier 250 bhp plus.

But as you ask, I'm going Super Unleaded (E5), it possibly will make minor MPG advantages over normal unleaded (E10). As for performance, I think the BHP increase could be very minimal and I am certainly no expert driver that can tell 204bhp from 210bhp. But I worked out it could be about £80-90 pounds over 10,000miles (assuming 42mpg average). So for me I will pay difference and believe that I am adding to the whole performance experience.

Maybe others will chip in and you'll see what other think.

[SRGTD]

Oh dear, the great fuel debate, surprised someone hasn't commented already. I think most motoring forums have huge threads on Unleaded v Super Unleaded. Its a massive hot potato and I think even more so with cars like ours at approx 200ish bhp. I think the answer is much easier 250 bhp plus.

Maybe others will chip in and you'll see what other think.

Yes indeed; the great fuel debate! A bit like those other great debates; DSG v’s manual, leather v’s cloth upholstery, main dealer v’s independent specialist for servicing that used to pop up regularly on some forums but not so much now.

I always used the more expensive stuff in my car until the price went above £2 a litre at its peak a few months back. At that point I switched to normal unleaded. Have I noticed a difference mpg or performance-wise? Not at all, so I’ve stuck with the cheaper, normal unleaded. I may use the occasional tank of the premium unleaded for the cleaning effect of the additional additives in 97-99 RON fuel, but I haven’t done so yet.

[lancslad1985]

As someone that works for a company that makes fuel additives, I use regular Ron 95 and stick a tank of premium fuel in every 3-4 tanks. Just helps to clean the injectors out a bit.

And SRGTD the answer is always cloth - isn’t cold in winter, doesn’t burn my head in summer and is more durable!