Design DNA - or "why a polo?"

dxg · Post by **dxg** » Sun Mar 30, 2003 7:52 pm

(I've put this in here, but it applies to all the various versions of the car...)

My question is this:

What is it about Polos that make us want to experience them? I mean, is it as simple as saying it's something to do with the VW marque, perhaps it's something to do with the modding scene (which seems to be a strong theme of this board), and so on.

Whatever it is, would I be fair in saying it's broader than the generic issue of brand image? That fact that we stick with our cars when some of us have problems, seems to suggest that.

It's easier to understand what I'm questioning when you look at, say, MK1 and MKII polos. These cars are (arguably) iconic - they can be placed in a societal and historical context and desirablity derived from that. Any relationship btwn the car and the owner would be complementary to that. The MK1 Golf is a perfect example of this.

Sony have the concept of "Design DNA". They have two fundamental technical goals for their prodcust - each generation of product must be have either half the component count, or be half the size - achieving both is ideal.

But they also seek to embed "Design DNA" in their products. This is this extra quality that, even when the owner is physically apart from their product and not using it, they still feel pleased about owning it. The thought of their WEGA tv at home when they are sitting in the office, for example, brings a smile to their face for a split second. This has nothing to do with the physical qualities of the product, it's all about the emotional bond formed btwn the owner and the product - but not (solely) through use - in part through this extra "x-factor".

There's a whole field devoted to this - it's called kansei engineering, or emotive design: http://www.ergolabs.com/kansei_engineering.htm

But "designers" will always turn round you that you can;t be taught how to do this - their production of a design is all about producting someething (anything), reflecting on it and changing it until the "result" is achieved. The result is achived when it feels right.

So basically, if you feel like responding to this meandering thought, I'd like to know why you drive your car. What is it that makes it special to you? Is it as simple as a physical or functional feature of the car, or is it something else (and what is it)?

Does anyone on here consider their polo to be a mode of transportation and nothing more??

Deek.

polo2k · Post by **polo2k** » Sun Mar 30, 2003 8:41 pm

well i had a golf 3 and was happy with it so i got another dub, with the golf it was my first car so revery one loves their first car cos its somthing thats theirs and they never imagined they would own somthing so evpensive and the freedom aspect helps too, so whatever the first car is that brand/marque will always give them a little soft spot as it is them who gave you the freedom that you enjoy to this day (hopefully)
as for my polo i feel its more than a materialistic thing, its somthing to do with how much time i spend with her (note use of "her"). i dont spend the kind of time i do on any thing else, not women, friends, anything (exept maybe here

) and for me its like having a relationship where a problem can be worked out and when theres no problem its all that matters in life, i can jump in start her up and nothing else matters, my every thought is based on my polo, every action,re action etc. i see her as a person and much the same as joe bloggs who sees his beautiful girlfrien on the street smiles because he knows that "shes his" (dont get me started on that) and that her looks are pleasing to him and that soon he will be near her., much the same applys to my polo when i see her for example at work in the car park, i see hundreds of cars but only mine is going to be the one that i spend my time with, only mine is adjusted to meet my tastes, and only my polo can take me away from any worries. i guess im prolly obsessed but its better than being addicted to drugs etc. as to why i choe vw its just one of those things, i like the german styling aspect of them and i have had good experiances with them.
and yes every time i see my car parked among a sea of bland (imho) cars, or in a location that is asthetically pleasing, i have to supress a smile. this is even more so when im at work and im bringing a car into the garage. i almost always pass my car and then if its apropriate/possible then i will work on the ramp closet to the window and door just so that i can see my car and then if somthings going badly i forget it all, clear my head and smile.

polo2k · Post by **polo2k** » Sun Mar 30, 2003 8:45 pm

just another thing i thought of: your car is a reflection upon your self and as such every time you think of your car you see your own reflection with every item you dislike removed and just embodied in another form. its kinda like when your teachers asked if you ever got tired of your own voice; you never get tired of somthing that "feels" perfect

i realise that a few people will think im having an afair with my car but its all lies

i just "love" cars nd mine in particular

Post by **Josh_PoloGTi** » Sun Mar 30, 2003 9:17 pm

Well... I have owned 4 VW's (out of a total of 6 cars - the other 2 were company cars that I had no choice about)...

My first car was a Y reg Polo 1.1 Formel e. It was a half finished project that I bought from a friend for Â£250...

It had real "personality" and I would be recognised all around Sheffield as it was one of a kind (blacked out rear window with a large HT Hard Times Nightclub sticker under the tint / White Vinyl "Adidas Gazelle" Stripes up each side of the car etc etc). I think having a car so personal and unique has something to do with my choice of car now.

I have modified each of my VW's since that one to give them a touch of something unique, however when I decided to sell my last Polo (highly modified but subtly) I wanted something a bit special. The Polo GTi is quite a rare car, so immediately it stands out. It has high specification, looks good (IMO) and is pretty quick.

A lot of my friends asked why I didn't get a MK4 Golf. I have a few answers for that... Much as I'd like one (and I really would like one!) I would have had to spend a lot of money to make it look unique. You can't deny that there are a lot of MK4 Golfs on the road, and like I said before, I like having a car with something a little special about it. The MK4 Golf is also too big for my current requirements. I am happy with the size of the Polo... It is big enough for me (I'm 6`2") and I rarely carry passengers or a lot of luggage.

Anyway, I like the information you have written about "Design DNA"... I own lots of things that make me smile when I think about them. My car is the biggie, but almost all of my consumer electricals, my watch, etc etc all make me happy. I AM A CONSUMER!

I am rarely sold anything directly. Salesmen do not have to aproach me. I make informed decisions about what products I buy and I am very choosy.

Anyway... Hope this helps!

Mikeyw · Post by **Mikeyw** » Mon Mar 31, 2003 9:52 am

Well, I had a Audi A3 1.8T which I spent a lot of money on and I loved it to bits. I sold it as it had 60K on the clock and the Golf was just as good as the Audi but a lot cheaper so i brought a V5. I didn't like the V5 that much and with the new model due soon, I sold out.

My objectives for a new car was:

- Good Value
- Residual
- Image
- Good on Fuel

I testdrove quite a few cars such as the Honda Civic Type "S" as my first choice but came back to VW with the Polo which I love to bits. I plan to keep the Polo for 2 years and then get the new Audi A3 or the Golf.

des_pd_ tdi · Post by **des_pd_ tdi** » Mon Mar 31, 2003 11:29 am

All things VDUB for me

1977 Derby 1.3 GLS
1985 Polo 1.3 GL
1995 Polo 1.6 CL
1998 Golf 1.6 SE
1998 Golf V5
2002 Polo Sport TDi

The best of the bunch was the Derby, really wish I'd hung onto that one. At the end of the day it's that badge, the quality has dropped but no one else is even close, except maybe for Merc's and Beemers.

KarlM · Post by **KarlM** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 11:22 pm

There seems to be one thing that links everyone on this forum, a desire to be different.

we've all had the choice to buy something else, but always gone back to the Polos, because there not a Golf/Merc/Beemer. This is reflected in the mods we do. Speedlaw knows not everybody likes his wheels but hes not bothered, i know not everyone will like the styling of my car, but i don't care.

Speedlaw · Post by **Speedlaw** » Sun Apr 20, 2003 3:28 pm

Karl.carr wrote:There seems to be one thing that links everyone on this forum, a desire to be different.

Speedlaw knows not everybody likes his wheels but hes not bothered, i know not everyone will like the styling of my car, but i don't care.

You're very right, just yesterday some of my mates saw them for the first time, and they were not that convinced. They thought thin spoke wheels would look better... After that, I felt even more convinced I did the right thing. It looks good to me, and it's very different than what others would do- even though they didn't quite apreciate the wheels, I knew I did the right thing.

The choice for the Polo and VW in general was made because I wanted the look of the car, the image it has (to me) and in part because of the massive scene. I always admired VW's, and when the time arrived I had no doubts at all. The car was bought very quickly

After nearly two years, I've grown to love all VAG products, including the related (but not VAG) Porsches. Can't wait for Inters!

Babe RuthLess · Post by **Babe RuthLess** » Fri May 16, 2003 5:07 pm

Interesting.

My Polo is my first VW, and my 3rd car. But for generations Brazilians only drove VWs, Beetles, Gols or Passats or, lately, Golfs and Polos. My father got his driver's license in the late '50s and the first time he laid hands on anything other than a VW was in 1983 when he bought a Chevrolet - and regretted it later.

VW has a very solid image everywhere. Especially here. Everyone's had one, or has a story about one. By 1990 more than a third of all cars in Brazil were VW's. So VWs bring warm feelings to us, childhood and all (

oh how I feel for the kids now who are being brought up in Fiat Palios - just breaks my heart!!).

I could make a huge list of why someone would rationally prefer VW in my country. For a start, I live in a region with 2 million people and 5 large VW dealerships. You can find parts for VWs literally everywhere (try that with a Ford and their imported Zetec engines). Any mechanic in the farthest corner of Brazil (you can imagine that) knows how to fix, at least temporarily, a VW - and I don't mean beetles and old Gols, but the recent models too, TDI and flashy Passats excluded. If you like mods, they're widely available. 95% of the components in a new Polo are Brazilian-made. You don't get that in a CitroÃ«n, Renault or Toyota. In Brazil, no-one asks you why you chose VW - it's simply the ovious choice. You have to justify a Fiat ('it was cheap'), a CitroÃ«n ('looked different') or a Chevrolet ('I'm a dope who believes that a rebaged Opel is a truly N. American car').

That said, I chose the Polo because when I first saw it I had to have it. It's got something to do with the possibilities you have in VW, but it's more than that. Despite the odd rattle, the car just oozes quality. Panels fit perfectly. The car feels balanced. You know that it will last for ages - just ask anyone who has a Gol (or Golf). It makes you feel good.

Even if the plasticky interior falls apart or ends up packing more silicone than Pamela Anderson. (they fix the rattles with silicone you know

)