UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

HI THERE TO ALL!!, just joined the forum, ive been fascinated, well not fascinated rather appalled, by the countless amount of people whom seem to have suffered a gearbox failure with there Polo GTI (mk5).. i have just brought a 2001 plate silver Polo GTI,(sorry people, but i get a buzz in saying polo gti, as my previous car was a fabia SDI!!!) , anyways, i am really looking forward to getting my hands on the car, but im currently in the process of getting some keys for the car, getting it insured, taxing the car etc....( ARGHH!!!!)...I was just wondering, whether there are any reliable examples around.... as im banking on mine to be!!!, ive just gone all out in buying the car...and really cant afford doing any fixing for at least 6 months!!!... i have a few further niggling questions... My polo gti, has a red coloured letter "i"(GT and a RED I), are all the gti's like that? also, do all gti's come with an alarm? and ive noticed some on sale, seem to claim the car has traction control....does it??....thanks alot, by the way there are some awesome looking cars on here..!!!! ohh and has any1 fitted a lupo gti 6 speed gearbox, on the polo gti...does that work?...i have so many questions sorry!! i could go on forever!!

would be extremely grateful if some1 could get make to me, on this, and give there view!!! thanks again[/u]

Hi Naz, welcome to uk-polos!

There are plenty of reliable Polos around, just think about how many owners are not registered here and therefore won't have posted with any issues on their cars! Basically it seems like everyone's Polo has had a gearbox simply because we are all having a bit of a moan and a groan about it

Silver 'GT' and red 'I' is normal, very early cars had all-red 'GTI' badging but majority have got badges like yours.

All GTis have a factory-fitted alarm and immobiliser inc. central locking and deadlocks as standard.

Traction control was fitted to the later cars I think, as yours is a '51'-plate it could well have it! Look for a button on the dash marked up as 'EDL', if the Golfs and Boras are anything to go by then thats usually how you know. I don't have traction control as mine is an early ('W'-plate) car.

Not sure if anyone has fitted a Lupo 6-speed 'box, its a nice idea but I think the job is tough to do, I'm sure someone will fill us in on this soon!

Cheers

My GTI has done around 33.5k and on its original gearbox

Thanks alot for your replies!!, much acknowledged....im really hoping that is the case....i have been whining for ages, about getting either a polo gti or a lupo gti and ive finally done so, ( a sense of achievement!! ).... couldnt afford a lupo gti, and nor can i justify paying a extra £3000,for a car, that has the same engine, but has exclusive looks... I'm really looking forward, to the traffic light challenges now!!!...does either of your cars hit the claimed 40.4mpg?...thanks again

I tend to average around 33-34mpg with Shell V-Power. And that does include driving it like a GTi should be driven.

Redline wrote:I tend to average around 33-34mpg with Shell V-Power. And that does include driving it like a GTi should be driven.

How do you work your mpg out mate?

Mines done 75k on the orginal gearbox and i don't have any problems with it yet (saying that i've just jinked the whole thing)

So there is hope for you

Mine had done 58k when the gearbox went, so i am now on my second gearbox at the moment

I managed to get through 6 months with no problems though! so hopefully you can...fingers crossed!

im on 66k with the original ... everythings sweet!

olop_chris wrote:Mine had done 58k when the gearbox went, so i am now on my second gearbox at the moment

I managed to get through 6 months with no problems though! so hopefully you can...fingers crossed!

Dont say that, im on 58k at the moment. Touching lots of wood my gear box has been fine.

Welcome to the forum.

neilw wrote:

olop_chris wrote:Mine had done 58k when the gearbox went, so i am now on my second gearbox at the moment

I managed to get through 6 months with no problems though! so hopefully you can...fingers crossed!

Dont say that, im on 58k at the moment. Touching lots of wood my gear box has been fine.

Welcome to the forum.

Keep my fingers crossed for you!

ticki wrote:

Redline wrote:I tend to average around 33-34mpg with Shell V-Power. And that does include driving it like a GTi should be driven.

How do you work your mpg out mate?

The old fashioned way!

Just by resetting the trip counter on the dash when I fill up. Then next time I fill it all the way to the top, just keep a note of how many miles I've done and how many litres of fuel I put in. Then use this: http://www.robinwhite.fsnet.co.uk/conv/mpg.htm

Not something I do all the time, just every now and then.

- 59k and counting............everything seems fine so far..........but boy am i worried!!!! Time to start saving it seems!

Seems like everyones got there fingers crossed!, it really shouldnt be like that though!!, i sold my previous car which had driven 130,000 miles and never needed a gearbox change, though the clutch was starting to show signs of wear...but thats my fault!!!...the gearbox shouldnt give up so easily!!....has anyone posted any complaints to volkswagen, or dare i say the watchdogs!!??? (AGAIN THANKS FOR THE RESPONSES!!!)

my dads y-plate vw bora with a 6 speed manual gearbox has just gone past 170k and it hasnt had any problems with the gearbox or the engine, just needed an alternator recently.. thats right u read it right the first time 170,000!! so i guess vw do know how to make them.. just didn't get it right with the mkV polo