Changing from old GTi to new GTi - is it worth it?

Toon · Post by **Toon** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:05 pm

Hi guys.

It's my 1st post, and it's long, so be gentle...

I've got (completely un-modified) 2001 'Y' reg Polo GTi, that I've had for a little over 5 years now, which was 6 months old when I bought it. It's given me virtually trouble-free driving ever since, apart from remote locking problems, and corroding alloys, that both seem to be fairly common.

But it's reached the point now where I just fancy changing it for something newer. The thing is, I'm torn between getting the new Polo GTi, or a Mk5 Golf GTi. My Polo has only got 37k miles on it, but it has got the afore-mentioned corroded alloys, and some general wear-and-tear (scratches/scuffs around the drivers door handle inside & out), but otherwise is in very good condition. I will almost definately part-ex it at a dealer, so I figure around Â£4k, maybe a bit more given the low mileage.

6-month old Polo GTi's can be had for around Â£13k, which I could afford now (with a 12-month loan). The Golf Gti's on the other hand, despite being the more attractive proposition to me, are around Â£17k for a 2-year old model. The simple answer would be to get a bigger loan, but I'm not too keen on that, or I could just wait a while and save some more money - and that's where the problem lies. I've just paid the insurance on the Polo, but it's due a service (36k one), MOT, and tax all at the end of next month. I don't think there's anything wrong with the car, but you never know, and even if it passes fine I could be looking at spending Â£400 on a car that I might get rid of very soon.

So is the new Polo GTi worth getting (despite not having climate control or Xenons as standard

)? For those that have experience of it, is the Golf GTi 'that' much better that it's worth waiting for? I don't want to buy the Polo, then regret it in 6-months time, wishing I'd bought a Golf.

If you managed to read this far, well done. Any and all opinions welcome...

And here's what it looked like the day I brought it home:

garnier · Post by **garnier** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:09 pm

Lookswise, the new Polo doesn't really do it for me. I think it looks a bit soft and fluffy.

The Golf GTi's a bit more of a known quantity and certainly looks the business.

darranwrx · Post by **darranwrx** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:09 pm

welcome toon !!
stick with the Polo think of all the tax/insurance u will save

Ian_R · Post by **Ian_R** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:18 pm

darranwrx wrote:welcome toon !!
stick with the Polo think of all the tax/insurance u will save

Not really mate, as the new polo gti is a turbo fella, so it'll prob be the same as the golf, and if you had a 5 door golf, insurance company may see tht as a family car rahther than hot hatch which the polo is.

polo_gti21 · Post by **polo_gti21** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:22 pm

i hate the new polo looks like a proper girly car apart from the 1.8t lump up front which is a plus

for me its gotta be the golf looks sharp, stylish and gets my vote all day long.

Redline · Post by **Redline** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:31 pm

1.8T Polo GTi is insurance group 13.
2.0T Golf GTi is insurance group 17.

I've driven the Golf GTi and it was superb; all the car you could ever want. Naturally it has the advantages of more power than the Polo, better chassis dynamic, 6-speed gearbox and more space.

The Polo has the main advantage of using the 1.8T engine, so if you wanted more power there's a whole host of potential mod's you could do. But then I suppose the question is the money spent modifying could be the money to buy a Golf.

Especially when there are some 05 Golf GTi's for sale privately starting at Â£15k. So if you were willing to go without the warranty etc from a dealer or trader could be a winner.

DannyMk5 · Post by **DannyMk5** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:32 pm

i really like the new polo gti, so if you can afford it, i say go for it

Ian_R · Post by **Ian_R** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:35 pm

Gotta remember tho, the golf is a bigger and heavier car than the polo, but its each to there own, and as said the is loads of stuff to mod engine wise !

Toon · Post by **Toon** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:38 pm

I just paid the insurance on my current Polo last month, which was Â£300 fully-comp (Admiral). I've priced up the new Polo GTi with them, which came to Â£375, and the Golf was Â£450, so not a huge difference. And the tax is 'only' is a extra Â£40(?) a year.

Whichever car I get, it's highly unlikely I will do any mods to it.

Ian_R · Post by **Ian_R** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:41 pm

Toon wrote:I just paid the insurance on my current Polo last month, which was Â£300 fully-comp (Admiral). I've priced up the new Polo GTi with them, which came to Â£375, and the Golf was Â£450, so not a huge difference. And the tax is 'only' is a extra Â£40(?) a year.

Whichever car I get, it's highly unlikely I will do any mods to it.

The i would say polo, as its alot lighter than the golf, and would be a bit quicker i would think? may be wrong tho

Redline · Post by **Redline** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:43 pm

Toon wrote:Whichever car I get, it's highly unlikely I will do any mods to it.

In that case I would go with the Golf.

But ideally of course you need to test drive both of them and see what you think yourself.

polo_gti21 · Post by **polo_gti21** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:45 pm

its just a shame the germans didnt think to put the 1.8t in the 6n2 gti and a better gear box never mind. its your hard earned money mate you buy what your happy with as your the one driving it everyday its nice to hear a selection of opinions tho

shantybeater · Post by **shantybeater** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 1:17 am

golf gti all the way, can't stand the look of the new polo's, the gti just looks like a wannabe golf

Luke'sGti · Post by **Luke'sGti** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 9:11 am

golf gti for me, but as others have said test drive them both to see which you prefer

Tigz · Post by **Tigz** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 9:36 am

A remapped Polo GTI would be as quick (if not quicker!) than the Golf.
The Polo is rarer.
The Polo doesn't make you look like your having a mid life crisis.