UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

First post.
I've just taken delivery of a new 1.2TSI SEL 3 door after a long saga over a Fabia VRS order. Seemingly a delivery of 10 weeks actually translates 10 months in Skoda world. I got so fed up with the continual build delays I told them to stuff it in the end and went with the VW instead. I originally looked back in March, my short-list being; Fabia, Audi A1 or the Polo. I settled on the Fabia as there were some fantastic deals on offer at the time, i.e. a new VRS in metallic paint with a few options at £14k on the road, all well and good if you can actually get hold of one! Anyway, I remember being quite impressed with the Polo when I first looked at one, despite the relatively high price tag. The Audi A1 was also nice but very expensive in comparison. I had a Fabia on loan for a few weeks with the 105hp tsi engine and was mightily impressed with it. Granted it's no racer, but in this day and age with congestion, speed cameras, cost of fuel, etc, I think it's a sound little engine, this coupled with a few emerging reliability issues on the 1.4 dsg motors really made my mind up to go with the 1.2 manual. So far, I really like it. More refined and quiet to drive than the Skoda, with a better interior and general build quality, but you do get less kit for your money, (I would like to have seen cruise control as standard on the SEL). I think I got a pretty good deal on the 3 door, bog standard car but including metallic paint for £14,006 OTR.
Niggles; I hate the day time running headlights, research indicates you can't deactivate them. Furthermore, the side of the centre storage binnacle, where the gear stick is, protrudes just a bit too much for my linking, catching the outside of my left calf area when I'm trying to get comfortable.
Positives; Great engine, nice quality, quite stylish looking, good mpg (48mpg average after the first 300 miles).
In readiness for the winter I've already managed to bag a set of new 15" steel wheels and some Dunlop 185/60/15 winter tyres from Camskill which worked out really cheap. This car is going to have to last a few years so I just hope it will prove to be reliable, it will be the third new car I've bought and I can't keep on chucking money down the drain by changing every three years.

Welcome to the forums Have to agree with pretty much everything you say, having a 1.2 TSI myself. I'd love cruise control and I would also agree with you I think it should be standard on the SEL. Most of the competition for the polo has it as standard on the top end models. Get some pics up

Been running mine for almost 6 months, and I'm enjoying it more and more. 1.2 Tsi is a cracking little engine, most people I've had in the car ask if it's a 1.6 or 1.8 and are surprised when I tell them it's only 1.2. The gear box is one of the best I've ever experienced, the ratios are well matched to the car and the gear selection is light and precise. The car just feels like a much bigger car than it is, It soaks up the bumps nicely and is quiet at motorway speeds. What surprised me is how happy and responsive the car is on the motorway, I expected it to run out of puff but it's in it's element.

I know what you mean about the DRL's, I actually think they're a good idea, but not being able to turn them off bugs me. Cruise control would have been a nice addition but I can live without it. I'm pretty sure you can get it retro fitted should you feel the need. I fitted a set factory mudflaps to protect the paint which came with all screws, fittings and instructions, great little kit. But one thing I have noticed that at 70-80mph+ you get a bit more wind noise from under the car. I might fit a little extra sound deadening when I get a few spare quid.

Up to now, very,very pleased with little dub..

I do like the general concept of the day time lights, I'd just like the option of being able to disable them. For example, if you set off on the DRL's (mine is the headlamps lit type, not L.E.D's) and then later want to switch to normal dipped lights, as you turn the control switch it goes through the side lights position. In effect you will end up briefly flashing the headlights, just worth bearing in mind in case someone in front of you, at a junction for example, interprets this as a courteous 'flash' before pulling out straight in front of you. Moreover, last week during the middle of the day, as I was driving along in the middle lane of the motorway, someone else joined from the slip road and pulled straight over into my path almost taking me out. I have a niggling suspicion they had caught a glimpse of my headlights in their side mirror and miss-read it as a 'flash'. I might be wrong but it's never happened to me before in 25 years of driving. Oh and while I'm moaning why the hell haven't VW fitted a coolant temperature gauge to the thing?

Don't get me wrong, I suppose every car has little niggles, overall I'm very satisfied with the Polo. Funnily enough the first car I ever bought in 1986 was an old 1 ltr polo. It looked really nice as it glided through the auction hall, unfortunately it turned out to be full of filler and burned oil like there was no tomorrow!

Just remembered, I wanted to ask you all a question. When you turn off the engine I get a message on the MID saying 'Check Deadlocks'. Does anyone else get this in their car or does it suggest a potential fault?

Hi , ive got a 1.2match and this does the check deadlock thingy too. Seems normal

Steve.

Spcvw wrote:Hi , ive got a 1.2match and this does the check deadlock thingy too. Seems normal

Steve.

Thanks Steve.

Beerbelly wrote:Just remembered, I wanted to ask you all a question. When you turn off the engine I get a message on the MID saying 'Check Deadlocks'. Does anyone else get this in their car or does it suggest a potential fault?

i have the same car and from memory i think the dealer mentioned when i picked mine up that it is a reminder to put the steering wheel lock on and to lock the doors when leaving the vehicle.

Good luck with the new car matey. The check dead locks is a warning to you if you have passengers in the car, if you lock the vechile by remote, you activate deadlock which stops anyone inside the car being able to get out.

NMavs wrote:Good luck with the new car matey. The check dead locks is a warning to you if you have passengers in the car, if you lock the vechile by remote, you activate deadlock which stops anyone inside the car being able to get out.

I see, that makes sense now.

Is yours a 61 reg? If so, what colour is the TSI badge on the boot if you don't mind me asking Seen a 61 plate TSI for Sale with a red TSI badge

AJ_7 wrote:Is yours a 61 reg? If so, what colour is the TSI badge on the boot if you don't mind me asking Seen a 61 plate TSI for Sale with a red TSI badge

Yes it's a 61 plate, and the latest 2012 version, the tsi badge is plain silver.

Thanks mate. Get some pics up of yours What colour did you go for?

I went for the shadow blue. I just brimmed the tank for the first time yesterday, it works out at just shy of 47mpg by calculating it accurately, the MDI showed 48mpg so not too far out at all. I recently went to Norfolk for a few days in a Fabia with the same engine in and got 56mpg, granted we were just pootling about quite a lot though. Hopefully it may improve very slightly once run in properly. Today I just discovered the little self illuminating lamps that come on when you open the vanity mirrors up, nice touch that, oh, and the interior light in the rear roof area which I totally missed!

Beerbelly wrote:Today I just discovered the little self illuminating lamps that come on when you open the vanity mirrors up, nice touch that, oh, and the interior light in the rear roof area which I totally missed!

Took me 4 months to find spot the light in the rear roof area! Didn't expect to find one in a small hatch