My Polo SEL thoughts after one week of driving
Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2018 3:33 pm
Hi all Sorry this is long.
I expect you know from my previous posts what I have and when I got it...well I wont go into that at the moment im here to talk about my car.(the old one are the best)
Ok I have owned my Polo SEL 115DSG for 3 weeks now but because of a holiday the day after I got it I have only just got through week one of driving.
I did a review of the collection process, so here are my thoughts on the POLO and VW after one week of normal use.
I have settled into the car reasonably well. To be honest finding a comfortable driving position was not hard. Im a little over six foot I set my driving position up last Sunday and have not had to change it since. My better half on the other hand is still trying to get her seat Hight right, she wants to sit as high as possible but does not want to bump her head getting in and out. so she is still playing with the height.
She described the car this morning (while I was driving her to work) as not fancy, but she likes the way its sturdy, tidy and neat and feels well built. From the drivers seat I see the car as refreshingly simply set out, intuitive to locate the controls.
Storage points...struggling a little here, yes the door pockets are large for the car size so they are useful, the glove box is fine, there is a storage box (not a draw) under the front passengers seat. it looks ok for a small ipad or notebook to keep it out of sight. maybe some hand wipes or something. the arm rest has a small fairly deep storage box under it, I use that to keep my change pouch in and a microfibre cloth needed to keep the Informat display clear of finger marks.
There is a storage pouch behind both front seats other than that im struggling for storage.
The dash display in my car is the Active info one. they say ts the next generation that will be n the golf MK8 when it comes out. I find it great. its a bit of fun and bling, at the moment its a talking point for all that have sat in "Mikes new car". I expect in quite short order it will be very common on all cars (or something like it) and then one of those things that will get to be a talking point if your "old school with mechanical dash. but at the moment its fun and I like it. it is also useful to be able to move the VW map over to my dash. I understand that VW may be producing a software update that should allow the google maps to be moved across. Also it would be nice to have the VW map on both screens at the same time. Audi manage it. Don't purchase this option and think its a no brainer, for me it has taken a little getting used to. for instance I am finding useful thinks on the digi dash, I then play with the set up and struggle to find some of the useful things again. For me this Option is worth the money.
The DSG ..well I hold my hands up and confess i am a manual guy. I ordered DSG because a friend who had just got a golf GTI said the DSG is great (yes I know his will be the six speed wet clutch). Also another friend just got an Audi Q2 triprotic and that is the same 7 speed dry clutch gear box which he was waxing lyrical over) I did try it and had to admit it was good. So anyways I end up with the DSG 7 speed dry clutch. Yea im getting used to it...sort of in general it is good and I can see why people like it. The 2 things I am struggling with is 1) the start it seems to lag then set off, that can be a little interesting at a busy junction...dangerous? on a couple of local round-a-bouts where the 0-62 in 4.5 second guys think that a safe way to entre a roundabout. We have a lot of top end sports saloons and cars in this area. I have found that putting it in sport mode turning off the auto start stop just as I am getting to Alpha One on the runway, then that seems to let me get away without the lag. So be careful look out for the DSG lag when Pulling away. DSG for me I am hoping it grows on me. At the MO im missing my manual...but only just.
2) The stop start is a bit annoying it clutters when it restarts and there is a short delay on pulling way. Auto stop start Im going to switch this off.
Rear camera ...brilliant everyone get one.... top option.
Driver mode....brilliant everyone get one. I just love the easy flexibility of one button to change the cars responsiveness. At the moment its saving the DSG for me.
Park assist .. well ive been parking for 30+ years and im ace at it...why did I pay £450 for this option then?? whim? I deffo don't like button blanks in my cars.. so this takes up one of those....but I have been trying it today, just basic parallel parking in between 2 cars (taking into account the advisory that SRDG gave me) and it works brilliantly. Great option worth the money.
Blind spot warnng….ive had this on my last 3 cars (2 x Nissan notes) and it works great and is usefull...I also use it when overtaking when the blind spot light goes out its OK to pull back in. great option worth the money.
Folding heated and look down mirrors..with help from SRDG stating the bleeding obvious...that I err missed I now have the look down function working ad it does help. The folding Mirrors when the doors are locked are a little noisy, but they do work and in a tight spot are useful. I will probably switch these off soon then only use the folding when i am in a tight spot or parked at the roadside. good option worth having.
Rear occupant protection … not seen it in operation yet, I assume its there and I hope never to experience it.
ACC love it this is the first time I have used it and I Like it..its east to get used to as well. good option and this does work well with the DSG as it will even bring the car to a stop it the traffic slows to a stop.
VW sat nav..goes well with the Active info and I can move this back and forth from the main screen to the dash. I am a bit disappointed that the fuel finder will not pick up supermarket fuel stops. I miss not having fixed speed camera locations. But otherwise it seems to work well It will take a little more time to report on this option. at the moment I am undecided.
Driving...I love driving this car I look forward to it. Im getting about 39MPG about town. I have done no drive out of town or on motorways. Simply work and back. Garden centre, Supermarket. all the usual about town stuff. it is easy to use, cars don't pull out on me like they did when I drove the NOTE. This may be just my perception but in the past when I would have had to break because a car looked directly at me then pulled out (time an time again different towns, different times of day In the Note I got cut up so often). this week not once on my Polo.
its easy to park, the Little engine does benefit from the aircon being turned off in slow traffic. MPG jumps up.
What a quite car. I think its the quietest ive had after the Lexus is220 and the BMW 330d.
The hill hold works well and once I start to trust it (which I am) I will settle down when taking my foot off the break and moving over to the accelerator.
I don't had LED lights but about town I have had no problem with the halogen lights fitted as standard. I will have to wait for some night country or motorway driving before I can make a final comment on the std lights.
Tyres im not sure about these are Falkens they seem ok but a little noisy. I really need to try a polo with other tyres on. also I have not driven in the rain yet.
All in all I am very happy with the car and the options I have chosen. Im just waiting to get used to the DSG and the Sat nav.
I expect you know from my previous posts what I have and when I got it...well I wont go into that at the moment im here to talk about my car.(the old one are the best)
Ok I have owned my Polo SEL 115DSG for 3 weeks now but because of a holiday the day after I got it I have only just got through week one of driving.
I did a review of the collection process, so here are my thoughts on the POLO and VW after one week of normal use.
I have settled into the car reasonably well. To be honest finding a comfortable driving position was not hard. Im a little over six foot I set my driving position up last Sunday and have not had to change it since. My better half on the other hand is still trying to get her seat Hight right, she wants to sit as high as possible but does not want to bump her head getting in and out. so she is still playing with the height.
She described the car this morning (while I was driving her to work) as not fancy, but she likes the way its sturdy, tidy and neat and feels well built. From the drivers seat I see the car as refreshingly simply set out, intuitive to locate the controls.
Storage points...struggling a little here, yes the door pockets are large for the car size so they are useful, the glove box is fine, there is a storage box (not a draw) under the front passengers seat. it looks ok for a small ipad or notebook to keep it out of sight. maybe some hand wipes or something. the arm rest has a small fairly deep storage box under it, I use that to keep my change pouch in and a microfibre cloth needed to keep the Informat display clear of finger marks.
There is a storage pouch behind both front seats other than that im struggling for storage.
The dash display in my car is the Active info one. they say ts the next generation that will be n the golf MK8 when it comes out. I find it great. its a bit of fun and bling, at the moment its a talking point for all that have sat in "Mikes new car". I expect in quite short order it will be very common on all cars (or something like it) and then one of those things that will get to be a talking point if your "old school with mechanical dash. but at the moment its fun and I like it. it is also useful to be able to move the VW map over to my dash. I understand that VW may be producing a software update that should allow the google maps to be moved across. Also it would be nice to have the VW map on both screens at the same time. Audi manage it. Don't purchase this option and think its a no brainer, for me it has taken a little getting used to. for instance I am finding useful thinks on the digi dash, I then play with the set up and struggle to find some of the useful things again. For me this Option is worth the money.
The DSG ..well I hold my hands up and confess i am a manual guy. I ordered DSG because a friend who had just got a golf GTI said the DSG is great (yes I know his will be the six speed wet clutch). Also another friend just got an Audi Q2 triprotic and that is the same 7 speed dry clutch gear box which he was waxing lyrical over) I did try it and had to admit it was good. So anyways I end up with the DSG 7 speed dry clutch. Yea im getting used to it...sort of in general it is good and I can see why people like it. The 2 things I am struggling with is 1) the start it seems to lag then set off, that can be a little interesting at a busy junction...dangerous? on a couple of local round-a-bouts where the 0-62 in 4.5 second guys think that a safe way to entre a roundabout. We have a lot of top end sports saloons and cars in this area. I have found that putting it in sport mode turning off the auto start stop just as I am getting to Alpha One on the runway, then that seems to let me get away without the lag. So be careful look out for the DSG lag when Pulling away. DSG for me I am hoping it grows on me. At the MO im missing my manual...but only just.
2) The stop start is a bit annoying it clutters when it restarts and there is a short delay on pulling way. Auto stop start Im going to switch this off.
Rear camera ...brilliant everyone get one.... top option.
Driver mode....brilliant everyone get one. I just love the easy flexibility of one button to change the cars responsiveness. At the moment its saving the DSG for me.
Park assist .. well ive been parking for 30+ years and im ace at it...why did I pay £450 for this option then?? whim? I deffo don't like button blanks in my cars.. so this takes up one of those....but I have been trying it today, just basic parallel parking in between 2 cars (taking into account the advisory that SRDG gave me) and it works brilliantly. Great option worth the money.
Blind spot warnng….ive had this on my last 3 cars (2 x Nissan notes) and it works great and is usefull...I also use it when overtaking when the blind spot light goes out its OK to pull back in. great option worth the money.
Folding heated and look down mirrors..with help from SRDG stating the bleeding obvious...that I err missed I now have the look down function working ad it does help. The folding Mirrors when the doors are locked are a little noisy, but they do work and in a tight spot are useful. I will probably switch these off soon then only use the folding when i am in a tight spot or parked at the roadside. good option worth having.
Rear occupant protection … not seen it in operation yet, I assume its there and I hope never to experience it.
ACC love it this is the first time I have used it and I Like it..its east to get used to as well. good option and this does work well with the DSG as it will even bring the car to a stop it the traffic slows to a stop.
VW sat nav..goes well with the Active info and I can move this back and forth from the main screen to the dash. I am a bit disappointed that the fuel finder will not pick up supermarket fuel stops. I miss not having fixed speed camera locations. But otherwise it seems to work well It will take a little more time to report on this option. at the moment I am undecided.
Driving...I love driving this car I look forward to it. Im getting about 39MPG about town. I have done no drive out of town or on motorways. Simply work and back. Garden centre, Supermarket. all the usual about town stuff. it is easy to use, cars don't pull out on me like they did when I drove the NOTE. This may be just my perception but in the past when I would have had to break because a car looked directly at me then pulled out (time an time again different towns, different times of day In the Note I got cut up so often). this week not once on my Polo.
its easy to park, the Little engine does benefit from the aircon being turned off in slow traffic. MPG jumps up.
What a quite car. I think its the quietest ive had after the Lexus is220 and the BMW 330d.
The hill hold works well and once I start to trust it (which I am) I will settle down when taking my foot off the break and moving over to the accelerator.
I don't had LED lights but about town I have had no problem with the halogen lights fitted as standard. I will have to wait for some night country or motorway driving before I can make a final comment on the std lights.
Tyres im not sure about these are Falkens they seem ok but a little noisy. I really need to try a polo with other tyres on. also I have not driven in the rain yet.
All in all I am very happy with the car and the options I have chosen. Im just waiting to get used to the DSG and the Sat nav.
.