VW Polo GTI

An expensive way of buying a Seat Cupra?

So you pay a few thousand more and get a Seat Cupra Ibiza with slightly tougher, touchy feel-ey plastics thrown in...WoW!

Make my 18k a MIni or a MIto, Renault Sport Clio 200 or even a 500 Abarth and then theres the hot Fiesta on the horizon too!

Although if you are desperate for a VAG product, you could get the A1 1.4? But that is made to look expensive by this GTi...But this GTi is then made to look expensive by the Seat Cupra!

OWN GOALS...

But they are all quality products arent they? Not according to reliability surveys that put all VAG products (save Skoda) middling at best and certainly not up there with the Japanese manufacturers! (though lets not say too much about Toyota and recalls at present!)

By LegioIXHispana on 17 February, 2010, 7:19pm

Way too expensive - if that's what it will actually cost

I was looking forward to this model, but if it will be this expensive I think I'll be spending my money elsewhere - I'd never convince my wife that spending almost 20K on a supermini was a good idea!
Shame the Ibiza looks so silly with that horrible styling and the Fabia is a bit old now.
Maybe I'll buy a Skoda Octavia VRS from an online broker - then have a fantastic holiday with the money I'll save from not buying the Polo GTi!

By gavsmit on 17 February, 2010, 9:08pm

Getting Poorer by the Day

Why are people surprised that new car prices are shooting up?Government policy of quantitative easing along with allowing the £ to go into freefall has meant that all foreign products are more expensive. If the process continues, the opportunity of buying a new car for many will no longer be possible. Super!!

By crofts2 on 18 February, 2010, 8:38am

Options

Heres a couple of alternatives for the commited VW lover-

Vw Golf VR6 mk 3 VR6 Highline-black 63k miles £3k
Vw Golf GT Tdi Anniversary 150 -silver-36k miles- £8k
Vw Golf Gti mk2 8valve 3 door-brigt blue met-125k-£2500

Thats £13,500- leaves you another £4,500k to take the Mrs away on a lovely holiday where you can break the news to her over her 5th pina colada that you ve got another 3 cars in your garage

Or you could just buy a polo gti..but where's the fun in that- literally?

By WeeKaisDa on 18 February, 2010, 10:03am

Options

Heres a couple of alternatives for the commited VW lover-

Vw Golf VR6 mk 3 VR6 Highline-black 63k miles £3k
Vw Golf GT Tdi Anniversary 150 -silver-36k miles- £8k
Vw Golf Gti mk2 8valve 3 door-brigt blue met-125k-£2500

Thats £13,500- leaves you another £4,500k to take the Mrs away on a lovely holiday where you can break the news to her over her 5th pina colada that you ve got another 3 cars in your garage

Or you could just buy a polo gti..but where's the fun in that- literally?

By WeeKaisDa on 18 February, 2010, 10:08am

How Much?

Assuming your price predictions are correct, and they're usually on the low side, this Polo will be at least £2k too dear. Just because it's as big as a Golf from a few generations ago doesn't mean that you can charge the same.

By snappyuk on 18 February, 2010, 10:14am

What's with the tartan seats?

Hey, it's 2010 so why the circa 1980s tartan seats? Maybe to get people to click the 'leather' option when ordering? Then again, Germans aren't well known, like the Italians, for style. 18 to 20 K, wow, I agree with one of the others, bring on the Mito or 500 Abarth!

By randolf12 on 18 February, 2010, 11:18am

Shame about the engine

It looks nice and costs about the same as the 180bhp Seat Ibiza Cupra R cost in 2001 (Although admittedly that was overpriced).

Its a shame its only a 1.4 though. Yes it has plenty of power as standard, but not as tunable as the 1.8T or 2.0T.

By BenS1 on 18 February, 2010, 2:28pm

Love it!

This car is awesome. I want one, even more than the Golf Gti. Just wish it wasn't so darn expensive. I'll have mine in red please! ps, we will be seeing a lot of these on the road regardless, so there must be people out there with cash still.

By SimonDaley on 18 February, 2010, 9:56pm

Love It

I have to admit I have not a little bias towards VAG products and I do like this new Polo. And the 7 speed DSG box is standard? Yes, put me down for one but I have to agree with others here,18k does seem to be a little steep.

By nick7 on 19 February, 2010, 1:42am

But they are all quality products arent they? Not according to reliability surveys that put all VAG products (save Skoda) middling at best and certainly not up there with the Japanese manufacturers!

I take this to mean Skoda are better than middling!
It will be interesting to see what modifications to what is fundamentally quite an old platform Skoda will apply to the forthcoming Fabia vRS. And of course the price differential between it and the Polo!

By domroberts1 on 19 February, 2010, 10:07am

And wheres the Dosh to buy coming from?

The latest International Economic Information is placing Britain just slightly ahead of Greece in terms of economic soundness. Debts are growing in leaps and bounds and growth possibily is zero in the next 12 months!

It is crucially vital for Britain to completely revamp its complete economic policy both national and international and plans for the near and mid term future. This can only presumably happen with a complete change in both government and and state services etc.

There are simply too many people hanging on the economic drip feed and to few people feeding into this system! And on top of this too many fat cats skimming off money for nothing and taking it abroad!

Then people can really start planning again for new super cars etc in the GTI class etc.

By vandenplas4litre on 19 February, 2010, 10:55am

All VAG products (Skoda's included) have the same (un)reliability issues

Don't let yourself be fooled by Skoda's tricky marketing !

There is not a single one reliability survey showing that Skoda builds more reliable cars
when compared to the other VAG brands.
People who seem to have this false impression, offen make a reference to the 'J.D. Power and Associates/What Car? UK Vehicle Ownership Satisfaction Study' report,
believing that this is a true reliability survey.

In fact what they don't know is that this is only a satisfaction poll conducted in the UK,
meaning this is far from being a reliability report based on true evidence coming from fault claims in garages.
As such, the reliability factor in the J.D. Power survey actually counts only in a very small percentage (less than 24% !) ,
since other irrelevant issues seem to count more in the final evaluation:

" In order of importance, they are:
vehicle appeal (37%), which includes performance, design, comfort and features;
vehicle quality and reliability (24%);
ownership costs (22%), which includes fuel consumption, insurance and costs of service/repair;
and dealer service satisfaction (17%) . "
http://businesscenter.jdpower.com/news/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2009101

All VAG products (including Skoda) have the same reliability issues and Skoda surely makes no exception to that,
since a huge number of components are being shared among VAG models coming from the same VAG parts bin
and the great majority of Skoda's cars are being built in the same factories where other VAG cars are being built as well, using the same techniques and human resources.

If you want to see some true reliability surveys,
then go and take a look at DEKRA's own report where you shall be convinced that VAG products are almost the same in terms of reliability.
http://www.dekra.de/de/pressemitteilung?p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_id=ArticleDisplay_WAR_ArticleDisplay&_ArticleDisplay_WAR_ArticleDisplay_articleID=3463907

By adam_bm on 19 February, 2010, 2:20pm

is the world not sick of these rehashed VAG products being released at ever more rediculous prices. How many times can VAG keep selling us the same cars?

Ive got a new Audi TT and am so disappointed with it. It never even tries to hide its humble origins.

By mondeo_man on 19 February, 2010, 3:09pm

GERMAN CARS

Vastly over priced, and vastly over rated.

Times have moved on, it is time some of the Motoring journalists discovered what a lot more of the public have,and that is there are more cars out there far more reliable and cheaper than GERMAN makes

By jurangqw on 19 February, 2010, 3:25pm

I know there are more pressing issues like the economy, reliability, the price of the new Polo etc etc and most of the points that have been made have relevance but has anyone considered the true cost of the car i.e residuals. It may be 18K but if in 3 years it is worth 9K then I am sure the owners will be happy. Plus it is the best looking version of the polo and sure to benefit from looking like a proper GTi - good luck I say, but I too would buy a Mito!

By abarty on 20 February, 2010, 10:21am

How Much?

Shame they aren't planning a manual version from around 16,750. Still it's some 7.5k cheaper than a 3 door golf gti dsg and I want one!

By alant on 26 February, 2010, 11:38am

Positive Comment

I have to say im in favour of this car.

If they make it drive like an immature Golf GTi, lose the DSG ONLY, price it something like alant has said and they are onto a winner.

That could then be a good premium rival to the mini.

Certainly on paper its a great car. The engine is great, the post about tuning is BS. A small responsive engine is the way forward. Not to mention its economy figures, whether they are realistic is another matter.

Looks are subjective of course, but I like its look. Subtle just like the rest of the range, good call.

And that's coming from someone that's not a big VW fan.

By Neil_Magill on 3 March, 2010, 9:14am

Positive Comment

I have to say im in favour of this car.

If they make it drive like an immature Golf GTi, lose the DSG ONLY, price it something like alant has said and they are onto a winner.

That could then be a good premium rival to the mini.

Certainly on paper its a great car. The engine is great, the post about tuning is BS. A small responsive engine is the way forward. Not to mention its economy figures, whether they are realistic is another matter.

Looks are subjective of course, but I like its look. Subtle just like the rest of the range, good call.

And that's coming from someone that's not a big VW fan.

By Neil_Magill on 3 March, 2010, 9:56am

Polo vs Golf - too similar

The difference between the two models is not large enough. I don't know the actual weights but my guess is that the Polo weighs in at around 1200kg and the Golf at around 1350Kg.
It would better for VW and others to start making weel built 700Kg cars with all the goodies the Polo offers. This would be good for fuel economy and performance. It's the only way forward.

By mhn001 on 18 April, 2010, 12:41pm