Gearbox Problems

[MKIVF]

Now that I've owned a European car (the VW polo) - I can safely say that the Japs make a better car - This is a fact.

Ah-yeah. right, ok then. Fact based on one experience. n:

[natee]

please keep me updated

also has anyone had this problem fixed and had it come back good??

mine does it and i thought it was just a characteristic of the car so i just smash it into 2nd lol

i've also been told that it can take upto 20k+ for the gears to settle but dunno about the validity of such a statement

[GT3]

Thanks for your advice everyone I can safely say that the Japs make a better car - This is a fact. I think I will wait a year or so, and sell the Polo GTI... so many bad experiences in such a short amount of time... i am scarred ! Cheers everyone... good luck with your Vee Dubs...

..did you buy your car second hand? this may have something to do with it? ie who knows what treatment it could have endured.

[ACTGTI]

Thanks for your advice everyone... much appreciated. Sorry to burst your bubbles, but I still think the Polo is an enferior product. Agree that every now and then a Lemon comes along, but when it affects you personally - it's not so easy to deal with. I've owned alot of cars in my time. My most recent have been: 2004 Commodore SV8, 1998 Honda integra type R, Honda Civic VTI-R. These were all great cars - the type R - by far - my favourite. Now that I've owned a European car (the VW polo) - I can safely say that the Japs make a better car - This is a fact. I think I will wait a year or so, and sell the Polo GTI... so many bad experiences in such a short amount of time... i am scarred ! Cheers everyone... good luck with your Vee Dubs...

The Polo is made in spain. If it was made in Germany I'm sure it would be a better built car, but it would also be more expensive. Those cars you had were almost double the price of the polo new (don't know about the civic). How can you compare these?

I would agree that Japanese cars are better built than Spanish built cars for sure though. Japanese cars are probably better built than most european cars, but I think German made cars have it won.

My 2c

[NickZ]

Isn't the Honda Civic, Accord and Toyota Hilux built in Thailand? The new Type R is also built in the UK I have heard. Correct me if I am wrong.

The Golf GTI is built in South Africa. The XR5 is built in Germany. Is the XR5 better built than the Golf? Not from what I have heard. Same argument with the XR4 and Polo GTI.

The Mazda 3 MPS is built in Japan - yet needed to be recalled for engine mounts breaking! Some Liberty GTs have had serious engine problems.

You can expand this to other items. How many Japanese audio / electrical brands such as Sony still build all their products in Japan? Yet they are still known for good quality.

The point of all this is, yes where it is built is a factor but at the end of the day is not the be all and end all. Sure, I would rather have a German polo than a Spanish polo, and its not good that some people have had problems, but I believe most people don't. You always hear about the bad stories and not about the good ones.

I haven't had a problem at all - it has been rattle free and the gearbox is smooth! I would say I am in the same category as most, whilst the people that have had the problems have been unlucky.

[ACTGTI]

Yep good points you make.

Mine has been just fine thus far for a $25k car. I wouldn't say it's brilliant, but it's great value for money.

[Ben_GTI]

please keep me updated
mine does it and i thought it was just a characteristic of the car so i just smash it into 2nd lol

i've also been told that it can take upto 20k+ for the gears to settle but dunno about the validity of such a statement

Yea I just smash it in too. After 30,000km it still does it. I'm going to give it a shot again getting fixed.

[golfie_boy]

i think if the vin number starts with wwwvwzzz the car is made in south africa i could be mistaken although i do know the they also made in spain for i am waiting on delivery of my gti from spain my 1.4 match polo i have now was made in south africa on delivery the radio had a south african station programmed when i turned it on for the first time

is it just the gti`s that have this gearbox problem because i have my 1.4 for a year and no such problem

[TobyG]

G'day everyone. Looks like there's a few more graunching gearbox Polo GTI owners out there... sorry to hear you have been unlucky too. I reckon this could be a potential problem for a good percentage of GTI's. Not sure how many people visit this forum ? But within several days, we've had about 4 or 5 people complaining with the same problem. How many others are out there that are just assuming this graunching is an acceptable 'glitch' with their car ? Wether the car is new or second hand - who cares - if it's done lowish km's - and it's under warranty - then it SHOULDN'T happen. Power in numbers guys - if Shaneth got a replacement gear box, then so should we - I suggest you all go into your local VW service centre ASAP and make a big fuss about this problem - VW should be made fully aware of the extent of this issue. I don't care that this car only cost 27K - I've driven my girlfriends 1993 1.3 litre honda civic many times, and you rev the ringer off that thing, and the gear changes were awesome - and the car had done 130,000 k's. Same with all my other 'nice' cars - gear changes were smooth (SV8 was a heavy mother - but never graunched once). Re: Products being built in foreign country's (i.e. - not germany, japan etc) - yes, this is the way the world of manufacturing is going....cheaper = mistakes - it happens with so many things these days - so frustrating.

[TobyG]

... Also - I forgot to say - I took my Polo GTI in to VW on Friday last week. One of the technicians drove it (i was in passenger seat) - and the graunching problem happened when he tried it out - several times. The car is booked in for a diagnosis - in about 3 weeks, and also booked in for the 'fix' - in mid October - having to wait a couple of months is so frustrating. The technician said he reckons theres a 98% chance they will just replace the gear-box (which i'm hoping for). I don't want it repaired. Will be interesting to see how many other people discover this forum topic and mention they have problems too. I just wonder how many people rev there cars above 4500 - 5000 rpm in first gear ? The car is super torquey - so perhaps alot of people have the same problem, but change into second gear early (not revving it high), so haven't discovered the problem yet ?