Just joined the fold

[Roodosutaa]

Hi all, just a quick hello. Have just bought a new Pogo - been lurking these forums for months.

I've come from an NB (Mark 2) MX-5 so a bit of a change for me for more practicality and better bang for buck. I prefer a good chassis and handling over other aspects and so have seriously considered the Clio Sport 182 Cup and nearly bought one but couldn't justify paying nearly as much as a new Polo GTI for a 3 year old French car despite the amazing performance and handling - and the VW clearance sale made the decision easy for me.

Impressions in the 4 days I've had it (bearing in mind I've been babying the car for the run-in):

*Good low end torque, near non-existant lag, haven't taken it past 4000rpm so can't comment on the entire rev range but it does seem eager to rev and I like the whole effortless feel to it where in the MX-5 you'd need to rev its head off. Will still reflash it after I've run it in.

*Not expecting MX-5 handling (and let's face it, very few cars in the same price bracket come close) but the Pogo does its best to hang on. But yes I do notice the springs are pretty stiff and the car feels underdamped - but bearing in mind I had Tein coilovers on the MX-5 so a lot of cars would feel underdamped, the Renault also feels lighter on its feet and more responsive on turn-in and more neutral but the Pogo is by no means bad - just a little less connected compared to the two. Rear sway bar is on the way hopefully that would change things somewhat - haven't pushed the car hard enough to induce serious understeer and don't intend to as yet.

Q: Just wondering where on the north shore in Sydney I could buy the Whiteline RSB? I'm assuming there's no difficulty in the installation judging by the piccies posted here?

*Gear shift - again, very few cars come close to MX-5 on shift quality and the short throws so I'm not expecting the same standard, but at least the Polo has pretty well defined gates and is reasonably precise for a cable system (Honda Type R is better still for a cable job), double-declutching doesn't seem to make much difference, heel & toe is hard to get right with the offset pedals and the throttle being so much lower than the brake pedal - not that it's really that necessary but something I'm used to do because it feels good . 5th is sometimes notchy to get into, but car is still new? Might switch to Redline oil everyone is raving on about (including the MX-5 folks) after the run-in. I heard the dogbone mount helps too?

*Quality - easily the best built in the price range. Interior feels classy and they actually bother covering the pillar covers in fabric! Can actually feel they've thought of everything when they designed the interior (have doubts about the pop-out cupholder though, looks flimsy)

Overall I think the car is fantastic value in just 4 days of ownership, yes some areas are compromised but as a complete package it's pretty hard to beat.

[Adam]

you can order the RSB from any repco store...

i am getting mine today....finally ordered one....

[jfive]

Congrats on the purchase! I'm only on my second day of ownership and am very glad with the decision I made to get the polo.

My 5th gear is a bit notchy too, maybe its the way i'm shifting.

A bit OT but has anyones chrome pedal cover fallen off like mine?

[WEDEL.1]

Anyone tried Nulon in the gearbox?

I put it in the T4 Transporter from 20,000Kms (now 147Kms) and it really smoothes the gear changes.

Maris

[GoLfMan]

welcome mate!

nice write up and comparo there, interesting read

over sprung and under dampened you say? welcome to the world of VW's mate

hope you stick around and join in the community! Make sure you update you profile so we know what state you are in so you can come to meet ups and the like!

cheers

[philthy]

heel & toe is hard to get right with the offset pedals and the throttle being so much lower than the brake pedal - not that it's really that necessary but something I'm used to do because it feels good .

Polo cuts the throttle (drive by wire) when you touch the brake so that won't make it easy either

[VW GTI]

I think people mistake the handling of the MX-5. They feel like they handle well because they aren't going as fast when they go around the corner.

[phaeton]

Welcome to VWwA

[Sharkie]

The MX5s are also quite slow in a straight line......

I have had a lot of fun with a guy in a new MX5 not wanting to believe he was actually that much slower than a GTI (with 5 people onboard)....

With the MX5 screaming towards the redline all the GTI needs is a gentle prod on the gas to have that fat torque curve leave it behind smelling fumes.....

[pologti18t]

MX5s are slow... unless you are driving a MX5 SP (a mate has one). That model is seriously fast.