3 door TSI Mk5 Polo

[Corey_R]

I have fitted 4 people (3 over 6 foot) in my 3dr Peugeot 206, but it was a major hassle.

I agree with your post, but I thought I'd point out about something about this particular point. Whilst the 206 is a much smaller car (particular headroom) than the Golf, and therefore there may have been issues getting 3 people over 6 foot into the 206, with the Golf there is no such issue with 3 (or 5 door cars). In fact, the 3 door Golf's have slightly more room in the back BECAUSE they don't have 5 doors (more hip/elbow/shoulder room).

The other thing is, in relation to "having babies" in the future. Having a 3 door car in my view is no worse than a 5 door. There are advantages and negatives in both.

Firstly, there is just as much room (as above) in the 3 door model. As for "placing your baby" in their baby seat, many people would find that doing this from directly in front of the seat, is much easy than doing it from beside the seat. In a 5 door you have to place your baby in sideways, in a 3 door you just push the front seat all the way forward and then step in holding your child against your chest, and then place them into the seat whilst directly looking at the seat.

Then as your child gets older, and they're able to climb into and out of the car on their own, again, having a 3 door is no more inconvenient. When you think about it, what do you do when your child is young? You flick the switch in the door jam so they can't open the door from inside the car anyway! This means, you have to get out and open the door for them!!!! What is the difference between you getting out and opening the door for them, or pushing your seat forward for them? None.

So at what age do you then trust your child to get in and out of the car by themselves? 5? Many would say that is too young, but lets use that as an example.
You've bought your car with the "What if we have a baby" view. So lets say it's only 3 months after you get your car that you get pregnant. 3 + 9 months = 1 year, plus 5 years old child = 6 years.

Will you still want to have that car after 6 years? Or would you be buying a new one?
Many many people would be buying a new one after that time anyway.

So this is why I don't understand why so many Australian's buy 5 door hatchbacks. The ratio of 5 to 3 in Australia is far higher than in Europe AND America. Why? Obviously the thinking is different...

[Syd118TSI]

For me having a child seat in the back of a 5 door vehicle I find more convenient for quite a few reasons. Not the least of which is the fact that you can easily open a door with one hand whilst you carry a baby in the other but it's much harder to open a door, then bend down and pull a lever on a seat all whilst holding a baby (I think there's a shoulder lever as well as one to the side of the chair, but the shoulder lever may not 'spring' the seat forward automatically?). Secondly if you have a baby seat in the back of a 3 door to utilise the baby loading method you talk about (which as you point out could be less awkward due to coming at the seat from a more direct angle) you would need to have it behind the passenger seat to prevent messing with the drivers seating position and to allow you to turn to see the baby if you need to. This means that if you need to have other passengers in the rear seat alongside the baby seat they will need to enter from the drivers side. It is of course more convenient to be able to get into the car as the driver and then start the car rather than waiting for passengers to clamber into the back seat.

I currently have a 3 door car, and whilst it hasn't been a major problem for me as we have another 5 door car I'd certainly prefer if it had two extra doors. I often like to carry additional load in the back seat rather than the boot and it would be much easier to access with two extra doors. The supposed extra visibility afforded by the longer doors and further set back B pillar isn't something I see as a major benefit, as I've never had trouble getting a good view in a conventional 4 door car using the mirrors and a twist of the neck (which will still be reuired in a two door variant).

In the end though it comes down to being able to justify either option based on the expected use of each owner. For some the scarcity of use of the extra doors well and truly puts the improved looks and larger door space of the 3-door variant in the box seat. Most though could agree that the 5-door variety presents a more flexible set of seating arrangements with greater accessibility.

I think if VWA felt that the sales were being significantly affected by not having three door varieties in the Polo and Golf (leaving aside the GTI and base level Polo?) they would bring them here. So with that in mind anyone looking for those options should certainly let VWA know! I don't think anyone would begrudge having the option for either so long as the availability and price of the more popular variety isn't compromised.

[Corey_R]

You see - this is the type of post which makes me think that the issue in Australia is that until recently, we've all be driving crappy Japanese/Asian cars and haven't "reassessed" what is out there. (No offense directed at you Syd118TSI, I was also ignorant until having owned my MKV Golf GTI).

(I think there's a shoulder lever as well as one to the side of the chair, but the shoulder lever may not 'spring' the seat forward automatically?).

There is only a shoulder lever. And whilst it doesn't "spring" the chair forward, lifting the lever up, and then sliding the chair forward (backrest initially and then when that's moved far enough, the entire seat base too) is easily achievable with one hand, even whilst carrying weight in another arm. I'm by no means a strong person (actually I have no upper body strength at all), but I am capable of doing this each morning and evening with a rather full bag in one hand (15.4" laptop, psu, plenty of cables, 1 or 2 600ml water bottles, food, documents etc).

Secondly if you have a baby seat in the back of a 3 door to utilise the baby loading method you talk about (which as you point out could be less awkward due to coming at the seat from a more direct angle) you would need to have it behind the passenger seat to prevent messing with the drivers seating position and to allow you to turn to see the baby if you need to. This means that if you need to have other passengers in the rear seat alongside the baby seat they will need to enter from the drivers side. It is of course more convenient to be able to get into the car as the driver and then start the car rather than waiting for passengers to clamber into the back seat.

You see, whilst this was true in my previous Toyota 3 door hatchbacks, it's not at all correct for VWs. When you slide the seat back, both the base AND back return to their original position and angle, meaning that you DO NOT have to readjust the seat after you've used it to access the back of the car. Also, in both the previous polo and especially in the Golf, there is enough room from how far forward the seat is able to move, that even if an adult passenger was to enter the car from the same side as the baby seat was positioned, there is more than enough room to "walk" past it. In fact, even if you have a rearward facing isofix seat with the additional "floor stabilising leg", there is more than enough room.

You should really take the time to check it out again. The $1500 extra for a 5 door car could be spent on many other things, when it's really not necessary based on these outdated views that you've presented.

The supposed extra visibility afforded by the longer doors and further set back B pillar isn't something I see as a major benefit

All cars are different. But in both the previous MK4 Polo 5 door (I have yet had the privilege of looking at the new MK5 released last weekend) and the MKV/MK6 Golf, the 5 door's B Pillar really is beside your head. If I turn 90 right, I cannot see. I need to lean forward to see around. The other night I drove my friends LT Focus 5 door and did not have this issue. So I would say that it doesn't affect all cars, but with these VW's it definitely is a factor. I'm 5'10" - maybe people of different heights/driving positions don't have this issue, but I've noticed it quite a bit with other people driving their Golfs too.

[Syd118TSI]

I just formulated a long reply but then lost it by clicking the wrong button. Gah.

The crux of it was that, my views may be slightly outdated or not applicable in all areas in relation to the Golf/Polo, but it is a fact that there is more involved and it's more time consuming to load a baby/toddler/kid into a 3-door car than it is a 5 door. When you add more passengers to the mix it's increasingly to the detriment of an effient arrival departure as there is a queuing effect when mulitple people need to enter or leave through the same passage.

IRT the B pillar. In my test drive of the 5-door TSI I did not even notice it. Granted it wasn't a particularly long drive (15-20 minutes) but it did involve several lane changed where I pedantically checked all angles/views before making a move. I'm 6'0" tall and don't think I have a particularly unusual seating position.

IRT getting into the back seat past a baby seat - that would depend upon the size and style of the seat - but more importantly would rely upon having the longer door either completely open (locked so no hand/body part was required to keep it in place) or open substancially wide. With perpendicular parking so common this is something that's not so easy to achieve! Even in parallel/street parking circumstances you hardly want to have a long door slung fully open whilst a car is loaded.

The 118tsi as you know isn't available in a 3-door guise here, so it's irrelevant to me.

[Corey_R]

IRT to getting in the back seat, it more depends on the size (width of the person) entering the door than the size of the baby seat
The wider the person, the wider the door needs to be open :/

[Syd118TSI]

IRT to getting in the back seat, it more depends on the size (width of the person) entering the door than the size of the baby seat
The wider the person, the wider the door needs to be open :/

Catherine Zeta Jones circa Entrapment can get in with the door closed and the window slighty ajar Calista Flockhart can get in with the door and window closed (spare her head).

Apologies to this thread.

[dave_r]

For many people though, the having a family part I don't see as a what if, more of a when......In short 5 doors are much more convenient and flexible for the average buyer as indicated by VWA's position.

I'm one of the "no kids" people but I know I'm in the minority which VWA also knows. I see 20 5dr Golf GTI's for every 3dr so it isn't hard for VWA to make the call. At least they're bringing in the R in a 3 door to keep some of us happy.

The polo is pointless for transporting 4 people, so why pretend and put 4 doors on it?

Totally agree. If we ever have people in the back of the Polo, I'd have to move my seat forward a bit (even as a passenger) so its pointless. But each to their own.

As for "placing your baby" in their baby seat, many people would find that doing this from directly in front of the seat, is much easy than doing it from beside the seat.

Surprised no one has corrected you yet. I'll bet good money that 99% of mothers disagree with you on the simple fact that having to lean into the backseat from a 3dr will have them at the chiro in no time!

[Corey_R]

Catherine Zeta Jones circa Entrapment can get in with the door closed and the window slighty ajar Calista Flockhart can get in with the door and window closed (spare her head).

Apologies to this thread.

Lol!!! Those are funny images

[Flighter]

(in) the MKV/MK6 Golf, the 5 door's B Pillar really is beside your head. If I turn 90 right, I cannot see. I need to lean forward to see around.

There are a couple of intersections I pass through on the daily school run that the B pillar in the Golf VI causes me enormous grief looking left (oh my aching neck!), which is why I'm considering yet another two door car for the next one. Can't get a sporty 2 door Polo (yet anyway; maybe the GTIs in Au will be), but to be fair, I haven't driven the 5 door yet either, so maybe it would be okay.

[fintelboss]

Lots of talk about babies in this thread now... I did not see that coming.

Anyway, can everyone agree that it doesn't matter if a polo has 2 or 4 doors, It is still not in anyway a car for kids/rear seat passengers? that's why the world has sedans. I want to buy a Polo because I do not want or need a sedan, what I do want to lightest, safest, most powerful, best looking and cheap hatch. (and that would be a 3dr Polo TSI chipped to 103kw...)

For me, if the back seats are so pointless, I may as well go one more step and only have proper sized doors for the seats that do matter. It is so rare that I would have someone in the back that they may as well make a game of it and get in through the folded forward front seats.

I am under no illusions that this is a passenger car. Like I said, if I wanted to carry people around I would get a sedan. but I dont, and so I wont. Now if only all the other small hatch buyers in Australia would admit that they either don't use the back seats, or should be buying a bigger car instead, I could have my 2 door Polo and be happy!