77tsi thoughts

[cappuccino]

The Yaris may be reliable and cheap to maintain but life suddenly becomes so depressing when you step inside the interior of one. Hard Plastics... Hard Plastics Everywhere! They also have the same level of driving refinement as a tractor.

hahaha too true. its just so boring and well... like a toyota... they are not known for their youth appeal! isn't there a joke about toyota drivers being on average 50?

her options;
-Fiesta -> ford reliability not much better, hate the look inside and out, looks like a gym shoe
-Swift -> feels cheap
-Mazda2 -> boring
-Polo 77TSI

Yaris -> you might as well take public transport.

i think if you are keeping a car for 3-5 years, you'd want to avoid the japanese small cars, you get really bored after a year.

but you know, each to their own, some people have no excitement in their life and a boring car is like the rest in their life. in that case, why not just get a camry?

sorta like alfa romeos, terrible reliability and depreciation, but when you have a car that looks that good and unique, who cares. break down in style!

VW don't make the most exciting cars, but compared to the other small hatchbacks on the market, the upmarket feel, style, driving is miles ahead. Only probably the Audi A1 could be another option, but really its just a Polo badged as a Audi with a $10,000 markup with one less seat and more options (which you pay through the nose with)!

If you want to be really exciting, the Mito have been cut down in price by heaps, use to be 35k ish, now 25k ish. Definitely different.

[alexaescht]

yeah i knew the gearbox was the same, they just updated the clutch plates, mechatronics and software. do they still call the updated version 200? out of interest, is there a different model between the previous and revised version?

...correct me if i'm wrong, but fewer and fewer cars will have a automatic box, most are moving to a dual clutch of some form. The japanese cars are probably the few left with automatic box. fords are dual clutch i think now.

Yep, it's still called the DQ200 and it's basically the same, except the clutches, mechatronics and software.

Indeed, most cars are moving towards Dual-Clutches – Ford has 'Powershift' Alfa/Fiat has 'TCT' and VW has 'DSG'. But the Tiguan 132 Pacific has a 6-speed torque converter and the Touareg and Amarok have an 8-speed torque converter, so some models still use standard autos.

[alexaescht]

If you want to be really exciting, the Mito have been cut down in price by heaps, use to be 35k ish, now 25k ish. Definitely different.

The Fiat 500 has also been made significantly cheaper. It now starts at something like $16k

[cappuccino]

Yep, it's still called the DQ200 and it's basically the same, except the clutches, mechatronics and software.

Indeed, most cars are moving towards Dual-Clutches – Ford has 'Powershift' Alfa/Fiat has 'TCT' and VW has 'DSG'. But the Tiguan 132 Pacific has a 6-speed torque converter and the Touareg and Amarok have an 8-speed torque converter, so some models still use standard autos.

what do you think of the Powershift? worse or better than DSG in terms of drive and issues?

[muli]

The Fiat 500 has also been made significantly cheaper. It now starts at something like $16k

14k drive-away

[alexaescht]

what do you think of the Powershift? worse or better than DSG in terms of drive and issues?

Never driven one, but I know that they've had similar problems to the Polo's DSG (shuddering etc.)

[alexaescht]

14k drive-away

Even better!

[Diesel_vert]

hahaha too true. its just so boring and well... like a toyota... they are not known for their youth appeal! isn't there a joke about toyota drivers being on average 50?

i think if you are keeping a car for 3-5 years, you'd want to avoid the japanese small cars, you get really bored after a year.

but you know, each to their own, some people have no excitement in their life and a boring car is like the rest in their life. in that case, why not just get a camry?

I wouldn't necessarily assume that people who have no interest in cars also have boring personalities.

Conversely, having an interesting personality isn't a prerequisite of being a car enthusiast.

Hey all,

My partner is in the small car market and is going test driving on Saturday,

her options;
-Fiesta
-Swift
-Mazda2
-Polo 77TSI

I own a 6R GTI and having read about the armada of things that could go wrong with the beast, I'm concerned that I should steer her clear of Polo's.

However, there is a tidy Red 77TSI for 19k at a local dealer with a manual box that beckons a test drive.

Thoughts?

Research is sometimes a good indicator of what to expect, but the test drive (preferably over the sort of roads you'll encounter the most) will be essential in shaping your partner's thoughts and impressions - which, at the end of the day, is the only opinion that matters.

Each car will have their own strengths of course (which will be easier to discern without the usual distraction of an automatic or automated gearbox), but whatever your partner chooses, I think the ones you've short-listed are fundamentally sound and are without major or critical defects. But again, best to reserve judgement after each test drive.

As mentioned previously, also consider the Fiat 500.

[yokom46]

I wouldn't necessarily assume that people who have no interest in cars also have boring personalities.

Conversely, having an interesting personality isn't a prerequisite of being a car enthusiast.




Research is sometimes a good indicator of what to expect, but the test drive (preferably over the sort of roads you'll encounter the most) will be essential in shaping your partner's thoughts and impressions - which, at the end of the day, is the only opinion that matters.

Each car will have their own strengths of course (which will be easier to discern without the usual distraction of an automatic or automated gearbox), but whatever your partner chooses, I think the ones you've short-listed are fundamentally sound and are without major or critical defects. But again, best to reserve judgement after each test drive.

As mentioned previously, also consider the Fiat 500.

Thanks for your input.

The fiat500 was considered but alas, the version that falls in her price range is (in my opinion) a tier down performance wise. And while performance isn't the main focus for her, 50 odd kw simply isn't enough for the motorway.

Honestly, I have a feeling it will come down to the Ford or the Polo, but she'll have a fun day testing them all anyway

Cheers guys, will let you know what she decides

[muli]

Whats wrong with commuting in a boring car if you toy is 170-175hp and weights just under 200kg wet?
Suddenly anything else is "boring"

The fiat doesnt offer much for 14k and would be seriously gutless.

50kw, reminds me of my old daihatsu handy. 660cc 3cyl fuel injection at 42kw i think.
Never did find the limiter on it it just kept revving