No manual GTI was the dealbreaker

[apples]

Well, the title says it all. I was extremely disappointed with the fact that the Polo GTI didn't come in a manual transmission. It was the car I really wanted but couldn't compromise on the fact that it only came in DSG, so I got the TSI Comfortline manual instead. In the end, I'm happy with my choice. I guess I'm pretty unusual...out of all my friends and family, I'm the only female who drives a manual (plenty of my male family and friends still do). A lot of people wanted to know why I didn't get the GTI and when I tell them, they think I'm weird.....each to their own I guess.

Just curious as to how many of you decided not to get the GTI for this reason (or am I the only stubborn one out there), and for the GTI owners, would you have gone for the manual if it was an option?

[team_v]

I personally wouldn't buy one for the same reason.
Sure the DSG is meant to shift quicker and be more fluid but it has it's own issues and i prefer to be "engaged" in my drive rather than mashing the accelerator = go fast

[DeanB]

The manual and the small engine size have stopped me from considering the new GTI.

I still live with the idea that a GTI is manual, 3 door and has a "relatively" large & powerful engine for the car size. More likely to go to a Golf GTI or the Renault path in the future when I decide to replace the 9N3.

[apples]

The manual and the small engine size have stopped me from considering the new GTI.

I still live with the idea that a GTI is manual, 3 door and has a "relatively" large & powerful engine for the car size. More likely to go to a Golf GTI or the Renault path in the future when I decide to replace the 9N3.

I was also looking at the Golf GTI but I found it too big. Yeah, I know it's a small car but wanted something smaller. I love being a passenger in bigger size cars but like driving small cars. Probably because I'm only 5'2" tall (short)

[Gambit]

Nothing wrong with the DSG with the polo and to think that it disengages the driving experience is a bit of a furphy to be honest.

Having owned the 6r for a few weeks and giving it a right royal flogging through the hills against another golf GTi mk 6, it held its own.
The driving experience for that matter with the DSG does not detract from the engine and the handling dynamics of the car at all IMO. Turn in is crisp and roll centre is spot on, combined with paddle shifting in sports mode i can easily outpace and punt the car through a set of corners at a rapid pace. So much so that it never fails to astonish me with its light footed approach within the mix and on the limit.

In regards to the engine size don't be mistaken to believe that 1.4 twincharge is to be laughed at. It lays down 112 wheel kw's out the factory and does it in a sublime fashion, because of the power to weight ratio, it will leave most other cars for dead in any traffic light grand prix, not that i bother with these sorts of comparisons in real world driving but if thats your cup of tea so be it.

All i am saying is that not until you have lived with the 6R and driven it on a daily basis do you realise how delightful it is to drive in a daily and performance orientated fashion, don't just go by motoring magazine articles and internet ramblings that don't give it the credit it deserves. I say this having previously owned and tracked a modified renault clio sport, drifted a 350bhp S13 SR20DET silvia, building a 400awhp subaru, etc etc.
*my personal opinions only, take it with a pinch of salt*

[kaanage]

Will you sign up for the Vic Polo cruise, apples?

I totally get the manual thing - I have far more fun with my manual Polo than my DSG Golf. And you've saved yourself a fair bit of cash too - now go to John @ DNA Tuning to use some of that saving and give the car a power boost

[gavs]

Initially, i was disappointed that there was no manual because i too like to "drive" the car, I have spent years perfecting heel and toeing etc, but after driving the gti with the dsg, I was convinced that it really is a good alternative. As i have found, many of the people who have made teh same comment as apples, never actually drove the car and if they did, generally a dealer test-drive route is pretty bland around a block!

Take one for a proper drive, you will be convinced.

As for engine size arguments, 1.3 litre F1 engines in the 80's were producing up to 1000bhp, a 2011 top fuel drag racer produces 8 times the power but is 13 times the engine size, running on nitro methanol, has to be torn apart and completely rebuilt, IF the car survives a 400m journey. I'm sorry, but this argument is redundant until someone can quantifyably PROVE that a bigger engine is better.

[Blitzen]

As for engine size arguments, 1.3 litre F1 engines in the 80's were producing up to 1000bhp...

I think you will find that the engine capacity in the turbo era F1 cars was 1.5L, and for qualifying, some engines were producing over 1400hp, and up to 1100hp for racing...

I think the 1.4TSI/DSG combination is the the biggest turn off for the 6R GTI, that and the gawd awful looks of it (it looks like the same same guys who designed it and the new Golf designed the new Subaru Liberty too).
If you aren't waiting for the engine to blow up, you are waiting for the clutches or the Mechatronics to fail in the gearbox...

I'm not saying the 9N3 GTI is good looking, but the 6R looks like it was set on fire, then put out with a bike chain. When I look at replacing mine, I'm going to look for a Mk4 GTI/R32, or Bora 4Motion.

[RoknRob]

I really don't understand why anyone would not want the most performing option in a performance oriented vehicle.

I really enjoy driving manual, too, but the fact is the DSG (and let's not forget the GTI comes with paddles) let's you go quicker.

I rest my case.

[kaanage]

I really don't understand why anyone would not want the most performing option in a performance oriented vehicle.

I really enjoy driving manual, too, but the fact is the DSG (and let's not forget the GTI comes with paddles) let's you go quicker.

I rest my case.

Because driver involvement is more fun than just going fast. Try riding a Jap 600 SuperSports anywhere close to the speed limits and then ride a Ducati 900SS (which is slower in just about every quantitative metric)

I rest my case.

But I cannot understand anyone who prefers the looks of a 9N3 to a 6R - and I own a 9N3 But then I also like the look of the MkVI Golf (and can't stand the look of any recent Subaru)

Apples, I was going to hit on you - asiastic chick who likes to drive - until you mentioned the fiance