Polo GTi Handling

[cameronp]

I dunno Stoney, I have a 118TSI with the sports pack and the handling is good, but definitely not worthy of a GTI badge. I'd say that compared to my old Focus XR5, the ride comfort is about the same, the cornering flatness and grip is almost as good, but the subjective "please throw me into that bend really fast" factor is missing. (I'm not sure what exactly what it is in engineering terms - probably more to do with the steering than the suspension.) There's also a fair bit of torque steer in second gear with the APR tune.

Having said that, I haven't actually driven a Polo GTI. But I do recall that the reviews have conflicting opinions on whether its handling is any good.

[PeterHBne]

It will be interesting to drive the new GTI. I don't expect the handling to be that much better than the current (which I have) - I have never been a fan of the GTI handling.........still nothing that cant be fixed with a couple of grand. I just cant get my head around not having a real manual. Like having a girlfriend that doesn't, ahhh, well.......you know. And a brief look at the thread shows a GTI with on roads seems to be up around $35K I paid $26990 on road in 07. I'd be buying a good current GTI and spend a few grand on a chip, decent pads and suspension.

[noone]

Thanks for your write up Stoney. Can't comment, but does add an interesting insight from a Golf driver.

Does not matter if it was your opinion or something wrong with that one, it's good to have more test drive reviews.

Couldn't be any worse than the last Polo GTI, didn't like cambered corners or coming over a crest and cornering... Sways and coilovers fixed that.

[triode12]

I too wasn't wow'd by the new Pog but for a different reason to Stoney. I thought it handled pretty decently when I drove it.

I'll be giving it another chance this weekend to do so and have scheduled a followup test drive with it.

At this stage, I still think the older Pog with upgraded suspension is still a better buy over the new one if you want to a fun car to drive.

[triode12]

Geez...vw salesguys don't last long in the job, do they? The guy that called me to ask me to come back for another test drive has left. I just spoke with him on tuesday this week and he left the next day!

I'll have to try another dealer now.

[DeanoTDI]

I agree with Stoney too Break, didn't take it through to many curves though, but the one curve I did try it on, it didnt feel anywhere near as sure footed as my 103TDI sportspack does on the same corner! Would be good to try it through some harder roads, even the brakes didn't feel to have much tweaking in them compared to my Golf. But it FLIES off the mark!

I haven't driven a Golf GTI, but really do need to lol. Hard to come across a demo.

[Ralfi]

To those not happy with the handling;

Is it worse than the current GTI? (Because i'm not experienced/educated/aggressive enough to say if the current model GTI is bad at handling corners - I fly around them - this is stock, no mods).

[pologti18t]

To those not happy with the handling;

Is it worse than the current GTI? (Because i'm not experienced/educated/aggressive enough to say if the current model GTI is bad at handling corners - I fly around them - this is stock, no mods).

It feels better than the old GTI (which I have). But I rate my Polo GTI has one of the worst handling cars I have owned. I am not saying its rubbish, but it doesn't compare to the N14 Pulsar, Peugeot 306 GTi6 or Astra SRI (with Konis and rear bar) I have owned.

[Ralfi]

It feels better than the old GTI (which I have). But I rate my Polo GTI has one of the worst handling cars I have owned. I am not saying its rubbish, but it doesn't compare to the N14 Pulsar, Peugeot 306 GTi6 or Astra SRI (with Konis and rear bar) I have owned.

Thanks, pologti. Does your current model have any mods?

[pologti18t]

Thanks, pologti. Does your current model have any mods?

No mods... well its Apr'd