Polo's Overall Reliability

[noone]

1.2L Petrol v 2L Diesel...

Comparing the 2L Diesel (a much more expensive engine in design and production I believe) with a smaller engine is a little odd. If you want to compare a 45K car with a 25K car, you are going to find many differences...

[akxj]

1.2L Petrol v 2L Diesel...

Comparing the 2L Diesel (a much more expensive engine in design and production I believe) with a smaller engine is a little odd. If you want to compare a 45K car with a 25K car, you are going to find many differences...

fair enough. My friend got the Golf TDI at 32k. I was wondering more about the general drivability? Plus the TDI is 300kg more than the Polo TSI I believe. Perhaps its not a fair comparison and I'm being too pedantic.

[Eaglehawk]

Please advise on my comparison between the Golf TDI and the Polo TSI. I was hoping for both to deliver roughly the same performance but it seems like I'm wrong.

I've owned the 2.0 TDI since 2005. We test drove the 77TSI last year. Yes, the 320Nm of torque on the TDI is VERY handy for overtakes, and when done well, take-offs. The 77TSI may certainly lack that torque, but it was heaps lighter too, and was more nimble from a handling perspective. In fact, when the drive away price for the 77TSI in Canberra was given ($3K above their drive away price because it was "in stock") I ordered the Polo GTI (sight unseen) for a little more.

Your heart is in the right place, just which model

[akxj]

Unfortunately the golf is outside my range. I tried to fiddle around with my budget and just can't seem to make that adjustment without impacting my day to day life.

Further to driving my friend's Golf, and reading more into the DSG (and even the Powershift on the Ford, or any mainstream dual clutch for that matter), it really is plagued with issues! My friend's golf vibrates rather unpleasantly when reversing, it had only done about 9k, and already developed the issue. The whole point of not buying a second hand is not to face such reliability issues.

Plus it seems like you have to really drive the Polo DSG for it to remain reliable, as it is not just a standard slushbox, which is fine with me, but my partner will be driving around with it too, and I am not sure if she will feel the same way about taking care of it as much as I would.

The reliability, the need to drive the DSG differently, and the limited leg room on the back seat has now prompted me to look away from the VW Polo. I adored the driving feel of the Polo no doubt, but I feel it could take another 2-3 years for VW to fully sort out its reliability issues, and hopefully by then I'll be more financially stable to go with the Germans!

[readerr0r]

Unfortunately the golf is outside my range. I tried to fiddle around with my budget and just can't seem to make that adjustment without impacting my day to day life.

Further to driving my friend's Golf, and reading more into the DSG (and even the Powershift on the Ford, or any mainstream dual clutch for that matter), it really is plagued with issues! My friend's golf vibrates rather unpleasantly when reversing, it had only done about 9k, and already developed the issue. The whole point of not buying a second hand is not to face such reliability issues.

Plus it seems like you have to really drive the Polo DSG for it to remain reliable, as it is not just a standard slushbox, which is fine with me, but my partner will be driving around with it too, and I am not sure if she will feel the same way about taking care of it as much as I would.

The reliability, the need to drive the DSG differently, and the limited leg room on the back seat has now prompted me to look away from the VW Polo. I adored the driving feel of the Polo no doubt, but I feel it could take another 2-3 years for VW to fully sort out its reliability issues, and hopefully by then I'll be more financially stable to go with the Germans!

VW's DSGs are the most advanced of the lot, since they've have about a 5 year lead on the others, so I wouldn't discount it just yet. If space is an issue, it might be worth looking at the Fabia, the high end Rio's are acceptable too.

[akxj]

I'm looking at the Kia Rio SLi now. Generously spaced (as large as a Golf). Well powered, good torque (only comes at high RPMs though). But I find the LED lights to be really tacky. I would honestly prefer the ex-VW/Audi designer to leave it with the Audi/VW.

I'm now looking to see if the recent software updates can solve the issues. There has been recalls in China and in Singapore.

You're right regarding the 5 years lead time. The DSG has been released since 03 and they are still rolling with it now. I wonder if I get the car now, and with a 3 years warranty, VW would finally iron out all the obvious creases by then..