VIC P-plater exemption 2011 Polo GTI

[Gladiator]

Hey everyone,
Has anyone here had their exemption application to drive a 'low powered turbo or supercharged car' approved from Vicroads to drive the 2011 Polo GTI?

Car details:
1.4L TSI 132kw, turbo & supercharged - 5 door
Power to weight ratio: Approx. 111 kw/tonne

I don't see why it shouldn't be approved as it meets all their requirements on the Vicroads website for a low powered turbo or supercharged car.
Vicroads link: Lower perfomance turbo or supercharged vehicles : VicRoads

Despite falling within the permitted power to weight ratio range (100kw - 125kw/tonne) and being a family type car (5 door hatch with child restraints and a 5 star Ancap) there has been talk that the 2011 Polo GTI doesn't qualify for an exemption.

[gavs]

I would say that if indeed it does not fall under exemtion rules, this would be due to it being determined as a performance car..... You can only ask though....

[pologti18t]

Did you read the application form??

A family type vehicle does not include
sports cars (eg a two door coupe) or the sports oriented

variant of a specific model range.

I would think that the Polo GTI would be considered the sports oriented variant of the Polo range.

[leasaunce]

doubt it. NRMA insurance categories the polo gti as a sports car.

[shauno]

Zero chance in NSW, even the Golf 118TSI is on the ban list!

[jamesatfish]

I always supported these type of restrictions on the strength of the same policies for motorcycle licencing, but it seems as always the powers that be are becoming over zealous in what vehicles are restricted and for what reason. For a vehicle such at the new Polo GTI which fits in the power-to-weight restrictions, seats 5 and is well equipped in terms of active and passive safety requirements to be banned simply because there are lesser powered versions of the Polo in the model range is just absurd.

Just to recap, if VW only sold the Polo GTI and not the others in the range, then the car would be eligible for the exemption. Instead because VW sell other cars in the Polo range the GTI somehow becomes unsafe for P plate drivers.

Of course I've just realised that when it comes time for my daughter to get her P plates we'll have to go out and buy her a car specifically to meet the requirements, as the cars we own (and which she will learn to drive in) are all on the banned list. I guess she'll be happy that the government is forcing Mum & Dad to buy her her own car - wish I had that excuse to run by my parents when I turned 17.

[pologti18t]

Just to recap, if VW only sold the Polo GTI and not the others in the range, then the car would be eligible for the exemption. Instead because VW sell other cars in the Polo range the GTI somehow becomes unsafe for P plate drivers.

The Polo GTi does 0-100km/h in 6.9 secs. That's faster (significantly) than a Commodore Omega.
I think its perfectly fine to restrict P Platers from driving this car.

Anyway, a line in the sand has to be drawn somewhere.

AFAIK... I dont think the ban on cars applied to learners (ie. supervised)

[Frostee]

The rules are a little different in Victoria

P plates & probationary prohibited vehicles : VicRoads

From 6 July 2009, drivers issued with a probationary licence on or after 1 July 2007 may (upon receiving an exemption) drive some lower performance turbocharged or supercharged vehicles. The definition of a lower performance turbocharged or supercharged vehicle is a vehicle with 6 cylinders or less that is:

turbocharged or supercharged with a power to weight ratio of less than 100kW per tonne
turbocharged or supercharged with a power to weight ratio between 100kW and 125kW per tonne and that is considered to be a family type vehicle (4 seats or more) rather than a sports type vehicle. A family type vehicle is a sedan, station wagon or hatch normally used to carry families/passengers with 4 or more seats and are equipped with child restraint anchorages. A family type vehicle does not include a sports car (two door coupe).

I suspect the Polo GTI would not qualify for exemption, and rightly so IMHO.

[Gladiator]

I would think that the Polo GTI would be considered the sports oriented variant of the Polo range.

The 2011 Polo GTI - 5 door should quality for exemption.
It satisfies the performance test (power-to-weight ratio) and satisfies the family type vehicle test...

Is it a family type vehicle?
1. Sedan, stationwagon or hatch normally used to carry families/passengers? Yes (hatch)
2. 4 seats or more? (4 seats)
3. Equipped with child restraint anchorages? Yes (5 star Ancap safety rating)
4. It is not a sports car such as a 2 door coupe. Yes
The 2011 Polo GTI – 5 door therefore meets the definition of a family type vehicle.

The only part where it fails is it being the sports variant.
Sports variant means nothing. It has nothing to do with the 'performance of the car' or whether it is a 'family type vehicle' (both of these have already been satisfied).
"Sports variant" can merely refer to the design of the car (Eg. Sports grill, sports exhaust, paintwork, etc.) as it is not a test of a car's performance or safety features.
To reject the 2011 Polo GTI because it is a sports variant despite it having satisfied the performance and family type vehicle guidline would mean you are saying that its sporty looks are likely to kill someone!

[Gladiator]

The Polo GTi does 0-100km/h in 6.9 secs. That's faster (significantly) than a Commodore Omega.
I think its perfectly fine to restrict P Platers from driving this car.

Anyway, a line in the sand has to be drawn somewhere.

The line has been drawn indeed and the 2011 Polo GTI falls within the permitted power-to-weight ratio range (100-125 kw/tonne). The Polo GTI is infact nowhere close to the permited power-to-weight ratio's upper limit coming in at approximately 111kw/tonne. The fact that is does 0-100km/h in 6.9 secs is perfectly fine under the law.