2018 Polo

[Transporter]

VW aren't the only ones doing "launch" edition cars - Jaguar, Volvo etc have been doing it for years.

JEEP/Fiat is doing the same. If only enough people could hold back buying their car until the full range options are available.

[DuaneDibbley]

I just placed an order for a Launch Edition manual in grey today. Nothing was said of a wait until July.... Said something about 'probably 3-4 weeks' which is fine. Surprise "July" delivery date will be a bit ****.

That said - I tested it against the 110TSI manual Golf 7.5 as well and while the golf was a bit faster and a bit comfier and the cabin a bit higher rent it felt kinda bland compared to the little 3cyl in the Polo. Really loved the grumbly engine note on the Polo. Even the 70TSI one I drove made me giggle a lot. Had a lot of fun testing it despite the fact the thing has less power than my motorbike and the Octavia RS :p

[Chuck]

Sat in the Launch edition a couple of times recently to get an idea for size/fit/finish...i like it!

Waiting on information around spec for the GTI...keen to order asap.

what did annoy me about the Launch Polo was the centre arm rest not being adjustable like in the Golf/s

[DrWHO]

Here is a kick in the balls!!!

2018 Volkswagen Polo GTI won’t have a manual gearbox in Australia

[DrWHO]

I've been told there are no more Golf GTI Original's in manual...I missed out and there won't be any more this year.
Now I put off buying a Polo GTI late last year because the new one was going to launch in 6 months time... but, now no manual.
The Comfortline Golf is a no manual option.
So poverty pack base model in either Polo/Golf is your only choice for a manual if you haven't got $44k+.
I suppose that's one way of claiming you're a luxury brand.

[DuaneDibbley]

I've been told there are no more Golf GTI Original's in manual...I missed out and there won't be any more this year.
Now I put off buying a Polo GTI late last year because the new one was going to launch in 6 months time... but, now no manual.
The Comfortline Golf is a no manual option.
So poverty pack base model in either Polo/Golf is your only choice for a manual if you haven't got $44k+.
I suppose that's one way of claiming you're a luxury brand.

Can get the launch and comfort line polos in 6pd manual. But there's a BIG difference in motors!

[Sharkie]

No manual GTI means I won’t be buying one.

Currently have 2 VW's (both manual) and was going to buy a manual GTI at the end of this year. Sadly it seems that won't happen now and I'll look elsewhere. I already had to settle for a lower spec Golf than what I wanted, purely because I could not get a manual in the higher specs. Probably bought my last VW ever now .....

BMW and MB still allows you to special order a manual in a number of models (though they think you are crazy ) if you wanted. Perhaps VW needs to take that approach, especially if they really wanted to be seen as playing upmarket.

[Sydneykid]

I'll take the much faster, don't have to take my hand off the steering wheel, no clutch pedal, no boost drop off, paddle shifter any day.

Cheers
Gary

[Sharkie]

I dislike that VW removes my ability to choose what I can have in a car. Regardless of the issues some have with manuals or DSG's, I want to be able to make my own choice.

When I'm old and lazy I might change to a car that has a "D" for dummy, but at the moment still young and independent enough to make my own decisions as to what I want the car to do at any particular point in time. Picking my own gears for a given situation provides great enjoyment ..... and satisfaction if I pick correctly! I do like to do more than just bury my foot in the carpet and hold on ... am I going any faster? Probably not, but I certainly am having more fun in the process.

Its also the reason you will find every single mainstream press review of a VW DSG equipped car where a manual is an available option, mention the fact that they (the reviewer) would have preferred the manual.

Also, it is an established fact that the VW DSG's generally are quite easily beaten off the line when not using launch control by manual equipped cars. The inherent lag off the line of the DSG catches them every time unless the manual driver is a muppet. Not arguing that a DSG shifts brilliantly once its on the move though.

[Sydneykid]

If they've got "lag off the line" then they need to learn how to drive with a DSG. Too many think it's like an auto with a torque converter, when it's plainly not.

We ran a couple of BMW 335i's in the 6 Hour Production Car Race at Bathurst last Easter, one manual and one DCT. With the same power the DCT was 0.75 seconds faster up the hill because there was no boost drop / acceleration pause on the gear changes that the manual suffers from. Just hold the accelerator flat from Hell Corner to Griffins, no lift required.


Cheers
Gary