PoloDriver

Leading performance exhaust supplier Jetex now offers a cat-back system for the latest 6R Polo GTI 1.4 TSI (2010 onwards). Costing £460 including VAT, the half-system is made from 2.5-inch (63mm) T304 stainless steel with twin 80mm round pipes, providing an enchanced, but not intrusive, exhaust note. The 6R GTI performance system also features reduced back pressure to complement the supercharged and turbocharged TSI engine’s performance. Interested? Contact Jetex on 01789 298989 (quoting part number 27-HADR) or visit the company’s website for more details and to find out about its products for older Polo models.

In late summer, one of Volkswagen UK’s press fleet Polo GTIs came to rural Dorset with us for a 1000-mile test. J6 VWW experienced country lanes, motorways, and town roads in its time with us, and today, we’ve published a 14-page digital mini-magazine of our 14-day findings with the car. We first drove the latest performance Polo back in June, but the lanes in and around and south coast really gave us a chance to stretch its legs. As a cut-price Golf GTI, it’s an enticing proposition. Read what we thought of the controversial DSG gearbox, the searing performance, and how the car marries performance and refinement. Click the magazine graphic below, or if you can’t see the preview, visit this link. The sixth of our special digital mini-magazines, check out the PoloDriver bookshelf for our previous five titles. The first issue features mini-tests of the current Polo range in general, while the third is an account of our first drives of the SEL 1.2 TSI and 1.2 BlueMotion TDI.

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On 26 August, Volkswagen Group Malaysia launched the Polo GTI 6R at the Sepang International Circuit. Launched in Europe in May 2010, the Malaysian model appears the same as the European variant, but there are however, some key differences, especially when compared to UK cars. Engine and transmission choice is the same (178bhp/132kW, 1.4-litre TSI unit with seven-speed DSG gearbox), but Malaysian cars are equipped with a multifunction steering wheel, parking sensors, bi-xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights, and an electric panoramic tilt/slide sunroof, all of which are optional extra-cost items in the UK. As in South Africa, Malaysia Polo GTIs come with alcantara seat coverings (optional on UK SEL models) as opposed to the ‘Jacara’ cloth in Europe.

Despite having more power than its direct predecessor, the 148bhp Polo GTI 9N3, the GTI 6R is 24% more fuel efficient, and has CO2 emissions of 139g/km compared to 188g/km of its ancestor. Weight is unchanged to the European cars at 1194kg, and performance is the same as in other markets. Top speed is 142mph/229km/h, and the 0-62mph/0-100km/h dash is dispensed with in 6.9 seconds. Power is transferred to the front wheels via the DSG gearbox, and an electronic transverse differential lock (XDS) reduces the tendency to understeer. Prices start at RM132, 888.00 for the three-door version while the five-door is priced at RM135,888.00. The Polo GTI comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty plus a five-year roadside assistance package. Visit www.volkswagen.com.my for details.

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While the report on our 1000 miles with J6 VWW, one of Volkswagen UK’s press fleet Polo GTIs is still forthcoming, here’s a wallpaper to whet some appetitites in the meantime. Pictured outside the ultra-modern Salvation Army Citadel in Chelmsford, the smaller Volkswagen GTI looks just the compact yet sporty part. We’ll post more pictures as we process them – along with the full written report for our digital magazine bookshelf – but for now, here’s a very bright wallpaper in 1024x768px, 1280x800px, and 1920x1080px sizes.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. In the space of four days, I thought about getting a car, went and saw two locally, and ended up buying the first one I saw. Little over a month ago, I hadn’t even considered driving anything other than my 18 year-old Polo GT Coupé. But that was before the Volkswagen UK 2011 Polo GTI arrived, and unwittingly – and starkly – pointed out that even a 1993 car is now an antique. Lovingly referred to by family members as ‘the classic car’, the coop has covered 164,000 mies, 116,000 of those in my 12-year ownership. But, surprisingly (both to me and those that know me), it now has a new driveway mate.

As I hadn’t considered buying another, newer, car, I hadn’t really thought about what form that more modern, refined, yet cheap fun potential purchase would take. Being a lifelong fan, I guess it was always going to be a Volkswagen, although when I started looking at my £3000 limit, all sorts of machinery presented itself. From early Renaultsport Clio 172s (I’ve always liked the look of the first-generation cars) through to first-year, high-mileage Audi A2s, the search was quite an eye-opener. But as you can see from the picture above, I again plumped for a Polo, my fifth. Was it really going to be anything else?

A 2001-model GTI, it has a 1.6-litre, 125bhp VVT engine, and is seemingly a lot of car for the money. With ABS, CD player, digital air-conditioning/climate control, EDL, headlamp washers, power-steering, remote central locking, sport seats and xenon headlights, it ticks all the equipment boxes, and the fact that it looks natty with its 15-inch BBS alloys and Reflex Silver paintwork sealed the deal. It’s only covered 67,000 miles, too and comes with an almost solely Volkswagen Retailer stamped up service book. There are some little bits and pieces that need sorting naturally (it is a 10 year-old car after all), but that’s half the fun. The interior needs a good clean, too , but it’s nothing an afternoon of elbow grease shouldn’t sort out.

I’ve got no plans for the car apart from the initial tidy up, as I’d like to keep it standard. The first parts have been bought – a set of mudflaps to protect the paintwork, and also a replacement whip aerial mast to replace the corroded chrome one that’s on the car at the moment. There were things to look out for, though. Volkswagen issued a pedal box recall around seven years ago, and this car’s been done, and it’s also had a recent cambelt change. The gearbox feels fine too, as these can cause problems.

At 38, is it my ‘mid-life crisis’ car? I don’t think so, it’s just a much more sensible option for these modern times we live in (although not as sensible as a three-cylinder TDI might have been, of which I only saw three advertised at a 2000-2002 vintage). Yes the Clio 172 would have been more fun in an enthusiast sense, but the possibly flaky build and cheap-looking interior did it no favours. Have I made the right choice? I’m hoping my first foray into GTI ownership will be as much of a pleasure to own as its driveway predecessors, but only time will tell. But, when your other half tells you it’s a good-looking car, you know you could be onto a winner.