Volkswagen Polo : Test Drive & Review

sheetumanu · 3rd May 2010, 11:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chethan B G

Any idea when is the Diesel launch? When will the car be available for a TD. Poloman @ Can you please try to get this info when you are at the dealership?

I can ask them. But they may give me a different answer since I have booked a Diesel.

Laxminarayan @ Congratulations! Will wait for your Thread. What was your waiting period? Give full details on the additional display you have for Highline. Also details on Accessories.

Did anyone happen to see the VW Polo Diesel Ad on the last page of TOI today. I somehow liked the campaign text. Here are the excerpts (AFAI remember):

VW Polo Diesel Mileage Test:
1. Clean and dry out a 1.0 liter bottle.
2. Fill it with diesel and empty it into Polo's fuel tank.
3. Cross you fingers and drive 22 kms through jungle.

By the way, I checked with VW Noida dealer and he told me that diesel TD vehicles would arrive aroun 15~20 May.

poloman · 3rd May 2010, 11:42

Ya even I was surprised by the boldness of VW. It takes real guts to come out with an ad like this.

sheetumanu · 3rd May 2010, 11:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by poloman

Ya even I was surprised by the boldness of VW. It takes real guts to come out with an ad like this.

Very true Poloman; What if a gutsy someone goes out and puts Polo Diesel to the said test?

Keeping my fingers crossed (as VW said)

steve82 · 3rd May 2010, 14:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheetumanu

Very true Poloman; What if a gutsy someone goes out and puts Polo Diesel to the said test?

Keeping my fingers crossed (as VW said)

I think VW did the same 100 times before giving this in writing..
@ CBG,Poloman - Any idea about the Fog Lamp cost? I'll be getting my car Tomorrow...yippeeeeee

sachinsumant · 3rd May 2010, 17:35

hi Guys..
If we have the Fog Lamps fitted by the VW Workshops guys,would the fit and finish be similar to the one's in the highline,or would it be a compromise..

Also i asked the SP ,he told me the knob on the interiors wouldnt be similar to the one in the highline,is it true?Any idea ?(Remember on the highline its a pull/push knob for fog lamps..)

Thanks,
Sachin.

gkoneti · 3rd May 2010, 18:55

Please see the VW Polo Diesel Ad. The Fine print says it is as per the Rule 115 of CMVR which means Central Motor Vehicle Rules of 1989. I am surprised how VW so boldly said it would give 22km that too in a jungle. ARAI test track would be vastly different from the jungle.

quadmaniac · 3rd May 2010, 19:40

@gkoneti - agreed. If this was the US, perhaps someone would have tried it and actually sued VW if the car stopped at 21.9 km :-D

HammerHead · 3rd May 2010, 20:06

The advt. shows VW's desperation to sell its junk 1.2ltr 3-pot diesel engine, junk compared to the current diesels we have.

I remember how Jeremy Clarkson made fun of Hyundai Accent 1.5ltr 3-pot diesel on his show TopGear. I wish one day he drives their own VW Polo 1.2ltr 3-pot diesel.

For those who missed that TopGear episode, here is the link.

YouTube - Cheap Korean and Malaysian cars?! (Top Gear) HQ [Part 1]

Zero Cool · 3rd May 2010, 20:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chethan B G

No information on the part list. Side view mirror can be spray painted. I think generally it would cost 1.5k. But with VW it could be more. But the paint quality will be far better. Fog lamps should be possible. Get it done from VW dealer itself. Bottom line is - do not cut any wires.

I confirmed with VW. painting the mirror and handles will cost 4.5k. it costed me about 3k in my accent viva crdi 4 years back. anyways i do expect the paint and the paintjob to be better on the polo.

poloman · 3rd May 2010, 21:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by HammerHead

The advt. shows VW's desperation to sell its junk 1.2ltr 3-pot diesel engine, junk compared to the current diesels we have.

I remember how Jeremy Clarkson made fun of Hyundai Accent 1.5ltr 3-pot diesel on his show TopGear. I wish one day he drives their own VW Polo 1.2ltr 3-pot diesel.

For those who missed that TopGear episode, here is the link.
YouTube - Cheap Korean and Malaysian cars?! (Top Gear) HQ [Part 1]

Surprised to know having good mileage qualifies to be junk! Interested to know about the shortcomings (other than the refinement) of this motor in your opinion.

kadri007 · 3rd May 2010, 21:06

Looking at the 900 odd sales figures, will VW be able to deliver 5000 bookings in 3 months waiting period.

HammerHead · 3rd May 2010, 22:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by poloman

Surprised to know having good mileage qualifies to be junk! Interested to know about the shortcomings (other than the refinement) of this motor in your opinion.

I would say apart from good FE there is nothing that I can see in this engine.

GTO has put forward following points regarding VW's 1.2ltr 3-pot engine.

Quote:

The oil-burner is rather unresponsive below 2,100 rpms; whether you’re stepping on the gas a little or you have the pedal buried in the carpet below makes no difference. Turbo-lag is on the higher side and power delivery peaky. The times that you are at 10 kph in 2nd gear, and spot a gap in traffic to squeeze through, staying in the same gear will get you nowhere. The actual useable powerband is pretty narrow. A punchy mid-range, and the expected fuel efficiency, are probably the only redeeming qualities of this diesel. The diesel sounds crude in an old school way, including at regular city speeds.

If FE alone could have made an engine great then TATA's engines are the best!!

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/1859789-post44.html

Chethan B G · 3rd May 2010, 22:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by gkoneti

Please see the VW Polo Diesel Ad. The Fine print says it is as per the Rule 115 of CMVR which means Central Motor Vehicle Rules of 1989. I am surprised how VW so boldly said it would give 22km that too in a jungle. ARAI test track would be vastly different from the jungle.

I agree. This is one of the most stupid Ad I have ever seen. May be the Ad designer could have got carried away by ARAI test report.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HammerHead

The advt. shows VW's desperation to sell its junk 1.2ltr 3-pot diesel engine, junk compared to the current diesels we have.

This Diesel is definitely not the best in the market. I have driven i20 and Punto MJD. i20 is superb, Punto MJD is also very good. With VJT being added to Punto sports, it can beat i20. But as we all know, only an Engine does not make the car! Polo as a complete car is Superb. Have no doubt about it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kadri007

Looking at the 900 odd sales figures, will VW be able to deliver 5000 bookings in 3 months waiting period.

I doubt, unless they change gear at the earliest. This is one of the worst launches I have witnessed. They have not planned it well. Add to that the inexperience of there dealers in handling numbers, it can be a mess.

Friends, please visit my new thread and post your opinion.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...-approach.html

Zero Cool · 3rd May 2010, 23:34

^^^ so true sir, infact engine imo is the weakest link in polo.(its decent but impresses us the least compared to the other positives of the car)

shubhodeepdas@g · 4th May 2010, 00:50

The only bad point about the Polo I found was the 3 cylinder harsh engine at that price point (TD Petrol). The engine need not have 4 cylinders but it needs to be as smooth as the rest of the car is.

The next itch would be the headlamp. Why can't it just have the same one from the European model. Hoping that changes with the 1.6.

3rd May 2010, 11:42	#1112
poloman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,327 Thanked: 5,915 Times	Ya even I was surprised by the boldness of VW. It takes real guts to come out with an ad like this.
	() Thanks

3rd May 2010, 17:35	#1115
sachinsumant BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Faridabad Posts: 29 Thanked: Once	hi Guys.. If we have the Fog Lamps fitted by the VW Workshops guys,would the fit and finish be similar to the one's in the highline,or would it be a compromise.. Also i asked the SP ,he told me the knob on the interiors wouldnt be similar to the one in the highline,is it true?Any idea ?(Remember on the highline its a pull/push knob for fog lamps..) Thanks, Sachin.
	() Thanks

3rd May 2010, 18:55	#1116
gkoneti BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 126 Thanked: 67 Times	Please see the VW Polo Diesel Ad. The Fine print says it is as per the Rule 115 of CMVR which means Central Motor Vehicle Rules of 1989. I am surprised how VW so boldly said it would give 22km that too in a jungle. ARAI test track would be vastly different from the jungle. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

3rd May 2010, 19:40	#1117
quadmaniac BHPian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 433 Thanked: 119 Times	@gkoneti - agreed. If this was the US, perhaps someone would have tried it and actually sued VW if the car stopped at 21.9 km :-D
	() Thanks

3rd May 2010, 21:06	#1121
kadri007 BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bangalore/Mangalore Posts: 433 Thanked: 7 Times	Looking at the 900 odd sales figures, will VW be able to deliver 5000 bookings in 3 months waiting period.
	() Thanks

3rd May 2010, 23:34	#1124
Zero Cool BHPian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 202 Thanked: 6 Times	^^^ so true sir, infact engine imo is the weakest link in polo.(its decent but impresses us the least compared to the other positives of the car)
	() Thanks

4th May 2010, 00:50	#1125
shubhodeepdas@g BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 386 Thanked: 558 Times View My Garage	The only bad point about the Polo I found was the 3 cylinder harsh engine at that price point (TD Petrol). The engine need not have 4 cylinders but it needs to be as smooth as the rest of the car is. The next itch would be the headlamp. Why can't it just have the same one from the European model. Hoping that changes with the 1.6.
	() Thanks