Another "Made in ZA" motor lands in Bangalore - VW Polo 1.6

kiran1103 · 5th September 2010, 10:16

Guys,

Another Polo 1.6 thread!!! Due to time contraints just a short review and detailed will be out later.

Journey:

Having owned Merc A140 and BMW 3 series in London I was a fan of german technology. So when I relocated to Bangalore last year kept thinking which one to take. After a wait of almost a year finally decided and bought home Polo 1.6. The specs are amazing and trust me it hasnt disappointed me till now.

100kms till now

Took delivery on Friday the 3rd September evening, and went straight to temple. Next day went bit longer for another temple and took pics on the way.

Initial thoughts

What an amazing piece of engineering. The accelaration is like butter. The pick up is not that instataneous and felt that low torque is not that great. Sometimes in 2nd gear it feels as if I am on 3rd and lacks the pull, neverthless it manages to progress gradually to a roar. Its not a kind of peppy engines like santro or esteem. btw I upgraded from santro here. I think german cars have the same kind of feel. Even the Mercedes A140 had a sedated pick up, but definately not underpowered. sabrina and poloman may second this. I am driving it within 4k rpm and have not gone beyong 70-80 kph. The MFD display is good but gives false positives. For example, when I took delivery the SP said you may have to fill it at nearest station. The MFD showed 20 kms but as I travelled back within 10 kms it showed 0kms. Its multiples of 5km but still had to fill it at HP for 10 litres and later brimed the tank at Shell with Premium fuel.

Having a naughty child of 3 years, it was bit inconveniet that even if its centrally locked the lever when pulled will open the door. Also the window lock is only for rear. Thats the way its meant to be in European countries where child should be seated on child seat with belts on.

Engine nose is negligible from inside but from outside feel bit vocal. Overheating is present but I feel its normal due to engine being new.

Accessories

I havent put any accessories till now but plan to put floor mats and mud flaps on front only. Also planning to put seat covers which match the interiors. Looking for set covers and if anyone has this installed in bangalore let me know?

Okk rest in upcoming post. Enjoy the pics for now.

blackasta · 5th September 2010, 10:23

Let me be the first one to congratulate you Kiran - the German machine with an African heart looks awesome (should feel even more awesome to you!!)
I guess there are more 1.6 polos in tbhp than 1.2 polos!
P.S - keep an eye out for that overheating part.

sdp1975 · 5th September 2010, 10:32

Lovely pics there, Polo looks beautiful in red.

Wishing you many miles of happy and safe driving.

btw, are these pics taken off the NICE road ?

EARTHed · 5th September 2010, 10:32

Congrats Kiran. POLO looks best in Red.

Yet another POLO 1.6 in Bangalore. Here is the link.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/2056210-post551.html

Brix · 5th September 2010, 10:43

Congrats Kiran - you live near Palace Grounds?

kiran1103 · 5th September 2010, 10:46

@sdp1975 - Yes these pics are taken off NICE road.

@Brix : No, but i took delivery of this car near palace cross

theragingbull · 5th September 2010, 11:36

Excellent choice!! Congrats on the 1.6. Looks hot in red as always

Pancham · 5th September 2010, 11:37

Hey Congrats on the 1.6!! That "World Car of the Year" sticker must be making you very proud.

GeekSrik · 5th September 2010, 11:45

Kiran could you let me know how much it cost you? on the road?

nowwhat? · 5th September 2010, 13:21

Congratulations, kiran1103!

I guess you got your 1.6 one day before me...

My feeling is this is a great car to drive on the highway. It is not a car where you kick the accelerator and get sudden burst a power to overtake another vehicle, I think is is more of a car where in a relatively small period of time it gets up to high speeds without the driver even realizing.

Engine heating, I too felt it was maybe a little too hot. Not sure if this is a problem.

Dr.AD · 5th September 2010, 14:53

Congratulation, kiran1103! This is a very beautiful car, and looks stunning in red!

I have not driven Polo 1.6, but when I drove some other 1.6 petrols available in India, I got the same feeling of weak second gear. I guess this is a common problem across the board and not limited to just one or two cars.

Also, I would not read too much into the accuracy of MFD when you are so low on the range. The MFD will be reasonably accurate when the range is in a few hundred kilometers, but when it is down to a few tens of kilometers, the MFD will always be inaccurate. In fact, in many cars with such MFDs (both in India and abroad) I have observed that the range numbers are always pretty vague. They just extrapolate based on your last driving data and the moment your next driving differs from the immediate past, the range becomes meaningless. There isn't a good solution to this problem anyways, since nobody can predict your next driving profile. Even the best of the algorithms can often be very poor for extrapolation.

By the way, can you elaborate on the engine overheating part? I haven't heard of any new engines overheating due to the newness alone, so I felt this is a bit weird.

Congrats again and looking forward to more detailed ownership experiences!

-AD

Thad E Ginathom · 5th September 2010, 15:19

Nice to read your review, particularly in the light of the cars you have been used to in UK.

Quote:

Thats the way its meant to be in European countries where child should be seated on child seat with belts on.

that is the way it should be here too: please make sure you and your family are belted in and your child has a proper, secure, child seat! The risks are the same (only higher) in India, so why make it any different? Do check out the thread on child seats

cityvic · 5th September 2010, 15:20

Congrats on your new car.Btw your car looks HOT.

Would suggest you to get your alloys painted white or black,both would look killer.

avishar · 5th September 2010, 15:28

Congrats kiran she sure is a looker!
For seat covers sadabrina has done a wonderful job of matching his covers to the interior.You could try and get something similiar in bangalore.

ventoman · 5th September 2010, 18:33

Congratulations Kiran.

Its raining Polos in Team-BHP and Bangalore recently!!

5th September 2010, 10:16	#1
kiran1103 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bangalore/London Posts: 126 Thanked: Once	Another "Made in ZA" motor lands in Bangalore - VW Polo 1.6 Guys, Another Polo 1.6 thread!!! Due to time contraints just a short review and detailed will be out later. Journey: Having owned Merc A140 and BMW 3 series in London I was a fan of german technology. So when I relocated to Bangalore last year kept thinking which one to take. After a wait of almost a year finally decided and bought home Polo 1.6. The specs are amazing and trust me it hasnt disappointed me till now. 100kms till now Took delivery on Friday the 3rd September evening, and went straight to temple. Next day went bit longer for another temple and took pics on the way. Initial thoughts What an amazing piece of engineering. The accelaration is like butter. The pick up is not that instataneous and felt that low torque is not that great. Sometimes in 2nd gear it feels as if I am on 3rd and lacks the pull, neverthless it manages to progress gradually to a roar. Its not a kind of peppy engines like santro or esteem. btw I upgraded from santro here. I think german cars have the same kind of feel. Even the Mercedes A140 had a sedated pick up, but definately not underpowered. sabrina and poloman may second this. I am driving it within 4k rpm and have not gone beyong 70-80 kph. The MFD display is good but gives false positives. For example, when I took delivery the SP said you may have to fill it at nearest station. The MFD showed 20 kms but as I travelled back within 10 kms it showed 0kms. Its multiples of 5km but still had to fill it at HP for 10 litres and later brimed the tank at Shell with Premium fuel. Having a naughty child of 3 years, it was bit inconveniet that even if its centrally locked the lever when pulled will open the door. Also the window lock is only for rear. Thats the way its meant to be in European countries where child should be seated on child seat with belts on. Engine nose is negligible from inside but from outside feel bit vocal. Overheating is present but I feel its normal due to engine being new. Accessories I havent put any accessories till now but plan to put floor mats and mud flaps on front only. Also planning to put seat covers which match the interiors. Looking for set covers and if anyone has this installed in bangalore let me know? Okk rest in upcoming post. Enjoy the pics for now. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by kiran1103 : 5th September 2010 at 10:19. Reason: typo
	() Thanks

5th September 2010, 10:23	#2
blackasta Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: WB 26 Posts: 3,406 Thanked: 2,917 Times View My Garage	Let me be the first one to congratulate you Kiran - the German machine with an African heart looks awesome (should feel even more awesome to you!!) I guess there are more 1.6 polos in tbhp than 1.2 polos! P.S - keep an eye out for that overheating part. Last edited by blackasta : 5th September 2010 at 10:25.
	() Thanks

5th September 2010, 10:32	#3
sdp1975 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,700 Thanked: 1,273 Times View My Garage	Lovely pics there, Polo looks beautiful in red. Wishing you many miles of happy and safe driving. btw, are these pics taken off the NICE road ? Last edited by sdp1975 : 5th September 2010 at 10:33.
	() Thanks

5th September 2010, 10:32	#4
EARTHed BANNED Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Greater Bangalore Posts: 420 Thanked: 39 Times	Congrats Kiran. POLO looks best in Red. Yet another POLO 1.6 in Bangalore. Here is the link. http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/2056210-post551.html
	() Thanks

5th September 2010, 10:43	#5
Brix BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Chennai Posts: 585 Thanked: 24 Times	Congrats Kiran - you live near Palace Grounds?
	() Thanks

5th September 2010, 10:46	#6
kiran1103 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bangalore/London Posts: 126 Thanked: Once	@sdp1975 - Yes these pics are taken off NICE road. @Brix : No, but i took delivery of this car near palace cross
	() Thanks

5th September 2010, 11:36	#7
theragingbull Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,601 Thanked: 646 Times View My Garage	Excellent choice!! Congrats on the 1.6. Looks hot in red as always
	() Thanks

5th September 2010, 11:37	#8
Pancham Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kolkata/NCR Posts: 1,754 Thanked: 2,651 Times	Hey Congrats on the 1.6!! That "World Car of the Year" sticker must be making you very proud.
	() Thanks

5th September 2010, 11:45	#9
GeekSrik Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,281 Thanked: 22 Times View My Garage	Kiran could you let me know how much it cost you? on the road?
	() Thanks

5th September 2010, 13:21	#10
nowwhat? BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 444 Thanked: 48 Times	Congratulations, kiran1103! I guess you got your 1.6 one day before me... My feeling is this is a great car to drive on the highway. It is not a car where you kick the accelerator and get sudden burst a power to overtake another vehicle, I think is is more of a car where in a relatively small period of time it gets up to high speeds without the driver even realizing. Engine heating, I too felt it was maybe a little too hot. Not sure if this is a problem.
	() Thanks

5th September 2010, 14:53	#11
Dr.AD Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Bangalore/Pune Posts: 1,803 Thanked: 18,627 Times	Congratulation, kiran1103! This is a very beautiful car, and looks stunning in red! I have not driven Polo 1.6, but when I drove some other 1.6 petrols available in India, I got the same feeling of weak second gear. I guess this is a common problem across the board and not limited to just one or two cars. Also, I would not read too much into the accuracy of MFD when you are so low on the range. The MFD will be reasonably accurate when the range is in a few hundred kilometers, but when it is down to a few tens of kilometers, the MFD will always be inaccurate. In fact, in many cars with such MFDs (both in India and abroad) I have observed that the range numbers are always pretty vague. They just extrapolate based on your last driving data and the moment your next driving differs from the immediate past, the range becomes meaningless. There isn't a good solution to this problem anyways, since nobody can predict your next driving profile. Even the best of the algorithms can often be very poor for extrapolation. By the way, can you elaborate on the engine overheating part? I haven't heard of any new engines overheating due to the newness alone, so I felt this is a bit weird. Congrats again and looking forward to more detailed ownership experiences! -AD Last edited by Dr.AD : 5th September 2010 at 14:56.
	() Thanks

5th September 2010, 15:20	#13
cityvic Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Calcutta Posts: 1,763 Thanked: 3,304 Times View My Garage	Congrats on your new car.Btw your car looks HOT. Would suggest you to get your alloys painted white or black,both would look killer.
	() Thanks

5th September 2010, 15:28	#14
avishar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: kolkata/bangalore,india Posts: 2,901 Thanked: 4,143 Times	Congrats kiran she sure is a looker! For seat covers sadabrina has done a wonderful job of matching his covers to the interior.You could try and get something similiar in bangalore.
	() Thanks

5th September 2010, 18:33	#15
ventoman BHPian Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Blr/London Posts: 316 Thanked: 180 Times	Congratulations Kiran. Its raining Polos in Team-BHP and Bangalore recently!!
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