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-   -   Volkswagen Polo 1.2L GT TSI : Official Review (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/official-new-car-reviews/135550-volkswagen-polo-1-2l-gt-tsi-official-review-483.html)

To all Polo owners with the Euro Spec Sach struts:

I had mentioned in a previous post that my car would experience a 'snapping' motion in the rear whenever I would go over a bump/pothole.

• Has anyone else experienced this as well?
• Would this be considered normal?
• What options do I have to stop/reduce the snapping motion?
• Would adding lowering springs help alleviate the issue?

Any inputs would be appreciated.

Hi,
Great post and pictures. Can you please share what route did you take and the condition of the roads?

Thanks a bunch.

Has anyone driven the 1L Polo, and compared the ride with the 1.2L GT? I own both, and found the 1L (mine is with the manual 6 speed, entirely driven on the highways) to have a very different character. Its ride is mature, compliant, and quite balanced, though not as soft and comfy as Hondas. Handling too is amazing, with body roll eliminated almost entirely, compared to my GT that shows roll while cornering above 60kph.

I was wondering if the 1L suspension can be added to the old GT, and at what cost. Like most here, I need to slow down to a crawl for most broken roads in Bangalore, and ride is important.

Btw, the 1L steering feel, though very precise, feelsome, and smooth, is much lighter that the GT, and I much prefer that older heavier steering feel. The incredible boot closing thud of the GT is also missing on the 1L, and the cabin lets in 'air noise' at speed. The 1L still doesn't get a humble boot lamp :Frustrati

Hi - wanted to take some advise. I currently own a Polo GT TSI 2017 model. Have completed 95k driving primarily in city traffic and still on OEM DSG gearbox (touchwood!). My 7th year warranty is expiring end of Feb 2024.
In 2 minds, if I should upgrade to Taigun or Kushaq primarily due to warranty expiring (or) stick on with polo for few more years considering its practicality for city usage and also fact we don’t get such well built cars anymore.

Thanks

I would say sell it. Only owners with low to medium usage can afford to keep an ageing VW car.

Keep:

1. You like Polo a lot and prefer this to replacement options.
2. You want to rationalise spending on a potential DSG repair as that would be cheaper than 15-20L new car purchase.
3. You don't mind some downtime as you may have other cars in the garage to serve while the Polo goes for a repair
4. Polo will remain unique as the best "compact" driver's car - so it's a keeper if you are in love with it - but unfortunately VW cars are not high mileage friendly.

Sell:

1. You like the replacement options such as Taigun better and bored of Polo.
2. You hate spending big $$$ on a car with low resale value (even though it's cheaper to repair Polo vs buying a new Taigun). Basically, Polo isn't that special to bother with expensive DSG repair.
3. You can't afford downtime and you don't like the prospect of owning an out-of-warranty VW cars.
4. High mileage VW ownership is a big commitment - one needs to be in love with the car to put up with the hassle.

I recently bought a 7 year old Polo GT, although the running was very low but still an old and out of warranty car. For city usage it's a perfectly good car, specially with the 1.2 TSI Engine and the DSG gearbox. Someone who has experienced the quality and the nifty features of the polo, would be a little disappointed of the 2.0 cars. They are good, but have that something is missing feeling.

My suggestion is to use your car for a long time, upgrade it a bit, get new seat covers, New alloys, get the latest generation radio which has android auto/car play and supports camera. And the car would feel a bit fresh and with new features.

Absolutely correct. I have a 2017 GT TSI as well, and it has all the features that a luxury car may have. Some are such useful features which I don't think any other car in the next 2-3 segments has. Some that come to my immediate mind are: ability to roll windows for few seconds even after you turn off totally. Remote rolling up/down of windows. Auto up/down on all 4 windows, auto wipers, auto locking when the last open door closes.. the list just goes wow..
All these after getting the basics right; gem of an engine and a butter smooth gearbox. I can never think of selling it. I am going to keep it as long as it runs with all the probable repairs it warrants.

Firstly take extensive test drives of what is available to purchase. That's what prompted me to buy a used Polo despite a budget of 20+lacs.

Coming from someone who bought a new Vento tsi in 2014 and used it for 1.2lac km over 8 years, and then bought a used 2017 polo GT, 9/10 days I prefer my car over the new MQB IN cars. I have upgraded and added features and am still adding new ones everyday. I would suggest a visit to the ASC to get your K1 and K2 (clutch1 and 2) values evaluated. They just might be on the way out and maybe just maybe the mechatronic might be close to failure. Most ASCs will assist in warranty replacement for both as they are prone to failure. That would give you peace of mind regarding the DSG.

However, if the newer car with newer gizmos or just the new car itch has struck you, then by all means you should sell the Polo for a newer car. The Polo GT still commands a good resale. Selling while the car is in warranty should fetch you a good price 5-6 lacs in Delhi NCR for a well maintained, under warranty example.

When in doubt, money in the bank is usually a better option (that's what adult me thinks) .

There will be tonnes of advice but for us enthusiasts the better choice is the one which gets a smile on our face on every drive.

I have a 2014 Polo TDI, which I have had since 2016.

It's a case of which of us dies first, the Polo or me :D.

The only thing (barring Fairy-Godmother riches!) that I'd want to change it for would be the TSI. The luxury of not changing gear combined with a highly responsive drive.

I wouldn't want it to be younger than yours, because of the subsequent feature loss that you describe.

Thank you anrodev, yesyeswe, penpavan, hellraiser _yank, thad_e_ginathom for your valuable inputs and sharing your experiences. Humbled to see the responses from fellow enthusiasts. Gives enough motivation for me to continue driving my polo:). The only hesitation was the DSG gear box, but other than that no other second thought owning this car. Of late I do notice more jerkiness while downshifting especially when braking over potholes, I will probably get the DSG reset at the next service and also see if I could get the clutch plates 1, 2 replaced as suggested above. Hopefully that should smoothen the drive.
The new car itch did bite me last year as well, I am also a proud owner of a Linea Tjet 2016 model which I was in similar minds to replace a year back but later changed my mind as found a good local FNG to take care of it. Decided to stick with that car for as long as possible, it has completed around 70k and that’s been my first love! There’s definitely some emotional bonding owning these cars, very difficult to part with them especially considering they don’t make such fantastic cars anymore.

If you haven't gotten the Gearbox and Mechatronics fluids replaced till now then please do so.

It is a fact of life that cost of ownership increases with the age of the car. Warranty is a thing of the past (which is where you began this conversation) and we will simply have to take the hits as things break, at least until we decide perhaps that is enough is enough.

Maybe if I had a TSI I'd include the risk of one one DSG failure. But it is only a risk, not at all a certainty. OK, in terms of spare parts it is certainly a biggy, and would make for an expensive year! But you have to divide that by all the years you have the car.

Drive and be happy!

PS... Independent garages: There is at least one VAG specialist in Chennai. I forget the details, but I know he is not close for me. I go to Ignite on ECR. it might be worth getting some specialist, qualified advice on your gearbox, but maybe not from a dealer service.

Timely question (for me) by Subrasri, and valuable inputs by other owners. I am also thinking of changing my 2016 Polo GT 1.2 TSI to something like the Kia Seltos GT line.

Has anyone here driven the Kia Seltos GT line and can share feedback? It's packed to the gill with features. I know it's tough to compare with the Polo GT (I end up comparing every other car in and around this category with the Polo GT :))

Though I like (and prefer) the subtleness of the Polo (and any VW car) and not to mention the amazing driving experience with the DSG/engine combo, it is tempting esp if the existing Polo can fetch a good deal. Also, my kids are growing up, and the cramped rear seat and trunk capacity is starting to get annoying.

Thanks to this group for all the sage advice, as always.

One thing I like about the Polo is it's size, or rather lack of it. I have no wish to drive a bigger car.

I do recognise that it is an ideal car for one or two, occasionally more. I would agree that it is not the ideal car for a growing family. That could have been it's bigger brother, the Golf, but India never had that choice.

One big reason for me to stay away from Maruti, Hyundai and Kia- SAFETY. These brands have exhibited double standards in metallurgy and construction for domestic and export models. For the seltos i remember looking at a diagram which demonstrates the difference in metallurgy and construction for the front end and A Pillar.

I would recommend the tatas, mahindras and of course the VAG models. I have a taigun in the family. Even though it's a 1.0 AT. The suspension is quite supple seemed perfectly tuned for NCR roads with undulations without being too stiff or too boaty. Though not comparable in quality with the earlier Polos but still feels way better than the Seltos IVT in the family. The seltos has also aged poorly with regards to switch finishes wearing off and and key fob ageing in under 2 years of use.

My personal philosophy now that I'm in my 30s is safety first. And self admittedly I'm averse to big screens and gimmicks as it takes away from the driving experience for me.