Polo Driver

Head over to the Times Online to read a first drive of Volkswagen’s latest pocket rocket by Clarkson. Yes, that Clarkson. A self-confessed lover of Golf GTIs old and new, does he like the hot Polo? A fan of the outgoing Polo GTI with 148bhp which appeared in 2006, he takes a long time to deliver his verdict. Read the Times Online’s mini-test – which first appeared in the Sunday Times – to find out (if you’re still with him at the end of the article – skip to about halfway through to read specifically about the new Polo GTI).

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Tying in neatly with its 2010 Polo GTI vs SEAT Ibiza Bocanegra twin test, Auto Express has put an immaculate 1991 Polo G40 through its paces on the same Welsh roads as the modern in-house rivals. Owned by Volkswagen Classic in Germany, the Nineties Polo even has a very apt ‘WOB-PO-40’ licence plate. The Polo G40 became a top-flight mainstay in the Polo range in 1991, following small volume production runs on the continent in the mid-1980s. Sharing supercharging as a means of propulsion (the new Polo GTI also has a turbocharger), the 113bhp ‘coupé’ weighed a flyweight 830kg and could crack 60mph from rest in only 8.1 seconds. Rawer than the latest model, read how the UK motoring magazine seemed to enjoy the driving experience.

[Image: Nathan Morgan/Auto Express]

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The latest issue of UK car news weekly Auto Express goes one better than its recent 2010 Polo GTI first drive by pitting VW’s latest performance newcomer against the SEAT Ibiza Bocanegra. Possibly the hot Polo’s most obvious rival, its Spanish rival packs the same 178bhp punch, provided by the same 1.4-litre TSI engine and coupled to the same seven-speed, paddle-operated DSG gearbox. Unsurprisingly, both sprint from 0 to 62mph in 6.9 seconds, but the Ibiza is only £17,245 compared to the Polo’s basic price of £18,275. Which car wins? We’ll leave you to head over here to read the twin test and find out the answer.

[Image: Nathan Morgan/Auto Express]

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The current issue of monthly independent VW title Volkswagen Driver features three pages on Rachel Inglis’s 1981 Derby GLS. We saw the car at the recent Stanford Hall event (coincidentally where the photos for the magazine feature were taken) and it really is a stunner. With only 21,000 miles on the clock since new, its paintwork gleams and the interior looks like brand new. Find out more in the June 2010 issue of Volkswagen Driver magazine on sale now.

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These first drive reports have literally just pinged into our inbox. Fresh from Volkswagen’s Nurbürging 24-hour race Polo GTI driving event, the two UK motoring weeklies have today delivered their verdicts on the Polo we’ve all been waiting for. They’re – not surprisingly - conflicting verdicts, too. Auto Express states in its drive that, ‘The steering is well weighted and offers good feedback. Body roll is also virtually non-existent, thanks to firmer springs and dampers.’ Autocar’s verdict (which is more relevant for enthusiasts) is delivered in the video below. One verdict is the same, though; that of price. At £18,275, the 2010 Polo GTI is priced above arguably more able – but less refined – competitors.

Edit, 19 May 2010: Autocar‘s written verdict on the 2010 Volkswagen Polo GTI has been posted online today. The Auto Express first drive is in the current issue of the magazine, while the Autocar write-up will be in print next week.

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