2010 Polo GTI: the UK’s Autocar and Auto Express deliver their first verdicts
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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Does anyone really expect it to be as raw as a Clio RS though? I don’t buy a VW hatch for that, I buy it because it will drive like its tail is on fire when it’s required, and then when I fancy a relaxing crawl through traffic with the climate on full, it will reward me with luxury. The Golf GTI is the same, but has always had a slightly more dynamic chassis. The Polo GTI is delivering exactly what we expect. And yes, I have one on order.
We agree, Luke.
It’s horses for courses in the hot hatch market, and though hot Polos may have fallen short of the dynamic benchmark in the class, they’ve always provided laid-back thrills when they’re needed and luxurious surroundings when they’re not.
For 90% of prospective owners, the 2010 car will provide all they want; good looks, fantastic build and quality, and no doubt the best residuals in the class.
Oh, and we envy you!
Absolutely. We had ordered an Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra, which would have actually cost us more in the long run due to poor residuals, than the more expensive Polo GTI. Horses for courses.
I don’t know if anyone has realised this, but there is no six-speed manual gearbox. For any car, there should be a manual in the range. Were I to contemplate buying a Polo GTI, I would (dare I say this Rich) probably buy a Golf GTI instead, as there is so much more involvement with a manual. Don’t get me wrong, but that would go a long way to making the Polo GTI the car it should always be… on the mettle. I shall try to enquire the next time i find myself in Wolfsburg, and maybe see if I can get a test drive too. Who knows, there might be a manual one?
If VW were to offer it with a manual, the price would be below the Cupra and Fabia vRS. VW wont do this, its marketing suicide. Due to the other brands not offering a manual either, it will not happen.
The Golf GTI would cost you £6k more at a minumum. Thats a lot for a manual gearbox.
I have owned a Mk5 Golf GTI with DSG, it was a revelation. The DSG box is sublime, i would not own another top end VW without DSG. Its fantastic.
Emissions and EU5 co2 levels mean that this is an easy way for manufacturers to reduce their co2 levels of the cars. I suspect all cars will come with similar boxes at some stage.
Eagerly anticipating the delivery of mine in October which I ordered at the beginning of June. Love the DSG box that we have had in a Golf, extremely versatile and well suited to easy driving or putting pedal to the metal as necessary. As for alternatives, looked at the rest but VW quality prevailed in my mind.
I ordered mine earlier this year and I was promised to have it by July, it’s a whole month past the delivery date and still nobody can tell me when the car is going into production, including the very dealer I ordered the car from. Is anybody else in the same position as me but maybe with a bit more info regarding delivery date?
Only spuds order cars sight unseen with little detail and no test drive.
Ordered mine on the 5th July and had a call last week telling me that the build date was 6th September, delivery expected 3 weeks later approx. Dealership has been good keeping me informed.
Was notified of a confirmed build date of “week 38″ for mine at the end of July and expect handover in October. My dealer confirmed that this still stands as of last week.
I cancelled our order in the end. Wasn’t prepared to wait indefinitely for VW to decide when our car would eventually go into build. Promised July initially, then August, then September. So on the 4th July we cancelled the order and ordered a Clio RS Gordini and took delivery 11 days later.
All was going well till a Harley crashed into us yesterday, but Renault Assistance have been superb so far, and handled everything including a Mini Cooper S hire car.
Any UK dealerships promising delivery for July/August were talking through their exhausts. First production runs were Germany bound followed by the UK and others. We were never destined to get our hands on the car until late summer/autumn.
Hi all
Would anyone be interested in joining the PoloDriver team as an occasional long-term tester/owner’s opinion when their car arrives?
I’d happily act as a long term reviewer if the car ever arrives – ordered over three months ago and not even a confirmed build date as yet – the dealer’s revised delivery estimate of late October is starting to sound optimistic and I’m close to cancelling the order. Does anyone know if any UK cars have actually been built yet?
On a happier note, prospective GTI owners who want a good deal should try Mann Egerton in Swindon (through Autobytel) who are offering a 10% discount – haven’t found a better deal.
Hi Mike
That’s great. No so great news about the car, though. I don’t know how Volkswagen could have got it so wrong with the build dates and demand for the car. It’s true that previous Polo GTIs haven’t sold in huge numbers, but even so, you’d expect there to be some available.
When I ordered mine back in July my dealership told me that VW were only allocating a restricted number of GTI’s per dealership. Trying to create demand. My dealership was allowed to order 2. I managed to get the order in and have one of the said cars. For people being messed around I wonder if dealerships are taking the deposits and sitting on the cash knowing that they can’t order the cars on the system just yet as they have exceeded allocation?
Happy to write a review of the car when I get it, still on target for the end of this month.
Mine was ordered with my companies lease company on 11/08/2010. My latest update is week 44 build – 25/10 I believe. Then I’ll get it after it has taken its mammoth journey from Pamplona to Emden to Grimsby to the dealer. Ah well, at least it’s not coming from South Africa like the 5 door standard RHD Polos.
I can’t wait to see a GTI on here belonging to a person rather than press demo cars
Wow Court, at least you have a date! Interesting to note too that the GTIs are built at Pamplona in the old Spanish-built Polo tradition. I’ll be pleased to see a customer car, too, although I’ve not come across any Volkswagen UK press office cars (the two LHD ones went back in the summer).
John – only 2 cars per dealer? That’s why I’ve not seen any at my local two-storey retailer then. Still no UK brochure either. Maybe now we know the reason why. Fingers crossed yours arrives on time. Would be great to have you on board.
Don’t you just hate the lack of information… Having to search foreign VW sites to get your fix?
I’d even started to get worried about the Climatic not being standard as it is not mentioned anywhere on the UK site. But putting 2+2 together the Climatronic option is the same price as on the SEL so it must be.
Talking of which I nearly ordered the SEL TSI at the start of this year to replace my Golf Ed30 company car. I was really looking at downsizing and the TSI looked like it was going to be a great unit on paper but no dealers even had one I could have a go in – Skoda didn’t even have a 1.2 Yeti.
In the end I defected to a Renault Meg Coupe TCe 130 (yes I know!) It arrived in June and already the thing is falling apart – literally! Spanish VW is much better at quality than Spanish Renault. Luckily my colleague is taking the Renault off me so I can get the Polo – Don’t you love hierarchy in companies?
It’s certainly going to be good to get back in a VW. It was a 1.4 Polo SE 6R courtesy car I had when my Golf was last serviced that made me realise what a good car it was.
Now my downsizing will be in full effect – loads a month cheaper on the lease than the Golf and the Company Car tax is 50% cheaper. All that and the Polo is pretty much the same performance as the Ed30 – well, till you get into triple figures anyway!
Interestingly I got lease quotes for the Fab vRS and Ibiza Cupra at the same time as the Polo. The Fab was the same price as the Polo and the Ibiza more expensive.
I didn’t get any options on the Polo. I’m stingy as options are basically paid for in full over the term of the lease and works out around £25 a month per £1000 of options. Any options would reduce any cash I get back for getting a cheaper car than my allowance.
Can you tell I’m looking forward to it?
Just to add to my other posts on here. It seems fairly obvious that those who want to be the early adopters of any new car VW roll off the production line, have to put up with the delay. My sales guy told me that VW always does this with any new model launched. Those wanting to be first have to endure a system not up and running to full capacity. All of us waiting now for our respective cars are still pretty much ahead of the game. When I get it I don’t think I’ll be sat next to too many of the same at the lights.
I’m driving the current GTI Polo in white. It’s been sweet. Had it from new, never given me any probs. However the new one is in a different league. Bring it on… eventually.
The latest estimate I’ve been given is week 41 build and and week 45 delivery, which means a further push back from October to early November. The dealer tells me that the week 40 Pamplona builds were elevated to “confirmed” status this week so is hopeful that my order will finally be confirmed next week but experience suggests that I shouldn’t hold my breath!
John, it sounds like you will be one of the first to actually get your hands on one – has your dealer confirmed that the car is built and on the way?
Hi Mike. Yes, spoke to dealer yesterday, the car has left the factory and is on its way. Even they are excited about getting their hands on it he said as no one has seen one yet.
I told him many had been experiencing problems, delays etc. He said that the factory in South Africa had been having industrial action problems therefore delaying the 5-door, mine is the 3-door European built.
Auto express some time ago reckoned it was going to be a sales smash hit. Maybe too many are ordering for the system to deal with. Oh no, it could end up everywhere like the Mini or Fiat 500.
Hi John
That’s great news. Might be around four weeks then! I don’t think anyone has seen a customer car yet or even one at all, so it should generate lots of interest. Fingers crossed everything goes well from here on in.
Dropped by my dealers last week and they showed me their internal news feed stating that there was “industrial action” at the VW South African Polo production plant with no other useful info stated regarding resolution. So my supposedly week 38, 5-door Polo GTI production is in further limbo… will keep you all posted as to its progress. Glad to hear that others are getting positive news as I’d like to see one in the flesh!
Sorry to hear that BJ. Found out why the strike happened and updated the site; it wasn’t anything to do with Volkswagen but suppliers that the company uses: http://www.polodriver.com/polo-2009/south-african-supplier-strike-hits-right-hand-drive-export-polo-production/
Hi Rich,
Another niggle with the Polo GTI besides the delivery delays is trying to get the factory bluetooth phone capability with the RCD 510 radios, it is an available option, amongst others, on the German VW configurator site but still does not appear on the UK site.
All I can get out of the dealers here and VW customer “service”, is that it’s “NOT AVAILABLE” with no other explanation. It doesn’t make any sense at all bar they’ll slip it in at the next website update.
If you’ve any contacts at all in VW UK, could you perhaps pose the question as to why we can’t have it here in the hope of getting a coherent reason for the unavailability of it? Thanks.
Hi BJ,
My dealer tells me that ‘Richter Sport LTD’ is where they send many VW cars to be fitted with kit. He confirmed that there was no Bluetooth capability on the RCD 510. We all agree that it seems crazy that the German cars can have it but we can’t. A lot of the time the wiring is actually there too. I also opted for the top spec radio so I’m disappointed not to have bluetooth capability bolted on.
Update on delivery. Could be with me by the end of next week/early week after I have been told. We’ll see.
Hi John,
It IS definitely available with the RCD 510… as there’s one sat on our drive in my wife’s very recently delivered Golf Mk 6 Match, and it’s also on the VW Germany configurator options for the Polo GTI!
Granted, there are many other aftermarket bluetooth options available but I would rather have it all OEM factory fitted from the outset so theres no fiddling around trying to retrofit it later with possible consequent damage to the trims/fascia etc.
I just find VW UK is absolutely useless regarding a reason that we can’t have it here (and I have been chasing them about it for months…) if it were space under the dash or other technical reason it would be understandable but its not… as stated earlier in this post, so I can only presume its due to sheer apathy at VW UK HQ in Milton Keynes.
BTW, her car’s RCD 510 with the DAB and phone is fantastic in all aspects, love it!
Great news regarding your GTI’s imminent delivery, am very envious indeed! Enjoy, and do post some pics and info!
I’m afraid that I’ve run out of patience and cancelled my order – I simply can’t wait indefinitely for a confirmed build date. My car is a 3 door so shouldn’t have been effected by the SA problems. I should stress that I have no gripe with the dealer (Mann Egerton in Swindon) – the problem seems to be with VW itself.
Anyway, if there is anyone out there who wants to jump the waiting list and buy a new 3 door GTI in flash red with a few extras (sensor pack, DAB and MFSW), give Richard Brockwell a call. Who knows, I might get my deposit back!
Got a friend who lives and works in Berlin. Speaking today he says that he has finally seen a GTI in the flesh over there. A red one. Parked up in the street. He described it as looking awesome, classy and a lot of fun. (And this is from a guy who gets given a new Merc every 6 months).
I ordered a 3 door version in August 2010 and have been told to expect delivery in 6 to 7 months. So it is not likely to arrive until February or March. It is a company car and the dealer said that was him being pessimistic! Hopefully it will come before then. Find it strange how Court ordered his pretty much at the same time and it will come way before…
Stuck with a Renault Twingo in the meantime. Look forward to hearing when someone has got one. Tend to find myself going onto different websites each day looking for updates. Sad I know!
Hi Alan – what spec did you go for? Did I hear somewhere there are issues supplying the car with Xenons and Pano roofs at the moment?
I’ve just got vanilla basic spec on mine. Going stick an RNS-510 navi in it after a week of it arriving though – much better than the RNS-310 that VW have as an option.
Here’s a link from a German Polo V website on peoples ordering/delivery dates:
http://www.motor-talk.de/forum/ich-habe-ihn-bestellt-gti-sammelthread-t2742081.html?page=48#post25998104
Run it through Google Translate http://translate.google.co.uk
The times vary wildly.
Hello,
Pretty much standard apart from the Shadow Blue metallic paint. Was happy with most of the spec as is and didn’t want to push my budget. I had read that somewhere as well.
When do you expect delivery?
Stop Press. Stop Press.
Mine has arrived. Have just been to dealer to have a look. Get it handed over officially on Saturday. It’s awesome, I love it. Really classy looking, solid build and looks raring to go. Didn’t sit in it, just nose pressed up against the glass. Chuffed to bits, roll on Saturday!
Had all options fitted apart from sat nav and sunroof.
Strangely enough on the German forum I’ve been looking at (link awaiting moderation on here) there’s someone who ordered a Shadow Blue one last week and his dealer states 6-8 months delivery. Mental.
Reading that forum has worried me actually…
Just one post badly translated by google posted this week:
“The Polo GTI, now 9 months delivery time. Faster it will not come. VW not it gets out faster.”
Madness. I just emailed the leasing company asking them to reconfirm the build date of Week 25/10/2010 as if it slips into next year I’ll have to find a different car.
Funnily enough I just rung a Skoda dealer to see the lead time on a Fab vRS – 25 weeks. I then called a MINI dealer – Cooper S factory build, order this week, get 1st week of November.
I hope that is not the case. Seems strange how it could take so long because of the colour. Will check out that forum. I think the lease company are just buying extra time for themselves.
Let me know how you get on. Fingers crossed you won’t have to get something else. When I phoned Arnold Clark VW before to make a general enquiry they said 8 weeks. Sometimes, I think they just make these timescales up to entice you in.
Feeling a bit more positive given that John has his in the country. All this waiting is such a painful experience, will be worth it when it arrives though.
Can’t wait to see it John!! Congrats
Nice one John!
Typically enough, having cancelled my order last week and made new arrangements over the weekend, my car now has a confirmed build date and will be in the UK by the first week of November.
I’m pretty gutted but it’s too late to switch back…
Great news John!
Mmmm, mine’s slipped to week 46 now. 15/11/10. Also it’s unconfirmed now, looks like they were fibbing when they said it was confirmed before. “Delivery estimated as mid-late December.”
I dunno what to do now, this Megane is really annoying me. Plus the guy at work who’s having it off me is wondering when he can have it as he’s sitting in the ‘loaner’ knackered pool car right now. He’s done me the favour by taking my car off me so I feel a bit guilty making him wait 5 months.
Well done John, that’s
greatfantastic news!Look forward to seeing it – still up for it if you wanted to be one of the first to do regular-ish updates for us.
BJ – Regarding the RCD 510, I’ve asked a contact at VW to try and find out why the Bluetooth capability isn’t available, and also to try and get to the bottom of the delays. Hopefully have some news next week.
Spoke to the lease company today. I ordered the car on 17 August. VW have given them an estimated build date with delivery expected mid March! You would have thought it was a Ferrari that I had ordered…
Looks like I’m in whatever the delay – our fleet management company reckon there’s a 1k cancellation fee at the dealers. Perhaps they have different terms that a private buyer has. Or someone is fibbing, either the dealer, the lease company or the management company.
In the same email I got “I have spoken to the dealer and they seem very confident that the Polo will be delivered before Christmas” We’ll see.
Mine was ordered 11th August, may arrive before Xmas. I bet it doesn’t.
At least we won’t see many on the road
At least the UK brochure has been updated with the GTI…
http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/assets/common/pdf/brochures/polo-v-brochure.pdf
Cheers everyone. 12 weeks from order to delivery. Though more luck than judgment I think. Hang on in there guys it’ll be worth it. Did take a couple of pics yesterday as it sat there partially covered in protective film.
Hi Rich, no problem. I will email in couple of pics if you want to use them. Just to prove at least one of them is in the country!
(No reg on there yet). Happy to write about the car when I finally get behind the wheel this weekend.
At last! It’s only taken them three to four months. The European brochures have had the GTI in them for a *long* time…
http://twitpic.com/2tkxfs
http://twitpic.com/2tky7z
Pic of my new car. Just to prove that there is at least one in the country.
Hi John
The first link didn’t seem to work, but have posted an entry about the car: http://www.polodriver.com/polo-2009/exclusive-is-this-the-first-new-customer-polo-gti-in-the-uk/
Finally taken delivery of the car. I love it. Anyone thinking of cancelling their order, are you mad?! Go find a distraction while you wait for your car because I don’t think you’ll regret it when you get yours. The supermini thanks to VW has grown up.