VW Polo, 1.2

"Svend" (svend) 03/17/2016 at 11:14 • Filed to: None

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VW Polo, 1.2. A car the U.S. doesn’t get with an engine probably hardly anyone in the U.S. would want.

The car is a basic 1.2 with not many frills, power windows and an okay stereo system, good fuel economy, etc.... but no remote central locking which for a modern car took me by surprise.

EDIT: is it sad that I dressed the wheel arches, well I did it anyway.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Svend 03/17/2016 at 11:18

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I hate unpainted door handles and mirrors.

dogisbadob > Svend 03/17/2016 at 11:26

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There is nothing wrong a 1.2L engine. If only it had a sunroof!

Svend > dogisbadob 03/17/2016 at 11:54

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Nothing wrong with it being a 1.2 but this is a straight-3 (69hp) and not a TSi (89hp). For me I’d rather have a TSi than not.

Perceptions are that the U.S. would rather have larger engines even for this small vehicle.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Svend 03/17/2016 at 12:21

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Curious - is this car yours, or perhaps a rental car?

I have a few car rentals lined up in Europe later this summer - one of which is a VW Polo “or similar”. Given that these are typically smaller/lower spec than most options available in the US - do cars like the Polo come with USB/bluetooth audio (probably not?) or at least an AUX jack?

We’ll be fine getting around without navigation having our smartphones...but it’d be nice to be able to play our own music while driving instead of potentially having to listen to hours of a language we don’t understand!

Svend > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 03/17/2016 at 12:39

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It’s a colleagues foster brother’s car. I cleaned a colleague’s car Monday, he text afterwards that his brother would like his doing. Now apparently the mum and dad are jealous and so I’m doing their car tomorrow. Lol.

From a quick glance at the VW site, they all come with Bluetooth telephone connection while the SE upwards comes with MDI (multi device interface). U.K. ‘SE’ spec I assume in Germany is ‘Comfortline’ spec upwards. I hazard a guess that if the engine is a 1.2TSi then it’d be an SE equivalent as the base S spec is a 1.0 Bluemotion only.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Svend 03/17/2016 at 12:43

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Thanks, will have to wait and see what spec the rental comes in I guess. In the US they tend to be the bottom of the bottom spec, and sometimes even a special even shittier rental fleet only spec...but oddly enough most rental cars I’ve had came with activated satellite radio...perhaps its a marketing thing to get people to try it, love it (?), and buy it for their own cars.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Svend 03/17/2016 at 12:44

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ps - I’ve got an E30 that’s been sitting out in the rain for weeks that sure could use a cleaning too :P

Svend > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 03/17/2016 at 12:49

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I did a neighbours silver Peugeot 207 after the Polo (the polo only took three hours total). I’ve a 2010 silver Ford Mondeo tomorrow (I believe it’s an estate) and Piglet needs another wash. Need to squeeze two neighbours cars (first cleans so will take ages to assess what needs doing and best method) a Ford Focus Mk2 RS in sometime next weekend.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Svend 03/17/2016 at 13:17

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That’s a steady stream of business! I’m hoping you’re charging for this work and it’s not just people taking advantage of you. Good to have word of mouth and referrals to build up business though!

Svend > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 03/17/2016 at 13:34

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No, it’s a hobby and I don’t take money or gifts. I find it incredibly relaxing. I won’t do cars of people who don’t care for their cars.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Svend 03/17/2016 at 13:38

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Wow, hopefully you’re winning lots of karma points and your friends will return the favor to you someday if you need help from them.

I agree that cleaning a car can be really therapeutic and really help you get to know your car. Are there rules about washing a car on the street where you live? I’m pretty sure it’s illegal where I live to do so.

Svend > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 03/17/2016 at 14:02

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I’m not one for friends to be honest. I have colleagues and good acquaintances but I’ve been let down too many times. I may use the term ‘friends’ because acquaintances is too long to type.

There are some rules but they are never or very rarely enforced as long as you don’t take the pi55. As long as you don’t run a business from your house on the street. If you have a business and you go to a persons house and you can only wash the vehicle on the street then you may get asked by a council employee if you have safety data sheets they can look at to say the products used are safe for the environment or that you have a method to catch the water to take it away to be recycled.

In Germany and Poland they are very strict but here in the U.K. the basic rule of ‘as long as you don’t take the pi55, your fine’.

KirkyV > Svend 03/17/2016 at 14:50

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I’ve always really liked that generation of Polo’s design. It’s pleasingly minimal, like a nineties Peugeot.

Shame about the way they drive.

Svend > KirkyV 03/17/2016 at 15:06

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It’s very much like a smaller Golf from a distance. I quite like it. it’s minimal without being too basic in it’s base S spec. Good for a first car but Corsas are cheaper to buy and maintain age for age. The Polo GTi with a 1.8TSi (manual or DSG) seems it might be fun.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Svend 03/17/2016 at 16:24

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I like these but they can be pretty pricey. Girl I know at work has a 63 plate one and has had a fair few issues with it too. Still would’ve considered one when I bought the Renault if they were a tad cheaper though.

Vicente Esteve > Svend 03/17/2016 at 16:40

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Is it the 1.2 TSI? That engine is quite nice actually.

Svend > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/17/2016 at 16:41

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They look good, good size and we'll proportioned. Very practical little car I guess. Certainly better and something different to the Vauxhall Corsa and the Ford Fiesta.

I see more 60 and 61 plate Polos now than I’ve ever seen before (all on Scottish licence plates, Edinburgh SL and SK).

Svend > Vicente Esteve 03/17/2016 at 16:44

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No, it’s 1.2 straight-3. The TSI would of been much better. I loved the 1.4TSi in the Superb Mk2 and so far really like the 1.4TSi ACT in the Superb Mk3.

Vicente Esteve > Svend 03/17/2016 at 16:47

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That engine should not leave the city. The 1.4 TSI in my Golf is great.

I would love to sample the twin charged 1.4 in the old Polo GTI though.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Svend 03/17/2016 at 16:52

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Yeah they’re handsome little things. Cant say id choose one over a Fiesta mind. The Fiesta is my benchmark for little cars these days, gfs parents have a new Fiesta Titanium. Excellent little car, obviously part of that is the high spec though. They have the diesel though which is a bit coarse, id stick with an ecoboost petrol.

Svend > Vicente Esteve 03/17/2016 at 17:17

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The VW TSi engines have won many awards which is why I can’t get my head round why the Passat is only available in diesel form, especially when the Superb and A6 do.

Svend > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/17/2016 at 17:29

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I’ve heard quite a few bad things about the smaller engined Fiestas but I also see Fiestas everywhere and so have lost any appeal they may of had. The Titanium is a great spec.

I think that’s why I love the Superb so much. It’s a very different car especially from what the majority of people would expect from Skoda.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Svend 03/17/2016 at 18:13

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I’ve heard some bad things about the old 1.25 but not the others. The Superb does stand out, only seen one new gen so far. I had a ride in a new Octavia vrs the other day. Was hard to appreciate because I was sat in the back with two other blokes and therefore crushed. Come to think of it a big Superb would’ve been just the thing...

Svend > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/17/2016 at 22:02

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The three I heard the worst about were the 1.0 litre engines mostly about poor economy and reliability.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Svend 03/18/2016 at 08:15

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I had heard fuel economy was poor actually, but I kind of expected that from a turbo petrol. Haven’t heard much about reliability.

Vicente Esteve > Svend 03/18/2016 at 09:12

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The new Euro Passat? Only diesel??

Svend > Vicente Esteve 03/18/2016 at 09:39

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On the U.K. Configurator, ye’, it’s only available as a diesel. Very strange.

Svend > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 03/18/2016 at 09:42

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Guy at work paid off his finance and got rid of it. It w always in the shop being looked at only getting mpgs in there 20s. He now drives his girlfriend’s small engined Fiat Grande Punto and he hates it but it’s never put a foot wrong.