News Super-frugal 74.3mpg Polo BlueMotion slips into the UK
plus... Special edition Polo United kicks off new range; Match replaces S; Polo to America?
ABVWC benefits Your club, your benefits. But what are they? We list a few of your discounts
Events diary ‘08 Missing the shows? Details of the early-season openers
newsletter newsletter 25 26 25
Members of the Association of British VW Clubs
1,300-mile Polo GTI road test
bordering on brilliance? We spend a week with the hottest Polo,crossing border country and exploring the Pennines
what’s in
spring 2008
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Cover Story X Bordering on brilliance? How good is the latest Polo GTI? The fast and sweeping roads of the north east of England reveal its secrets
contents issue 26
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04 news Miserly Polo BlueMotion slips into the UK market; Polo United kicks off new continental special edition Volkswagen range; Polo to America?; Polo Match
12 ABVWC benefits
05 06
Discounted insurance from two leading brokers is just one of the ABVWC benefits available to members
12 events diary ‘08 Missing the shows? Details of early-season VW events
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12 Members call: your newsletter needs YOU! Contributions large and small from members are always welcome for the newsletter and website. To submit, e-mail to richard@vwpolo.co.uk
news
BlueMotion sips into UK The economical Polo BlueMotion has finally gone on sale in the UK. Landing on British shores last October, the 300-strong 2007 allocation of cars for this country sold out. The two-tier range features the BlueMotion 1 model priced at £12,120, and the better-equipped BlueMotion 2, starting at £12,935. The BlueMotion 1 slips into the market as the lowest-emission car on sale in the UK, outputting only 99g/km of carbon dioxide. Standard kit on both cars includes twin front and side airbags, CD player, and electric windows. The higher-specification
Polo BlueMotion 2 adds air-conditioning, rain-sensing wipers, remote central locking (the BlueMotion 1 has no remote function), and leather-trimmed steering wheel, gearknob, and handbrake grip. Due to its extra equipment, the BlueMotion 2 emits 104g/km of CO2. Both models feature a diesel particulate filter, and the same 78bhp 1.4 TDI engine, body modifications, longer-ratio gearbox, and lower rolling resistance tyres. The BlueMotion 1 sips fuel at a claimed 74.3mpg, while the BlueMotion 2 is only marginally less miserly at 70.6mpg. The cheaper car is even exempt from UK road tax. The miserly new model has also appeared at a series of high-profile events, including the Sexy Green Car Show at the Eden Project in Cornwall, and a series of eco roadshows at National Trust properties around the UK. Streetcar, the UK’s largest pay-as-you-go car club will also be trialling the BlueMotion across 25 locations in London, creating a partnership between the most efficient car on the road and the most efficient way to drive. We hope to bring you a drive of the eco Polo soon. VWPR Miserly motor (from left): BlueMotion 2 features a leather-trimmed steering wheel and gearknob; 1.4 TDI develops 78bhp; both models have eco body kit
Charge buster: Polo BlueMotion is exempt from London’s Congestion Charge
04 VW POLO REGISTER NEWSLETTER SPRING 2008
news
Kick-off for Polo United Photography Volkswagen Communication
New Polo United special edition >> Launched in November 2007 on VW’s domestic market, the new Polo United joins the team of United models named after the ‘Volkswagen United Masters’ indoor soccer contest. Extra equipment on the special edition Polo includes 15”‘Charade’ alloy wheels, front fog lights, leather steering wheel, a split-fold rear seat, and unique ‘United’ badging. Seats are trimmed in special ‘Surprise’ upholstery, while a Nike football, sports bag, and towel are thrown in, too. Engines range from a 58bhp 1.4 petrol, through to a 128bhp 1.9 TDI. Prices start at 14,275 euros. VWPR
Polo to America? Volkswagen enthusiast website The VW Gazette (www.vwgazette.blogspot.com/) reported in January that VW boss Martin Winterkorn was to meet with the company’s US dealers to ask them ‘Do you need a Polo?’ On sale in some South American markets (and even built in Brazil), US forums have long been buzzing with VW enthusiasts crying out for a federal version of the Polo. The site reports that the dealers’ answer could be a definite ‘yes’. Watch this space. VWPR
New Polo Match >> Replacing the Polo S, the Polo Match is set to be the biggest-selling model in the UK range. Offering comparative savings of £825 over the model it replaces, kit includes 15”‘Charade’ alloys, front fog lights, and bodycoloured exterior trim. Front electric windows are standard, and both an MP3 CD radio and iPod connectivity are offered. The four-engine range starts at £9,320 for the 1.2 three-door, rising to £11,380 for the 1.4 TDI five-door. Visit www.volkswagen.co.uk for more details.VWPR SPRING 2008 VW POLO REGISTER NEWSLETTER 05
road test
Story Richard Gooding Photography Richard Gooding and Nik Rawlinson
road test
How good is the latest 148bhp Polo GTI? The fast and sweeping roads of border country and the north east of England reveal its secrets
bordering on brilliance? ot Polos don’t come along very often. In the model’s 33-year history there have only really been two in the UK, the G40 of 1991, and the 1999 GTI. And so it was with great anticipation that OY07 HRM was delivered to us from the Volkswagen UK Press Office before a week-long break in the north east of England, fresh from an appearance on their display car stand at the GTI International 2007 event. Coming in at £15,170, the smaller brother to the Golf GTI and lowest-priced ‘performance’ VW, the
H
Polo GTI makes do with Volkswagen’s ubiquitous 1.8T engine, and with the unit no longer in its first flush of youth, you wonder why it took so long to drop it in. ‘Making do’ is no hardship, though; 1781cc gives 148bhp and 162lb ft of torque, making the latest sporting Polo feel very spritely. But, while this amount of power would have been fine a few years ago, the market for performance superminis is now a dangerous one for lower outputs. The Polo has to admit defeat and walk away with a bloody nose when compared to rivals such X
road test W as the Renaultsport Clio 197 (£15,995 197bhp) and the Vauxhall Corsa VXR (£15,825, 189bhp) – it’s merely hot rather than scalding. The Ford Fiesta ST (£13,795, 148bhp) and Vauxhall Corsa SRi (£13,625, 148bhp) provide more realistic competition at more competitive prices, and while the Mitsubishi Colt CZT (£12,999, 147bhp), SEAT Ibiza FR (£13,350, 128bhp, and only available in TDI form), and Suzuki Swift Sport (£11,899, 123bhp) have less of a right hook, the Mini Cooper S (£15,995, 172bhp) steps up to give the Polo a beating and provide premium-priced and premium-powered competition. It may be down on power compared to some of its powerhouse rivals, but in isolation the Polo GTI doesn’t want for speed. While a 0 to 62mph time of 8.2 seconds is in no way class-leading, from inside the car that quoted time feels very much on the conservative side. And although we never got out the stopwatch, we never found ourselves in compromising situations, with the warmed over Polo growling pleasantly when it was time to up the pace. So, while it may not be quite the hottest Polo that Volkswagen could produce (not long after the GTI was launched in April 2006, VW announced the 178bhp Polo GTI Cup Edition, based on the domestic market ADAC VW Polo Cup racers) it also packs a quiet punch when it comes to visual appeal. Understated modesty
has long been VW’s stock in trade when it comes to the way its performance cars look, and its smallest GTI is no exception. Our test car was resplendent in retina-popping Flash Red, and with smaller versions of the Golf GTI’s rims, its darkened and red-trimmed grille with mesh insert, lower skirts, and rear spoiler, the breathed-on Polo wears its family breeding with pride. Maybe it was the colour, but OY07 really did look the business. The larger Golf GTI’s styling cues transfer well to the smaller Polo, giving it a squat, purposeful, and chunky look, with more than an air of get up and go. It’s certainly an image to aspire to, rather than the shouty ‘look at me’ styling of the Corsa SRi. Darkened headlights, a pair of ‘GTI’ badges, and the loudest and most sporting exhaust seen on a recent VW completes the sporting picture. OY07 promised much, and I hoped it would deliver. More used to exploring the flowing and sweeping roads of the Peak District and the north west of England, I was surprised when sheep-lined ribbons of sweeping moorland tarmac set in dramatic and stark countryside gave us plentiful opportunities to challenge the car and see if and where its talents would shine. A spot of town driving combined with fast, long stretches of motorway ensured that every base was covered. With its combination of speed and big car comfort with small car size and agility, what better a companion?
Top performer (clockwise from main picture): Polo GTI takes styling cues from Golf GTI; moorland roads test handling; 1.8T engine gives 148bhp and is borrowed from Series 4 Golf GTI ; 16”‘Monza 1’ alloys with 205/45 R 16 tyres
08 VW POLO REGISTER NEWSLETTER SPRING 2008
road test With routes planned and itineraries set, day one saw us travel over 300 miles from Essex to County Durham. Preliminary estimations suggested that we would cover at least 800 miles over the course of the six days that followed. In fact, OY07 HRM was very reluctantly sent back to the Volkswagen UK Press Office garage with over 1,300 miles added to its barely run-in 1,850 arrival mileage. A long day of driving saw us arrive at Consett weary, but looking forward to spending more time with the car. Although enjoyable, the journey hadn’t been an easy one. The day started well, leaving Essex on time by way of the A130 and A120, before joining the M11 to head northwards. As the A14 then turned into the A1(M) and then the A1, heavy rain and extreme flooding had made one of the busiest routes to the north into a lake, forcing us to divert onto the A46 to Lincoln at Newark-on-Trent, to avoid the traffic, which was lined up like a weaving metallic snake, slithering its way through the flat green countryside. Hoping it would put us back on course and allow us to claw back some time later on, we took the A15 and M180 to Scunthorpe, and then the M18 towards Goole, turning off onto the M62 and M1 to bypass Leeds. With the final leg ahead of us, we joined the A1(M) once more, and pointed OY07 in the direction of Catterick, Scotch Corner, and Darlington, before spearing off the main arterial route onto the tree-lined A68 and the A692, which carve their way through the moorland scrub and would eventually deliver us to the Derwent Reservoir and our final destination. All the way up, and for the full day’s trip, OY07 had impressed us both, with its comfort and speed. With that speed comes refinement. On motorway schleps, OY07 was not only a comforting companion, but also a more than able cruiser. Only minor wind noise at lower speeds, tyre roar at higher speeds, and subtle tramlining on deeper surface ridges dropped it points. And although the ride is on the sporting side of firm, those ridges were absent in the cabin, with only major potholes making their presence felt, the GTI feeling seemingly well-damped on most surfaces. With the next day dawning largely bright over the heart of the North Pennines, we explored more of the brutally bleak countryside, heading for the spectacle of nature that is High Force waterfall at MiddletonIn-Teesdale, and the man-made Cow Green Reservoir a few miles west of Stanhope, both of which impressed, if not with their natural beauty, then by their grand scale. The winding stretches of tarmac that intersect the stark beauty of the dry-stone walled landscape tested the baby GTI’s handling, and as they jinked and twisted, dropping down into hedge-lined valleys, rising again to stone farmhouses and overgrown meadows, the hot Polo began to reveal its personality.
A green and pleasant land (clockwise from top): GTI at Stanhope fjord in full flow; Hadrian’s Wall at Housesteads Fort; Lindisfarne Causeway can catch you out if you don’t know tide times; spectacular Cauldron Snout waterfall
There’s no doubt that the GTI is an entertaining car, but as the sweeping moor land roads peeled away its roadholding mask, it revealed it’s not quite the talented handler we were expecting. Yet again, disappointing body control shows up the limitations of the suspension. As with previous hot Polos, the set-up is too soft, and if the car is flung into a corner, safe but steady understeer is the unsurprising result. For keener drivers, it’s all the more disappointing, as it’s so close to being a more than talented handler. The slightly over-keen and too-light steering is direct, though, filtering through a little feedback. Suspension is 15mm lower than a regular Polo, and brings the GTI much closer to the road, helping with that sports-car like feeling. Though not the class best, for a large proportion of drivers (myself included), it would do the job, and there was never a time when OY07 HRM didn’t feel surefooted and safe. The 205/45 R 16 Continental Sport Contact 2s gripped the wet roads well, and with that direct steering, made the car easy to place, as it seemed to shrink around us. A flat tyre indicator, warning drivers of a potential loss of pressure is standard, as is a space-saver spare wheel. Catching the majesty of Hadrian’s Wall on the way back to Consett, OY07 speared through the level landscape, the engine’s turbocharger whistling on upshifts from the mechanical-feeling gearbox and X SPRING 2008 VW POLO REGISTER NEWSLETTER 09
road test
Pocket rocket (clockwise from top): 148bhp 1.8T unit gives more than adequate performance; Polo wears its GTI badge with pride; interior is well-built, sporty, and very comfortable
specification Model Polo GTI Price £15,170 (3dr), £15,770 (5dr) Displacement (litres/cc) 1.8/1781 Engine type Four-cylinder in-line, five valves per cylinder, turbocharger, intercooler, electronic fuel injection Power output 148bhp @ 5800rpm Maximum torque 162lb ft @ 1950rpm Transmission Front-wheel drive, five-speed manual Top speed (mph) 134 0-62mph (seconds) 8.2 Official fuel consumption (mpg, urban, extra-urban, combined) 26.2/46.3/36.2 Fuel tank capacity (gallons/litres) 10.0/45 Official CO2 emissions (g/km) 186 Steering Power-assisted rack and pinion Brakes Dual-circuit system with ventilated discs (front), discs (rear), with ABS, ASR, ESP and EDL Wheels/tyres 6.5J x 16 ‘Monza I’ alloy, 205/45 R 16 Unladen weight (kg) 1184 Dimensions (l/w/h mm) 3916/1650/1467
10 VW POLO REGISTER NEWSLETTER SPRING 2008
W when the loud pedal was pressed further for more accelerative bursts. For a 1,164kg car, the Polo GTI carries its weight very well, and constantly impresses with how fast it feels. There’s slight turbo lag if too low a gear is selected, but it’s full of character, something which far too many modern cars lack. Day three saw us head north east to Holy Island, or Lindisfarne as it’s better known. Driving to the once Pilgrim destination involves crossing the tidal causeway, so knowing tide times is a must. It’s hard to believe that the single track road is underwater twice a day, but as the water crept up just as we left, we decided not to stay and find out. Although OY07 was ours for a week, we didn’t fancy a big bill for all sorts of water damage caused by sudden tidal ingress. There was only more landmark of the north east we hadn’t seen. Pointing the Polo back south towards Newcastle, we wanted to catch the Angel of the North before we went home. Buzzing along the A1, with a big-car sounding, deep and bassy soundtrack, the GTI did its best to convince us that the spruced-up cabin is a nice place to be. A leather-trimmed sports steering wheel, gearknob, and handbrake grip mated to racing aluminium pedals, red seatbelts, and chunky sports seats make it feel sporty. The comfortable tartan-trimmed seats themselves are worthy of praise, and it’s very easy to get an excellent driving position, such is the range of adjustment. On the downside, some of the aluminium trim on the centre console and air vents looks cheap (but lifts the otherwise dull standard Polo cockpit), there’s still too much grey plastic, and minor bobbling on the driver’s seat outer bolster suggested that Volkswagen’s almost-legendary reputation for build quality could be starting to slip. Smaller niggles included complaints of a hard passenger seat, and one driver found the angle of the accelerator pedal uncomfortable. The controls are well-weighted, though, with the usual robustness expected from the German giant, while the cabin is a paradigm of ergonomics. The black headlining harks back to sporty VWs of the past, and there’s lots of stowage. Visibility is good, too – perfect for all that zippy overtaking. Standard kit includes radio/MP3 compatible CD player and ‘Climatic’ semi-automatic air conditioning, along with a multifunction computer, alarm with remote central locking, and front fog lights. With our borders tour almost done (we even buzzed across into Scotland), we headed home, stopping off for a cream tea at Barnard’s Castle. The small market town was the most genial and picturesque host, but we couldn’t stay for long and soon let the smallest hot VW take us the 300 plus miles home. Having to return south back the way we came due to the lingering wet weather and flooding, the Polo once again proved it has a cossetting and comfortable side to its personality.
road test Over the course of the week, there were plenty of opportunities to give the brakes a workout, with the inclement weather refusing to brighten. Sharp and progressive, only the poor body control once again let the side down. A spot of severe braking saw the car weave across the wet road surface, making for a recipe of fading confidence. It’s true that this type of manoeuvre is extreme, and the untypical severe weather that week did the car no favours, but it would be interesting to see if they cope any better in the dry. The Polo GTI is fitted with both ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme, which includes Electronic Differential Lock – EDL) and ASR (Traction Control), which do their best to protect drivers from any really nasty moments. Volkswagen describe the GTI as ‘The newest chapter in a history of GTI success’, but is the hottest-ever mainstream production Polo, really worthy of the GTI badge, and just how much of the fun factor does it actually have? The first question is a relatively simple one to answer. The larger Golf GTI is more involving, and therefore more of a driver’s car, but the Polo is clearly from the same gene pool, having many ‘GTI’ family characteristics. The sporty looks, burbling and growling exhaust note, firm ride, and slingshot performance are all present and correct. It’s a fast, and very comfortable hatchback, which ferried us and all our kit to our dry-stone wall-lined
destinations with very little fuss, letting us arrive unflustered, and having enjoyed the trip there. While we warmed very much to the smaller member of Volkswagen’s GTI family, drivers of a keener bent may ultimately be faced with disappointment. With further suspension tuning and better body control, it would be a sharper steer, though for more modest drivers it will do the job just fine. Fun to pilot down a mildly twisty and sheep-lined road, and small enough to shrink around its driver, and all with a big-car sounding soundtrack, it’s a GTI like they used to be. A little raw at times in its responses and full of character, it reminds us of hot hatch victories from the past. Volkswagen sold 496 Polo GTIs last year, and predict to almost double the volume for 2008 (a tiny percentage of total Polo sales) And why not? While the Golf GTI is admittedly more talented, it costs over £5,000 more. Add in a reasonable 34mpg in a cheaper and more agile package and the Polo starts to make more sense, fulfilling the GTI brief of a comfortable and practical hatchback with added dash perfectly. VWPR
‘Fun to drive down a twisty road, and with a big-car sounding soundtrack, the latest hot Polo is raw at times, and full of character – a GTI like they used to be.’
Special thanks to Nicki Joyce of the Volkswagen UK Press Office. For more details on the Polo range, please contact your local VW retailer or visit www.volkswagen.co.uk
Crossing the borders: exploring the Pennines A visit to the Pennines is a must. With stone farmhouses and walls dotted about the moorland, its bleak and stark landscape is both brutal and beautiful. From our base of Edmundbyers, we took the A68 and the B6278 to Stanhope and Middleton-in-Teesdale for High Force waterfall.The A68 and A69 speared us to the Housesteads Fort along Hadrian’s Wall, while the A692 and A1 led us to Lindisfarne and Berwick-upon-Tweed. Finally, we took the A68 and A688 to the market town of Barnard Castle.
abvwc benefits
events diary
VW Polo Register Events diary 2008 members:insure your Polo for less with discounted ABVWC policies The events listed below are all dedicated to VW enthusiasts. April 26/27 VAG Saloons at Snetterton Tel: 01908 821 216 www.backdraftmotorsport.com/
The VW Polo Register is a member of the Association of British VW Clubs, which supports independent VW Clubs and provides the backing of a national organisation. For an annual membership fee, the club has access to many discounts, including GAP car security products; RAC membership; APH airport parking; car parts from German, Swedish, and French Car Parts (one of the UK’s leading independent suppliers of quality motor parts), and A1 Motor Stores; and motor insurance from two of the UK’s leading insurers. Adrian Flux (www.adrianflux.co.uk/ abvwc/ quote code VW52, or call 01553 845881) aims to provide the lowest cost insurance deals available, and has years of experience of insuring VWs of all kinds. Leading insurer Chris Knott Insurance Consultants Ltd offers discounts on all motor vehicle policies - not just Volkswagens. The company aims to quote the best offer on the market for your requirements and will attempt to match or beat any other quotations. The company also quotes for home and travel insurance. This service is available for VW Polo Register members NOW and when contacting the CK Clubline on 01580 752961, please quote code VW52, otherwise the rate you receive may not be discounted. Please note: The discounted insurance schemes are exclusive to VW Polo Register members as Association of British VW Club members. Therefore, it is imperative that your club membership does not lapse. If you need to make a claim and your membership is not up to date your insurance is invalid, and you may not receive compensation on your policy from the insurers listed on this page. VWPR
May 4 Stanford Hall Stanford Hall, near Lutterworth, Leicestershire www.stanfordhallvw.co.uk/ May 17 VW and Audi track day Mallory Park, Leicestershire www.autometrix.co.uk/trackdays.html May 21-25 GTI Treffen Wörthersee, Austria www.woertherseetreffen.at/ May 26 Volkswagen Racing Cup Rockingham, Northamptonshire www.vw-cup.co.uk/ June 1 Stonor Park *ABVWC event* Stonor Park, near Henley-on-Thames www.britishvwevents.com/ June 8 Volkswagen Racing Cup Snetterton, Norfolk www.vw-cup.co.uk/
June 21-22 GTI International 2008 Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground, near Leicester Tel: 01525 750500 www.gtiinternational.co.uk/ June 28-29 VW Expo *ABWVC event* Hop Farm Country Park, Beltring, Paddock Wood, Kent www.abvwc.org.uk