New Guy with a Polo GTI

[Tooks]

Hi, just thought I'd better introduce myself!

I've just got a 2011 model Polo GTI, and loving it so far.

Following the arrival of my little girl last year, I really needed a 5 door car, so my beloved Audi S3 had to go.

I'd had my eye on a Polo GTI for a while, just needed to find one with the right spec. I wanted 5 doors, obviously, but also the winter pack and Xenon's. Mine is also fitted with a RCD510 DAB radio which is great. The one colour I didn't fancy was Candy White, but guess what I ended up with. It is growing on me though!

My old remapped S3 averaged about 28 mpg, so the 37 mpg I've managed in the last couple of thousand miles is welcome. I also found the insurance costs pleasantly lower, and all round I'm looking forward to less worries re mechanicals etc, as my S3 although mint was over 12 years old.

Anyway, thanks to this forum, I've already been tinkering.

I've retro fitted the multi function steering wheel controls, made the VCDS changes to implement DRL off with indicators, diff set to strong and brake force to level 2. I've also fitted some chrome rings to the heater controls, and also updated the window and mirror switches to the chrome versions.

Mechanical changes currently are just an Eibach Pro spring kit. I've had these springs on my old S3, and A4 and A3 quattro's previously, and I like the less extreme drop whilst welcoming the better roll control they bring.

Final mod for now is I've also fitted a TMC Motorsport Tuning Box, which I'm estimating takes the car nearer 200 bhp. Without the box, it certainly feels a lot less torquey and although it doesn't change the low end, it holds the upper gears better, and pulls strongly from 3.5k on and is much less prone to change down on hills etc. Although no S3, I'm enjoying the performance and it certainly doesn't feel slow, helped by the DSG box which I love.

Only other things I'm thinking now are a Bluetooth kit and a set of new wheels for fitting some winter tyres on. Can't decide between another set of Monza's or the Fabia II VRS black 16" wheels.

One annoyance so far is the sound generator brings a rattle to the cabin occasionally. If I disconnect it, no rattle. It's intermittent, but will be getting the garage to sort it when I'm next in the area.

Anyway, looking forward to getting stuck into the forum, and thanks for reading this far!


Polo GTI by iaintookey, on Flickr

[skipster]

Great looking car! Interesting about the sound actuator rattle, ours does that occasionally but it is not consistent. Only occurs under load and is normally a horrible vibration from behind the dash.

Enjoy your car!

[Joe9n3]

Nice car mate, best colour too nice list of mods and tweaks, i disconnected the sound generator on mine and wrapped and cable tied it in place, much nicer sound!

strange about the noise though....

[jamsop8]

Nice to see another rare 5 door. Same reason I got mine, with kids it's handy.

Just curious but what setting have you got your tuningbox on?

[Tooks]

Nice car mate, best colour too nice list of mods and tweaks, i disconnected the sound generator on mine and wrapped and cable tied it in place, much nicer sound!

strange about the noise though....

Thanks for the comments guys.

I actually did just that yesterday, and removed the soundaktor controller from the car, and weatherproofed the plug and cable tied it down. I actually miss the rumble on startup, but prefer the sound of the car without it I think, and I certainly don't miss the rattling when it decided to do it! It feels more refined without, and although I would go down the route of wiring a switch in for it, there's no point if the soundaktor introduces unwanted rattling with it!

I forgot a couple of mods in my first post, I've got the alloy GTI footrest fitted (creation motorsport version) and also 15mm spacers on the rear. I think they help the aesthetics. The fronts could do with maybe 5-10mm too, but the hubs stick out more than that so hub centric spacers won't work, and I found on my old S3 that they corrupt the steering feel. I shall leave the front as is I think.

[Tooks]

Nice to see another rare 5 door. Same reason I got mine, with kids it's handy.

Just curious but what setting have you got your tuningbox on?

It arrived on setting 6, default setting, and I drove it for a while like that and it was definitely having an effect.

Searching on here and other places which feature cars with is engine, most seem to run on 7 and I do feel that introduces a bit more mid range shove, so that's where mine is now. I've tried it on 8 too, but couldn't really feel much difference, so put it back to 7.

[tommytse22]

Hi, just thought I'd better introduce myself!

I've just got a 2011 model Polo GTI, and loving it so far.

Following the arrival of my little girl last year, I really needed a 5 door car, so my beloved Audi S3 had to go.

I'd had my eye on a Polo GTI for a while, just needed to find one with the right spec. I wanted 5 doors, obviously, but also the winter pack and Xenon's. Mine is also fitted with a RCD510 DAB radio which is great. The one colour I didn't fancy was Candy White, but guess what I ended up with. It is growing on me though!

My old remapped S3 averaged about 28 mpg, so the 37 mpg I've managed in the last couple of thousand miles is welcome. I also found the insurance costs pleasantly lower, and all round I'm looking forward to less worries re mechanicals etc, as my S3 although mint was over 12 years old.

Anyway, thanks to this forum, I've already been tinkering.

I've retro fitted the multi function steering wheel controls, made the VCDS changes to implement DRL off with indicators, diff set to strong and brake force to level 2. I've also fitted some chrome rings to the heater controls, and also updated the window and mirror switches to the chrome versions.

Mechanical changes currently are just an Eibach Pro spring kit. I've had these springs on my old S3, and A4 and A3 quattro's previously, and I like the less extreme drop whilst welcoming the better roll control they bring.

Final mod for now is I've also fitted a TMC Motorsport Tuning Box, which I'm estimating takes the car nearer 200 bhp. Without the box, it certainly feels a lot less torquey and although it doesn't change the low end, it holds the upper gears better, and pulls strongly from 3.5k on and is much less prone to change down on hills etc. Although no S3, I'm enjoying the performance and it certainly doesn't feel slow, helped by the DSG box which I love.

Only other things I'm thinking now are a Bluetooth kit and a set of new wheels for fitting some winter tyres on. Can't decide between another set of Monza's or the Fabia II VRS black 16" wheels.

One annoyance so far is the sound generator brings a rattle to the cabin occasionally. If I disconnect it, no rattle. It's intermittent, but will be getting the garage to sort it when I'm next in the area.

Anyway, looking forward to getting stuck into the forum, and thanks for reading this far!


Polo GTI by iaintookey, on Flickr

loving the car! i should be getting one soon! just out of question how did you do the vcds Tweaks ? what tool and where did you buy it? i am very interesting with the mods you have done and im thinking the same! would need some help soon if thats alright?! how you think of the car ?

[Tooks]

I'm about 6000 miles into my ownership now, and really starting to enjoy it.

My thoughts now are that it isn't the quickest hot hatch on the road, but it's not the slowest either.

It isn't the best looking hot hatch on the road, looking a bit too small and toy like at times, but it is far from the ugliest.

It is one of the most expensive in its class, but then it feels like you've got your money's worth.

It's not the best regarding fuel and oil consumption, but then hot hatch ownership comes with additional costs.

The DSG gearbox gets things right 95% of the time, but it's frustratingly bad the other 5%. Manual is the option for 'press on' driving.

It makes me smile, and switches from a docile baby carrier to a bit of an animal when you're in the mood quite happily, and without emptying your wallet in the process. It's a car that doesn't really excel in any one area, although it does everything so competently that it feels a lot better than it probably is! I hope that makes sense.

It should have come with a bit more power from the factory (my TMC box has transformed the car to be honest), and be a bit lower, hence my fitting of the a Eibach Pro kit springs. The ride is a little unsettled now though, I expect I will need to change the dampers to match.

The intercooler on it is also a bit weak on a chipped/remapped car, you can feel the power ebbing away at high speed or after prolonged spirited driving. A Forge might be on the cards I think...

I already owned a HEX VCDS cable that worked with my car, and I really would recommend you buy a genuine cable, even though they seem quite expensive, but it will pay for itself many times over and you can help out all your VAG owning friends too! I just followed the guides on here to make my tweaks, and the latest VCDS software is also pretty good at guiding you and helping with coding etc.

Overall, I'm very pleased with the car, the only thing I really miss over my previous S3 is the all wheel drive. That will hopefully be rectified when the Polo R is released and I will seriously contemplate one of those depending in what the final spec is etc.

The Polo GTi is a nice place to be, with a good turn of speed when you need it, and tidy handling with it.

[tommytse22]

I'm about 6000 miles into my ownership now, and really starting to enjoy it.

My thoughts now are that it isn't the quickest hot hatch on the road, but it's not the slowest either.

It isn't the best looking hot hatch on the road, looking a bit too small and toy like at times, but it is far from the ugliest.

It is one of the most expensive in its class, but then it feels like you've got your money's worth.

It's not the best regarding fuel and oil consumption, but then hot hatch ownership comes with additional costs.

The DSG gearbox gets things right 95% of the time, but it's frustratingly bad the other 5%. Manual is the option for 'press on' driving.

It makes me smile, and switches from a docile baby carrier to a bit of an animal when you're in the mood quite happily, and without emptying your wallet in the process. It's a car that doesn't really excel in any one area, although it does everything so competently that it feels a lot better than it probably is! I hope that makes sense.

It should have come with a bit more power from the factory (my TMC box has transformed the car to be honest), and be a bit lower, hence my fitting of the a Eibach Pro kit springs. The ride is a little unsettled now though, I expect I will need to change the dampers to match.

The intercooler on it is also a bit weak on a chipped/remapped car, you can feel the power ebbing away at high speed or after prolonged spirited driving. A Forge might be on the cards I think...

I already owned a HEX VCDS cable that worked with my car, and I really would recommend you buy a genuine cable, even though they seem quite expensive, but it will pay for itself many times over and you can help out all your VAG owning friends too! I just followed the guides on here to make my tweaks, and the latest VCDS software is also pretty good at guiding you and helping with coding etc.

Overall, I'm very pleased with the car, the only thing I really miss over my previous S3 is the all wheel drive. That will hopefully be rectified when the Polo R is released and I will seriously contemplate one of those depending in what the final spec is etc.

The Polo GTi is a nice place to be, with a good turn of speed when you need it, and tidy handling with it.

Now Thats a good write up! and makes me happy! to be be soon of a owner of the car! which only about 1300 of them being made in the uk!

Thank you!

might have get a real VCDS cable its just seems a bit pricey looking around 280 mark!