UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Morning All,

I'm off to view a two year old GTi tomorrow with about 23k on the clock and was wondering how people are finding their interiors now they're a couple of years old. Plagued with rattles, quiet as a mouse or somewhere in between?

I'm currently in an F56 Mini and I've been disappointed with the build quality, but I really don't want to move into something worse!

I'm hoping for a decent test drive, but I've found its only when you get a car home and start to live with it that the dreaded rattles properly show themselves!

Cheers,
Craig.

Maybe I’m lucky, but after 20 months of ownership of my GTI, I get just the occasional rattle. The driver’s seatbelt height adjuster on the B pillar also buzzes occasionally, but sliding it up or down a fraction stops it. Other than that, my interior’s free of rattles, squeaks, buzzing and vibration noises.

The interior trim looks as good now as it did the day I got the car, other than the drivers carpet mat where the carpet pile went flat where you rest your heel after a couple of months. I took the two front carpet mats out and replaced them with OEM VW Polo rubber mats, which are much more hard wearing and durable - especially in winter. Carpet mats will go back in when the time comes to sell the car

Negatives?

• Much of the lower interior trim is hard plastic which is hard wearing but can scuff if you’re careless getting in and out of the car, but if you’re careful it’s fine.

• The piano black trim around the infotainment unit attracts dust and shows up finger prints.

• The clear plastic over the speedo and rev counter dials is very ‘soft’ and prone to swirl marks, even with careful cleaning (seems to be a common issue with other VW models too).

I previously had a mk6 Golf GTD and I’d say the interior of my Polo GTI is holding up just as well as the Golf did.

Mine is now 26 months old. I get the occasional seat belt rattle and an annoying clicking noise from the corner of the windscreen where the dash and pillar meet. Fixed that by wedging a piece of card in between. Also the usual creaking from the door seals but applied some lube to that which is now fixed.

Don't have a polo gti but, as with rattles in general you can fix them yourself such as the height adjuster which a lot of vw cars get. It's just a matter of removing the interior panels. You could get a full interior covering of sound deadening by an audio install place for under £400 and you've have no rattles ever again. My polo is 4 years old with no rattles a part from when I have the radio up and a lot of bass goes through the speakers.

OP; off topic, but relevant to your viewing of the Polo GTI, I’d recommend that you inspect the wheels very carefully for kerbing damage, tyre fitter damage and whiteworm corrosion.

Both the standard Parabolica and optional Serron alloys on the GTI are diamond cut so are prone to whiteworm corrosion (seems to be quite common on VW diamond cut alloys at around 2-3 years old) if the lacquered surface becomes damaged through stone chips, careless tyre fitters, defective tyre fitting equipment or kerb damage. A good refurb will typically cost £80-£85 +VAT per wheel, so if the car is OK but any of the wheels need a refurb, factor this into your price negotiations.

Thanks for all of the replies - they're really helpful. Heading off soon and I'll be coming back in either the MINI or a five door GTI!

Cheers,
Craig.