golf mk5 1.6 vs polo mk5 1.2

blatantrereg

Hi

Aside from price (but not running costs) which of these do you think would be the better choice?

Golf mk 5 1.4 (2006) (petrol) [previous model]
Polo mk 5 1.2 (2010) (petrol) [current model]

Thanks

Zubeneschamali

What do you plan to do with it? Mileage, town commute, motorway work?

blatantrereg

Currently frequent trips of 8km each way on town roads, and 40km each way on national roads (including narrowish country ones)
Occasional trips between Limerick and Dublin, and other long distance journeys.
I plan to move soonish though so I would be driving more in town roads and less on national roads probably.
Mileage is a bit of a guess, especially when I dont have a car at the moment and my want to change my living situation but I'd say about 350km a week, or maybe a bit more.

Zubeneschamali

If the Polo is a TSI, I'd get that over the Golf regardless. The non-turbo 1.2 is a bit weak for the open road, it'd be grand for the town/city commute.

Lots of VWs are really very basic, though. Check out the equipment levels.

blatantrereg

Thanks. I think all the mk5 petrol Polos are TSI. The one I'm looking at is anyway (Polo 1.2 Trendline 5 door). It's not specified whether it's 44KW (60HP) or 51KW (70HP) version though, so I'd guess it's the 44KW one. Would that HP be ok for the open road?

Noticed it's 2010, not 2009 as I said in first post - will edit.
oops also noticed the golf is a 1.4 not 1.6

Leonard Hofstadter

A 1.6 Golf is something like €677 to tax, I'd avoid it to be honest and try and find a 1.4 TSI, which has more power, a lot more torque, more mpg and a lot lower tax.

The only TSI Polo is the four cylinder 1.2 with 105 PS, and typically with Ireland being Ireland, this is rarer than hen's teeth. Most Polos are the poverty spec three cylinder non TSI with at most 70 PS and probably 60 PS knowing the mindset of the average Paddy who just wants a new car and a nice 'badge' at the lowest possible price. The three cylinder engine is a nice little yoke, but it isn't anything even resembling quick.

blatantrereg

captainspeed wrote: »

A 1.6 Golf is something like €677 to tax, I'd avoid it to be honest and try and find a 1.4 TSI, which has more power, a lot more torque, more mpg and a lot lower tax.

The only TSI Polo is the four cylinder 1.2 with 105 PS, and typically with Ireland being Ireland, this is rarer than hen's teeth. Most Polos are the poverty spec three cylinder non TSI with at most 70 PS and probably 60 PS knowing the mindset of the average Paddy who just wants a new car and a nice 'badge' at the lowest possible price. The three cylinder engine is a nice little yoke, but it isn't anything even resembling quick.

It actually was a 1.4 Golf I was looking at - I made a mistake in the original post.

It calls all the mk V Polos TSI on the volkswagen site. It was probably different with the previous model (Mk V was only produced since 2009). The one I'm looking at is 3 cylinder though, and either 60 or 70 PS depending on the exact version (not specified, so probably the former like I said).

Zubeneschamali

I'd buy a 105 bhp Polo over the Golf, unless you need something the size of the Golf. The lower powered motors would be OK if you make the move to town, but not the best on the open road, in my opinion, but I really dislike underpowered cars, some folks don't feel that way.

A test drive would be worthwhile if you're not sure.

bazz26

Why limiit yourself to just two VW products, there are lots of other makes of cars that do what those two do just as well.