I'm driven by the scrappage scheme and forthcoming price increases to replace my Mk 3 Golf for either a Jazz 1.4 SE or a Polo 1.9 td.
Jazz gets all the best reports. But I don't like the cabin layout and feeling of soilidity presdent in the Polo. prices are similarbut servicing costs vary.
Can you help me to decide?
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If they are so similar, the the Polo, on looks alone, the Jazz looks pretty awful, but the new Polo is a beautiful design for an everyday car in my opinion and will remain modern looking throughout ownership. I think the Polo was designed by a designer but the jazz by a car manufacturer.
Edited by Hamsafar on 26/12/2009 at 10:02
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You get a full size spare wheel with the Polo at a time when most manufacturers are making them optional extras. That proves that VW does at least respond to what its customers want. Unlike Skoda, Ford and Honda to name but a few. And somehow makes me think VW to be less arrogant.
HJ
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The new Jazz isn't bad, i've been around in an '09 reg as a passenger. But the automatic transmission is terrible - go for the manual if you get a Jazz. I don't like the huge dashboard either - but this is becoming quite a common thing in many new cars.
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We had the previous Jazz and recently changed it for a new one. It's wifey's car really although I drive it quite a lot for local use. I really admired the the previous one - it felt very solidly built and, in the 6 years and 45K miles we had it, absolutely nothing went wrong - not even a bulb blew. I'm the first to complain about cars needing unexpected repairs so felt almost obliged to replace old Jazz with new Jazz, and 'er indoors wasn't in the slightest bit interested in looking at anything else.
However I think Honda have messed up new Jazz. It feels a lot cheaper inside, the dashboard is over-bulbous, the iVTEC engine, which needs revs to come alive, and replaced the previous perfectly adequate engine, seems bonkers in the target demographic and even things like the replacing the handy roller cover for the boot with a fixed cover that lifts up and attached to the seat back with almost impossible to attach press studs is a retrograde step. Also bearing in mind the typical Jazz buyer, I'm gobsmacked by the lack of a spare, and it's a heck of an extra cost - £150 on the model we got.
On the VW Polo front, the biggest problem there is that your entering into the world of appalling VW UK and dealership customer service. I've experienced it once and it would take a lot for me to go back. And oldest daughter has a SEAT Ibiza (Polo in a different body) and that's not been without incident, both with the dealer and with SEAT UK. Miserably failing MOT at 4yrs/34K miles (with full dealer service history) is completely unacceptable in my book, but SEAT, and by extention, VAG, think it's fine, apparently. It's also broken down 4 times in 4 years too.
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I'd plump for the Polo. My only question would be delivery times/stocks - you might have to wait several weeks to take delivery of the spec you want, if it isn't off-the-peg and already in a dealership yard somewhere?
FWIW, why did you exclude the Fiesta from your shortlist? It seems to have had rave reviews...
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You get a full size spare wheel with the Polo at a time when most........ somehow makes me think VW to be less arrogant. HJ
No amount of proper spare wheel in a VW car will ever make up for the appalling customer service and after sales service you get from UK VW dealerships.
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So if you're not happy with VW dealers (I know from my own experience that they're not the best) get it serviced at an indy. Loads around.
In laws have ordered a new Polo auto - due in Feb I think. I'll report back in due course.
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So if you're not happy with VW dealers (I know from my own experience that they're not the best) get it serviced at an indy. Loads around.
...but then VW won't change the ABS units which fail just outside warranty.
VW do a 3yr service package for £250 in an efforet, I presume, to stop people going to indies. "Service" is a joke on modern cars - they change the oil and that's about it. Hence our Ibiza failing its MOT even though it had full dealer service history.
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I opted for that £250 package on my new Golf. This is only financially viable, if you opt out of the alternative Longlife servicing package.
My car's oil would only then be changed after 2 years, based on my low annual mileage I did this with my MK5 Golf but did not like the appearance or the smell of that 2 year old oil.
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Thanks for all your valuable contributions. I finally ordered a Polo TDI . But I've recently read some adverse comments about its lack of performance and HJ mentions possible problems with the DPF because of the high gearing. Spoken to some VW rechnicains who say the engine is good and the one they would choose. Also would it be fitted with the TEVES ABS which is trouble some.
I notice that MR Money has ordered a POLO But no mention of the engine type.
Grateful for all your comments especiallly HJ if he sees this.
Many thanks,
Stevieb
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Nicolle has decided on a new Polo to replace the Clio. Enquired at the dealer yesterday, about delivery times to be told it is currently running at 3 months lead time.
She wants the SE diesel
Now Nicoles driving habits and schedule means it will be mostly low revs, short journeys. This is of course a killer to DPF regeneration systems.
How does the VW work? is it as bad at DPF regeneration as the rest of the marques?
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I would be minded to avoid any DPF diesel for such trips.
Even VW used to advise against it and they wouldn't sell DPF diesels on the Channel Islands.
Check the brochure carefully.
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Have done, not a word of warning in the brochure about useage. If I was an average punter I would have no idea there could be a potential issue.
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If journeys are likely to be short, would petrol be a better/cheaper bet?
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DPFs are causing problems across all makes/models of cars at the moment. Unless you will benefit from having the diesel (i.e. covering a fairly high mileage) then the petrol engines might be a better bet.
I doubt you will have any problems with the Teves ABS, they are now as reliable as any other system.
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Journey will be short, but lots of them - 300 miles a week. Plus is a company car, and the Co2 (and hence BiK) is very low (112) on the 1.6 TDi 75ps.
I am trying to steer her to the 1.4 85ps petrol, but she has been driving the Renault 1.5dci 60ps* for the last three years, and been getting 55mpg average.
(*what a really really really good lump that has been, if the seats were not so damn awful she would get another clio)
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Plus is a company car...
If it's a company car then the potential issues don't really matter unless they interrupt your life.
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My thoughts too - it's a lease company problem if it does fail.
I say let her have one and keep us informed how it performs.
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I'll be covering around 250 miles a week on the motorway. So this surely will keep the filter clear. Otherwise I presume the filter would be covered under warranty?
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with 250 miles a week on motorway you should be ok, and no the DPF is NOT covered under warranty if your motoring pattern does not fit the requirement,
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Neither, a Hyundai Coupe I reckon, I have it on good authority ;-)
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My Polo has just arrived after 3 months wait - looked unders bonnet straight away - has Bosch abs so perhaps they have learnt ?
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