Sporty Yet Elegant: My Volkswagen Polo TDI (2 Years & 20,000 Kms Completed)

[PondyPierre]

Re: Sporty Yet Elegant: My Candy White Volkswagen Polo TDI

Glad you liked the review. Regarding the looks and perception of various cars, no car is outrightly boyish or girlishly designed. No manufacturer designs a car exclusively for one set of buyers and that too gender-based.

Its just my personal opinion and the trend I saw with my friends which related me to saying this in the review. I had around 3-4 female friends who had the Micra with them and all were in either the Orange-ish or Maroon shade, maybe that might have made me feel its a little girly. Nowadays Honda Brio is quite a hit with the female buyers as its compact, easy to drive, Honda's badge and comes in great colors, specially the Blue and Red. That doesn't mean its exclusive for ladies only, its just they have a preference for it and give the car a market perception maybe.

I for one look for a clean understated design with straight strong lines which for me give the sportiness to a car. Polo sure did that. Micra on the other hand has a lot rounded and curvy design overall.

Renault Pulse looks good overall and if we didn't have the Micra in the market, this would have had done much better. But knowing that you have a Micra to compare it with looks-wise, this one felt, it doesn't have its own identity. Its got added black appliques on the front and rear bumpers to add a little sportiness, same rounded design as Micra overall. Designers wanted to give it separate identity, but somehow I felt they made a very half-hearted attempt.

Sorry to hear about your daughter's Renault Pulse, sad to know that it got scraped. And good that she's riding one of the rear finds on the roads today, Peugot 309. I have not seen one in person for years now.

Regarding a new car for your daughter, Golf hasn't been launched in India and VW does not plan to do so even in the near future. Why not look at the Hyundai Grand i10? Its the new kid in the block, nicely designed car with some class leading features. Or else if you want to retain the European connection with your machines, try the Italian beauty - Fiat Punto or maybe the German VW Polo.
As rightly said by you, Pulse has nothing French about it, so why go for it again.

By the way, you have some really nice rides in your garage. Would love to read a review on each one of them.

Yeah I meant Polo actually. She knew it was a Micra essentially, but wanted to try it out. She liked it but it was short lived.

I'll review some of them. I already did for the 309.

 

[DREAMER]

Re: Sporty Yet Elegant: My Candy White Volkswagen Polo TDI

I got a doubt. I recently got a polo petrol highline. When I lock/unlock the car, it's accompanied with sound. It's like the horn. But when I honk the horn, it's a Different tone. Would have loved if the horn was the same as lock/unlock sound. Before id bought the car, I'd assumed that these two would be the same. But during the pdi realised they were different. Raised my concern with the SA and he said that's how it's supposed to be. Made me listen to another polo's horn as well.

But I'm still not convinced. Is this the same with all polos??

 

[GM88]

Re: Sporty Yet Elegant: My Candy White Volkswagen Polo TDI

I got a doubt. I recently got a polo petrol highline. When I lock/unlock the car, it's accompanied with sound. It's like the horn. But when I honk the horn, it's a Different tone. Would have loved if the horn was the same as lock/unlock sound. Before id bought the car, I'd assumed that these two would be the same. But during the pdi realised they were different. Raised my concern with the SA and he said that's how it's supposed to be. Made me listen to another polo's horn as well.

But I'm still not convinced. Is this the same with all polos??

Hey DREAMER, first of all congrats on getting your new Polo. Regarding the horn beep during Lock/Unlock, it usually should be the same sound as during you press the horn pad.

Though its good for security reasons if someone tries to open the car but I find the horn beep everytime during Lock/Unlock quite annoying. This feature can be de-activated at the service center.

 

[DREAMER]

Re: Sporty Yet Elegant: My Candy White Volkswagen Polo TDI

Thanks GM88. First of all you've got an awesome thread gng. Hope u keep gng. I keep returning for updates.

Well, I got the car abt 3 weeks back. I haven't even seen it yet coz I had to leave India a day before it git delivered n will now return in jan '14. But I'm counting each day until then n dreaming of driving it. My wife is using it atm.

About the horn, I haven't heard it myself but I was surprised when my wife told me that the two sounds are different. Ideally they shouldn't be coz I've heard the lock unlock sound n its the typical vw sound which I love.
Do you vw india's or Germany's email id where I can ask them about this?

 

[GM88]

Re: Sporty Yet Elegant: My Candy White Volkswagen Polo TDI

Sorry for the late reply DREAMER, was caught up with some work. Yes ideally the sound should be the same, but if your wife thinks its different , do get it checked at the VW workshop. Even you may tell her to try a different VW workshop in your city to get a double opinion.

You can shoot up a mail if the response you get is not satisfactory.

Here is the mail id for the Indian VW subsidery - customer.care@volkswagen.co.in

 

[gauravsangtani]

Re: Sporty Yet Elegant: My Candy White Volkswagen Polo TDI

Hey GM88,

Sorry for the late reply. As i mentioned in my previous post,
to get the stereo backlights working along with the ignition linked stereo power on-off, the stereo has to be connected to the BCM box - specifically Pins #20 & 21 which related to the Energy Management System I am told. The vagtune wiring adapter already has 2 cables "CAN(+)" & "CAN(-)" for this purpose. the CAN(+) goes to Pin #20, and the CAN(-) to Pin #21. Details are given here:
www(dot)********(dot)com/forum/sound-off-show-off/109134-vw-polo-hu-upgrade(dot)html

I am in the process of ordering the radio antenna cable, and am searching for a Pin Out diagram of the BCM box to identify which Pin is #20 and which is #21; the images in the last link identify both the pins but do not say which is which. I am going to ask the dealership for this if I don't find it online and will then let you guys know if everything is working fine once the wires are connected.

Unfortunately I haven't had the time to get to this for the past 2-3 weeks.

 

[GM88]

Re: Sporty Yet Elegant: My Candy White Volkswagen Polo TDI

Even I had searched about this adapter and BCM box and even got the VW workshop people here involved in this. They tried their best but could not get me a solution for the same. It would be great if you're able to crack the Da-Vince code . Will be eagerly waiting for your update.

 

[GM88]

Re: Sporty Yet Elegant: My Candy White Volkswagen Polo TDI

An update on the Polo

Finally hit the highway after a long wait. Had gone for a trip to New Delhi in the Polo last week. Did about 745kms in total which included travelling for 4 days in the peak hours of frustrating Delhi traffic. It's actually commendable for folks to drive daily in such traffic, I thought I'll lose my nerves if I drive for a few days more here. Fortunately I don't have to.

About the trip, MID's trip meter reading showed 744.4kms



Got a fuel efficiency in total of about 18.5kmpl which included travelling in bumper to bumper traffic for a good 200+ kms in Delhi itself for the 4 days I was there. Highway fuel efficiency would easily been in the range of 22kmpl as the AC was switched off through-out the journey as winters have pretty much kicked in the Northern part of the country.

Got a small gift from the Delhi traffic too. A minor scratch on the rear bumper of the Polo. Have not taken a picture of that yet as it was dark when I reached back yesterday. Will post it soon. I'm hoping it would go off with the rubbing compound.

 

[gauravsangtani]

Re: Sporty Yet Elegant: My Candy White Volkswagen Polo TDI

So to recount, I have a 2011 Polo 1.6L high line that came with the old MP3-only OEM stereo. I switched that out with the RCD510 using a wiring adapter I bought from Sugesh @ Vagtune.in. Now once I installed it the stereo button backlights weren't working, and neither was the system switching on/off with the ignition.

To rectify these issues I had to take the CANbus +ve cable to PIN #20 on the BCM, and the CANbus -ve cable to PIN #21. But trying to figure out which were the correct pins, and how to get them fitted, was a big pain in the butt. Finally I made my way down to the VW service centre to figure it our for myself.

Happy to say got it to work finally!! VW refused to do the installation out of fear of liability but they were happy to let me click snaps of their service terminal. I then found a guy with the required electrical nous and happy to say this ordeal is over! He even put in place a jugaadu solution for the radio antenna (the pin of the old stereo and the RCD510 is different, requiring another Rs 2k adapter from Vagtune). In hindsight I might have just put in more money and plonked for the Blaupunkt Philadelphia 835, but anyways can't complain too much right now.

As an aside also got some leather+suede seats put in - this again was a ground up effort where I picked out the material, the stitching, and found a good guy to make sure the seats look OEM fitted.

All pictures are below.

 

[GM88]

Re: Sporty Yet Elegant: My Candy White Volkswagen Polo TDI

Wow pretty neat work done mate. Finally the code has been broken. Thanks for the pictorial description, certainly helps in locating the various pins. The RCD510 looks stunning in the dash. I guess I'll sell off the RCD320 I have to get a RCD510 fitted in my car too. What was the cost for the CAN bus pins and the adapter?

The seat covers too seem to be neatly done. Good job.

 

[VipinLJ]

Re: Sporty Yet Elegant: My Candy White Volkswagen Polo TDI

They should have plonked in the RCD510 atleast in the HL variants of the Polo and Vento It takes the looks to a whole new level.

Regards,
Vipin

 

[GM88]

Re: Sporty Yet Elegant: My Candy White Volkswagen Polo TDI

They should have plonked in the RCD510 atleast in the HL variants of the Polo and Vento It takes the looks to a whole new level.

Regards,
Vipin

True that. I guess the facelifted Polo to be launched next year might have a touch unit in the top variant. Surely the RCD510 unit makes the dash look pretty more upmarket.

I've got a few bucks saved for my car now. Have to decide on which one should I spend that on. Upgrade the current alloy wheels and tyres to 17inchers as my outstation trips are very limited in the Polo as mostly the other two are taken for that purpose and Polo is used with-in the city only or else upgrade to an RCD510 unit for the dash and a few other goodies. I've enquired and I'm getting a fairly decent price in exchange for my current alloy wheels and tyres on which I've done about 17k kms. The only thing holding me back is that I'm a little skeptical that the ride may become a tad too harsh after upgrading to 17inch rims and low profile tyres. Still deciding.

By the way, Congrats Vipin on getting another VW in your garage. Would be eager to read a comparo on the performance of both 1.2TDI and 1.6TDI.

 

[jihu123]

Re: Sporty Yet Elegant: My Candy White Volkswagen Polo TDI

I've got a few bucks saved for my car now. Have to decide on which one should I spend that on. Upgrade the current alloy wheels and tyres to 17inchers as my outstation trips are very limited in the Polo as mostly the other two are taken for that purpose and Polo is used with-in the city only or else upgrade to an RCD510 unit for the dash and a few other goodies. I've enquired and I'm getting a fairly decent price in exchange for my current alloy wheels and tyres on which I've done about 17k kms. The only thing holding me back is that I'm a little skeptical that the ride may become a tad too harsh after upgrading to 17inch rims and low profile tyres. Still deciding.

That indeed is a very tough decision. The best way to enjoy both is to buy 17" & don't sell the current ones so that you can change according to your preference!
If I were you, I wouldn't choose 17" + low profile tyres for the road conditions here even if I'm a big fan of them. It kinda holds you back in some cases.
But since, you have 2 other cars for outstation trip, then I guess you'll go fine with it. I'm already drooling over the 17 inchers now itself.
How much does RCD 510 cost in the market?

 

[Music_Swift]

Re: Sporty Yet Elegant: My Candy White Volkswagen Polo TDI

I'm getting a Polo 1.2 TDi this week.This is my 2nd VW after Vento.

 

[GM88]

Re: Sporty Yet Elegant: My Candy White Volkswagen Polo TDI

That indeed is a very tough decision. The best way to enjoy both is to buy 17" & don't sell the current ones so that you can change according to your preference!
If I were you, I wouldn't choose 17" + low profile tyres for the road conditions here even if I'm a big fan of them. It kinda holds you back in some cases.
But since, you have 2 other cars for outstation trip, then I guess you'll go fine with it. I'm already drooling over the 17 inchers now itself.
How much does RCD 510 cost in the market?

I'm also drooling over the idea of having 17inchers but at times feel it may not be very practical in our road conditions. But then I somehow want to give it a try. I'm yet to drive or sit in a Polo having 17 inch rims. That would give me a fair idea what to expect. Planning to ask the alloy wheel merchant to show me one before I indulge in getting one for my Polo.

RCD510 would cost anywhere from 17k to 20k, plus the additional adapters and cables will put it around 25k in total.

I'm getting a Polo 1.2 TDi this week.This is my 2nd VW after Vento.

Congrats Music_Swift on the Polo. You too becoming a VW fanboy. Which color have you chosen? And what deal are you getting on the car?