After trying to arrange it for about a year (marred by changing jobs and having no G40, then going to Korea the week it was supposed to come in), I've finally managed to get my hands on a Polo GTI for a week.

Which meant, finally, I got a chance to take a few pics with the G40. I don't have Photoshop at the moment, so these are straight off the camera, and a bit rushed as I only had a lunchtime to do this. But hopefully some of you will find this interesting!

As you can see, the GTI dwarfs the G40!

No Polo badge on the GTI. Just the three letters you want to see on that tailgate!

Two engines - both small, both supercharged, one with a turbo as well. Notice the battery on the GTI isn't under the bonnet, it's in the boot for better weight distribution, unlike the Fabia and Ibiza.

Rock solid Polo GTI interior:

And somewhere I like to be :)

The raked swage line is common to both. But the Mk8 is a much taller car, where the Mk3 is low and wide.

Best angle for the GTI, I think. And I reckon you can really see the family resemblance from this shot.

G40 is smaller even when perspective is on its side!

Nice little comparison, particularly like the 2 interiors !

Now what do you prefer whats quicker, your comments not on what the paper says.

Why is the new polo so big!!!

i'd get the old one any day of the week and twice on sunday!!!

G will be quicker I reckon lol. Acc atleast.

Crazy that rear shot is, how similar that actually are.

The G40 would easily out-sprint the GTI, but the GTI tops out at over 140mph by which point the G40 would probably be wheezing.

There's a lot the two have in common in terms of the way they deliver the power, but you can feel the difference 20 years makes in terms of quality. The Mk8 is a lovely, solid thing. The Mk3 feels pretty well made but in a stiff and plasticky late Eighties kind of way. It's two different interpretations of being made to last.

I think it's great that they've finally given us a hot Polo that's really worth its salt. It's that little bit less well planted than the current Golf GTI (which is still a great car, don't get me wrong) but it's as fast, and feels even faster because of its eagerness to zip off down the road. I really like it!

I think I'd want a manual box though :(

Id own either of those in an instant tbh, both really nice cars in different ways imo

Do you not have a radio in the g? i dont think i could cope

Id own either of those in an instant tbh, both really nice cars in different ways imo

Do you not have a radio in the g? i dont think i could cope

I did originally, but I found I wasn't using it. I prefer the noise of the G-Lader, and you can't hear music clearly anyway in a noisy old Polo. So rather than hack the dash apart for gauges I just took the head unit out! I don't miss it.

great read and well written as always.

Good job VW on the GTi!

Why is the new polo so big!!!

only 3cm longer and wider than a 6n and about (engine dependant) 100kg heavier.

Why is the new polo so big!!!

only 3cm longer and wider than a 6n and about (engine dependant) 100kg heavier.

no its not . . . its around 15cm (155mm to be exact) longer than a 6n :)

According to Parkers (Length x Width x Height)

Polo 6N2 GTI: 3743mm x 1832mm x 1418mm (1085kg)

Polo 6R GTI: 3870mm x 1901mm x 1485mm (1194kg)

127mm longer, 69mm wider, 67mm higher than a 6N2 GTI and 109kg heavier. It's not that bad, but it's pretty big.

It's about the same size as a Mk2 Golf. Slightly shorter (bumper to bumper), but fractionally wider and taller.

I'd love to stuff the 1.4 TSI into a Mk3...

I guess I should also add, the Polo G40 is 3725mm long, 1590mm wide and 1325mm high (pre lowering)

Which makes it only 145mm shorter (bumper to bumper), 311mm narrower and 120mm shorter than the GTI, and 364kg (four large passengers) lighter.

Actually it's not that much in terms of size, but it shows manufacturers have got a bit more concerned about shoulder room.

What does surprise me is that the Mk3 looks so flat and wide by comparison, when actually it's not a million miles off the length and height, but it's over a foot narrower. Strange...

New polo GTI is one of my fav cars. I love the new Polo shape. MK7 looked good when it came out but this has made it look immediately poope and dated.

same, love the new polo shape especially the gti, i prefer the polo gti looks to the golf gti :)

I think the new Polo GTI is what the older Golf size was.

I think the new Polo GTI is what the older Golf size was.

Yes the polo is no longer small, like the early ones. My mk1 golf is probably smaller looking and feeling than the new polo.

Best angle for the GTI, I think. And I reckon you can really see the family resemblance from this shot.

heh

What does surprise me is that the Mk3 looks so flat and wide by comparison, when actually it's not a million miles off the length and height, but it's over a foot narrower. Strange...

i think it's because of the shape of the panels, particularly the bonnet.. very flat and square, where the gti is all rounded and stuff..

and all the other proportions like the proportion of the sides to windows and stuff... :) very boring really.

What a stunning pair of cars!! Jelous much!