Log 11: Quirks and Features - Continued
A brief recap of the previous log, Polo has finickety gearbox that detests traffic, no rear legroom and (apparently a not so) small boot.
Moving on to more of the quirks and features discovered, this time however its all of the good bits I discovered:
1. A HUGE fuel tank
Large fuel tank means you do have to look at this view for quite a bit, but on the bright side you don’t have to look at it often.
This is probably the only thing that is HUGE in the Polo (aside from the boot capacity, a fact that I am still not over yet at this point), but yes the tiny Polo has a 45 litre fuel tank which given that it does a claimed fuel consumption figure of 5.3 L/100 km (18.5 km/L) it equates to a range of 800+ km. Impressive for any car.
In reality, as with all official claimed figures, the Polo doesn’t manage anywhere close to that number (no help from my somewhat enthusiastic driving) but it does manage a return trip from KL to Ipoh and back again (with a few laps of Ipoh city itself thrown in for good measure) in less than half a tank, which is good.
The only slight annoyance to this fact of having a gargantuan fuel tank in such a tiny car is that supermini talking point of “Oh it just takes RM 50 to fill the tank,” but then again I rather have the range than to queuing at the pumps more often.
2. An admirable highway cruiser
It cruises well. Very well.
Another somewhat surprising fact is that the Polo does make a rather competent highway cruiser. Racking up the highway miles without any fuss or complaints.
Granted the 1.2 TSI models doesn’t have cruise control as standard unlike the 1.6 MPI models but all in all the Polo is a surprisingly composed highway mile muncher. As despite the lack of rear legroom, all 4 occupants had no travel related aches or pains. Furthermore, with the engine only ticking over at a relatively stress-free 2200 rpm (at highway-ish speeds) and excellent NVH suppression befitting of a Volkswagen, we also didn’t feel like we aged 50 years between setting off and arriving at our destination.
Not only that, for the driver the Polo also inspires confidence to maybe venture out into the outermost lane to hang with the big boys — the big German luxobarges, the black Alphards and of course the highway demon Myvis.
I am of course well aware that any car has the ability to hang with the kings of the Malaysian highway but in most cars, especially in my price bracket, that ability is down to the size of the balls of the driver. In the Polo however, indicate to the right, look for a clearing and open the throttle just a tad wider (the car drops a cog and the turbo spools a bit more) and you’re right on the tail of the aforementioned Alphard or Vellfire. All this occurs with barely a change in engine note that you won’t alert the parents behind you are doing “slightly” above the speed limit. No fuss, no drama.
3. A little pocket rocket
This might be a cop-out as this was not discovered after I bought it (in fact was one of the reasons why I bought it) but it was only after a while that the sensation of having a little pocket rocket on the drive has properly sunk in.
Confession time: I freely admit that the Polo is in no way a fast car, it does the century sprint in a lowly 10 seconds (9.7 seconds to be precise, looking at you who wants to compare this time to his Prius C or his Wira). A sub 10 second century sprint is an eternity if you are in even vaguely sporty. What the Polo is however, is a quick car, or to be completely accurate — a car that offers you the sensation of quick-ness without going through the bother of actually being quick, and this is what makes it a joy to drive.
Picture the scene, you’re at a set of lights with a friend and he jokingly dares you to gun it. You just got the car and are still not sure of its full potential, but you got to save face somehow. So you shift it into S, the light goes green and you gun it (not all the way mind you, but well say you give it 80%). The revs shoot up, the turbo spools and you shoot away from the lights. Your backs are pressed against the chair from the force of the acceleration and before you know it you are going way faster than you ever should in a residential area. So you release the throttle and notice that the cars at the lights are miles behind. That first time sensation of feeling like you’re being shot out of a cannon and that grin you were wearing when it occurred is something that you’ll never forget in a hurry.
On the same note, an unethical life pro tip (ULPT): Ipoh at night is a perfect street circuit.
Drive Every Day does NOT condone street racing in any form but if you do find yourself in Ipoh town at night with a friend and a peppy little car that doesn’t actually go that fast. You can indeed have a good time and still be within the confines of the law. A few cheeky bursts of acceleration here and there and some mildly aggressive cornering in an eerily empty town (The old quarters of Ipoh town is especially dead at night.) is not a bad way to spend time after dark. Let the giggles and laughter emanating from two idiots in a car (and the turbo whistle) break the stillness of the tranquil old town night.
On a related issue, there seriously is nothing to do in Ipoh at night apart from drinking (alcohol or boba, whichever is in your age group). So if you do have suggestions on what to do in Ipoh after dark please comment below. I’m legit serious here. Thanks for the tips!
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The Polo is an economical, comfortable fast little highway cruiser with a long range.
What is there to do in Ipoh after dark? Let me know in the comments below.