POLO VS. FIESTA

I would like to chip in my five cents on the letter submitted by Glen Marais in the January issue and your response.

For the past 16 years, I’ve owned two VW Polo 1,6 Comfortlines, followed by a 1,6 Trendline. They’ve been brilliant vehicles and tick all the boxes. When contemplating a trade-in, I was simply going to get another Polo, until I discovered that all of the popular VW and Toyota vehicles made it on to my insurer’s list of high-risk cars (prone to theft). This would make owners a secondary target for trauma, injury or possibly worse.

Furthermore, a tracking system was required but the preferred provider was so evasive in answering my queries I dropped the VW option and looked elsewhere.

Some 15 spec sheets later and a six-month wait for the new Fiesta to arrive, I took both manual and automatic 1,0-litre Ecoboost versions for a test drive. I hadn’t travelled 100 m in the automatic before making my decision; aided and abetted by your test report. I agree wholeheartedly with your assessment of the Fiesta. Aesthetically, inside and out, it’s hard to beat. Ride comfort is exceptional. Mechanically, the motor has proved itself, and the gear changes are as smooth as silk.

I feel a little guilty for dropping VW but my personal safety is more important than sales statistics and there’s something to be said about driving a vehicle which stands out from the herd. There’s only one problem with the Fiesta: I keep hearing little voices calling me to take it out on the road. DAVID VAN ROOYEN By email [Glad we could help, David! Like I mentioned in my comment to Glen, the Polo is a great car and deserves all its current success. However, the consensus in the team when we compiled that comparative test was the Fiesta is simply the more pleasant vehicle to drive – editor.]