VW Polo and hijacking

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Un4given

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So after trying out several cars, from Renault Clios, Kia Rios, Ford Fiestas, and Suzuki Swifts, I have settled on the car that ticks most of my boxes: the 2015/16 VW Polo Comfortline.

Except...the hijacking statistics is the only thing standing in the way of me buying one. How have you Polo drivers adapted to the situation? Just being more 'aware' as a driver and avoid driving at night? I feel like ruling out a Polo takes me back to square one and I may have to reevaluate the type of vehicle is like to get (hatchback in that price range), while at the same time I wouldn't want to meet a guy with a gun in my driveway either.
 
Polo's are great cars tbh. Even a Golf is a pretty little drivearound.

Hijack risk here in ZA is just not worth it though. I'd rather not take a chance with these type of high-risk cars. There's plenty of other options that lower the chances of you waking up dead in the morgue from a trigger-happy hijacker.
 
I doubt there's any special formula, otherwise you are going to be paranoid and cause yourself even more trouble and harm. Just do what any reasonable person does, just be aware. I don't drive a VW but there are a couple of things I would advice, don't rely on the factory security, try adding your own form of security on top of everything else. Don't sit in the car and fiddle with your phone while waiting for someone, you are a sitting duck like that. It's better to have a garage or a locked car port, than just relying on the gate, especially if you are in a complex with lots of people going in and out.
 
Shaun108 said:
Polo's are great cars tbh. Even a Golf is a pretty little drivearound.

Hijack risk here in ZA is just not worth it though. I'd rather not take a chance with these type of high-risk cars. There's plenty of other options that lower the chances of you waking up dead in the morgue from a trigger-happy hijacker.
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I agree with this. Better safe than sorry, someone I know recently (two months ago in Pretoria) survived an attempted hijacking in his Polo.

Did you try the Hyndai competition to the Polo?

At the end of the day, however, it is your decision.

Goodluck and I wish you safety and peace.
 
Dups! said:
I agree with this. Better safe than sorry, someone I know recently (two months ago in Pretoria) survived an attempted hijacking in his Polo.

Did you try the Hyndai competition to the Polo?

At the end of the day, however, it is your decision.

Goodluck and I wish you safety and peace.
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Haven't tried Hyundai yet, would that be the i20? If only the 2016/17 Fiestas didn't have those awful Nokia-like buttons on the dashboard and screen :/
 
Un4given said:
Haven't tried Hyundai yet, would that be the i20? If only the 2016/17 Fiestas didn't have those awful Nokia-like buttons on the dashboard and screen :/
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Hyundai i20 are also a target post 2016 models. Especially ix35's.
 
The Western Cape / Cape Town is not that prone to this right ? Or I am just not that aware of it ?
 
Have you tried a Mazda 2 or 3? I think you will leave impressed.
 
Un4given said:
So after trying out several cars, from Renault Clios, Kia Rios, Ford Fiestas, and Suzuki Swifts, I have settled on the car that ticks most of my boxes: the 2015/16 VW Polo Comfortline.

Except...the hijacking statistics is the only thing standing in the way of me buying one. How have you Polo drivers adapted to the situation? Just being more 'aware' as a driver and avoid driving at night? I feel like ruling out a Polo takes me back to square one and I may have to reevaluate the type of vehicle is like to get (hatchback in that price range), while at the same time I wouldn't want to meet a guy with a gun in my driveway either.
Click to expand...

It's not worth it, I know you chose the Polo because of it's quality and that's fair since the other cars you drove probably won't come close. You did leave out one car that can match the Polo's quality and that is the Peugeot 208 (GT-Line)
 
Vegeta said:
Have you tried a Mazda 2 or 3? I think you will leave impressed.
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That^, plenty of decent cars around, which will obviuosly not matter if OP wants the VW. Mazda 3, Opel, Peugeot, and others. I kniw he has created threads previously, I don't kniw what it that can be found exclusively in a Polo, unless it is all about personal preference and aesthetics.
 
I've had a polo, a jetta, two corollas, a citi golf, now an up and a Passat, most of those high on the high jacking lists. I haven't been highjacked once in the 13 years since I bought my first car.

In this fcking sh.thole any car is a risk. You can't live your life in fear. You can buy a pos Renault today and get highjacked in that tomorrow as well. Buy the car you like most and just be aware of your surroundings at all times.
 
Vegeta said:
Have you tried a Mazda 2 or 3? I think you will leave impressed.
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Can't believe I forgot about these. Thanks!

Sumen said:
It's not worth it, I know you chose the Polo because of it's quality and that's fair since the other cars you drove probably won't come close. You did leave out one car that can match the Polo's quality and that is the Peugeot 208 (GT-Line)
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The GT-line looks good! Pity there aren't many pre-owned ones on autotrader.
 
If the idea of meeting a guy with a gun in your driveway scares you, maybe a Polo in South Africa is not for you.

When I bought my Polo, I was very much aware of the highjack statistics, however; I took solace in that they hardly ever kill you these days. So, I had that small prayer that the day they come for 'their' car, they don't kill me.

In the three years I had the car, I enjoyed it. I never really took any special precautions. I drove wherever and whenever. I was very lucky because mostly overnight I parked it in an off-street parking (as they call it here in Cape Town). In all that, when I'm in the car; I was always looking over my shoulder, super alert of what was going on around me.

The question is, if I had to do it all over again; I wouldn't. I'm a parent now. Hope that helps.
 
Un4given said:
So after trying out several cars, from Renault Clios, Kia Rios, Ford Fiestas, and Suzuki Swifts, I have settled on the car that ticks most of my boxes: the 2015/16 VW Polo Comfortline.

Except...the hijacking statistics is the only thing standing in the way of me buying one. How have you Polo drivers adapted to the situation? Just being more 'aware' as a driver and avoid driving at night? I feel like ruling out a Polo takes me back to square one and I may have to reevaluate the type of vehicle is like to get (hatchback in that price range), while at the same time I wouldn't want to meet a guy with a gun in my driveway either.
Click to expand...
What Clios, Rios and Fiestas did you try though?

I had a Polo Vivo, it was a great car, ugh being the Vivo it was very basic, but excellent car, never gave a single issue. I had colleagues who had the same car, yet over the year 2016 a few of them got stolen or hijacked, it was like they were being cherry picked, all in very different areas. In my line of work I sometimes need to travel and go to a clients offices for meetings and some of the times its an area I am not familiar with, and may have Street parking. Everytime I parked my Vivo I'd look back at it with the thought that it might be the last time I may see it.

I eventually got sick of being constantly anxious sitting in it, and so I traded it in for a Renault Clio 4 Dynamique, best decision EVER. Not only did I get endless great features (Keyless entry, keyless Go, rain sensing whipers, auto headlights, auto folding mirrors, great alloy wheels etc...) at a decent price, my Insurance premium came down, and the car has been cheap to maintain.
I no longer sit anxiously in my car, as with the sea of Polos, Polo Vivos, Hilux, Fortuner, Golf GTIs etc... rolling around all over GP, I know I am a much lower priority to hijackers but at the sametime I do keep in mind that the possibility exists of being targeted, so I don't keep any flashing things in my car and have had my windows heavily tinted (within legal requirements of course ;D )

My younger cousin bought herself a lovely 2016 Polo TSI early this year for her 25th to celebrate working at her first job for well over a year and being promoted to a permanent position, she no longer has to take those deathtraps taxis, but I will not lie, I am constantly worrying about her in that car, almost about as much as worrying about her being on those taxis. Everytime I see the hijack reports on Twitter I hope and Pray it's not her number plate that gets reported, as it is always a Polo or Polo Vivo being reported, multiple times on a daily basis.
 
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Renault Captur ... ? Keeping up with the SUV trend maybe.
 
Just buy what you like and can afford. Be alert while on the road. Make it particularly difficult to steal. Don't give lift to strangers. You'll be fine. Or not.
 
Tsepz_011 said:
What Clios, Rios and Fiestas did you try though?

I had a Polo Vivo, it was a great car, ugh being the Vivo it was very basic, but excellent car, never gave a single issue. I had colleagues who had the same car, yet over the year 2016 a few of them got stolen or hijacked, it was like they were being cherry picked, all in very different areas. In my line of work I sometimes need to travel and go to a clients offices for meetings and some of the times its an area I am not familiar with, and may have Street parking. Everytime I parked my Vivo I'd look back at it with the thought that it might be the last time I may see it.

I eventually got sick of being constantly anxious sitting in it, and so I traded it in for a Renault Clio 4 Dynamique, best decision EVER. Not only did I get endless great features (Keyless entry, keyless Go, rain sensing whipers, auto headlights, auto folding mirrors, great alloy wheels etc...) at a decent price, my Insurance premium came down, and the car has been cheap to maintain.
I no longer sit anxiously in my car, as with the sea of Polos, Polo Vivos, Hilux, Fortuner, Golf GTIs etc... rolling around all over GP, I know I am a much lower priority to hijackers but at the sametime I do keep in mind that the possibility exists of being targeted, so I don't keep any flashing things in my car and have had my windows heavily tinted (within legal requirements of course ;D )

My younger cousin bought herself a lovely 2016 Polo TSI early this year for her 25th to celebrate working at her first job for well over a year and being promoted to a permanent position, she no longer has to take those deathtraps taxis, but I will not lie, I am constantly worrying about her in that car, almost about as much as worrying about her being on those taxis. Everytime I see the hijack reports on Twitter I hope and Pray it's not her number plate that gets reported, as it is always a Polo or Polo Vivo being reported, multiple times on a daily basis.
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Clios - I tried the 2018 Expression and found it a bit underpowered, and I can't dig the key-card thing. The 88kw GT Lines are a bit out of my price range. Fiestas - I tried the 2017 1.0T Trend. The ride wasn't as a smooth as the Polo, and the buttons look like an old nokia phone. Rio - I tried a 2016 1.4 tec. It was really nice, but the dealership won't budge on the price. I still want to check this out out though: https://www.autotrader.co.za/used-c...-1.4-tec-fpa-4b268324312447e0a1044cd1172982d8

So far, the Polo won because of the price, comfort, features, amazing ride quality (imo). But given that I have anxiety issues, it sounds like the Polo might be an issue if it means being constantly worried about my safety.
 
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