If you have Lewis Hamilton aspirations

Lots of adrenaline rush, smile on my face and concentration is what I experienced when I drove these two cars. They are in different spectra but are both thrilling to drive.

Byline: Thembekile Vokwana

Let me make something clear from the word go, this is not a comparative review. These two cars belong in entirely different universes. One is a fast-little red devil, which punches way above its 1.3 tonne weight, making this 5th generation Polo GTi one of the most exciting cars I have driven. On the other side of the spectrum is the earth moving behemoth of a car that weighs a staggering 1.9 tonnes and costs 4 times the price of the R394,500 Polo GTi. Of course, there are cars that are much faster and more fun to drive. I haven’t driven those yet. 

Polo GTiBefore I drove this 5th generation VW Polo GTi, I must admit I was sceptical, because I wasn’t sure if Polo was worthy to wear the venerable GTi badge. How off the mark I was as Its 147kW, 2.0 litre turbo-petrol engine, made me think I was the older version of Lewis Hamilton? This is the same power output that was in the Mk5 Golf GTi which was in production between 2003-2009. One of the most popular hatches in Mzansi, cemented the GTi’s iconic status. Polo’s exhaust note is not as pronounced as its bigger and more popular sibling, but it is audible enough. Still made me giggle whenever I squeezed 320nM of torque out of it. The new-gen Polo GTi comes with impressive fuel consumption despite its performance. I did my best to stick to the legal speeds prescribed on our roads but from time to time my right foot got a bit too heavy. Boy did the GTi not disappoint. VW has a winner here and it will reward you in spades. I was pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable it is. The interior space is sizable for four adults and the boot is sizable for a good haul of groceries.

Mercedes Benz GLC 63 S 4Matic+The looks alone gave me the shivers. The gaping airvents on either side of its massive grille made the GLC 63S look like a hungry Megalodon. Brute acceleration, speed, deafening guttural noise are the trademarks of this mighty SUV. Recent petrol increases shouldn’t even be an issue for owners of this thirsty giant. Its colossal V8, 4.0 litre engine delivers a staggering 375kW at 700nM of torque, and boy can you feel it when you accelerate. The harder you push it, the thirstier it becomes. Driving it in the most extreme Race mode, I had to muster every inch of concentration. Incredible fun and enjoyment derived from this beast from Affalterbach though. There is absolutely nothing like it in its segment. Porsche will be launching its Macan GTS this year, until then GLC 63S is the reigning King. Quoting one of my favourite lines from Marvel’s Spiderman “With great power comes great responsibility.” Because if you don’t know how to handle the AMG’s sheer power you could find yourself in the wrong side of the law. Truly a Beauty and a Beast. Still quite luxurious with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from Mercedes.

VerdictGreat fun is supposed to be derived from driving cars like these two. Yet even though they are as different as day and night in terms of segment, price, fuel consumption etc, the amount of enjoyment from them left me speechless.

Instagram_@khawuta; twitter: @mcethe

-- ENDS --

ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THEMBEKILE VOKWANA BY AJ MEDIATECH. FOR MEDIA ENQUIRES PLEASE CONTACT: AMANDA  |Amanda.m@ajmediatech.co.za