changing to 6th gear

[angieo]

I've got a 02 16v polo. The gear stick shows there are 6 gears, but I can't get the gear stick into the 6th gear. Am I missing something (like when you go into reverse you push the stick down) or is there a fault with my car?

[Ian_C]

Is this a piss take?

[Mook]

Welcome to Tyresmoke

IIRC, that model of Polo doesn't have 6 gears. Maybe someone has changed the gearknob before you owned it?

[Calm Chris]

Mk3 Facelift (6N2) Polo GTIBetween 2000 and 2002, Volkswagen offered two sporting models — the 16V and GTI. The 16V came with the 1.4 16V 74 kW (100 PS) engine and had options such as 15" Spa alloys and air conditioning. However, the GTI - available only in 3 or 5 door hatchback body styles with a 1.6 16V 92 kW (125 PS) engine with variable valve timing. External changes included deeper front bumpers with honeycomb mesh grilles, a subtle rear spoiler, side skirts, fog lights, and 15" BBS split rims for the wheels. There were also standard extras such as Climatronic fully automatic air conditioning, xenon headlights with a headlight washer system, a six-disc CD autochanger, exclusive sports interior with leather steering wheel and gearstick, chrome inserts, and driver aids such as ABS with EBD and an EDL (a system to aid traction). Leather and satellite navigation were also optional extras. The Polo GTI Mk3F however never got the new six-speed gearbox that was introduced in the smaller Volkswagen Lupo GTI which shared the same engine. This was because of repeated failures of the Polo GTI's 5 speed gearboxes due to faulty bearings.

Mine was a 5 speed (2000 my), yours is likely a 5 speed and someone has changed the gear stick knob.