Aghast - Up! so good ...
Discussion
I don't like small cars at all.
But no one told me ...
Thought I'd share this because I'm astonished.
Been enjoying middle management rep mobiles for a while now.
TDi, 120d M Sport, A3, Passat CC etc etc, all very good adequate unremarkable for 30,000 single driver miles a year ...
Change of role for a moment, found me renting this tiny fridge look alike.
'No No son, No way ...' but it’s a VW and that was available immediately.
Has no kit on it ‘cept ac; just 60 or so hp from just 3 cylinders, THREE, two enormous doors, and a boot to take two actual boots, but with bags to spare. I’m 6’3” and have enough space for 5 hours non-stop, not uncomfortable, if not exactly ‘located’.
Don’t get me wrong. It won’t accelerate up motorway inclines; you rely on a good tow. It’s tiny motor appears to suffer from a ‘heavy flywheel’ effect which is a shame, and you could get lulled into relying on torque, of which there’s none till 3000 rpm shows and then, only a meagre smattering. It is not ‘sporting’ in any way. And yet …
And yet, … the steering is just so perfectly light and direct; the gearshift the same fingertip positive feel. Brakes are pretty scabby but there’s no weight for them to slow. Heel & toes OK; changes direction like a terrier. 5 speed and 50+ in second. Of course, to go, you have to rev the nuts off it, but it sounds and responds to throttle with alactrity! 3 cylinders and a hole in the silencer fun (sounds like but doesn’t) and no question, it does actually accelerate through 90 (a comfortable cruise) and if you have a tow off that van’s slipstream, or there’s a favourable gradient, the thing flies to 110 … it reminds me of the original Mini Cooper S, but rides 20 times more comfortably.
Radio 5 enjoys the best reception in any car. A rear wash wipe. Warms up quickly at -7 degrees and doesn’t freeze it’s screen mixture. Low roll-resistant tyres hang on like grim-death; it’s not even noisy at speed; totally cool on crowded UK M ways.
General rate of the Up!s traffic flow performance is well in excess of the normal room available and really there is no need to slow down for curves, even in the slime that’s out there now. In town, it thrives on the hooning approach; flat every where, everyone getting in the way. The confidence … It costs £52 quid to fill and does 350 screaming miles to the tankfull so it’s not so economic till you stick it in fifth and wait … but you simply won’t because it’s m’bike sharp.
They do make the Up! with a few more bhp and if it’s as sweet as this basic, honestly, it will be utter bliss … this is.
But no one told me ...
Thought I'd share this because I'm astonished.
Been enjoying middle management rep mobiles for a while now.
TDi, 120d M Sport, A3, Passat CC etc etc, all very good adequate unremarkable for 30,000 single driver miles a year ...
Change of role for a moment, found me renting this tiny fridge look alike.
'No No son, No way ...' but it’s a VW and that was available immediately.
Has no kit on it ‘cept ac; just 60 or so hp from just 3 cylinders, THREE, two enormous doors, and a boot to take two actual boots, but with bags to spare. I’m 6’3” and have enough space for 5 hours non-stop, not uncomfortable, if not exactly ‘located’.
Don’t get me wrong. It won’t accelerate up motorway inclines; you rely on a good tow. It’s tiny motor appears to suffer from a ‘heavy flywheel’ effect which is a shame, and you could get lulled into relying on torque, of which there’s none till 3000 rpm shows and then, only a meagre smattering. It is not ‘sporting’ in any way. And yet …
And yet, … the steering is just so perfectly light and direct; the gearshift the same fingertip positive feel. Brakes are pretty scabby but there’s no weight for them to slow. Heel & toes OK; changes direction like a terrier. 5 speed and 50+ in second. Of course, to go, you have to rev the nuts off it, but it sounds and responds to throttle with alactrity! 3 cylinders and a hole in the silencer fun (sounds like but doesn’t) and no question, it does actually accelerate through 90 (a comfortable cruise) and if you have a tow off that van’s slipstream, or there’s a favourable gradient, the thing flies to 110 … it reminds me of the original Mini Cooper S, but rides 20 times more comfortably.
Radio 5 enjoys the best reception in any car. A rear wash wipe. Warms up quickly at -7 degrees and doesn’t freeze it’s screen mixture. Low roll-resistant tyres hang on like grim-death; it’s not even noisy at speed; totally cool on crowded UK M ways.
General rate of the Up!s traffic flow performance is well in excess of the normal room available and really there is no need to slow down for curves, even in the slime that’s out there now. In town, it thrives on the hooning approach; flat every where, everyone getting in the way. The confidence … It costs £52 quid to fill and does 350 screaming miles to the tankfull so it’s not so economic till you stick it in fifth and wait … but you simply won’t because it’s m’bike sharp.
They do make the Up! with a few more bhp and if it’s as sweet as this basic, honestly, it will be utter bliss … this is.
I've never really understood how people can enjoy cars like this. I used to have a similarly underpowered car and, although it had it's moments of fun, it was just such a struggle on motorways and hills and overtaking was almost impossible. If I had to get an economical car I'd choose a diesel saloon any day over an up!
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