Discussion
I had a Mk5 Polo GTI which was seen as in the Lupo's shadow as a drivers car, but it was still great to drive so the Lupo will be good. Same fantastic engine. I got around 37MPG using V-power in the Polo and with the Lupo being lighter it may be ever so slightly better on fuel. Prices are a bit much for what they are, and the interior isn't as nice or spacious as the Polo's. Although the prices are high, you shouldn't lose a lot on them
edit: Lupo doesn't suffer the same gearbox issues the Polo has, and it's available in 6 speed (think early cars may have 5 speed iirc)
edit: Lupo doesn't suffer the same gearbox issues the Polo has, and it's available in 6 speed (think early cars may have 5 speed iirc)
Had one for about 2 years, regret selling it and would have another but good ones rarely turn up, a lot have been modded, lowered, chopped and generally messed about with. Mine was a standard 6 speeder, 05 plate. They swapped from a 5 speed to a 6 early on in the production run but there's no real difference in terms of acceleration. The engine is great, sounds lovely at revs and is very willing to as well. The only thing I remember was the standard suspension was pretty soft and rolly, if I had another that's probably the only thing I'd change.
Overall feels a very special car to own, with the ally panels and centre exhaust. They really went to town on it, VW haven't done that since with there small cars at least.
Am off to the classifieds now...
Overall feels a very special car to own, with the ally panels and centre exhaust. They really went to town on it, VW haven't done that since with there small cars at least.
Am off to the classifieds now...
Arthur Daley said:
Had one for a year... great car and depreciation proof..xenon as standard.. faster than the figures suggest too. Raven blue with leather would be nice.
raven blue and leather, pretty damn rare combination. The leather in the gti's are quite nice and they're heated leathers that get extremely hot, i've got a set in my arosa
Great little all-rounder, had one for a few years. Engine very good, gearboxes as well (6th a bit short for Autobahn, should be OK in UK). 35 mpg without trying. Brakes average. Fit, finish, styling and rarity make the price.
Can't really switch off the ESP and the suspension is soft / safe as standard, I thought steering felt a little disconnected. In general less focused than anything Renault RS. Probably can be set up better with a bit of work, I did not bother on mine.
Things that went wrong: drive shafts (fairly expensive), one leccy window (not rare on VAG cars from that era), AC (did not bother to fix, would have gotten expensive).
Recommended if you enjoy the package and are aware that there are better "driver's car" type hatches out there for the money (Swift Sport, Twingo & Clio RS).
Can't really switch off the ESP and the suspension is soft / safe as standard, I thought steering felt a little disconnected. In general less focused than anything Renault RS. Probably can be set up better with a bit of work, I did not bother on mine.
Things that went wrong: drive shafts (fairly expensive), one leccy window (not rare on VAG cars from that era), AC (did not bother to fix, would have gotten expensive).
Recommended if you enjoy the package and are aware that there are better "driver's car" type hatches out there for the money (Swift Sport, Twingo & Clio RS).
I actually like these, as far as VAG cars go. They are tiny, no storage space etc, but obviously you wouldn't buy anything this small as a "do anything" car. However, if you aren't 19, you can probably afford something bigger and faster anyway, so you'd be buying the Lupo GTI purely because you wanted the Lupo.
The Lupo is not bad imo. Small footprint, thrashy engine, they are about as raw as VW cars get. They are subject to DUB tax though, values are kept artificially high through this - you can much, much better value for money on faster cars from other brands. Last time I looked, most of the ones on sale were completely standard, which is completely opposite of the ones I see on the streets.
I don't mind the mildly modified ones, loud exhaust, some new wheels (as long as they are the same size and width as OEM) is about as far as I'd go. When you see them getting stickered and "stanced", walk away. You will get loads of "DUB boiz" giving you all the "Datz wild brav, innit?!" every time you stop to fill up, which would no doubt get tiresome.
In all, due to the poor VFM for the actual performance, I think it's got to be a car you really love to bother getting one. A final word about the performance actually; they might feel fast, but they aren't really, especially above 60mph. If that diesel Mondeo in the rearview looks close, it's because he is - just let him past!
The Lupo is not bad imo. Small footprint, thrashy engine, they are about as raw as VW cars get. They are subject to DUB tax though, values are kept artificially high through this - you can much, much better value for money on faster cars from other brands. Last time I looked, most of the ones on sale were completely standard, which is completely opposite of the ones I see on the streets.
I don't mind the mildly modified ones, loud exhaust, some new wheels (as long as they are the same size and width as OEM) is about as far as I'd go. When you see them getting stickered and "stanced", walk away. You will get loads of "DUB boiz" giving you all the "Datz wild brav, innit?!" every time you stop to fill up, which would no doubt get tiresome.
In all, due to the poor VFM for the actual performance, I think it's got to be a car you really love to bother getting one. A final word about the performance actually; they might feel fast, but they aren't really, especially above 60mph. If that diesel Mondeo in the rearview looks close, it's because he is - just let him past!
tbc said:
very overpriced for what they are IMO
see them selling for between £4-6k
could probably pick up a decent MK5 Golf GTi for not much more
Go back 40 years, and Cooper S owners were probably thinking 'I could have an Austin 1300GT for the same money'. Or probably not.see them selling for between £4-6k
could probably pick up a decent MK5 Golf GTi for not much more
A mate of mine has a Lupo GTi, spent ages looking for one and loves it. VW missed a trik by not replacing it directly. What was that awful Fox thing all about?
Everything that could be improved in my Arosa sport is corrected in the Lupo GTI -still not very fast but plenty on a twisty b road.
But they are tiny cars. Practical if you treat them as a two seater (Rear seats folded down for speed
). The 6 speed gearbox is arguably better, and also as mentioned above, not prone to the same durability issues.
If you can comfortably afford one, and want to try it - pick well and it shoudn't cost you more than basic running costs if you change your mind. They have a strong following because they are a proper GTI and rare. Imagine the experience to be a modern MK1 Golf GTI rather than a shrunken MK4/MK5 Golf GTI.
I've given getting one some thought, and if a great opportunity came up I would be tempted by one.
But they are tiny cars. Practical if you treat them as a two seater (Rear seats folded down for speed
). The 6 speed gearbox is arguably better, and also as mentioned above, not prone to the same durability issues.If you can comfortably afford one, and want to try it - pick well and it shoudn't cost you more than basic running costs if you change your mind. They have a strong following because they are a proper GTI and rare. Imagine the experience to be a modern MK1 Golf GTI rather than a shrunken MK4/MK5 Golf GTI.
I've given getting one some thought, and if a great opportunity came up I would be tempted by one.
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