Alternatives to Up! GTi?

[clockworks]

Currently own a couple of Skoda - 2016 Citigo and 2016 Superb 280 L&K.

I'm finding myself using the Citigo for more and more journeys, as it's small (easy to park, and drive down single track lanes) and economical.
It feels like a bigger car when driving it, and is reasonably refined. The one thing that lets it down is the lack of power going up hills. 60bhp isn't really enough.

I want something that's a similar size, but a lot quicker. The obvious choice would be an Up! GTi. Limited choice on the secondhand market though, especially here in the far southwest.

What else is out there that's comparable? It has to be a 5 door, as I carry stuff on the back seat.

[Shaqq]

Yaris T-Sport? I think it is a similar size to the Up, five door variants are rarer than the three doors.

Edited by Shaqq on Wednesday 2nd October 14:21

[AJB88]

Didn't they only do the T-Sport from like 2001-2005, not sure I'd we swapping a 2016 car for a 2005 car.

OP are you getting rid of both cars to fund another? Leon is slightly smaller than the Superb why dont you get a Leon Cupra with the same 280/290/300 engine as the Superb?

Edited by AJB88 on Wednesday 2nd October 14:37

[kieranblenk]

Try the Up! TSI 90 or the Kia Picanto TGDI GT Line if you're after a quickish city car. There are also numerous superminis and mid size hatchbacks with a variety of different engine options which would fit the bill.

[MOBB]

Suzuki Swift Sport sounds like it would fit the bill?

[mnaylor]

The girlfriend almost went for the Up GTI but ended up with a Kia Picanto GT Line S, the 1 litre, 3 cylinder turbo version. Much cheaper, loads of kit (wireless phone charging, heating seats & steering wheel, sat nav, android/apple connectivity etc.) and 7 years warranty.

The GTI obviously has more heritage, it depends what you want from a car.

[clockworks]

I've only had the Superb for a few months, so that'll be staying for now. Sometimes it's useful to have a big comfy car.

Citigo would be traded against whatever small car I go for, plus some cash obviously. I'm trying to do a deal with someone who has contacts in the motor trade who is keen to buy my Rolex Sub. That's a whole other story, but I haven't worn it for a couple of years, and I think the market might be peaking very soon, so now is probably the right time to trade it. Looking at around £6k for the watch, plus £5k and a bit for the Citigo, possibly a few £k cash as well.

The Up! GTi appeals, as it has the makings of becoming a cult car, so depreciation shouldn't be too savage if bought at the right price.
The Kia GT Line looks like a reasonable alternative (I had no idea they made this one), not sure I'll find one at a decent price yet. Probably similar issues with the Up! 90? I don't want to buy new, unless the discounts are very good.

I really don't want anything bigger, so superminis are out.

[AJB88]

or if you really arent bothered about the age, the ups older brother the Lupo GTI? 125bhp 1.6 16v

[ZX10R NIN]

Kia Picanto GT Line S

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Twingo GT

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Smart Brabus

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Yaris Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Vauxhall Adam 1.4T Grand Slam this will have all the power you need but it's not a 5 door:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Going up a size means the Swift Sport comes into play:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or the Fiesta in Titanium X/ST Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Mazda2 Sport Nav

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Clio GT Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[kieranblenk]

Abarth 595 might be worth a look also.

[clockworks]

Looking for something that still has a decent warranty, either manufacturer's or approved used.

Aren't the Smarts a bit risky mechanically? Pretty sure I've heard horror stories of big failures at less than 60k miles. The one linked to is at my local Mercedes dealer.
Isn't the current Twingo based on Smart mechanicals?

I fancy the idea of an Abarth, but need 5 doors - back seat is the safest way to carry old clocks, and that's the main use of my small car. Getting stuff in and out of the back seat in a 3 door will be a killer for my back.

Swift Sport is worth a look, a bit bigger than I really want/need, but might be OK.


Apart from running out of puff up long hills, my current Citigo does everything I need. Might be a much cheaper option just to get it remapped so that it doesn't run out of power at 5000rpm. Apparently the 60 and 75 bhp versions of this engine are mechanically identical, just a different map. 75 power curve keeps going until the red line, 60 curve drops off a cliff at 5000.

[JackReacher]

A slightly different proposition, but you could consider an early i3, available for low teens. Meets many of your criteria, but will be slightly older obviously. Would only work of the range suits the nature of journeys you perform. Otherwise, it would have to be the Up GTi for me.

[clockworks]

Most of my journeys are between 15 and 60 mile round trips.

However, I sometimes have to visit several customers in one round trip of 120 to 150 miles, so a comfortable range of at least 150 miles is needed.

[Silenoz]

For your top budget, I'd be looking at the Kia Picanto 1.0 turbo. Long warranty, five doors and decent power. My OH is on her second Hyundai i10, which is the same car essentially, and it's great. I tried to get her to look at the Kia before she bought the second i10, but she was fixed on wanting the same car but with an auto box.

ETA - this is a good example. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2019...

Edited by Silenoz on Thursday 3rd October 22:50

[Col 666]

Abarth 595 is what you want, not a relaxing drive but huge fun with plenty power.

[HTP99]

Col 666 said:

Abarth 595 is what you want, not a relaxing drive but huge fun with plenty power.

Didn't realise it came as a 5 door?!

[mbwoy84]

If you want something small that's a LOT quicker, than Audi S1 is the only answer, but obviously a lot more expensive too. Epic car though. A shade over 300BHP from a simple stage 1 remap, as performance was pegged back so much as to not embarrass the S3 in the line-up.

[clockworks]

mbwoy84 said:

If you want something small that's a LOT quicker, than Audi S1 is the only answer, but obviously a lot more expensive too. Epic car though. A shade over 300BHP from a simple stage 1 remap, as performance was pegged back so much as to not embarrass the S3 in the line-up.

That's a bit more than I need from a shopping and local deliveries car. Same engine as in my Superb 280 I guess, so potentially a bit of a rocketship.

[clockworks]

I've spent a couple of hours looking online at Up! GTi and Kia GT S 99 turbo prices.

There seem to be quite a few low mileage VWs, presumably ex-demo and pre-reg, going for £14.5 to £16k. Not many properly secondhand cars for sale yet.

Very few Kia 99 turbos for sale (most GT-Lines are the 1.25 83's), so I guess they are too new to be on the secondhand market too?
However, a new one costs £15k.

Looking at the spec lists, the Kia has a lot more toys, and things that aren't available on the Up!, like proper satnav (you get a phone holder and an app instead) and reversing camera (not really needed in such a small car though).

So, a year old Up! that's probably been ragged as a demo, or a brand-new Picanto (with much higher spec and a 7 year warranty) for the same money?
On paper, the Kia looks like a better buy. I wonder how the residuals will compare when the time comes to sell?
You'd think the Up! would hold it's value a bit better, but people are complaining on a VW forum about how little they are being offered as a trade in.

Out of interest, I put the details of my Citigo into WBAC - shockingly low offer! I thought dealer margins on cars like this would be relatively low...

[Jag_NE]

Bmw i3 or Infiniti q30