Up / Citigo / Mii opinions
Discussion
I currently have a 2013 VW Transporter (camper-converted) and a 2018 Audi S3, which cover the mix of uses we have as a family quite well.
However, we live on the very edge of a low emissions zone and soon most of the van's journeys will become chargeable at £9 a pop (it's a Euro 5 model). At the same time, our kids' activities, parental care visits and possibly a new school run mean we are likely to do more urban driving, often using two vehicles to go different directions.
I know the most cost-effective thing to do is to suck up the charges and continue using the van until it really needs replacing with a Euro 6 model, but I've also been thinking of adding a small urban runabout. The van would then be relegated to camping and leisure trips only. One of the three vehicles would be stored in a local lock-up garage at any one time, a short walk from the house.
What's the consensus on the VW Up / Skoda Citigo / SEAT Mii these days? I'm mainly attracted to a VAG product due to mine and my wife's familiarity with them (driving easy and DIY fixes) and the idea that I could keep all maintenance at a trusted local VW indy appeals.
Budget would be up to £5k, so realistically 5-8 years old.
However, we live on the very edge of a low emissions zone and soon most of the van's journeys will become chargeable at £9 a pop (it's a Euro 5 model). At the same time, our kids' activities, parental care visits and possibly a new school run mean we are likely to do more urban driving, often using two vehicles to go different directions.
I know the most cost-effective thing to do is to suck up the charges and continue using the van until it really needs replacing with a Euro 6 model, but I've also been thinking of adding a small urban runabout. The van would then be relegated to camping and leisure trips only. One of the three vehicles would be stored in a local lock-up garage at any one time, a short walk from the house.
What's the consensus on the VW Up / Skoda Citigo / SEAT Mii these days? I'm mainly attracted to a VAG product due to mine and my wife's familiarity with them (driving easy and DIY fixes) and the idea that I could keep all maintenance at a trusted local VW indy appeals.
Budget would be up to £5k, so realistically 5-8 years old.
Mrs D got a 17 plate Citigo last year to replace the Fiat 500s Twinair for school run/commuter journeys. It’s not as fun as that car but more than adequate at carting 3 kids to school, especially with its 5 doors compared to the 3 doors of the Fiat.
Not sure the premium you’ll pay for an Up is worth it.
Has been totally reliable so far which is great given the drivers lack of mechanical sympathy.
Not sure the premium you’ll pay for an Up is worth it.
Has been totally reliable so far which is great given the drivers lack of mechanical sympathy.
We have had a 64 plate Citigo Monte Carlo so has the slightly stiffer suspension, better interior and stickers on the outside.
It has been faultless since we got it, has only needed brakes and tyres. Uses next to no fuel and £20 tax.
As much fun as it is to throw around, the suspension on the standard model is probably better for around town use as the stiffer springs can get a bit annoying sometimes
It has been faultless since we got it, has only needed brakes and tyres. Uses next to no fuel and £20 tax.
As much fun as it is to throw around, the suspension on the standard model is probably better for around town use as the stiffer springs can get a bit annoying sometimes
We’ve got a Citigo, 2016 Elegance with stop start, so zero road tax. It’s a great little car, way more room inside than you would think and although it’s not very fast (it’s the 75bhp version) it’s very nippy round town and surprisingly good on the motorway - feels quite planted and not at all like a typical small car.
It’s also good fun to drive on twisty back roads although you need to keep the momentum going.
When we started looking we looked at a few Up’s, but soon realised the Skoda is far better value for money - equivalent Up’s to the spec we wanted were a couple of grand more!
Zero regrets buying it after 2 years and we will keep it for as long as it keeps going. It does 50mpg, and that’s mostly short town journeys. Cracking little cars.
It’s also good fun to drive on twisty back roads although you need to keep the momentum going.
When we started looking we looked at a few Up’s, but soon realised the Skoda is far better value for money - equivalent Up’s to the spec we wanted were a couple of grand more!
Zero regrets buying it after 2 years and we will keep it for as long as it keeps going. It does 50mpg, and that’s mostly short town journeys. Cracking little cars.
All three are great cars, had a run about in a Mii a while ago and couldn't really fault it, other than being a bit bland! If i was buying a 5 door city car though I'd definitely be looking at the Fiat Panda (cheaper and more funky inside) and Kia Picanto (long warranty) as well! I know someone with a smart FourFour which replaced an up! they are very happy with it, more because of the styling than there having been any issues with the up!
Bought an Up (2014) from someone in the next village for my daughter to learn in. It's become part of the family now and my son has it as he's learnt in it and Daughter is away at University.
Purchased in early 2017 it had 23k miles. Now on 40k+ it's been solidly reliable, and over the time we've had it only tyres and regular servicing. It's actually quite fun to drive once you build momentum.
I'd happily buy another, but the kids would prefer something bigger/fancier and I think their experience has been a bit tarnished by having a black box for the insurance.
Purchased in early 2017 it had 23k miles. Now on 40k+ it's been solidly reliable, and over the time we've had it only tyres and regular servicing. It's actually quite fun to drive once you build momentum.
I'd happily buy another, but the kids would prefer something bigger/fancier and I think their experience has been a bit tarnished by having a black box for the insurance.
I had a 2016 Citigo Colour Edition (black wheels, more speakers, and detachable satnav/media unit). Great little car, but a bit slow on the open road.
I traded it in against a Kia Picanto GT-Line S, which has the 1 litre turbo engine and more "toys" than any other small car on the market - heated seats and wheel, electric sunroof, reversing camera, wireless charging, etc.
The Picanto is obviously a lot quicker (not far off the Up! GTi), but it's just as good to drive as the VAG models. The 7 year warranty should make ownership pretty painless.
Might be worth seeing what £5k will get you at a Kia dealer?
I traded it in against a Kia Picanto GT-Line S, which has the 1 litre turbo engine and more "toys" than any other small car on the market - heated seats and wheel, electric sunroof, reversing camera, wireless charging, etc.
The Picanto is obviously a lot quicker (not far off the Up! GTi), but it's just as good to drive as the VAG models. The 7 year warranty should make ownership pretty painless.
Might be worth seeing what £5k will get you at a Kia dealer?
We've had an Up in the family for 3 years now, all that's gone wrong was a drivers window regulator, fixed under warranty.
£20 RFL, and easily 60mpg.
I really like the way it drives, so I think it'll be kept in the family for as long as it lasts.
We paid £5750 for it from a VW main stealer 3 years ago.
Dealers are asking £5,000 for the same car now.
£20 RFL, and easily 60mpg.
I really like the way it drives, so I think it'll be kept in the family for as long as it lasts.
We paid £5750 for it from a VW main stealer 3 years ago.
Dealers are asking £5,000 for the same car now.
I know you like VAG but the Hyundai i10 is just as good a car & you'll get a nice one for around 5k
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104101...
Or it's cousin the Kia Picanto Sport this will still have three years Manufacturers Warranty left:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105052...
Smart ForFor Prime T often overlooked but these are a cracking city car especially in this spec.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104161...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103250...
Or the i20 SE (the first link is to show you what they look like the 2nd is in budget) with a bit more space
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103029...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104231...
If you can live with three doors then the DS3 is a great buy:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103089...
Or if you need 5 door then it's 208 cousin in Allure spec is the pick:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103270...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104201...
As city cars go the Up etc are decent cars but for me the Picanto/i10 are a bit better easily as well built & reliable, so the fact you get 3 yer warranty makes them a bit of a no brainer, the Smart would be second with the UP.
If you don't mind stepping up a size & if you want your children (depending on their ages of course) to be comfortable in the back it may be worth stepping up a size & looking at the 208/DS3.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104101...
Or it's cousin the Kia Picanto Sport this will still have three years Manufacturers Warranty left:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105052...
Smart ForFor Prime T often overlooked but these are a cracking city car especially in this spec.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104161...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103250...
Or the i20 SE (the first link is to show you what they look like the 2nd is in budget) with a bit more space
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103029...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104231...
If you can live with three doors then the DS3 is a great buy:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103089...
Or if you need 5 door then it's 208 cousin in Allure spec is the pick:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103270...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104201...
As city cars go the Up etc are decent cars but for me the Picanto/i10 are a bit better easily as well built & reliable, so the fact you get 3 yer warranty makes them a bit of a no brainer, the Smart would be second with the UP.
If you don't mind stepping up a size & if you want your children (depending on their ages of course) to be comfortable in the back it may be worth stepping up a size & looking at the 208/DS3.
Thanks for everyone's help and suggestions.
I think the main obstacle to overcome is getting my head around having a third vehicle (our van is too special to sell) and arranging a lockup.
Up / Citigo pricing seems to be all over the place, with some very optimistically priced Ups alongside some comparatively reasonable Citigos. Case in point: a 50k mile 2014 High Up at the same price as a 10k mile 2018 Citigo!
I think the main obstacle to overcome is getting my head around having a third vehicle (our van is too special to sell) and arranging a lockup.
Up / Citigo pricing seems to be all over the place, with some very optimistically priced Ups alongside some comparatively reasonable Citigos. Case in point: a 50k mile 2014 High Up at the same price as a 10k mile 2018 Citigo!
We've had a 2014 Citigo for about 3 years. Elegance Green tech so zero tax ans surprisingly well equipped - ac, heated seats, satnav etc. Bought from a Skoda main dealer and I'd say it would cost us the same to buy it today. No problems at all and virtually free motoring (probably the kiss of death now!). Cracking little car and fun to drive
Ranger 6 said:
Re-visiting this again as my son has had a couple of instances of water draining into the front footwells. The amount of cr*p removed from under the front scuttle was quite surprising.
Keep the drain holes clean folks
Thanks for the tip.Keep the drain holes clean folks
That's a job for me to do this weekend then as daughters car parks near the tree.
I have had my mii 1.0s with air con, from new. Was pre reg oct15 car. I got it on 8 miles in jan 16.
Is a station .local trip car.
Wind up windows . No central locking.
24k now and what a great little car.
Good fun to drive and no issues apart from the rear suspension is a bit noisy over speed bumps.
Paid 6650 so 30%off rrp at the time. Probably worth 5k on a good day now.
The only car i can think to replace it with is an up gti!
Is a station .local trip car.
Wind up windows . No central locking.
24k now and what a great little car.
Good fun to drive and no issues apart from the rear suspension is a bit noisy over speed bumps.
Paid 6650 so 30%off rrp at the time. Probably worth 5k on a good day now.
The only car i can think to replace it with is an up gti!
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