Discussion
Hi Folks,
A few weeks into ownership, and I thought I'd do a readers thread.
I'd heard the hype, but it wasn't until I drove one that i had to get one as my forever daily.
Refreshingly simple, and not too many modern day cars drivers assistance beeps, and bongs, and messages about how to improve one's driving.
56mpg so far.
I've owned many cars over the years, and very few was I 100% happy with. This one I'm 110% happy.
Not an outright fast hatch of course, but nippy enough to make good progress, and a very fun feeling car down a country road.
Cheap servicing, simple enough to go to an indie dealer if something goes wrong, and so far, great residuals.
I've seen so many ludicrous repair bills on modern cars in recent years, one's that really shouldn't be going wrong at their age/mileage, that I know, a modern new car isn't for me.
The Up was £19,249 when new 3 and a half years ago, and the dealer said he could have sold it several times over at just under £18,000
Some pics
Interested to hear other owners views, past & present.
A few weeks into ownership, and I thought I'd do a readers thread.
I'd heard the hype, but it wasn't until I drove one that i had to get one as my forever daily.
Refreshingly simple, and not too many modern day cars drivers assistance beeps, and bongs, and messages about how to improve one's driving.
56mpg so far.
I've owned many cars over the years, and very few was I 100% happy with. This one I'm 110% happy.
Not an outright fast hatch of course, but nippy enough to make good progress, and a very fun feeling car down a country road.
Cheap servicing, simple enough to go to an indie dealer if something goes wrong, and so far, great residuals.
I've seen so many ludicrous repair bills on modern cars in recent years, one's that really shouldn't be going wrong at their age/mileage, that I know, a modern new car isn't for me.
The Up was £19,249 when new 3 and a half years ago, and the dealer said he could have sold it several times over at just under £18,000
Some pics
Interested to hear other owners views, past & present.
I've had one since new and love it. I originally bought it as a daily but since a shed entered my life, it's now in semi-heritage fleet status, used as a road trip car and keeping it tucked away as a future classic.
I've fitted a set of KW V1's and Michelin PS5's which have transformed it, can highly recommend fresh tyres if yours is still fitted with the factory Goodyears. Also drop the tyre pressures from the factory settings, which are way too high - I run 32psi front/30psi rear, which feels about right.
The grey on yours looks ace!
I've fitted a set of KW V1's and Michelin PS5's which have transformed it, can highly recommend fresh tyres if yours is still fitted with the factory Goodyears. Also drop the tyre pressures from the factory settings, which are way too high - I run 32psi front/30psi rear, which feels about right.
The grey on yours looks ace!
itcaptainslow said:
I've had one since new and love it. I originally bought it as a daily but since a shed entered my life, it's now in semi-heritage fleet status, used as a road trip car and keeping it tucked away as a future classic.
I've fitted a set of KW V1's and Michelin PS5's which have transformed it, can highly recommend fresh tyres if yours is still fitted with the factory Goodyears. Also drop the tyre pressures from the factory settings, which are way too high - I run 32psi front/30psi rear, which feels about right.
The grey on yours looks ace!
Ah thanku, I read somewhere about the tyres, good to have it confirmed.I've fitted a set of KW V1's and Michelin PS5's which have transformed it, can highly recommend fresh tyres if yours is still fitted with the factory Goodyears. Also drop the tyre pressures from the factory settings, which are way too high - I run 32psi front/30psi rear, which feels about right.
The grey on yours looks ace!
If the St Neots meet restarts, I'll bring it along.
Its Just Adz said:
They look great fun these, cool little car.
Thanku, I love it's simplicity.I move a lot of new, and late, cars around for a local dealer, and many are so annoying, all the driver aids, and mesages drive me nuts.
And having to go into touchscreens to do simple stuff is mental, drivers should be looking at the road, not having to navigate a touch screen.
I would have happily bought another new car to see me out, but couldn't find one I was 100% happy with. New Renault 5 came the closest.
I see some new cars are getting buttons back now (VW)
Trevor555 said:
Thanku, I love it's simplicity.
I move a lot of new, and late, cars around for a local dealer, and many are so annoying, all the driver aids, and mesages drive me nuts.
And having to go into touchscreens to do simple stuff is mental, drivers should be looking at the road, not having to navigate a touch screen.
I would have happily bought another new car to see me out, but couldn't find one I was 100% happy with. New Renault 5 came the closest.
I see some new cars are getting buttons back now (VW)
I don't know if you're planning to keep it standard or not, but Awesome were showing one being tuned recently. Think it made good numbers on the Dyno I move a lot of new, and late, cars around for a local dealer, and many are so annoying, all the driver aids, and mesages drive me nuts.
And having to go into touchscreens to do simple stuff is mental, drivers should be looking at the road, not having to navigate a touch screen.
I would have happily bought another new car to see me out, but couldn't find one I was 100% happy with. New Renault 5 came the closest.
I see some new cars are getting buttons back now (VW)
Its Just Adz said:
I don't know if you're planning to keep it standard or not, but Awesome were showing one being tuned recently. Think it made good numbers on the Dyno
Thank you, I'll probably keep it standard, but I'll have a look.I don't mind a modified car, once had an 825kg mid engine Polo with 348bhp at the rear wheels lol, scary fun..
Edited by Trevor555 on Saturday 18th April 23:47
Trevor555 said:
itcaptainslow said:
I've had one since new and love it. I originally bought it as a daily but since a shed entered my life, it's now in semi-heritage fleet status, used as a road trip car and keeping it tucked away as a future classic.
I've fitted a set of KW V1's and Michelin PS5's which have transformed it, can highly recommend fresh tyres if yours is still fitted with the factory Goodyears. Also drop the tyre pressures from the factory settings, which are way too high - I run 32psi front/30psi rear, which feels about right.
The grey on yours looks ace!
Ah thanku, I read somewhere about the tyres, good to have it confirmed.I've fitted a set of KW V1's and Michelin PS5's which have transformed it, can highly recommend fresh tyres if yours is still fitted with the factory Goodyears. Also drop the tyre pressures from the factory settings, which are way too high - I run 32psi front/30psi rear, which feels about right.
The grey on yours looks ace!
If the St Neots meet restarts, I'll bring it along.
I think the meet does still happen but it's not a Pistonheads thing - last Sunday of each month unless it's changed. I've not been up for a few months.
bennno said:
From ownership ..
The seats could do with having better side support.
A 595/695 is a lot quicker and better value used.
Yup, agree on both, and considered one recently on collecting one for a dealer.The seats could do with having better side support.
A 595/695 is a lot quicker and better value used.
Sadly my local Abarth dealer gave me the one of the worst experiences when taking my 124 in there, so moved my needs to Bedford instead who also sadly didn't do a great job on a water pump warranty repair.
I know we shouldn't dwell on things, but sort of put me off having another Abarth, shame as I really loved the two 124's I had.
Trevor555 said:
bennno said:
From ownership ..
The seats could do with having better side support.
A 595/695 is a lot quicker and better value used.
Yup, agree on both, and considered one recently on collecting one for a dealer.The seats could do with having better side support.
A 595/695 is a lot quicker and better value used.
Sadly my local Abarth dealer gave me the one of the worst experiences when taking my 124 in there, so moved my needs to Bedford instead who also sadly didn't do a great job on a water pump warranty repair.
I know we shouldn't dwell on things, but sort of put me off having another Abarth, shame as I really loved the two 124's I had.
A bit late now and maybe not that close but DP Motors in St Albans are brilliant. Italian family run. Always honest and well priced.
heisthegaffer said:
That kind of thing can really put you off.
A bit late now and maybe not that close but DP Motors in St Albans are brilliant. Italian family run. Always honest and well priced.
Ah thanks for that, I know if a mint Abarth 124 get's dropped under my nose I won't be able to resist, loved both of them.A bit late now and maybe not that close but DP Motors in St Albans are brilliant. Italian family run. Always honest and well priced.
I sold my grey one to Veloches, they seemed good people also.
Owned mine for 7 years now! Longest I've ever owned a car by far. Difficult to find anything to replace it with that ticks all the boxes for a cheap, fun runabout.
As mentioned - get the tyres swapped. Those Goodyears will split their sidewalls at the first sniff of a pothole which, on our current roads, won't take long!
PS5's are good, as are the Rainsport. I recently fitted Kumho PS72's which I'm impressed with (in 205's)
Can also recommend a remap, 140bhp gives that little pep and is more than enough for daily use.
Otherwise, they're fine as they are. The seats are better than everyone says - I've done 3 hour journeys without issue, and I've flung it around B-roads and never felt like I needed to hold on.
Thoroughly enjoyed both up! GTIs that I’ve owned. First was a fully loaded Tornado Red 3 door ordered in March 2018, and finally delivered after a 9 month wait. I paid just £14400 for that car and ticked every option. I sold it after two and a half years for no good reason and still wish to this day that I hadn’t. 11 months after selling that one I bought a 21 plate ex-demo 5 door in Tungsten Silver. Despite enjoying having another up! in my life I never really bonded with that car. I much prefer the looks of the three door and the colour was a bit boring. I also found the ride comfort tiresome, something I had probably glossed over during my first period with one. I tried 205s and adjusted tyre pressures, but on the roads I use they were always quite crashy.
Andrewpandrew, I like the light grey/silver, it makes the black bits stand out more than mine.
I so wish I'd bought a brand new one like you did when they came out, £12,995 before options, I'm sure I would have Kept it.
There's a lovely looking red one on Ebay at the mo, 73 plate with all the options for £17,495
That must be one of the very last one's.
I so wish I'd bought a brand new one like you did when they came out, £12,995 before options, I'm sure I would have Kept it.
There's a lovely looking red one on Ebay at the mo, 73 plate with all the options for £17,495
That must be one of the very last one's.
I bought mine in mid 2021, a 2018 model with 7k on the clock.
I paid 10.5k for it.
Even now, WBAC will give me 10k for it, and it s now on 30k miles. Not sure how I managed that!
It feels like driving an overexcited puppy, perfect power:weight for B roads. Feels more powerful than it actually is. Not a single thing has broken on it, and living in Cumbria it does get caned!
P.S. Yes, the seats aren’t great (standard seats but in tartan) as are the standard tyres, Uniroyal RainSports are great (cf. Cumbria)
I paid 10.5k for it.
Even now, WBAC will give me 10k for it, and it s now on 30k miles. Not sure how I managed that!
It feels like driving an overexcited puppy, perfect power:weight for B roads. Feels more powerful than it actually is. Not a single thing has broken on it, and living in Cumbria it does get caned!
P.S. Yes, the seats aren’t great (standard seats but in tartan) as are the standard tyres, Uniroyal RainSports are great (cf. Cumbria)
Edited by ChevronB19 on Sunday 19th April 12:40
andrewpandrew said:
I also found the ride comfort tiresome, something I had probably glossed over during my first period with one. I tried 205s and adjusted tyre pressures, but on the roads I use they were always quite crashy.
For anyone else who has this problem, downgrade to 16" wheels - honestly, the difference is massive. I went to 16's, and I've gone back to thee 17's as I'm planning to move mine on once the replacement arrives, and the difference is measurable. Much harsher and crashier, it was so much better on the 16's.
If I bought another, it's the first thing I'd look to do.
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