RE: Volkswagen Up! GTI: Driven

RE: Volkswagen Up! GTI: Driven

Author
Discussion

j532

438 posts

94 months

Thursday 18th January 2018
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It does't look as special as the Lupo Gti. That'd be the one I'd go for.

The Up! Gti I think you'll have to look twice in the car park to realise it is the 'Gti'. No doubt it will be popular and cheap to run. I do hope they will spur on Citigo and Mii for some warm flavours.


Alucidnation

16,810 posts

171 months

Thursday 18th January 2018
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nickfrog said:
Great but will have stiff competition against the forthcoming Suzuki Swift Sport
Surely thats a Polo Gti competitor?

Turbojuice

601 posts

90 months

Thursday 18th January 2018
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Alucidnation said:
nickfrog said:
Great but will have stiff competition against the forthcoming Suzuki Swift Sport
Surely thats a Polo Gti competitor?
Indeed. Up GTI has the mini hot hatch market all to itself at the moment.

aarondbs

845 posts

147 months

Thursday 18th January 2018
quotequote all
115bhp and some are surprised its good on the motorway. I had a 1.6GLS cavalier and then an Escort TDi, both with 90bhp and both comfortably would do 100mph.

Power and fun do not have a linear relationship nor do you need 500bhp to make progress. I like this UP and my wifes Suzuki Swift Sport could be replaced by something like this.

SidewaysSi

10,742 posts

235 months

Thursday 18th January 2018
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The best in class as it is the only car in its class.

HTP99

22,602 posts

141 months

Thursday 18th January 2018
quotequote all
SidewaysSi said:
The best in class as it is the only car in its class.
Err, Twingo GT?!

Mercury00

4,105 posts

157 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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The wheels are ridiculous. I'd be interested if it had 14" or 15" wheels, but not with those horse-drawn carriage wheels.

ukaskew

10,642 posts

222 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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Toyoda said:
My thoughts too. This up is just another lukewarm little car like so many others that came out in the early 2000s like the ignis sport, yaris t sport, panda 100hp, sportka, fiesta zetec s etc. Nothing to see here...
Except that somewhat sadly that particular niche has all but died out. Apart from Fiat with tbeir ratger expensive option none of the manufacturers you've listed make a warm super mini anymore.

I've owned an Ignis Sport and Sportka before but own a regular Citigo now (I simply don't need a bigger car). The Up GTi is great news simply because it isn't the early 2000s anymore.

marky911

4,417 posts

220 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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Bit of a damp squib really. I can only see die hard VW fans paying that much for it.
As said above the Lupo GTi is probably better as an old skool hot hatch and if it's a modern hot hatch I wanted, I'd look elsewhere.
The 595 Abarths look better, will sound waaay better and will kick its arse and since most people will buy these on a pay monthly scheme it would be daft not to pay a few quid more a month for a much quicker, better hot hatch.

Nice attempt by VW but a bit pointless in my eyes.

hkz286

146 posts

85 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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marky911 said:
Bit of a damp squib really. I can only see die hard VW fans paying that much for it.
I wouldn't say that. I've never so much as looked at VWs before, but I'm considering getting one of these.

MOBB

3,623 posts

128 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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Looks like just the sort of thing I'm after next - Last car was an F10 M5 and current car is a Leon Cupra.

Both great machines, but neither loved by myself, rather just "respected".

The only thing in the text that concerns me - "But it's also not the most joyful car to drive fast". Which is the whole point, so I really need to try one out.

My old Puma and even a Citroen C1 were a blast to drive fast, this needs to be too.

Toyoda

1,557 posts

101 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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ukaskew said:
Except that somewhat sadly that particular niche has all but died out. Apart from Fiat with tbeir ratger expensive option none of the manufacturers you've listed make a warm super mini anymore.

I've owned an Ignis Sport and Sportka before but own a regular Citigo now (I simply don't need a bigger car). The Up GTi is great news simply because it isn't the early 2000s anymore.
Well, all the NA niche cars I list above have indeed died out, but this Up won't be alone in the 1 litre turbo small car market. Sure, this is a 'city' car rather than a 'supermini' but the Fiesta 1.0 ecoboost in 125bhp flavour which has been around for a good while will give similar thrills, and of course there's the new Swift Sport in a similar vein. Still not the same as revving the nuts off a small engined NA car, as I'm sure you'll agree, having owned the Ignis Sport and SportKa but of course with emissions nonsense those days are gone.


99dndd

2,091 posts

90 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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I'm seriously considering this and I think it really looks the part.

GrandAndrew

876 posts

151 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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I think it looks like a wonderful little thing.

I'd be really interested in having a drive of one. The article states it's a compromise but isn't everything?

s2rv

25 posts

116 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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I was hoping it'd be like the Lupo Gti I owned 15 years ago (best car I've ever owned-was so much fun), sadly I don't think it'll be the case-I will still test drive one though.

I've been looking at buying a Lupo Gti (but worry that the youngest are 12 years old) along with newer stuff like the previous generation Swift Sport. Another car I've considered is the Kia Picanto GT Line S, but I'd wait for the turbo engine to be launched in it and hopefully it'd be able to be remapped to a higher power.

I've owned a BMW M135i for approaching 6 years, but, I've never really bonded with it due to the steering feel/handling and the amount of warranty work done on it (18k so far). I also think it's too fast to throw around and have fun in.

I really am stuck in what to do for small fun car.

Any one offer any more alternatives I could look at.

Cheers

nickfrog

21,210 posts

218 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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Turbojuice said:
Alucidnation said:
nickfrog said:
Great but will have stiff competition against the forthcoming Suzuki Swift Sport
Surely thats a Polo Gti competitor?
Indeed. Up GTI has the mini hot hatch market all to itself at the moment.
Not sure, I'm not really good at marketing / segmentation etc... But if they are the same price after discount or after a few months then it doesn't matter. The Swift could be the better choice as it promises to be under 1000kg yet gives you 140hp in a presumably well set up chassis based on Suzuki's form.

John_S4x4

1,350 posts

258 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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andrewparker

8,014 posts

188 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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LuS1fer said:
It may go well but it's still an awkwardly boxy car to look at and the looks kill it, for me. I would pay more for something more visually appealing.
Each to their own but I think it looks great, far better than the incredibly awkward looking new Swift Sport.

Dave Hedgehog

14,580 posts

205 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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like the idea of one of these for the OH, 5 dr with twin clutch which should be circa 15.5k

then i found a dealer reg'd polo GTi for 16.5k which is a much better deal

J4CKO

41,646 posts

201 months

Friday 19th January 2018
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I love our C1 for a lot of reasons but cant get past the daft gearing, lack of poke and it feeling a bit low rent, quite happy with a small car and really, I dont need 400 bhp so will be looking at these with interest, the Swift was a good little car but it was missing a key ingredient that is important in the UK, the badge, Suzuki says budget pensioner chariot or small off roader (remember "Bad Boy" Kittted Vitaras ? - shudder, in metallic pink with a white roof for the full effect) but a VW badge will help massively.

So many people will buy them, nostalgic middle aged blokes, youngsters for their first sporty car, pensioners, anyone who wants a small car that isnt completely toothless, the UP! is a good little car, this gives it the attitude and performance that has been missing.

There must be a remap coming as well, 150 bhp would do.