Golf GTI Skoda CitiGo. Wise move?

[BREMBOV6]

Afternoon all

Probably a hundred threads or similar but thought I’d post up.

I currently own a Mk5 Golf GTI as my daily car but thinking about selling to something smaller, cheaper and a bit more of ‘I’m not so fussed about car’.

I’m about to move into my first place and could probably do with saving where I can. The Golf isn’t particularly expensive to run, £30pm for tax, can get c35/38mpg but I’m always doing short journeys, the car barely heats up. Parking will be tighter (no drive) once I have moved which makes me a bit paranoid.

Appreciate it isn’t a fancy car but it’s a good one with lowish mileage (40k) 3 door, grey, manual and standard. This would free up some money and I would look to most likely buy private rather than PCP etc.

Only thing is I keep going in-between and wondering if it’s really worth it. I’d probably look at something like a Skoda CitiGo or similar….so any thoughts welcome.

Appreciate it’s only a decision I can make but any thoughts or similar scenarios would be great.

[CJ1]

Why not an Up GTI? Best of both worlds.

Edit: Forgot they might be a bit too expensive!

[LuS1fer]

How is £30 a month for tax not expensive? A Fiesta ST is £140 a year.

I had a Seat Mii as a holiday hire car for a week. It has zero personality and is marginally better than a tin can with wheels. A Fiat 500 or Vauxhall Adam has far more character IMHO.

[Cecil330d]

Hi, I have a Mk7 GTI and a VW Up. When driving the Up I am always impressed with it for what it is and what it cost but then when I get back in the Golf I realise just how good it is. I would keep your Golf as you may well regret it and cost you more in the long run.

Why not live with it in your new place for a bit then think about it again. Or, perhaps hire the Citigo for a weekend on a cheap weekend deal and see how it feels as a direct comparison?

[Pistonheader101]

Gti gets warm quick as does the R. The gtd takes a while

[eldar]

The CitiGo is fun. Low power and weight, almost impossible to get less than 50mpg and very chuckable.

[ZX10R NIN]

Keep what you've got if it's not costing you a lot to run why change? You'll be spending money to buy the Skoda & will your savings be that significant to make up for the cost of just running your GTI.

[BREMBOV6]

Sorry to resurrect but the Golf is sadly gone. I am actually rather gutted but I wasn't using it for the right reasons. It will re appear for sale soon I believe....

Back to my original post struggling with what to now aim for, budget around £4/5k. Preferably the lower end, cheap to run, cheap road tax. Keep going in between the Citi-go/Up then seeing other things like a Megane DCi and the occasional 1 series or something similar. Damn AT app!

Any thoughts on what I maybe missing?

I am very surprised with the amount of Category D/C Citi-go's for sale!

[LuS1fer]

Avoid a diesel for short trips, dash lights and longer term DPF replacement are expensive.

How about a Leaf if the cable will reach and you're doing short journeys?
https://www.motors.co.uk/search/car/

[kieranblenk]

If you want a city car try and hunt down a Citroen C1 or Peugeot 108 with the bigger 1.2 petrol engine, it's noticeably more flexible than the 1.0 city cars and just as cheap to run. Likewise the 1.2 Hyundai i10/Kia Picanto are also decent cars, if a little duller to look at and drive than the French offerings.

If you want something bigger, look out for a Peugeot 208 or a current shape Clio with the turbo petrols - all are great value for money.

You can't really go wrong with a Fiesta or Focus, either.

[ZX10R NIN]

£30 Tax options are okay but not the most scintillating.

Clio Dynamique

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

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

For your budget you could get an Alfa Giulietta in Veloce trim, they're good on fuel with their 1.4T drivetrain being both reliable with sensible running costs but they are £140 road tax:

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

Or the Twingo RS

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

[BREMBOV6]

All great shouts, definite curve ball now with the Twingo RS, I'm a big RS fan and Alfa would be lovely to own. Not sure if that is deviating slightly from my plan. I.e. something cheap to run and not really need to care about.

Room for thought, I'm on the hunt!

[ilikejam]

No-one said Suzuki Swift Sport yet? Ok I'll do it then...

Suzuki Swift Sport

[GreatGranny]

Suzuki Swift Sport is a good shout.

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

Not exactly the cheapest to run, maybe go for a lower model?

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

£30 tax
45+ mpg around town
still nippy (93 bhp)

Or what about a MINI Cooper?

£120 tax
Easy 40+ mpg around town
Small enough so no problem parking
Still look good IMO

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

[Trevor555]

My advice is to rent a Vw Up/Citigo for a week.

You'll know after a week.

My daughter has one that I use, they're great at what they do, cheap motoring.

[Lukas239]

ilikejam said:

No-one said Suzuki Swift Sport yet? Ok I'll do it then...

Suzuki Swift Sport

This.

Or Suzuki Ignis sport if you can find a good one will cost you peanuts and quite practical boot size wise.

[ZX10R NIN]

Lukas239 said:

ilikejam said:

No-one said Suzuki Swift Sport yet? Ok I'll do it then...

Suzuki Swift Sport

This.

Or Suzuki Ignis sport if you can find a good one will cost you peanuts and quite practical boot size wise.

Swift Sports are £195 tax at which point I'd say go for the RS Twingo.

[Feirny]

I'm picking a 133 up on Saturday, so that would be my choice! That's after 2 R26's, and 5 1*2 inc 2 Trophys.

[BREMBOV6]

All great shouts. Liking the red Suzuki.

Not sure why but a 1.6 puts me off. My Dad had a Focus (Mk1) and that was terrible on petrol. What would the costs savings be (roughly) between say something like Twingo/Suzuki compared to the wee CitiGo?

Feirny said:

I'm picking a 133 up on Saturday, so that would be my choice! That's after 2 R26's, and 5 1*2 inc 2 Trophys.

Didn't even think about the Twingo RS, would do nicely with the Clio V6

Enjoy when it comes.

[Jimi.K.]

I believe there's a saying along the lines of "the cheapest car to run is the one you've already got"

People love justifying a new car purchase because a new one will do 5mpg more or cost them £100 a year less to tax, but unless your current car is unreliable or horrendously uneconomical (neither of which seem to apply here) you'll almost certainly be financially better off keeping it. I suspect a citigo will feel like a bit of a step down in comfort and refinement compared to your golf as well.