Replace Up GTI with Audi S1

[Richonenope]

I’m looking to change my 68 plate Up GTI and replace it with a 2014-16 Audi S1 sport back (5 door practicality).

Hope to get £10,000 on the Up and spend up to £16,000 on the Audi, am I being daft?

Audi’s seem a little expensive at moment, but I would prefer a more powerful and planted car, I feel UP is okay until you hit pot holes and isn’t so keen on speed bumps. Bigger cars also seem to try and bully the Up! Needs to be able to carry 3-4 people.

I feel too old for a fiesta ST (51)!

I also have a golf R 7.5 estate - should I look at something completely different?

[pb8g09]

Richonenope said:

I’m looking to change my 68 plate Up GTI and replace it with a 2014-16 Audi S1 sport back (5 door practicality).

Hope to get £10,000 on the Up and spend up to £16,000 on the Audi, am I being daft?

Audi’s seem a little expensive at moment, but I would prefer a more powerful and planted car, I feel UP is okay until you hit pot holes and isn’t so keen on speed bumps. Bigger cars also seem to try and bully the Up! Needs to be able to carry 3-4 people.

I feel too old for a fiesta ST (51)!

I also have a golf R 7.5 estate - should I look at something completely different?

Not daft at all. I had an S1, I regret selling it and can't believe how strong their values have held (because they weren't replaced with the new model A1).

The S1 was fantastic for covering B roads at a ballistic pace in all weather. However, don't expect to have too much fun doing much else - just lacks character, perhaps it was the engine.

I'm not sure I'd buy one at that money if I already had a Golf R estate - I suspect their use wouldn't be that dissimilar except for load lugging.

You obviously like your VAG, why not look at MK2 TT's, an Audi S3, or Audi RS4 B7 saloon?

The first two will cost you less (potentially even cash back on your sale) for a similar feeling to the S1. The latter will feel like an event and they're also staying rock solid on value.

[clarkmagpie]

RS5 just slipping into budget as well

[Richonenope]

I have to watch for mission creep and running costs. Cheap expensive cars still have big bills.

I did think about v10 avants though before buying my lease R. Sometimes head rules the heart, and you think next time I’ll buy something risky, but never do...

[Welshbeef]

Just buy an S211 E55K and smile every drive with a muscle car V8 under the hood

[loskie]

I looked at an S1 Feb 2020 I'm sure that they are about £2k more now.

[Welshbeef]

loskie said:

I looked at an S1 Feb 2020 I'm sure that they are about £2k more now.

Asking price vs sale price are 2 VERY different things.

[ZX10R NIN]

S1 is okay:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103119...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103270...

But I'd be buying an S3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102199...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202005129...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202005129...

[anonymous-user]

We have the same cars! I’ve got a 67-plate MK7.5 R estate and a 68-plate Up GTI. I personally really like the contrast between the two. The issue you highlight with the Up is my one criticism though, the damping really lacks sophistication. My car will be 3-years-old soon and I’m planning on some suspension tweaks to try and address that. I’ve never driven an S1, but I suspect you’d end up with two cars that have very similar levels of competence, but with little character.

[ChrisH72]

I'd echo what others have said about contrast to your Golf R. Presumably that's why you bought the Up?

At 51 you are definitely not too old for a Fiesta ST!

I'm 48 and have had my mk7 ST3 for a few months now and it is excellent, much more fun than the old man BMW I had previously. With your budget you would be looking at the arguably more grown up mk8 which can be had with sensible 5 doors. £16k gets you a 68 plate ST3 which is a considerable upgrade to the UP! And imo a better car than the S1. It's also very different to the Golf R.

Another option would be a Mini Cooper S if you can live with the looks of the 5dr. They seem to be quite good value and offer the nice quality interior you're used to with the VAG stuff.

[Gio G]

OP, I am slightly biased as I own an S1 and think they are cracking little cars. Had mine two years and really think it is a keeper. I have a three door version with all the toys, nice leather Super sport seats, pan roof, exclusive paint etc..

For me it has a bit of an old school hot hatch about it. Lots of these do get modified for crazy power, I have kept mine fairly standard, apart from sport springs and decent rubber.

They are a joy on a b-road blast, nice and small and turbo comes in fairly early, gearbox is no S2000, but not the worst either. They are pretty fun and really get move on once in dynamic mode.. They are also ok for the motorway, many equipped with cruise control.

Lot's of things you can do to sharpen up the steering and handling, which I think is fairly good for an Audi out of the box. I am personally happy with the standard power on these, however when you drive one you know the chassis can take more.

They have a reputation for eating clutches, maybe because many modify them for more power and probably launch them way too often. I believe there are under 3000 of them registered in the UK, so not too common, quite a few with lower spec, as they were pretty expensive when originally launched.

A few picks of mine up at Caffeine..





G

[fflump]

Those S1 cars look a hoot and exactly the type of car I could get away with buying my wife.

[pb8g09]

fflump said:

Those S1 cars look a hoot and exactly the type of car I could get away with buying my wife.

Do it! Just make sure she's good with a clutch because they're made of chocolate on these - check the S1 owner's forum!

[Welshbeef]

What can be done to increase power on the S1 - Clearly it’s interesting as is but if you went really punchy how much BHP could you get to???

Keep looks std but utter sleeper

[Gio G]

Welshbeef said:

What can be done to increase power on the S1 - Clearly it’s interesting as is but if you went really punchy how much BHP could you get to???

Keep looks std but utter sleeper

Stock is around 230hp, I think stage 1 takes them to circa 300hp, which is a fairly cheap mod, just a remap and seems lots of people have them, this is where a new clutch is probably needed.

Have seen some take them over 400hp with needing new turbo's additional cooling etc..

G

[ZX10R NIN]

With your budget I'd normally say get the Fiesta ST but you've ruled that out (I think you should test drive one) so my next pick is the 208 GTI they're understated & still a cracking (a couple of steps ahead of the S1) steer & well appointed inside:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008262...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101188...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103150...

Apart from AWD I can't see why you'd pick an S1 over a 208.

[pb8g09]

ZX10R NIN said:

Apart from AWD I can't see why you'd pick an S1 over a 208.

Well, you could argue there are 4 reasons:
- it's AWD
- it's faster
- it sounds better
- it has stronger residuals

Though the 208 has much better infotainment, cheaper and better seats, I'll give it those.

[Gio G]

pb8g09 said:

Well, you could argue there are 4 reasons:
- it's AWD
- it's faster
- it sounds better
- it has stronger residuals

Though the 208 has much better infotainment, cheaper and better seats, I'll give it those.

The last car Peugeot made that looked nice was the 205 GTI.. Sorry but IMHO an S1 looks so much nicer than a 208..

G

[ZX10R NIN]

pb8g09 said:

Well, you could argue there are 4 reasons:
- it's AWD
- it's faster
- it sounds better
- it has stronger residuals

Though the 208 has much better infotainment, cheaper and better seats, I'll give it those.

You've got to give the 208 the nod when it comes to driver enjoyment it's a cracking steer & the S1 isn't in the same class when it comes to that.

I'd already listed AWD, yes it's faster out of the blocks but I'd be interested to see the 30-70mph for these two as I reckon it's close especially when you take in driveline loss.

As for residuals, I'm not so convinced these were around 8k (before you breathed on the options list) more than the GTI Prestige & that's before you take into account the 2-3k off of list.

So I'd call their depreciation okay, sound is subjective, as I said earlier I'd buy the S3.

[Richonenope]

It’s a tricky one - S1’s seem expensive but fit the bill on being smaller. On price/value S3 makes sense - but getting too similar to golf r estate I already have. Saw a nice S1 in custard yellow today driving towards me when you start looking you see them everywhere! Not sure the missus wants to be that conspicuous. My grandad was brave and had a yellow triumph 2500tc which I loved as a kid.

Could be worth a test drive on mini and Peugeot - more likely to get a nice spec, and learn a new product range 😂