Up GTi

[ChevronB19]

Having been told I can now permanently work from home, and also having access to a van to tow my race car, I have no need for my Freelander 2, so have chopped it in for an Up GTi.

Only had it a day, but so far, absolutely love it! Feels a lot quicker than the figures suggest, and has more torque than my Elise - having lots of fun!

[Aids0G]

Looks great! Have always had a bit of a thing for these but worried it would feel a bit flat performance wise interesting to hear it feels nippy in day to day driving!

Do you think the back seat would take a largish child seat? assume they are available as a 5 door? What is it like on the motorway trashy?? Sorry for all the questions!

Thanks Ag

[Dynion Araf Uchaf]

are you planning on taking this on track? Would like to know if it would make a good track car.

[ChevronB19]

Aids0G said:

Looks great! Have always had a bit of a thing for these but worried it would feel a bit flat performance wise interesting to hear it feels nippy in day to day driving!

Do you think the back seat would take a largish child seat? assume they are available as a 5 door? What is it like on the motorway trashy?? Sorry for all the questions!

Thanks Ag

Hi Ag, haven’t had it on the motorway yet. For reference, years ago I had a Panda 100HP. For B roads it was great. But, it had the worst ride quality I have ever experienced, and a really poor quality interior. I ended up hating it. It was my car when our first child was born, and we fitted a child seat in it fine (although for an up gti with a small person I’d definitely say go for the 5 door).

The up gti feels like a grown up (ha) panda 100HP with much better power delivery, way better suspension (and I mean logarithmically so), ditto the cabin. As mentioned, I have an Elise and a couple of race cars, to me this is the ideal ‘shopping rocket’ - the figures belie how fast it ‘feels’, and it genuinely handles well, albeit feeling a tiny bit top heavy. It is very, very definitely ‘nippy’ (I’ve had 7 205 GTi’s before).

The only bits I don’t like so far are: over assisted steering, ‘flat’ seats (needs bolsters) and a slightly floppy gearshift.

I, unlike many, like the ‘piped’ engine noise - apparently it’s not artificial, it’s a pipe from the engine to the a pillars and a little speaker - above 3k it sounds like 50% of an air cooled 911!

Feel free to ask any more questions.

Edit to add: definitely not a car to think about in terms of performance numbers - it’s all about the fun, and it definitely delivers that

Edited by ChevronB19 on Friday 4th June 16:11

[ChevronB19]

Dynion Araf Uchaf said:

are you planning on taking this on track? Would like to know if it would make a good track car.

I have 2 race cars which suck up all my spare cash, but the occasional track day along with local motor club autosprints are a possibility. In terms of autosprints and auto solos, the big disadvantage is traction control can’t be turned off, unless you pull a fuse, which also disables the ABS. That notwithstanding, I think it would be great on a circuit once you get over the over assisted steering and learn it’s limits. Box has quite close ratios, 6th is definitely a cruising gear.

Edited by ChevronB19 on Friday 4th June 16:13

[Dynion Araf Uchaf]

disappointed face smiley.

you can't switch the TC off? I also have a race car, and use a Twingo RS as a track car, but was thinking of getting the UP as a more modern version, but if you can't switch the TC off I it looks like I'll have to try something else.

[ChevronB19]

Dynion Araf Uchaf said:

disappointed face smiley.

you can't switch the TC off? I also have a race car, and use a Twingo RS as a track car, but was thinking of getting the UP as a more modern version, but if you can't switch the TC off I it looks like I'll have to try something else.

Just looked it up - apparently there is a ‘tweak’ - no idea of it works and not a recommendation!

http://www.jbsautodesigns.co.uk/product/5086/tract...

[Zlat502]

That and red are the best colours imho, looks great

[anonymous-user]

ChevronB19 said:

Edit to add: definitely not a car to think about in terms of performance numbers - it’s all about the fun, and it definitely delivers that

Absolutely this. Every time I drive mine (not enough unfortunately because it makes a fantastic daily) I look at the speedo to find I’m doing 10-15mph less than it feels.

[Alex_225]

These are great little cars and one of the few modern hot hatches that I'm a massive fan of. I think it reminds me of my Twingo 133, not the fastest out there but looks cool and loads of fun.

Any pics of the interior?

[mids]

Good choice OP. looks great

I bought one to replace my Tesla which had been frustratingly sat in the garage not getting much use since the first lockdown. No regrets at all, loving it and can see me keeping it longer than first expected.

[Pizzaeatingking]

Nice choice! Two of mate mates have had them, one still has his. Total riot to drive, so much fun while not going silly speeds. Certainly on my car bucket list. The guy that still has his has made some 'tweaks' to it, bit more poke and some coilovers have made it even more go kart like on the road!

[The_Doc]

ChevronB19 said:

Having been told I can now permanently work from home, and also having access to a van to tow my race car, I have no need for my Freelander 2, so have chopped it in for an Up GTi.

Only had it a day, but so far, absolutely love it! Feels a lot quicker than the figures suggest, and has more torque than my Elise - having lots of fun!

I have one, and a mate just past Carlisle Airport has one too.
I'll keep an eye out for you in your grey one.
I nearly went for grey. Super colour.

Both of our red ones are a little..... faster.....
I went to JBS

[MattyB_]

The best colour

The absolute best thing you can do is replace the 17's for 16's. The wheels look great, but fitting smaller wheels with better tyres makes a hell of a difference. If not, at the very least, replace the nasty Goodyear tyres with PS4's.

Warranty is up on mine and I'm really tempted by a Stage1 map from JBS...

[ChevronB19]

Yep, I never mod my road cars, but a stage 1 JBS upgrade is tempting.

Insurance is £10 more than my Elise!?

[MOBB]

Snap, I bought mine 3 weeks ago, replaces a hardly used Tesla Model 3P

Cracking cars, a real event to drive even if not that fast in reality

I am already going to make the following mods;

Tyres - 205 Michelin PS4’s - the oem eco tyres are pretty poor, and rock hard

Suspension - handles and rides ok mostly, but I think it sits on budget components and damping is very poor on bumpy roads. I’m probably going Bilstein B14 coil overs

Remap - it is pretty gutsy as standard, but 140bhp will transform it imo

[mids]

MattyB_ said:

The absolute best thing you can do is replace the 17's for 16's. The wheels look great, but fitting smaller wheels with better tyres makes a hell of a difference. If not, at the very least, replace the nasty Goodyear tyres with PS4's.

Good advice. I swapped to lightweight 16" OZ wheels, changed the tyres (Rainsport 5's), APR (98 RON) remap, uprated the suspension to Bilstein B14 and it's such a great little car to drive now.

I know the OP mentions how impressed he is with the standard suspension and on a flat road/track I'd agree but, round my way, with so many bumpy country roads I found the rear end taking ages to settle after you hit a bump and it'd pogo around pretty badly. The Bilstein's have sorted that with the new dampers controlling the springs much better. I have seen others keep the OEM springs and just replace the dampers with B4's or B6's which is a cheaper option worth considering if you don't want it lowered.

[jet_noise]

MattyB_ said:

The best colour

The absolute best thing you can do is replace the 17's for 16's. The wheels look great, but fitting smaller wheels with better tyres makes a hell of a difference. If not, at the very least, replace the nasty Goodyear tyres with PS4's.

Warranty is up on mine and I'm really tempted by a Stage1 map from JBS...

And for winter Corrado G60 15" steels.

[mids]

ha, we've got quite a UP GTI gang in here

[anonymous-user]

Go on then…