Yet another Up! GTI... with car history pics
Discussion
Drove from Dorset to Cambridgeshire and paid for this little fellow today; getting transported down to me next week.
I also have a Golf R Estate which performs dog transport, tip runs, and at the moment the less than jolly task of emptying my late father's house of junk (see also tip runs).
The Up!'s replacing a Focus RS MP350, which I'd owned from new, and since the Golf arrived three years ago had occasional toy status.
An absolute monster, but as a toy completely unsuited to the roads of Dorset; it's increasing value meant I was driving it far too carefully, and it's also a fat old brute. It also suffered from being too similar to the Golf in many ways, but without some of the former's advantages.
So I have replaced it with something with almost exactly 1/3 of the power.
I am convinced that every inch of width on narrow Dorset roads negates about 50 bhp. When I was a new driver I had a 66 bhp Fiesta...
|https://thumbsnap.com/YkB3p3Ug[/url]
my father had an RS200:
[url]
... but we could both get to the M5 in 38 minutes, as he simply couldn't exploit his 184 bhp power advantage due to the narrowness of the roads.
This is the basis on which I am returning to a tiny car! I will soon find out if I am right. One thing I've decided I don't like is weedy NA engines, whereas this has a decidedly 'boosty' turbo engine. It feels oddly grown up for its size. Incidentally I am 6'5" and fit it comfortably.
I could almost feel the Golf's utter disdain on the journey home.
I also have a Golf R Estate which performs dog transport, tip runs, and at the moment the less than jolly task of emptying my late father's house of junk (see also tip runs).
The Up!'s replacing a Focus RS MP350, which I'd owned from new, and since the Golf arrived three years ago had occasional toy status.
An absolute monster, but as a toy completely unsuited to the roads of Dorset; it's increasing value meant I was driving it far too carefully, and it's also a fat old brute. It also suffered from being too similar to the Golf in many ways, but without some of the former's advantages.
So I have replaced it with something with almost exactly 1/3 of the power.
I am convinced that every inch of width on narrow Dorset roads negates about 50 bhp. When I was a new driver I had a 66 bhp Fiesta...
|https://thumbsnap.com/YkB3p3Ug[/url]my father had an RS200:
[url]... but we could both get to the M5 in 38 minutes, as he simply couldn't exploit his 184 bhp power advantage due to the narrowness of the roads.
This is the basis on which I am returning to a tiny car! I will soon find out if I am right. One thing I've decided I don't like is weedy NA engines, whereas this has a decidedly 'boosty' turbo engine. It feels oddly grown up for its size. Incidentally I am 6'5" and fit it comfortably.
I could almost feel the Golf's utter disdain on the journey home.
Good man Tornado red for the win. I honestly could not agree with you more about it feeling grown up. I just covered over 400mls in mine to Scotland and back. And it was fantastic and I stepped out of it not feeling excessively fatigued.
By the way loving your thread.
Edit:
So sorry OP for being so awfully ignorant regarding your fathers passing.
By the way loving your thread.
Edit:
So sorry OP for being so awfully ignorant regarding your fathers passing.
Edited by macp on Friday 3rd December 18:10
Missy Cooper said:
I'm sorry to hear about your father 's passing , from your posts I know who he was .
I have some of his Ford books ......
including possibly his last on the car above .
He also didn't get a mention in the "celebrity death list 2021 "
Condolences .
Thanks MC - I don't hide it but I don't flaunt it, but the RS200 is a bit of a giveaway I have some of his Ford books ......
including possibly his last on the car above .He also didn't get a mention in the "celebrity death list 2021 "
Condolences .
Ok so that car - finally - got delivered on Thursday, after some delays.
Great service from Wilshers Garage in Cambridgeshire whither it came: they MOT'd it the day I bought it, decided the rear tyres were legal but marginal so threw in a pair of new ones... but then could only get budgets quickly, so held their ground until I could have a decent make on there. As I'd already paid that really is above and beyond IMO.
So far have taken it out a few times and first impressions are that as expected it's like driving a little puppy, albeit a very well-built one, so maybe a pedigree Labrador puppy.
Things I like
Then once I'd given it a decent clean...
...and put it away...
This illustrates just how much smaller it is. The Focus (which had quite a rear overhang) stopped its rear tyres on this wooden bump-stop if the nose was just inside the garage. The Up!, with almost no rear overhang...
One final random comment - waxed it with Meguiar's Gold Class wax, as last time I ran out of Autoglym HD Wax I was appalled at the price. It turns out you pay for what you get as it's nowhere near as pleasant to use, and I don't feel like it's given me as good a shine as the Autoglym. That'll teach me to penny-pinch!
Great service from Wilshers Garage in Cambridgeshire whither it came: they MOT'd it the day I bought it, decided the rear tyres were legal but marginal so threw in a pair of new ones... but then could only get budgets quickly, so held their ground until I could have a decent make on there. As I'd already paid that really is above and beyond IMO.
So far have taken it out a few times and first impressions are that as expected it's like driving a little puppy, albeit a very well-built one, so maybe a pedigree Labrador puppy.
Things I like
- It feels quick enough - I'm not ashamed to say I much prefer that it's a little turbo engine over an equivalently-powered NA engine, as it always feels like it's got plenty of torque. It doesn't relish being revved, but I don't drive cars like that.
- I'm also unashamed to say that whoever set up the artificial engine note that plays inside should get a Grammy, as it suits the character of the car completely - the thrum of an old Beetle describes it best. I'm meant to hate this, but I don't. #sorrynotsorry.
- For a teeny tiny car the cabin is very solidly constructed; the tartan seats, red dash and exposed body paint on the doors give it a cheerful air, without being too much like a toy.
- The phone cradle is a great idea - once I figured out how to adjust it.
- It's bizarrely spacious. I'm 17 stone and 6'5" and I s
t thee nay I have two inches clear gap over my head and could quite happily slide the seat forward a bit if needs be. Like other VW's the lowering of the seat also sends it back further significantly.
- It appears to do 45-50 mpg however I drive it! Slight improvement on the Focus' 25 and the Golf's 28!
- Gearchange is better than I expected from the reviews - very tight slots and a good, strong spring return to between 3 & 4.
- I can see how they got the weight so low as the panels appear to be made of tinfoil.
Waxing it today (see comment below) I 'popped' several panels in and out a bit!
- I have a Caddy van and a Golf estate and a lot of the switchgear is similar but not identical, so for example, when I go to try and increase the cruise control speed I turn the stereo up.
- The stereo is a bit tinny, but I have bad tinnitus so who cares?
- Brakes appear to be *ok* but no more.
Then once I'd given it a decent clean...
...and put it away...
This illustrates just how much smaller it is. The Focus (which had quite a rear overhang) stopped its rear tyres on this wooden bump-stop if the nose was just inside the garage. The Up!, with almost no rear overhang...
One final random comment - waxed it with Meguiar's Gold Class wax, as last time I ran out of Autoglym HD Wax I was appalled at the price. It turns out you pay for what you get as it's nowhere near as pleasant to use, and I don't feel like it's given me as good a shine as the Autoglym. That'll teach me to penny-pinch!
Loving the thread & pics thanks.
I would pretty much have to agree with all of your comments except for the stereo. Which in my opinion is really quite good in standard form. Although I noticed certain stations dont sound quite as 'meaty'. Like for instance BBC radio 6. I cant see how that is the fault of the stereo though ??
We were seriously impressed with a 500 mile journey to Scotland and back. It proved to me that this is so much more than how some perceive it as a city car. Im looking forward to a blast across the tops past the Cat & Fiddle.
I would pretty much have to agree with all of your comments except for the stereo. Which in my opinion is really quite good in standard form. Although I noticed certain stations dont sound quite as 'meaty'. Like for instance BBC radio 6. I cant see how that is the fault of the stereo though ??
We were seriously impressed with a 500 mile journey to Scotland and back. It proved to me that this is so much more than how some perceive it as a city car. Im looking forward to a blast across the tops past the Cat & Fiddle.
macp said:
Loving the thread & pics thanks.
I would pretty much have to agree with all of your comments except for the stereo. Which in my opinion is really quite good in standard form. Although I noticed certain stations dont sound quite as 'meaty'. Like for instance BBC radio 6. I cant see how that is the fault of the stereo though ??
We were seriously impressed with a 500 mile journey to Scotland and back. It proved to me that this is so much more than how some perceive it as a city car. Im looking forward to a blast across the tops past the Cat & Fiddle.
In fairness this was listening to music off my phone which maybe somewhat compressed? I would pretty much have to agree with all of your comments except for the stereo. Which in my opinion is really quite good in standard form. Although I noticed certain stations dont sound quite as 'meaty'. Like for instance BBC radio 6. I cant see how that is the fault of the stereo though ??
We were seriously impressed with a 500 mile journey to Scotland and back. It proved to me that this is so much more than how some perceive it as a city car. Im looking forward to a blast across the tops past the Cat & Fiddle.
Johnnytheboy said:
macp said:
Loving the thread & pics thanks.
I would pretty much have to agree with all of your comments except for the stereo. Which in my opinion is really quite good in standard form. Although I noticed certain stations dont sound quite as 'meaty'. Like for instance BBC radio 6. I cant see how that is the fault of the stereo though ??
We were seriously impressed with a 500 mile journey to Scotland and back. It proved to me that this is so much more than how some perceive it as a city car. Im looking forward to a blast across the tops past the Cat & Fiddle.
In fairness this was listening to music off my phone which maybe somewhat compressed? I would pretty much have to agree with all of your comments except for the stereo. Which in my opinion is really quite good in standard form. Although I noticed certain stations dont sound quite as 'meaty'. Like for instance BBC radio 6. I cant see how that is the fault of the stereo though ??
We were seriously impressed with a 500 mile journey to Scotland and back. It proved to me that this is so much more than how some perceive it as a city car. Im looking forward to a blast across the tops past the Cat & Fiddle.
My wife is a long time owner of a 1.4 lupo and despite that thing being with us many many years and nearly being 20 years old I love throwing it around so I can imagine how the up feels! I've often looked at them and thought they'd be perfect for 90% of my driving but it's always felt too close to the lupo to justify the cost.
Also like the Golf R estate! Nice pairing you've got going on. On the Dorset roads as a young driver I often found you didn't need much more than a Citroen AX/Saxo so I can see where you're coming from.
My condolences for your father OP.
Also like the Golf R estate! Nice pairing you've got going on. On the Dorset roads as a young driver I often found you didn't need much more than a Citroen AX/Saxo so I can see where you're coming from.
My condolences for your father OP.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff