Any reasons not to ...
 

[Closed] Any reasons not to get a VW Up?

43 Posts
29 Users
0 Reactions
555 Views
Posts: 3000
Full Member
Topic starter
 

We can afford it, we don't need anything but a small, cheap, low tax (I know...!) car.
Looks like a bike will fit in the back easily.

Anyone had one and regretted it for any reason?


 
Posted : 18/08/2013 8:15 pm
Posts: 6729
Full Member
 

There are a few clones of these, Skoda Citigo for instance and then there may be a SEAT version, have a look around.

Or buy a 2nd hand Polo.... or a Lupo


 
Posted : 18/08/2013 8:19 pm
 stox
Posts: 1025
Free Member
 

Skoda Citygo as an alternative option? i love the Citygo Sport that's just out


 
Posted : 18/08/2013 8:19 pm
Posts: 2261
Full Member
 

Have you considered the Skoda Citigo?

Same car as the Up! but less money.


 
Posted : 18/08/2013 8:20 pm
 stox
Posts: 1025
Free Member
 

Hmm. There's a theme here 🙂
Maybe somebody will come along soon who has an Up! And can offer some ownership advice 🙂


 
Posted : 18/08/2013 8:23 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Guess what. My lass has just bought her very first car. Its the citigo lol. Driven by it a few times. Not that bad tbh. Handles well, nice frugal engine. 100 miles on the clock of town driving and average mph almost showing 55. She got it on a 0% finance deal that ends sept 1st. Zero road tax as she has the 75bhp greentech. Oh, and £287 a year to insure with me as a named driver. She has only held her license for 5 weeks.


 
Posted : 18/08/2013 8:32 pm
Posts: 444
Free Member
 

is the rumoured turbo Up happening?


 
Posted : 18/08/2013 8:36 pm
Posts: 3000
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Hmm...but no skoda dealership locally and we fancy using the car at the end of the payment plan as a deposit for a T5 to replace our T4...and I like VWs (and at these prices the premium for VW over Skoda is tiny really).

Any Up owners here??


 
Posted : 18/08/2013 8:39 pm
 br
Posts: 18125
Free Member
 

[i]cheap,[/i]

£8k?


 
Posted : 18/08/2013 8:41 pm
 igm
Posts: 11844
Full Member
 

Skoda have a reputation for being better built than VW.

And for me VW has always had a bit of an image problem. Others like them though.


 
Posted : 18/08/2013 8:42 pm
Posts: 0
Full Member
 

Will a bike fit in the back of a Fiat 500 Twin Air. Fun to drive...


 
Posted : 18/08/2013 8:42 pm
Posts: 4663
Full Member
 

Will a bike fit in the back of a Fiat 500 Twin Air.

No, I can get two in. Does that count?


 
Posted : 18/08/2013 9:08 pm
Posts: 13594
Free Member
 

Skoda parts and servicing are also cheaper (even though the parts are identical across the whole VAG group).


 
Posted : 18/08/2013 9:14 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

My in-laws sold their mx5 and got an Up. They love it.


 
Posted : 18/08/2013 9:17 pm
Posts: 786
Full Member
 

We have a move up with blue motion and it drives really well compared to the mini one we traded in.Can't seem to get the mega mpg that is claimed though(i know vw's own figures)we seem to be getting about 45mpg.

ps there is a yorkshire version due out soon called the ay up


 
Posted : 18/08/2013 9:19 pm
Posts: 20680
Free Member
 

If you go for a VW-alike, look at residuals. It might be cheaper to buy but will you make the money back on selling?


 
Posted : 18/08/2013 9:22 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Skoda have a reputation for being better built than VW.

The Up, Citigo and Mii are all built in the same factory (Bratislava), so build qualify will be the same.

The Up will be slightly more expensive, but it will also hold its value better.


 
Posted : 18/08/2013 9:25 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I work for a Volkswagen dealership, however I actually sell the vans.
The UP is a brilliant little car, i couldn't believe how much room there is indeed, aswell as being insurance group one, it will also hold it's money alot better than the Skoda version, even though they are the same car. We do sell alot of them, and they are actually alot of fun to drive.


 
Posted : 18/08/2013 9:31 pm
Posts: 3000
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Ta. Mrs Lister is sold on it...haggling time tomorrow! I've got my drive the deal quote as leverage for a high instead of a move...or the sat nav at teh very least.


 
Posted : 18/08/2013 9:37 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

The only thing I'd add is to have a look to see if you could get a used new shape Polo for the same money or a Yaris ? Both of these are a bit bigger than prior models, "little big cars". The tiny little Toyotas are fun Aygo's ?


 
Posted : 18/08/2013 11:24 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Oh, and £287 a year to insure with me as a named driver. She has only held her license for 5 weeks.

WTF?! I'm £460 a year for my mile-munching '02, Volvo S80D. Never had an accident, 40 this year, at least 12 years no claims... I'm gonna buy one of these toy cars.

And that's before the giant tax bill.

That said, I can happily drive it nine hours non-stop to my parents' house on Skye, stay the night and drive nine hours home again, sleep like a baby and go to work the next day. Can't say the same about my wife's Punto.


 
Posted : 18/08/2013 11:34 pm
 -m-
Posts: 697
Free Member
 

I've been driving round in a High Up for 4 months. Drives really neatly and quick enough in most situations.

The little sat nav unit is quite good, and includes trip computer and efficiency monitoring functions, plus an SD card media player.

Negatives:

I don't get on well with the driver's seat which lacks support (for me)
You can only warm/cool your right hand with the vents whilst driving; the middle dashboard vent cannot be adjusted for direction.
Wheels on the High Up are a pain to clean.

I've only got the car for another few months, but would consider another - particularly if they offered alternative seats (Up GT?)


 
Posted : 19/08/2013 4:17 am
 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Volvo S80D (I'd have/prefer this!)....

You need to shop around for a better quote. I paid just over 400 a year when living in the 2nd highest risk postcode on a Subaru.

I now drive a C1 (lease). Its a false economy. I get 35mpg on average. Its a bag of compromises and boy they are NOT cheap.

Get a 2ndhand Panda if yo need a small car specifically.


 
Posted : 19/08/2013 4:22 am
Posts: 15997
Free Member
 

Toyota Aygo's are not fun! Mrs FD has unfortunately recently got one. The seats are uncomfortable, the engine is shocking, and the handling is scary. Was very cheap on a PCP though


 
Posted : 19/08/2013 5:24 am
 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I totally disagree on the handling. Its very stable. The engine thrives on revs. Plus dont lift off whilst shifting up (make quick changes) to hold the revs 😉


 
Posted : 19/08/2013 5:33 am
 JCL
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Hired an Up and ragged the ass out of it around Italy for a week. A stiffer rear ARB to help reduce the understeery balance and it'd be a winner.


 
Posted : 19/08/2013 5:57 am
Posts: 15997
Free Member
 

Hora I don't disagree that it grips, but the turn in inspires no confidence at all. The only advanced d feature I have found on it is that you can change gear without using the clutch... Not sure if that is a design feature that was supposed to be there!


 
Posted : 19/08/2013 6:06 am
Posts: 14339
Free Member
 

If you go for a VW-alike, look at residuals. It might be cheaper to buy but will you make the money back on selling?

+1

TBH, we went for VW over Skoda as the Skoda garage was filled with unhelpful gits. The fact the VW garage was within walking distance nailed it.

After comparing VW's and Skodas back to back. I found nothing to suggest Skodas where better built either. Im no car nerd, so that's just the bits I could see.


 
Posted : 19/08/2013 6:23 am
Posts: 14339
Free Member
 

And I find the Citigo and Mii to be just a bit too pig ugly.


 
Posted : 19/08/2013 6:24 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

If depreciation is a issue go retro and get a Honda Z600
Will be cheap to insure and run on classic insurance and ton's more character.
Hardest part will be finding a good one.
[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 19/08/2013 12:07 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

WTF?! I'm £460 a year for my mile-munching '02, Volvo S80D. Never had an accident, 40 this year, at least 12 years no claims... I'm gonna buy one of these toy cars.

I was gobsmacked at how cheap I managed to get it for her. Was on a comparison website. Prices ranged from £287 to around £2500. She's 37 by the way. Out of interest (even though my insurance is up for renewal in March) I entered my car details. Its a BMW 116i new this march. Currently payed £275. Managed to get it down to £155 if I tweaked the mileage a tad. Apparently insurance prices had dropped according to a BBC news article.


 
Posted : 19/08/2013 12:09 pm
 hora
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Funkydunc prob not wise but I run 2psi more in my offside front


 
Posted : 19/08/2013 12:43 pm
Posts: 15997
Free Member
 

Did the OP buy one?

Earlier this week our main car went in for a Cambelt Change and the courtesy car was a Seat Mii Sport.

Blows the Aygo away. Feels like a big car inside, properly screwed together unlike the Aygo. Was actually reasonable fun to drive. OK had a 75 bhp engine and 'sports' suspension.


 
Posted : 05/09/2013 12:11 pm
Posts: 5
Free Member
 

I had one as a courtesy car for a week and the noise of road spray/grit from the back wheels drove me mad!

I was left generally unimpressed tbh.


 
Posted : 05/09/2013 12:37 pm
Posts: 3000
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Picking up on Saturday 🙂 Mrs Lister managed to haggle us upwards so we're getting a High Up rather than a Move...more toys and speakers and a whole 15 more powers which is cool ( I think!)


 
Posted : 05/09/2013 5:21 pm
Posts: 3000
Full Member
Topic starter
 

When I use the word haggle, I don't mean a super duper deal, I just mean that Mrs Lister decided we wanted the more expensive one so that's what we're getting...no money off or anything crazy like that! 😉


 
Posted : 05/09/2013 5:22 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Test drive one last year. Surprisingly nice drive and "fun" for a small engine. Not sure about looks and boot is tiny. Polos look nicer IMO so more tempted by a 2H polo plus cannot see reason to pay premium over either seat or skoda versions.

Still I am a big fan of VW brands and you are unlikely to regret buying one IMO.


 
Posted : 05/09/2013 5:47 pm
 GJP
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I had a VW Up! High Up for year and loved it, lots off fun to drive and the new 3 cylinder engine is very smooth. Traded it in at 10 months for a brand new Polo. The Polo is more practical, and versatile ie long trips but nowhere as much fun.

The only reason I traded up/ in was the deal was too good to refuse. In real use the fuel consumption does not seem too different in relation to the paper specs, perhaps I drove the Up hard.

I still miss the Up.


 
Posted : 05/09/2013 6:43 pm
Posts: 10980
Free Member
 

As it happens I drove an Up yesterday.

The ride, steering and handling, brakes, interior and the acceleration were fantastic.

.... but it had an auto box which was [b]horrible[/b], it surged back and forth with each gear change. The manual version would be a smashing town car, I reckon.


 
Posted : 05/09/2013 7:06 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I found that when i test drove the Skoda with the same auto box. Was horrible. Although the dealer said you can second guess when its going to change. Apparently easing off the accelerator before it changes can smooth it. Went for the manual in the end.
Car a few weeks old now and my lass getting used to it. Accelerator a tad stiff for her. Fuel economy brilliant. 8 mile commute across York can easily see an average of 63mpg.


 
Posted : 05/09/2013 7:54 pm
Posts: 3000
Full Member
Topic starter
 

🙂
Kryten will meet Ramona the Rallon tomorrow, there will be some tight back door action going on...

[img] [/img]

will meet...

[img] [/img]

Let's hope they're compatible... 😉


 
Posted : 07/09/2013 9:11 pm
Posts: 4663
Full Member
 

Nice! Did you choose the colour to match the bike?

Will this one end up with packets of maynards rattling around the centre console, you burning out the front speakers (I presume this one has more than one) listening to Sugar at 11 and your bogeys on the underside of the drivers seat like in Red Dwarf?


 
Posted : 07/09/2013 9:41 pm
Posts: 3000
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Yep!


 
Posted : 08/09/2013 1:25 pm
Posts: 113
Free Member
 

VW Lupo 3L is a reasoned choice


 
Posted : 08/09/2013 1:29 pm