I think I was more impressed than you were with the Up! GTI. VW have really captured a void in the market with this car that you don't appear to have fully appreciated. They have kept the cost down and created the very best, inexpensive and fun runaround in the marketplace. I salute them for doing it.
@@JayEmmOnCars I reckon a mk1 zetek ka would be more fun mini hatch. They look 'girly' but really fun. But I liked the MiL's 1.1 pug 106 she once had, it's was stupidly fun, for such a slow car. 30mph in the lanes was terrifyingly good.
@@resnonverba137 agree. But I think the 1.3z suites the car well. Hardly quick, but it teaches you to carry speed. I'm a fan. I had a friend with a puma, it was a high ish spec one (at the time he was in the liverpool reserves set up), all leather etc.. I had a 1992 escort van lol loved that van tho. Thr puma was distoyed on a roundabout mishap. Bright yellow thing.
I liked the car, didn’t like the 10 month wait imposed on me because I got the £300 lower list price that was there for the first 2 months, along with a lower finance rate and £500 free deposit. I could have got one in 2 months if I cancelled and reordered for £1500 more, they actually really wanted me to cancel. I did. Bought something else and will never buy a VW product.
You lost me when you said you aren't the fan of the tartan seats. The day VW stop using the tartan on their GTI's is the day I'll stop being interested.
I own this car, in exactly the same colour scheme and with no options. Its so much fun to drive, and boy is it cheap to run and insure. All a car is meant to do, is to get you from AtoB and this little car does that in a rather addictive manner.
@Green Mills Its a three door, and its most definitely worth buying. If your at all familiar with the driving behavior of a standard Vw Up, then the Gti version, only improves on an already brilliant package. A genuine 60+mpg, very cheap to insure, and so much fun to drive, with the amount of power on offer. If your thinking of buying one, do not hesitate in doing so, Great fuel economy, great fun, all at safe and legal speeds. What is there not to like.
@@peterlewis3540 I was considering one for my second car but they're bloody expensive even used. I'd personally rather get a fiesta ecoboost, same running costs, insurance and road tax but there are more parts available, plenty more options in terms of how many there are on the used market and they're less likely to have been thrashed about. The ecoboost is basically the same as the tsi in the up aswell and supposedly handle great too.
All a car has to do is get you from AtoB. So you're not a car person then? Go and drive other cars i.e. more expensive cars and find that different cars give pleasure and are not just a fridge on wheels. I had a Up (75PS) from 2012 to 2016 and was ok then I bought a Polo TSI (110PS) which is a better car. I have driven my Father's Golf GTI TCR which is better again and then his Audi RS3 with 400PS and it was better again. Can't wait to have a go in his new car which is a Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo 4S when he gets it in late 2021. All I'm saying is there are better cars which cost more money and don't just get you from AtoB. Enjoy you Up GTI.
@@plugsocket9432 Consider yourself very lucky. Not everyone's daddy can afford GTIs, RS Audis and Porsches, despite being car enthusiasts. People make do with what they have.
Jay, really on the money review. I have a 2016 Boxster 981 MANUAL flat six last of the breed, 2017 Golf R MK7.5 Estate and in May I acquired an UP GTi pretty much basic spec in red. Now with 9500 on the clock and I do love it, for what it gives me . Currently it's my first choice to jump into daily, as it brings back the fun factor tingle, I recall as a teenage / early 20's engineering apprentice in Mini Coopers and S. Around my Wiltshire country lane, twisty stuff and nipping over Salisbury Plain, just great fun. Even done longish 250 mile round trip to London, with 4 up, on M4 , into and around the the city and not feeling uncomfortable, sat in it for 4 hours . So much fun and yes in access of 52 mpg average and over 62 mpg on occasions .
I never see golf estates, I didn't know they was even on sale here untill a few weeks ago. I have a leon st fr 190, that is basically the golf gti estate. Good all rounder tbh. Except mpg. Which is about 26mpg! Not quite what the 55mog Thr 110bhp deisel laguna got. Lol.
@@stevenhearnden6103 62mpg maybe for a deisel, with about 140 mpg, but not a decent petrol engine. I have the VAG 2l tsi that gets 26 around town and 40 on motorway if kept below 80mph. My combined is 32mpg which is only slightly worse than my old 2l deisel gtc, and a bit peppier. Though the engine is under 1000k atm, I'm expecting it to go up probably by 5mpg. Took my gtc 40k for it to actully start getting decent mpg. (42 combimed,iirc 65mpg it was stated as ment to get lol) If I was after uber mpg I'd of gone for the Renault 1.5d unit or the Hyundai iqonic hybrid that gets ridiculous mpg. Bit numb to drive though.
Hi Jay, another great review thanks. Keith, I agree with you completely, I’ve got a 911 997 4S and have just got a 3 door UpGTI and think it’s great. Brilliant for round town or country roads, and I did 280 miles trip with it on Saturday and it was excellent! Frankly couldn’t have gone much faster in the 911.
Thoroughly endorse the above comments. Had mine nearly 6 months now and absolutely love it. For the money nothing in this class touches it. Take a bow Vw for a providing a terrific fun machine.
I'm fortunate to own an Elise 220 sport but I also have an Up Gti and the enjoyment I extract from the Up is on a similar level . For the money nothing touches it. Well done Vw!
As a young driver in the UK, having a small car in crowded cities, something thats fun in the city rather than on a track and most importantly something cheap to insure yet not so boring! ... This is a perfect combination. It looks good and is based on an already reliable and popular model. There are minor upgrades I'd make, such as LED headlights just to make it look that bit better, however as a whole the package is hitting a very specific market... and I'm glad i am that market!
True. I’m in an Up GTI, having replaced a Golf R estate. Prior to that, one of my cars was a 595 competizione - everything was brilliant apart from the driving position..awful with a capital A.
@@RGB5555 it might be but if the driving position is so bad then performance is futile. I'd have a MINI Cooper S unfortunately - I'd love to have an Abarth but I just can't get comfy in them
Same engine in 95hp tune is available in the bluemotion Polo with a bigger 45 litre tank. ULEZ friendly, £7k, no road tax and 60+ mpg. Can be remapped to 130 hp & 180lbs torque 0 to 60 in 7 secs.
Cute car. Almost bought one as a successor to my Lupo. But having a Diesel to trade in, the Polo was the better deal. I like how at least the Brits are appreciating it. In my opinion we need more small cars with decent power. And they need to start producing small cars with ludicrous amounts of power. There is something special about cars like that. I would prefer a 200 horsepower Up over a Golf R any day.
In answer to the title question - and as an owner - "no". GTI stands for gran turismo and there's no way this could ever be used as a grand tourer. The big wheels, rock-hard suspension and short wheelbase mean it is unbearably uncomfortable. So uncomfortable, in fact, that I am selling mine after less than 6 months! Pity, because the concept appealed to me on paper.
It strikes me that this car is attracting an older buyer than anticipated. I’m seen a lot of 911 and Lotus owners buying these as an extra toy. I’ve just added myself to that list, having bought one too to complement an Exige and/or Evora.
I actually wish more cars had the ability to just use a phone/tablet as an infotainment screen. The only manufacturer that seems to have half decent software on these things is BMW, and even then, the current generation of infotainment screens and systems are rediculously hard to remove and replace, meaning keeping up to date in an older car is now very difficult. I much prefer just being able to swap out the propietary crap with my choice in the future!
I didn't really see the point of getting a new or at least newish car in my life since you can get so much more if you opt for something a bit older well I have to say as a young driver these cars make sense if you have the money to purchase then in the first place because being a huge MGR fun I got a Rover 45 diesel as my first car and it proved to be hard to insure as well as you can't exactly expect the reliability of a new car in something that is 10+ years old and now I really do see the point of them
What seems to be overlooked re: the brakes is that yes, it doesn't need them, but also discs and calipers might well have ended up heavier than the drums they'd replace. So, definitely not worth it!
Good morning Jay. Um, I'd just like to point out that just because it's moring for you that doesn't mean that we're watching this video in the morning.
Yes, go with OBDeleven or VCDS in the Control Unit A9, open the adaption channels and there is only pne channel, the channel where you can change the volume in procent.
I don’t get the idea behind a 1 litre car with a gti badge. A gti ‘grand turismo injection’ shouldn’t abide by current manufacturer trends, such as the abarth, fiesta st etc. What made the gti name stand above the rest was the against the grain nature of the power plant, body styling and overall trim levels. Audi has well and truly taken the hot hatch trophy with the s1 and the special a1 Quattro sport. The gti emblem is very far from the mk1 hatchback day’s! Great video as always! Keep up the great work!
Its funny that they are using drum brakes in the GTI, yet a Hyundai I10 gets disks all round, never mind the sporty Kia alternative which this competes with.
Possibly could be down to costs. I don't understand that also why some of the kia / hyundai super minis have rear discs. My mk6 fiesta zetec s I replaced the rear drums to the ST discs and I saw my grans kia picanto has rear discs as standard.
Get into the new Twingo GT.. I think that would be a great comparison to this and it would be interesting to see what you make of them.. I'd also say they are a lot quirkier and they prove Renault is doing things far different in their range than VW.
I changed my GR Yaris after a couple of months for an Up GTi. Sadly I couldn’t get on with the Yaris with its computer game vibe, numb steering and overall unacceptable levels of noise and harshness on coarse Scottish tarmac. As for the Up it still brings a smile to my face after some 6 months of ownership …….
Biggest issue with this car is the Kia Picanto 1.0 GDI Gt Line S. Just as cute, fast and actually comes with discs all round not drum brakes. Add that to the better after sales support, 7 year warranty, nicer seats In my opinion and more equipment; the only reason you would still go for the up! is the badge. Still like it tho... just cannot justify it over the Picanto.
Looked at both the UP GTI and the Picanto GT Line S, bought the Kia for the reasons you mentioned plus it’s much better equipped and new it was just over £13k.. so cheaper too.
Just swapped my very lovely limited edition 2L MX-5 Sport Recaro for one of these, so I can get the baby in the back. Odd swap I know, but always been interested in one of these, and with a 360 car seat surprisingly practical. Shame about the drum brakes!!
If you had any idea of history with the MK1 Gold you would see how well they done this UP in homage, the MK1 Golf was back to basics fun and this seems the same.
You cannot have a VW GTI without the tartan, just think they could've gone to more effort to make some more supportive seats, they look the same as the standard Up seats to me just retrimmed.
Nice to see VW producing a follow-up of the Lupo GTi, it is a market which is easier for new buyers to stomach and all the while allowing the owner to at least have some sunshine on a miserable day
In the market for a new car and this is on my list. I currently drive a Seat Mii 60hp so this should be a nice step up, just wish it it had about 130 bhp. On a different note I also like the new Suzuki Jimny, looks really cool.
Ian Foster You can remap it to 130bhp but performance as standard is pretty good (l’ve got a five door GTi) I test drove the new Jimny as it looks so cool, but it drives like my 1987 Fiat Panda! I would still have one, but Suzuki weren’t even taking orders and could give no delivery date.
Totally agree on the Chavtastic seats, it's the only part of styling I really dislike about the GTI family... Good report sir. I've been recommending one of these to one of my young friends that wants to start looking at more powerful cars than his 1.4L Fiesta. I'm hoping to get him out test driving soon. I know you're not a VW fan (you know I am), but would love to see a vid with a GTI version of the Up!, Polo and Golf with a proper comparison of what you get for the money... I know it's basically a 'teens, twenties and thirties/forties thousand pound price difference, but I know I'd enjoy it. One thing you haven't covered in your videos yet... pickups. Totally different to what you normally do, but would love to see your take on a few bigger cars.
I like that their bringing the mk1 golf gti back in an unusual way, but I do think the last generation of polo gti 3 door seems better value for money, I think
Pay cash for it, don’t get into debt buying cars. If you cant afford it then get something cheaper. Seriously, people in this country are being screwed with easy credit. Once you get into debt with a car its very hard to get out of because you then become hooked on owning new cars, with yet another PCP deal or whatever. The cycle never ends. I made the mistake years ago so I know from experience how bad it can be. Houses are not cheap now, save your money towards a deposit instead of throwing it away on cars.
Hey Jay you should try the new 2018 suzuki swift sport 1.4 turbo. 965kg in 2018 is really rare and unheard of these days! I've just brought one and absolutely love it really quirky car!
Yes, for the 2018 model. The old one (~2017) could be had for circa £14k fully optioned. An Up! GTI in the spec that I would want, comes to £16,400. I bought a 2018 turbo Swift Sport instead - which is fully optioned by default for £16,499. The Up! GTI is absolutely barren in comparison. Personally, whilst I think the baby GTI is a fun car, I think it's less of a drivers tool than the Swift Sport - the new one or the old one.
I have a pre-facelift Up! - Move Up, to be exact. I must say it's the best car I have ever owned. I had 4 Fiesta's before it during the last 15 years, and I must compliment VW with this car. On the long road, on the highway and in the town, it's perfect. The only 2 negative things I can add about this car is there is no real air vent in the middle console to cool your face down, and in South Africa it gets REALLY hot, and the window switches on the door panels could have been lit at night. You have to feel around for them in the dark. By the way - don't try to climb any huge mountain passes - it gets slow, and you have to gear down all the time. I just wish VW would bring the GTi to South Africa. We don't even get the 2 door versions anymore. Luckily mine is.
I'd have a second generation Suzuki Swift Sport instead but I still do like the UP! GTI. I just have the same issue with it feeling like it might tip over if you go too hard with it, which for me, kinda of kills some of the fun.
Disappointed they didn't put a satnav on that tri-stalk thing on the dash, bit cheeky asking me to insert my telephone in there c/w all its distractions, and I still lament the passing of the cd player. Aside from those gripes, I can see me getting one in the next 12 months
Great review, Jay! I’m not sure if this car is even coming to the states, but not the kind of car that interests me in any case. It is nice looking, and I definitely like the plaid seats.
What’s...what’s with the flies? You get flies all over when it’s sunny? I never could get excited about cloth seats, even the bmw speedcloth variety, I understand the benefits, but to me leather is a bother worth paying for. Cloth seats signify hard times in my mind
Is it wrong I've been seriously considering swapping my s1 111s for one of these? I live in the hills, work at home, but occasionally do a few hours of motorway driving. I keep finding that I'm getting about 1000 miles out of the Elise between (long) trips to the garage, and I kind of want something I can just jump in, and have fun with without thinking about it. That's something I've not really had since I had my first mk1 mx5 if I'm honest.
@@JayEmmOnCars Have also had a fancy for one of them - I did do a little bit of looking at them. I do love the look, but have two kids, and having an Elise and a Frogeye Sprite is getting to be a bit of a grind when I basically permanently have one or the other in the garage! It's a tough decision,but I've had the Elise about 5yrs (easily longest I've ever kept something), and the Frogeye only around 18m. Also I want everything, and can't make decisions about what to have for lunch, never mind anything more complicated.
It is light nippy and pretty fast and cheap so I guess it is kind of super and it’s a car so in a way it is a super car. Also why does he sound out of breath all the time plus everybody but you likes cloth seats
We rarely get real compact cars in the states, I wish we could but we are stuck on overweight crossovers and full size trucks that we never use to carry a load.
James, went Blackpool for one didn't buy it, thank god didn't get train London, before this test drove 2+2 Evora 10 10 reg and then after a m140i Manual.... I didn't like the UP! GTi ! I didn't find it KINDA 'Punchy' ... shame I was lusting for a pocket rocket too
I just had a VW twitch and wanted to add another to my 90s classics, got myself a VR6 Corrado, must admit enjoy driving more then my 2017 GTD daily , love the old skool highline leather interior and even has heated seats, and to add not a bad burble off the V6. This UP GTI is for a young girl and a guy in this should wear a baraclava to conceal identity.
@@mc1996 Yeah VR6 in rare magic black , also got a rare shrick Manifold. Not many left on the road anymore so spending a fair bit of coin on it to make it mint and last another 20 years.
KEYO Nice! I also have a VW in Magic Black. But a Golf. Its a MK3 Euro, GT version, with a 1.6L 8v and 101hp. It have a variable intake manifold, similar to what you have :) Good low end torque, and some nice high rpms. This engine (AFT code) only come out here in Portugal and Italy because engine sizes taxes. Its like a smaller ABA (2.0 8v 115hp), even share the head with the crossflow ones, the exhaust, header, the intake from the airbox to the throtle body, etc. The major difference is that the AFT have a very short block, that makes it a oversquare engine, so its like to rev to around 6500RPM. The ABA have a long stroke, so it have lots of low end torque but are known for having a bad high end power. The gearbox its equal to the 1.8L 90hp, very good match with this litle engine. The performance (0-100Km/h, 1/4 mile, top speed) its very similar to the 2.0L 8v, because of the short gearbox relation and the relative low weight. It have about 1050/1070 Kg. Sometimes it can be faster than a 8v GTI, a US (way heavier bumpers and crash bars both on front and rear) 5 door (mine is a 3 door, -30KG) and 16" (mine have 15") wheels, for example. Its not fast, but its very fun and cheap to run as a daily :) About 4 years without any issue. I can only imagine a VR6, and in a Corrado, so sick!
Iv got a SEAT Mii. Class little car, spacious for the size. Personally out of the VW, SKODA and SEAT rebadges I find the SEAT looks best. Plus £40 a month in fuel is nice. As long as you set your standards to a realistic level they're great. Driven it to France and back twice. The sports versions released however seem a tad redundant.
that’s the brilliant thing about the Volkswagen group. No matter what you go for you’re getting German engineering. You can opt for the sportiness of Seat, the competitive prices and practicality of Skoda, Volkswagen which is sensible and slightly more luxurious or Audi that is elegant and beautiful. They’re is something for everyone virtually.
Nothing wrong with cloth seats. They're cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter & generally harder wearing regarding scuffing, & on a plus note, no cow had die. Leather is so overrated & quite frankly a silly snobby thing to desire.
I was going to get one but found out you can't turn the TCS off, with only 115bhp why do you even need TCS. Ended up getting a R53 Cooper s for 20% the cost of a new up.
I do like the outgoing polo gti, great little car, that seems to fit the original golf gtis pholisophy. Though I'm with you, the mk1 doesn't really do it for me. Probably because my mum had a xr3i and my nextode neighbour an astra gte, so I lean towards them when I think of hot hatches of yesteryear.
I had a Polo with this engine. It was good fun, But I can imagine what it'll do with a smaller/lighter car. The engine is pretty good, its nice and torqey (for a 1.0 ) and I actually liked the sound of it. Like a really enthusiastic terrier. rrrrrrrrrrrrrr The Beats audio system is pretty good btw. When its new, you miss a bit of detail in the music. But once its 'run in' so to speak, it sounds pretty good.
None of the VW GTIs are super-cars. They are damned good cars, though...... particularly the Golf GTI performance. Not a track car ...... just an excellent road car :)
I don't think I'll ever buy a new car, £14k is a ridiculous amount of money for a boring hatchback. I've gone the used sports car + used hatchback route. £4k + £400/year tax, total cost of ownership costs a bit more but it's very flexible for self repairs.
I once bought a 2004 (in 2008) laguna 2l d, estate for £4k from a Renault dealer that had 46k on the clock. Hardly sporty, but had all the toys done 55mpg every month for 7 years. I could never buy a brand new car. even thou I now lease, when that finishes, I'll be back to 3 or 4 year old cars.
Yeah the problem with new cars are that they lose a lot of value as soon as they roll out the factory and after the first few years. A 2014 BMW M3 for example was around £52k brand new but now you can get one for about £32 - 34k. Another example is the latest 5 series. You can get a 530D now for about 33k. It's lost about £20k from depriciation which is a lot. I don't think leasing is a bad idea as you are keeping the car for 2 or 3 years but I myself wouldn't buy a car if I know its been leased as it most likely might of been thrashed about on a cold engine
@@zaink7037 I'd only by saloons second hand. Ones that have lived their live as rep mobiles. The miles on them are easy ones, and they get proper services and maintance. I wouldn't be be buying a civic type R or golf R, for example, as you know every sing mile on that clock has been a hard and fun mile. I just gave back a gtc, that though was maintained and serviced, i had some good fun in it.
Older cars you really role the dice with whether it’s been looked after and any costly repairs that can occur. You don’t need to buy a brand new car but a used car at about a year old from a dealership with two years left on its warranty plus not paying the new car tax is pretty good. Obviously if you are mechanically minded then it doesn’t matter but a lot of people don’t want the hassle or anxiety of their car going wrong
JayEmm on Cars used interchangeably here, even in the dictionary, I’ve never heard an ac that didn’t allow you to set the Temperature, even the old turn knobs are technically temperature adjustment
14k for a new car? id rather get a 2005~ish car and pay the difference on insurance/petrol... itd last like 10 years before i break even...:/ also the t5 manual even got a facelift since ive tweeted... so now its 1 of 603 and it is in proper deserved shape and look aswell:D
A leather option in a VW Up! and not a fan of the MK1 Golf GTi. I don't think car reviewing is for you fella. Dislike and won't be subscribing. I don't know if the video got any better after 4:15 and don't care either.
Shirt fans: skip ahead to 5:14
I think I was more impressed than you were with the Up! GTI. VW have really captured a void in the market with this car that you don't appear to have fully appreciated. They have kept the cost down and created the very best, inexpensive and fun runaround in the marketplace. I salute them for doing it.
I'm not sure it's doing anything particularly new, but it is a different approach to their rivals for sure
@@JayEmmOnCars I reckon a mk1 zetek ka would be more fun mini hatch. They look 'girly' but really fun. But I liked the MiL's 1.1 pug 106 she once had, it's was stupidly fun, for such a slow car. 30mph in the lanes was terrifyingly good.
@@StephenButlerOne The basic original Ka was great fun. Just like a less powerful Puma 1.7 in its dartability.
@@resnonverba137 agree. But I think the 1.3z suites the car well. Hardly quick, but it teaches you to carry speed.
I'm a fan. I had a friend with a puma, it was a high ish spec one (at the time he was in the liverpool reserves set up), all leather etc.. I had a 1992 escort van lol loved that van tho.
Thr puma was distoyed on a roundabout mishap. Bright yellow thing.
I liked the car, didn’t like the 10 month wait imposed on me because I got the £300 lower list price that was there for the first 2 months, along with a lower finance rate and £500 free deposit. I could have got one in 2 months if I cancelled and reordered for £1500 more, they actually really wanted me to cancel. I did. Bought something else and will never buy a VW product.
You lost me when you said you aren't the fan of the tartan seats. The day VW stop using the tartan on their GTI's is the day I'll stop being interested.
What tartan is it?
@@rogerhudson9732 - McVolkspeople
I personally like the tartan seats because they don't get extremely hot in the summer and extremely cold in the winter unlike the leather seats.
smilepermile someone else gets this! 😱
@@MillerCorner Keep up the good work with your videos too mate!
smilepermile thanks dude 😄👍
I hate all leather seats, hot in the summer, freeing in winter. I'll go half leather all day long.
Had leather seats. Would never go back to them. Good for messy kids. Shite for everything else
Drum Brakes - GTI badge, that's the mystique of the 1976 Mk1 Golf GTI, which also had rear drums
I own this car, in exactly the same colour scheme and with no options.
Its so much fun to drive, and boy is it cheap to run and insure.
All a car is meant to do, is to get you from AtoB and this little car does that in a rather addictive manner.
@Green Mills Its a three door, and its most definitely worth buying.
If your at all familiar with the driving behavior of a standard Vw Up, then the Gti version, only improves on an already brilliant package.
A genuine 60+mpg, very cheap to insure, and so much fun to drive, with the amount of power on offer.
If your thinking of buying one, do not hesitate in doing so,
Great fuel economy, great fun, all at safe and legal speeds.
What is there not to like.
@@peterlewis3540 I was considering one for my second car but they're bloody expensive even used. I'd personally rather get a fiesta ecoboost, same running costs, insurance and road tax but there are more parts available, plenty more options in terms of how many there are on the used market and they're less likely to have been thrashed about. The ecoboost is basically the same as the tsi in the up aswell and supposedly handle great too.
All a car has to do is get you from AtoB. So you're not a car person then? Go and drive other cars i.e. more expensive cars and find that different cars give pleasure and are not just a fridge on wheels. I had a Up (75PS) from 2012 to 2016 and was ok then I bought a Polo TSI (110PS) which is a better car. I have driven my Father's Golf GTI TCR which is better again and then his Audi RS3 with 400PS and it was better again. Can't wait to have a go in his new car which is a Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo 4S when he gets it in late 2021. All I'm saying is there are better cars which cost more money and don't just get you from AtoB. Enjoy you Up GTI.
@@plugsocket9432 Consider yourself very lucky. Not everyone's daddy can afford GTIs, RS Audis and Porsches, despite being car enthusiasts. People make do with what they have.
Where is the paint code number, I must be blind cant find it mine is these colours as well
Jay, really on the money review.
I have a 2016 Boxster 981 MANUAL flat six last of the breed, 2017 Golf R MK7.5 Estate and in May I acquired an UP GTi pretty much basic spec in red.
Now with 9500 on the clock and I do love it, for what it gives me . Currently it's my first choice to jump into daily, as it brings back the fun factor tingle, I recall as a teenage / early 20's engineering apprentice in Mini Coopers and S. Around my Wiltshire country lane, twisty stuff and nipping over Salisbury Plain, just great fun. Even done longish 250 mile round trip to London, with 4 up, on M4 , into and around the the city and not feeling uncomfortable, sat in it for 4 hours .
So much fun and yes in access of 52 mpg average and over 62 mpg on occasions .
I never see golf estates, I didn't know they was even on sale here untill a few weeks ago. I have a leon st fr 190, that is basically the golf gti estate. Good all rounder tbh. Except mpg. Which is about 26mpg! Not quite what the 55mog Thr 110bhp deisel laguna got. Lol.
62 vw mpg's 😂
@@stevenhearnden6103 62mpg maybe for a deisel, with about 140 mpg, but not a decent petrol engine. I have the VAG 2l tsi that gets 26 around town and 40 on motorway if kept below 80mph. My combined is 32mpg which is only slightly worse than my old 2l deisel gtc, and a bit peppier. Though the engine is under 1000k atm, I'm expecting it to go up probably by 5mpg. Took my gtc 40k for it to actully start getting decent mpg. (42 combimed,iirc 65mpg it was stated as ment to get lol)
If I was after uber mpg I'd of gone for the Renault 1.5d unit or the Hyundai iqonic hybrid that gets ridiculous mpg. Bit numb to drive though.
Hi Jay, another great review thanks. Keith, I agree with you completely, I’ve got a 911 997 4S and have just got a 3 door UpGTI and think it’s great. Brilliant for round town or country roads, and I did 280 miles trip with it on Saturday and it was excellent! Frankly couldn’t have gone much faster in the 911.
Thoroughly endorse the above comments. Had mine nearly 6 months now and absolutely love it. For the money nothing in this class touches it. Take a bow Vw for a providing a terrific fun machine.
I'm fortunate to own an Elise 220 sport but I also have an Up Gti and the enjoyment I extract from the Up is on a similar level . For the money nothing touches it. Well done Vw!
As a young driver in the UK, having a small car in crowded cities, something thats fun in the city rather than on a track and most importantly something cheap to insure yet not so boring! ... This is a perfect combination. It looks good and is based on an already reliable and popular model. There are minor upgrades I'd make, such as LED headlights just to make it look that bit better, however as a whole the package is hitting a very specific market... and I'm glad i am that market!
Heavyweight insurance for you though....
I'd have this over the Abarth simply down to the driving position - I love Italian cars but the high seating positions kills the Abarths for me
Same as the ka, feels like your sat on it, rather than in it. Never been in an abarth, but that high position wouldn't lend itself to a 'sporty' feel.
True. I’m in an Up GTI, having replaced a Golf R estate. Prior to that, one of my cars was a 595 competizione - everything was brilliant apart from the driving position..awful with a capital A.
@@RGB5555 it might be but if the driving position is so bad then performance is futile. I'd have a MINI Cooper S unfortunately - I'd love to have an Abarth but I just can't get comfy in them
@@RGB5555 depends who's driving it.
@@RGB5555 🙄😴😴
good in depth review with a personal take on it, sounds like you actually liked it
Great video, love the way you maintain your enthusiasm for cars regardless of whether you drive a Porsche or a small VW.
Thankyou, that's what being a petrolhead means to me
Same engine in 95hp tune is available in the bluemotion Polo with a bigger 45 litre tank. ULEZ friendly, £7k, no road tax and 60+ mpg. Can be remapped to 130 hp & 180lbs torque 0 to 60 in 7 secs.
Cute car. Almost bought one as a successor to my Lupo. But having a Diesel to trade in, the Polo was the better deal.
I like how at least the Brits are appreciating it. In my opinion we need more small cars with decent power. And they need to start producing small cars with ludicrous amounts of power. There is something special about cars like that. I would prefer a 200 horsepower Up over a Golf R any day.
Exactly HP per tonne is what matters.
WICKED little car! One of few new cars I'd actually buy! 😁👍 not quite a Seicento, but...
In answer to the title question - and as an owner - "no". GTI stands for gran turismo and there's no way this could ever be used as a grand tourer. The big wheels, rock-hard suspension and short wheelbase mean it is unbearably uncomfortable. So uncomfortable, in fact, that I am selling mine after less than 6 months! Pity, because the concept appealed to me on paper.
It strikes me that this car is attracting an older buyer than anticipated. I’m seen a lot of 911 and Lotus owners buying these as an extra toy. I’ve just added myself to that list, having bought one too to complement an Exige and/or Evora.
I think they should do a limited run of an UP R. With a 2.0 Turbo in. That car would sell out instantly
That would be nuts
They would have to take out the rear seats and have it mid engined because they wouldn’t get a 2.0 litre in that bonnet. Be cool though.
I actually wish more cars had the ability to just use a phone/tablet as an infotainment screen. The only manufacturer that seems to have half decent software on these things is BMW, and even then, the current generation of infotainment screens and systems are rediculously hard to remove and replace, meaning keeping up to date in an older car is now very difficult. I much prefer just being able to swap out the propietary crap with my choice in the future!
I didn't really see the point of getting a new or at least newish car in my life since you can get so much more if you opt for something a bit older well I have to say as a young driver these cars make sense if you have the money to purchase then in the first place because being a huge MGR fun I got a Rover 45 diesel as my first car and it proved to be hard to insure as well as you can't exactly expect the reliability of a new car in something that is 10+ years old and now I really do see the point of them
Stfu broke boi
What seems to be overlooked re: the brakes is that yes, it doesn't need them, but also discs and calipers might well have ended up heavier than the drums they'd replace. So, definitely not worth it!
We like a no bollocks review. nice one mate!!
Cheers!
Good morning Jay. Um, I'd just like to point out that just because it's moring for you that doesn't mean that we're watching this video in the morning.
Ah, but if you wait long enough there'll be another morning
@@JayEmmOnCars LOL
I think 115 bhp is more than enough in a small car, actually I really like it.
If VW had brought this or the Polo to Canada I'd have one....as it is I got an old Porsche for $10k. I definitely see the appeal to many demographics.
The new polo is ugly as hell. The outgoing gti or gtd 3 door, are pretty little things.
i coded the volume of the fake engine sound module from 100% to 25% - now its a acceptable noise :-)
Hello! Do you remember to codes? Thank you!
Yes, go with OBDeleven or VCDS in the Control Unit A9, open the adaption channels and there is only pne channel, the channel where you can change the volume in procent.
@@FlipidusX Thank you very much for your quick answer.
Can you eliminate the sound completly or just down to 25%?
X
@@xavierandreumas2332 you can also type in a zero, so its completely off then
worse thing about the vw up ( I've had two ) is the crap demisting of front window . Asthmatic with a straw springs to mind.
Use the air con if its damp and misted up.
I’ve got the UPGti ! Now And this one’s great no misting up at all .
I don’t get the idea behind a 1 litre car with a gti badge. A gti ‘grand turismo injection’ shouldn’t abide by current manufacturer trends, such as the abarth, fiesta st etc. What made the gti name stand above the rest was the against the grain nature of the power plant, body styling and overall trim levels. Audi has well and truly taken the hot hatch trophy with the s1 and the special a1 Quattro sport. The gti emblem is very far from the mk1 hatchback day’s! Great video as always! Keep up the great work!
Its funny that they are using drum brakes in the GTI, yet a Hyundai I10 gets disks all round, never mind the sporty Kia alternative which this competes with.
Possibly could be down to costs. I don't understand that also why some of the kia / hyundai super minis have rear discs. My mk6 fiesta zetec s I replaced the rear drums to the ST discs and I saw my grans kia picanto has rear discs as standard.
The people's supercar - from the people who brought you clean TDI engines.
Get into the new Twingo GT.. I think that would be a great comparison to this and it would be interesting to see what you make of them.. I'd also say they are a lot quirkier and they prove Renault is doing things far different in their range than VW.
th-cam.com/video/DtXxTBPRuT4/w-d-xo.html
Generally the interior is big comparing to Golf 1 standards, Golf 2 standards, Golf 3 Standards and you can probably measure this.
I changed my GR Yaris after a couple of months for an Up GTi. Sadly I couldn’t get on with the Yaris with its computer game vibe, numb steering and overall unacceptable levels of noise and harshness on coarse Scottish tarmac.
As for the Up it still brings a smile to my face after some 6 months of ownership …….
A low mileage 2020 Picanto turbo can be had for 13 grand.
A similar Up GTI is around 16 grand! With a much lower spec!
The UP GTI can be driven by anyone. The Picanto styling is for old people.
Biggest issue with this car is the Kia Picanto 1.0 GDI Gt Line S. Just as cute, fast and actually comes with discs all round not drum brakes. Add that to the better after sales support, 7 year warranty, nicer seats In my opinion and more equipment; the only reason you would still go for the up! is the badge. Still like it tho... just cannot justify it over the Picanto.
Meh, like he said - they aren;t neccasary - it would just be for looks.
Azzy Zaidi Yap, but people still have to go after Status...sad indeed.
Looked at both the UP GTI and the Picanto GT Line S, bought the Kia for the reasons you mentioned plus it’s much better equipped and new it was just over £13k.. so cheaper too.
Dont be fooled by the 7 year warranty. The nearer it gets to that age, the less is covered. Its a con.
Just swapped my very lovely limited edition 2L MX-5 Sport Recaro for one of these, so I can get the baby in the back.
Odd swap I know, but always been interested in one of these, and with a 360 car seat surprisingly practical.
Shame about the drum brakes!!
Looks like Citroen C2 I think that's what you call it back in the day
If you had any idea of history with the MK1 Gold you would see how well they done this UP in homage, the MK1 Golf was back to basics fun and this seems the same.
I love the tartan seats....but i am scottish.
You cannot have a VW GTI without the tartan, just think they could've gone to more effort to make some more supportive seats, they look the same as the standard Up seats to me just retrimmed.
I'd also love to see what you think of the new Suzuki Swift Sport - it'd make an interesting comparison!
Nice to see VW producing a follow-up of the Lupo GTi, it is a market which is easier for new buyers to stomach and all the while allowing the owner to at least have some sunshine on a miserable day
Love this car 😍
Ordered silver version 2 months ago
How are you finding it?
The thing is once you add any sort of options you are close to a swift sport in terms of price
In the market for a new car and this is on my list. I currently drive a Seat Mii 60hp so this should be a nice step up, just wish it it had about 130 bhp. On a different note I also like the new Suzuki Jimny, looks really cool.
Ian Foster
You can remap it to 130bhp but performance as standard is pretty good (l’ve got a five door GTi)
I test drove the new Jimny as it looks so cool, but it drives like my 1987 Fiat Panda!
I would still have one, but Suzuki weren’t even taking orders and could give no delivery date.
Totally agree on the Chavtastic seats, it's the only part of styling I really dislike about the GTI family...
Good report sir. I've been recommending one of these to one of my young friends that wants to start looking at more powerful cars than his 1.4L Fiesta. I'm hoping to get him out test driving soon.
I know you're not a VW fan (you know I am), but would love to see a vid with a GTI version of the Up!, Polo and Golf with a proper comparison of what you get for the money... I know it's basically a 'teens, twenties and thirties/forties thousand pound price difference, but I know I'd enjoy it.
One thing you haven't covered in your videos yet... pickups. Totally different to what you normally do, but would love to see your take on a few bigger cars.
I don't even know anyone with a modern pickup
I like that their bringing the mk1 golf gti back in an unusual way, but I do think the last generation of polo gti 3 door seems better value for money, I think
I’m seriously tempted to buy one of these
Thinking about this as my first car... Cant really find anything for the same price point... and then theres whether or not to lease it or PCP it...
Pay cash for it, don’t get into debt buying cars. If you cant afford it then get something cheaper. Seriously, people in this country are being screwed with easy credit. Once you get into debt with a car its very hard to get out of because you then become hooked on owning new cars, with yet another PCP deal or whatever. The cycle never ends. I made the mistake years ago so I know from experience how bad it can be. Houses are not cheap now, save your money towards a deposit instead of throwing it away on cars.
Hey Jay you should try the new 2018 suzuki swift sport 1.4 turbo. 965kg in 2018 is really rare and unheard of these days! I've just brought one and absolutely love it really quirky car!
Price? £16k offer or £18k retail for the Suzuki I believe. @@MrZekToR
Yes, for the 2018 model. The old one (~2017) could be had for circa £14k fully optioned. An Up! GTI in the spec that I would want, comes to £16,400. I bought a 2018 turbo Swift Sport instead - which is fully optioned by default for £16,499. The Up! GTI is absolutely barren in comparison. Personally, whilst I think the baby GTI is a fun car, I think it's less of a drivers tool than the Swift Sport - the new one or the old one.
Will Maddox Weigh quotes of magazines are way higher than that. From what i have seen, +1050 Kg.
I have a pre-facelift Up! - Move Up, to be exact. I must say it's the best car I have ever owned. I had 4 Fiesta's before it during the last 15 years, and I must compliment VW with this car. On the long road, on the highway and in the town, it's perfect. The only 2 negative things I can add about this car is there is no real air vent in the middle console to cool your face down, and in South Africa it gets REALLY hot, and the window switches on the door panels could have been lit at night. You have to feel around for them in the dark. By the way - don't try to climb any huge mountain passes - it gets slow, and you have to gear down all the time. I just wish VW would bring the GTi to South Africa. We don't even get the 2 door versions anymore. Luckily mine is.
The engine is the same as the regular Up! so you can probably remap it to make it feel a bit livelier?
I'd have a second generation Suzuki Swift Sport instead but I still do like the UP! GTI. I just have the same issue with it feeling like it might tip over if you go too hard with it, which for me, kinda of kills some of the fun.
Disappointed they didn't put a satnav on that tri-stalk thing on the dash, bit cheeky asking me to insert my telephone in there c/w all its distractions, and I still lament the passing of the cd player. Aside from those gripes, I can see me getting one in the next 12 months
An excellent honest objective review. Thank you.
I love 3-door hatches!
If someone could tell me where the paint code is on this car o will sing your praises, I've looked everywhere cant find it
Wish we had gotten this in the States, or at least a 3-door Polo.
Great video. Informative and insightful.
A fantastic 2nd car.
Great review, Jay! I’m not sure if this car is even coming to the states, but not the kind of car that interests me in any case. It is nice looking, and I definitely like the plaid seats.
My wife would absolutely love one !
I really like it ! 👌🏻
My wife also wants one, imagine her surprise when she finds out I bought her a Dyson V10 with animal pack.
I don't get how someone with such a taste in shirts feels qualified to comment on the Classic GTI tartan seats. ;) Great review though.
Just checked on Autotrader - VW are advertising the e-Up! for "from" £25k, madness!
25k
for an electric go kart? Madness.
Up gti or vauxhall adam s please help me choose between them.
Depends which you prefer the look of.
If it’s a Super mini then it’s a super car.🤗
Tartan seats 😍 but why not have sports seats in a GTI 🤷🏻♂️ even the G40 had sports seats (any chance you might test an old polo gt / g40)?
My dream is to rebuild a VW UP in only carbon fiber parts and add a howling 6 cylinder engine and have no power steering.
What’s...what’s with the flies? You get flies all over when it’s sunny?
I never could get excited about cloth seats, even the bmw speedcloth variety, I understand the benefits, but to me leather is a bother worth paying for. Cloth seats signify hard times in my mind
Yep
Is it wrong I've been seriously considering swapping my s1 111s for one of these?
I live in the hills, work at home, but occasionally do a few hours of motorway driving. I keep finding that I'm getting about 1000 miles out of the Elise between (long) trips to the garage, and I kind of want something I can just jump in, and have fun with without thinking about it. That's something I've not really had since I had my first mk1 mx5 if I'm honest.
Consider also: GT86
@@JayEmmOnCars Have also had a fancy for one of them - I did do a little bit of looking at them. I do love the look, but have two kids, and having an Elise and a Frogeye Sprite is getting to be a bit of a grind when I basically permanently have one or the other in the garage! It's a tough decision,but I've had the Elise about 5yrs (easily longest I've ever kept something), and the Frogeye only around 18m. Also I want everything, and can't make decisions about what to have for lunch, never mind anything more complicated.
What a cute little car. I'd buy one if they sold it here.
Where are you?
I think THIS is really cool🇺🇸😎
If VW call this the people's supercar I wonder what they call the golf R 😂
The peasant's Veyron
It is light nippy and pretty fast and cheap so I guess it is kind of super and it’s a car so in a way it is a super car. Also why does he sound out of breath all the time plus everybody but you likes cloth seats
Wish we could get all these super minis in the US,I really want to own a Suzuki Swift sport
The thinking man's mini. Though the new shape isn't quite as nice as the outgoing one.
@@StephenButlerOne I will agree on the shape not being the best
was the GTI £14K because used one from 2018 sell for £15K.
Yes. Used prices are crazy since covid
I don't think it's even available here in the States? Never paid much attention to them either Jay.
We rarely get real compact cars in the states, I wish we could but we are stuck on overweight crossovers and full size trucks that we never use to carry a load.
James, went Blackpool for one didn't buy it, thank god didn't get train London, before this test drove 2+2 Evora 10 10 reg and then after a m140i Manual.... I didn't like the UP! GTi ! I didn't find it KINDA 'Punchy' ... shame I was lusting for a pocket rocket too
I just had a VW twitch and wanted to add another to my 90s classics, got myself a VR6 Corrado, must admit enjoy driving more then my 2017 GTD daily , love the old skool highline leather interior and even has heated seats, and to add not a bad burble off the V6. This UP GTI is for a young girl and a guy in this should wear a baraclava to conceal identity.
KEYO Manual VR6 FTW, if its the 2.9L even better
@@mc1996 Yeah VR6 in rare magic black , also got a rare shrick Manifold. Not many left on the road anymore so spending a fair bit of coin on it to make it mint and last another 20 years.
KEYO Nice!
I also have a VW in Magic Black. But a Golf. Its a MK3 Euro, GT version, with a 1.6L 8v and 101hp. It have a variable intake manifold, similar to what you have :)
Good low end torque, and some nice high rpms.
This engine (AFT code) only come out here in Portugal and Italy because engine sizes taxes. Its like a smaller ABA (2.0 8v 115hp), even share the head with the crossflow ones, the exhaust, header, the intake from the airbox to the throtle body, etc. The major difference is that the AFT have a very short block, that makes it a oversquare engine, so its like to rev to around 6500RPM. The ABA have a long stroke, so it have lots of low end torque but are known for having a bad high end power.
The gearbox its equal to the 1.8L 90hp, very good match with this litle engine. The performance (0-100Km/h, 1/4 mile, top speed) its very similar to the 2.0L 8v, because of the short gearbox relation and the relative low weight. It have about 1050/1070 Kg. Sometimes it can be faster than a 8v GTI, a US (way heavier bumpers and crash bars both on front and rear) 5 door (mine is a 3 door, -30KG) and 16" (mine have 15") wheels, for example.
Its not fast, but its very fun and cheap to run as a daily :)
About 4 years without any issue.
I can only imagine a VR6, and in a Corrado, so sick!
Yeah, baraclava. Drive an up! GTI if you can get hold of one and then decide.
This fella sounds like he’s running a marathon!
Iv got a SEAT Mii. Class little car, spacious for the size. Personally out of the VW, SKODA and SEAT rebadges I find the SEAT looks best.
Plus £40 a month in fuel is nice.
As long as you set your standards to a realistic level they're great. Driven it to France and back twice.
The sports versions released however seem a tad redundant.
that’s the brilliant thing about the Volkswagen group. No matter what you go for you’re getting German engineering. You can opt for the sportiness of Seat, the competitive prices and practicality of Skoda, Volkswagen which is sensible and slightly more luxurious or Audi that is elegant and beautiful. They’re is something for everyone virtually.
Your too young to appreciate the mk1 Gti , the forefather to all hot hatches.
It wasn’t the first hot hatch, the lotus sunbeam was the first hot hatch.
Tartan seats look better than your shirt 😂
Nothing wrong with cloth seats. They're cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter & generally harder wearing regarding scuffing, & on a plus note, no cow had die. Leather is so overrated & quite frankly a silly snobby thing to desire.
I was going to get one but found out you can't turn the TCS off, with only 115bhp why do you even need TCS. Ended up getting a R53 Cooper s for 20% the cost of a new up.
I do like the outgoing polo gti, great little car, that seems to fit the original golf gtis pholisophy.
Though I'm with you, the mk1 doesn't really do it for me. Probably because my mum had a xr3i and my nextode neighbour an astra gte, so I lean towards them when I think of hot hatches of yesteryear.
No longer available new....discontinued by VW in March 2019
…and reintroduced in January 2020
Chip on the offside rear wheel arch
I had a Polo with this engine. It was good fun, But I can imagine what it'll do with a smaller/lighter car. The engine is pretty good, its nice and torqey (for a 1.0 ) and I actually liked the sound of it. Like a really enthusiastic terrier. rrrrrrrrrrrrrr
The Beats audio system is pretty good btw. When its new, you miss a bit of detail in the music. But once its 'run in' so to speak, it sounds pretty good.
None of the VW GTIs are super-cars. They are damned good cars, though...... particularly the Golf GTI performance. Not a track car ...... just an excellent road car :)
I don't think I'll ever buy a new car, £14k is a ridiculous amount of money for a boring hatchback. I've gone the used sports car + used hatchback route. £4k + £400/year tax, total cost of ownership costs a bit more but it's very flexible for self repairs.
I once bought a 2004 (in 2008) laguna 2l d, estate for £4k from a Renault dealer that had 46k on the clock. Hardly sporty, but had all the toys done 55mpg every month for 7 years. I could never buy a brand new car.
even thou I now lease, when that finishes, I'll be back to 3 or 4 year old cars.
Yeah the problem with new cars are that they lose a lot of value as soon as they roll out the factory and after the first few years. A 2014 BMW M3 for example was around £52k brand new but now you can get one for about £32 - 34k. Another example is the latest 5 series. You can get a 530D now for about 33k. It's lost about £20k from depriciation which is a lot.
I don't think leasing is a bad idea as you are keeping the car for 2 or 3 years but I myself wouldn't buy a car if I know its been leased as it most likely might of been thrashed about on a cold engine
@@zaink7037 I'd only by saloons second hand. Ones that have lived their live as rep mobiles. The miles on them are easy ones, and they get proper services and maintance. I wouldn't be be buying a civic type R or golf R, for example, as you know every sing mile on that clock has been a hard and fun mile.
I just gave back a gtc, that though was maintained and serviced, i had some good fun in it.
Older cars you really role the dice with whether it’s been looked after and any costly repairs that can occur. You don’t need to buy a brand new car but a used car at about a year old from a dealership with two years left on its warranty plus not paying the new car tax is pretty good. Obviously if you are mechanically minded then it doesn’t matter but a lot of people don’t want the hassle or anxiety of their car going wrong
U could buy a golf mk4 r32 for £10000. Remap, induction kit, miltek exhaust. 👍
TR7 cloth seats!
In this instance , A TR8 instead, remember this is the Up with a bit more poke
Do you guys say climate control in a way that’s synonymous with auto climate control as opposed to being synonymous with air conditioning?
Yh - climate control = acc
Climate control would be a car where you set a temperature rather than just "colder/hotter"
JayEmm on Cars used interchangeably here, even in the dictionary, I’ve never heard an ac that didn’t allow you to set the Temperature, even the old turn knobs are technically temperature adjustment
I agree the VW Golf Mk1 is a shed.
Wow, tartan seats the only option. Makes me think of granny's tartan rug.
You can buy a Renault Twingo GT 1.2 4 cylinder turbo it costs around 2k pounds and has 110 hp
Not First!
14k for a new car? id rather get a 2005~ish car and pay the difference on insurance/petrol... itd last like 10 years before i break even...:/
also the t5 manual even got a facelift since ive tweeted... so now its 1 of 603 and it is in proper deserved shape and look aswell:D
A leather option in a VW Up! and not a fan of the MK1 Golf GTi. I don't think car reviewing is for you fella. Dislike and won't be subscribing. I don't know if the video got any better after 4:15 and don't care either.
Fun for everyone*
* not for Americans
Not worth it