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Original poster

Volkswagen Up?

16 replies

Libra · 26/05/2013 08:56

We have agreed (after a year long campaign) that I should buy a new car. DH finally gave in when he had to borrow my old Honda Civic last weekend. Should have got him to do that years ago.

Anyway. With one son at uni now and so only one to ferry around, plus DH with a big estate car, I think I want a small car. I need it for a 40 mile commute each day - 20 there and back. Needs to carry shopping. We live in NE Scotland so it needs to cope with snow, ice and very strong winds when driving on dual carriageway.

Having looked at the reviews, i am down to the Up, the Seat mii or possibly a Ford Fiesta. Priorities are reliability and economy.

Does anyone have an Up or a mii?

OP posts:
WMittens · 26/05/2013 10:08

The Up! and the Mii are essentially the same car. Do you really want to do 40 miles a day in a buzzy city car? Not my idea of a good time.

What sort of roads make up your commute? A roads, dual carriageways, urban?

I don't know what they're like in cross winds, but in order to make them short, they tend to be tall so I can imagine they could be seriously affected.

In the same situation, I would go for the Fiesta.

Original poster
Libra · 26/05/2013 11:59

Hmm. Thanks for that. It isa bit of everything. Windy country lanes the dual carriageway then stuck in city traffic for at least half of the trip.

OP posts:
NatashaBee · 26/05/2013 12:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Libra · 26/05/2013 12:29

It is not that small! Similar size to other super minis like the polo etc.

OP posts:
WMittens · 26/05/2013 14:42

Except it's a city car, which is the size class just below supermini. It's 43cm shorter than a Polo and 30cm taller. Don't get me wrong, it's not going to wobble off the road or get blown over in a gale, but it's likely to feel less stable than a Polo or Fiesta.

I admit that is my musing as I haven't driven an Up!, so my advice would be to test drive one as well as a Polo/Fiesta/equivalent. Make sure you get a chance to get up to 70 and see how it feels.

WMittens · 26/05/2013 14:44

I should add, they are quite a temptation and one of the cheapest lease options around at the moment. I was half considering one, but as I sometimes have to do 250+ miles it's not a serious option for me.

StickEmUpPunk · 26/05/2013 14:55

This reply has been deleted

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higgle · 29/05/2013 15:31

I have a new style Fiat Panda, lots of space, doors, cheap to run, quite cute. My circumstances are much the same as yours, OP, only one son at home now and just shopping and sometimes dog in the car. Panda has been great.

Lilymaid · 29/05/2013 15:49

I'm test driving an Up tomorrow. Was very impressed with it in the showroom but need to see whether it would be up to the job on the motorway as my daily driving involves country lanes/ A roads/ motorways as well as town driving.
It has good space inside and a decent boot size for such a small car.
I went into the showroom to look at a Polo but the Up seemed a much more interesting car.
I'm also considering a Jazz and a Fiesta.

smokinaces · 30/05/2013 20:56

40 miles trip I would go for a polo over an up tbh.

I looked at the up, the Adam, the ka, the fiesta, the corsa and the picanto. I do 20-25 miles a day, but all town driving. Went for the picanto due to deals, reliability, size, fifth seat and it was more comfortable for me to drive.

If I drove more a day I would go for a polo though.

Waswondering · 30/05/2013 21:42

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lilymaid · 30/05/2013 21:49

Tested the Up today. Nice car but found that even the higher spec engine wasn't good on accelerating from a standing start. it is well designed and spacious but I will probably go for a larger car and engine.

StickEmUpPunk · 03/06/2013 18:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lilymaid · 04/06/2013 19:57

Up is one of the new generation of smaller engines (you will find similar on larger cars such as the Fiesta) with 3 cylinders - perhaps that's the reason it sounded a bit like a lawnmower. At the moment I want a car that will be good for travelling across the country (DCs are grown up now and I'm enjoying the freedom) rather than feeling I have a "supermarket car" and have to borrow DH's car to be comfortable for longer distances. It is the same car as the Skoda and the SEAT, so you can choose which version you prefer - we happen to live closest to a VW dealer so test drove the Up.

Madamecastafiore · 04/06/2013 20:00

Try an Audi a1. They are fab and super economical.

michaelh · 04/06/2013 21:17

I think you'll find 40 mile commutes in an Up a bit of a pain. That said I've never driven one and they are getting fabulous reviews. Have a look at the new Panda 4WD. That is getting a very good press, is roomier than the Up! I think and if you put winter tyres on it will be able to cope with anything Scotland can throw at it.

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