Volkswagen’s Crazy Power-Pickup Amorak Concept
If you hadn’t noticed, and it has been kept well hidden, EngageSportMode is a little bit of a fan of Volkswagens. ESM also happens to be a fan of pickup trucks, stemming from a lifelong aim to own a Dodge Ram or other huge American truck. So the unveiling of the Amarok by VW a few years ago went a long way to satisfying both desires. The only downside was that, compared to US offerings, it was a little bit underpowered. Until now that is.
Perhaps calling a 2.0-litre diesel engine with twin-turbochargers underpowered is slightly harsh. It develops 180bhp and 300 lb ft of torque, shoving the regular 2.1 ton Amarok to 60mph in 11 seconds. Not bad for such a huge vehicle. However, VW have seemingly decided that this is not enough, and last week unveiled the wonderfully titled Power-Pickup Concept.
Shown at the huge Volkswagen gathering at Woerthersee in Austria, the Power-Pickup Concept improves on the 2.0TDI’s performance considerably. Packing a 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine under the bonnet, the Power-Pickup boasts an impressive 272bhp and an even more impressive 440 lb ft. This substantial kick up the backside is enough to propel the, presumably lighter, single-cab Amarok to 60 in 7.9 seconds! It’s also fair to say the Power-Pickup has the looks to make the most of its new firepower:
Being lowered by 80 mm on to those 22 inch rims gives the Amorak a serious stance on the ground, all contained by the widened wheelarches. A carbon fibre diffuser and twin exhaust add some muscle to the rear also. Inside leather bucket seats, a 500w subwoofer and a black, white and red theme make the Power-Pickup much more racing driver than farmer.
Apparently the Power-Pickup Concept is envisaged to be used as a support vehicle for a karting team, hence the rather full load-bed. Will it make production in some form? As much as ESM would like to think it will, this current economic climate probably isn’t conducive to a road-racing VW pickup, which is a huge shame. Plus the thought of GTI owners being harassed by pickups wouldn’t be ideal for Volkswagen I suspect!
New Volkswagen up! Special Editions
EngageSportMode is a genuine fan of the Volkswagen up!. When we tested the base-model Take up! last year, we were hugely impressed with its value for money, perky performance and VW quality. We suggested that should you want a new city-car, you had no other viable option.
It’s also worth pointing out that we were a little bit amused by some of the names Volkswagen had come up with for the up!’s trim-levels. However, in a world where a major car manufacturer sees fit to call a car Adam, then clearly any sense when it comes to nomenclature has gone out the window.
Along with announcing that the fully electric, and Yorkshire accented, e-up! will hit the UK in 2014, Volkswagen have also announced two new special editions aimed at fans of “loud music, great-looking small cars and questionable puns”. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Groove up! and Rock up! editions!
This is the Rock up! edition. Looks good!
The Rock up! features that distinctive anthracite body-stripe, full bodykit and rear spoiler and rolls on 16″ alloy wheels. I think the bigger “Upsilon” rims really give the up! some presence, and makes ESM very excited for a GT or GTI version.
Upping (sorry) the equipment count even higher, the Groove up! comes fitted with a 300w Fender sound system with 6-speakers, amplifier and subwoofer! Further kit includes a leather trimmed (with orange stitching) steering wheel, gear lever and handbrake to complement black seats with more orange stitching. The Groove up! also rolls on the same “Upsilon” wheels as the Rock up!, but the lacks the former’s bodykit.
Both feature the 1.0 litre 3-cylinder engine with 75bhp, with the Groove up! starting at £11,640 whilst the edgier Rock up! costs from £12,980. Buy now, collect in July.
In all seriousness, the up! continues to be ESM’s recommend city-car, and these two cunningly named special-editions just further the appeal. We’re still waiting on the proper sporty offering, hopefully with the beloved 1.2 litre turbo motor! Fingers crossed.
VW Polo R-Line – 1,000 Mile Review
As you might have just read, after a huge period of indecision, ESM finally acquired a Volkswagen Polo R-Line. That was back in late January so, several months and miles later, just what has the kitted-up supermini been like to live with?
First, some photos from when it arrived and the cleanest it has been since, due to the excellent weather we’ve had.
Having had my hand ever-so-slightly forced into taking the Deep Black pearlescent option, I was pleased to find that it suited the R-Line well. The jutting front end gives it an aggressive appearance, with the rear diffuser and relatively large exhaust pipe making the back look equally sporty. On the motorway it has proved able to hustle and intimidate others out of its way well; something it’s predecessor never could. It’s just unfortunate that the colour is already living up to my fears; showing a couple of small scratches, much to my annoyance!
ESM’s 2012 Car Buying Predicament #6 – The Finale
Recently I wrote about the end of my ownership of the 9N3 Volkswagen Polo, following the epically long saga to replace it which began all the way back in October last year. So after several months of searching, test driving and negotiating, just what did land on the EngageSportMode drive?
A Polo R-Line; not mine.
Originally when my quest began I had dismissed the regular Polo for looking too mundane, despite the appeal of the 1.2 TSI petrol engine. But whilst researching a broker who could supply an Audi A1, I happened across a listing for the R-Line like the one shown above. Embarrassingly for such a perennial Polo purchaser, the existence of the R-Line had completely passed me by, despite being unveiled several months ago. Could the R-Line be the answer to all the requirements I’d originally asked of my new car? Let us just review what I wanted:
Essential Criteria
1. 0-60mph in less than 10 seconds. The R-Line dips under with an official 0-60 of 9.7 seconds.
2. A 120mph+ top speed. 118mph according to the manual. Close, but not quite.
3.Real world mpg of 35+. Yup. The benefits of a modern downsized engine mean an official combined mpg of 53.3, so even taking into account the fact the stated figures are impossible to achieve, it bodes well.
4. 3-Spoke steering wheel. Three-spoked, with a flat bottom, and made of a nice leather/perforated leather combination. (more…)
End Of The Road: The VW Polo 1.4 SE (9N3)
I intended to write and publish this item many, many, weeks ago. However, certain events transpired to prevent me from doing so. So here it is, now, slightly later than planned.
In short, the 9N3 Volkswagen Polo 1.4 SE pictured above is no longer with me, having been traded in for something else, which finally concluded the epic car-buying saga. It was in my possession for around 9 months, and in that time it failed to be anything if not underwhelming.
After the previous frantic experience of the Panda 100HP, I realised I needed something a little more sensible from my daily-driver. To be fair, you’ll struggle to get much more rational than a 1.4 petrol Polo in SE spec. (more…)
Bye Bye GTi – Saying Auf Wiedersehen to a Wolfsburg Legend
Tonight, ESM’s Mate Steve explains why he’s surrendered ownership of the iconic MkV Golf GTi, along with noting the highs and lows of owning a hot-hatch legend.
Last week I handed back the keys to a VW Golf GTi MkV, you might ask why, hopefully this will become clear.
Just over 3 years ago I cheerily told my girlfriend “Don’t worry, I’m just going to look, not buy” as she went off to do some shopping. An hour and a half later and I’m dragging her out of the supermarket to have one final test drive before sitting down to agree the deal.
Over the course of the 3 years I’ve had it, the car has been reasonably reliable; the air-conditioning being the exception to this! The compressor on the air-conditioning is a known weak spot on the Golf MkV and, true to form, it failed resulting in a very warm car in the summer. Happily it was covered on my extended warranty as the cost including fitting came to just over £600.
The car also developed a small patch of rust at the back of the roof, which VW refused to cover under the anti-corrosion warranty. This was very disappointing and really knocked my faith in VW. Their decision was based on some blurry photos taken by my local dealer and emailed to their HQ, with them unwilling to discuss the matter further.
Unfortunately last winter I also had problems with the sensor in the coolant expansion vessel. This was remarkable, given that VW had this same fault on the Mk3 and Mk4, they still hadn’t fixed it for the MkV so a replacement vessel was required. Again this falls short of the standard I expect from a brand such as VW.
These issues aside, the car has been fantastic; it lived up to all the excellent reviews I read before purchasing it. It can be driven sedately and comfortably or it can be driven aggressively, either way it’s an excellent drive and has always returned circa 30mpg, which I consider pretty good for a 200BHP hot hatch. The suspension is the perfect compromise between bone shaking firmness and French softness and is therefore far better than the Seat FR equivalent with its horrifically stiff suspension. The seats are supportive and hold you well through the turns but the downside to this is the seat bolsters do wear badly and older people find it difficult to get in and out.
Each and every time I’ve driven the GTi I’ve had fun, its blend of performance and practicality makes it an easy car to live with but its performance is what makes you love it. The power-band is so large that there’s always plenty of torque available. This makes overtaking in 6th a breeze, but bother yourself to drop a cog or two and the GTi can really take off. So much so that I had to set the onboard computer to alert me at 95mph since it was so effortless to break the speed limit one had to keep a careful eye on the speedometer. Not that I ever speed you understand, simply as a precaution.
The interior of the car is as well-engineered and designed as the rest of the car, buttons and switches in logical places, well labelled and the fit and finish was top-notch with not a single rattle in the whole 3 years I had it. The party piece of being able to get the display on the Climatic automatic air-conditioning to display information such as current speed, oil pressure etc. was a lovely little hidden Easter Egg. However it would have been nice if some of this information was available a bit more readily, such as in the Ford Focus ST where there’s an extra pod of dials for turbo boost pressure etc.
Indeed the GTi has been fun not just for me but for friends and family too; most friends have had a go of the GTi and not a single one has been disappointed. Every time I parked the car at my parents it seemed to disappear off for several hours with my brother who couldn’t get enough of it. Having a hot hatch is an itch I needed to scratch and the GTi certainly scratched that itch!
Its performance in the snow is probably best forgotten (it doesn’t perform!) but I can forgive it, given that it was shod with 17inch summer tyres. The standard brakes never caused me issue and always had just the right amount of stopping power. I am certain my car had a modified exhaust due to it being fully stainless steel and pretty loud. However, when it was serviced by VW they did say it was a standard exhaust again showing how poor VW are; they can’t even recognise a non-standard exhaust on one of their own cars!
In fact VW customer service really lets the brand down, when I phone my local independent garage all I have to do is mention it’s a Golf MkV GTi and they know what I’m talking about. When I phone VW dealerships even with the information about it being a GTi they without fail always ask if it’s a petrol or a diesel. Now I know some UK dealerships sold Mk4 GT TDIs badged as a GTi but really there’s never been a diesel GTi and I expect VW dealerships to have a better grip on their own products than they do. They also seem to have a problem keeping up with VW Germany since VW Germany issued a technical memo several years ago that only LongLife oil could be used in the MkV Golf, but every time it’s been serviced by VW I’ve had to argue this point to ensure it gets the correct oil.
Unfortunately, this review seems to have spent more time talking about VW customer service than the car itself, but this is a major problem. VW price their cars higher than their competitors and trade on their reputation for quality. My experience is that their products are no longer worth the price and, although I consider myself a VW enthusiast, I would not consider purchasing another VW at this time.
So I’m sure you’ll be wanting to know what I’ve purchased to fill the GTi shaped gap in my life and, unfortunately, you’ll have to be patient since I won’t be purchasing a new car until March next year. I’ll be running around in a 56 plate Seat Leon FR TDI until then but my choices in March will likely be either Mini or BMW – you’ll just have to wait for my next blog post to find out which. Oh and just by the way VW, the reason it’ll be a MINI or BMW is down to the excellent customer service received recently when looking for a new car for my girlfriend. I never intended for her to purchase a MINI, but their customer care and product are so good she couldn’t resist. So she now has a rather excellent MINI Cooper D Countryman All4 (a stupidly long name for a car).
The GTi next to the new MINI Countryman
I have to admit, having driven the MkV GTi when it first went on sale, along with driving Steve’s also, it was an addictively fun car to be behind the wheel of. It’s a huge shame that the overall ownership experience for Steve hasn’t lived up to the basic product underneath. In addition, I share Steve’s sentiment in that I would not consider buying a Volkswagen at this time; notice how my shortlist featured no VWs (unless you count the Ibiza). With the current models on offer, along with the genuinely exorbitant pricing, the veneer of the VW badge has worn a little bit thin in ESM’s opinion.
Friday Photo From the Archives # 1
This week I’ve been having a bit of a Twitter chat with Richard from PoloDriver. In particular, about the 6N2 Polo GTi; one of which I used to own and like Richard does now own.
Along with developing the urge to go and buy one again, it also lead to me looking through the pictures I have of my beloved GTi. In particular, I came across this one:
Obviously, mine is the red one. It’s parked next to ESM’s Mate Dave’s TVR Cerbera Speed Six.This particular Cerbera proved, true to form, to have all the characteristic TVR reliability. It ended up on a recovery truck after the predictable cam-follower/valvegear disintegration episode.
The GTi proved a lot more reliable in the several years I owned it, and went through various subtle modifications to pretty much the spec pictured above: 16″ BBS RXII wheels, Eibach Sportline suspension (lowering by about 35-40mm) and a 280mm front-brake setup from a Golf G60. There was also OMP strutbrace and BMC carbon-fibre air intake under the bonnet.
Was it quick? 125 bhp meant 0-60mph in around 8.5 seconds and a top speed in the region of 130mph. So quick-ish, but not mega-hatch fast. Fuel economy averaged 35mpg+ no matter how I drove it, and the only thing which went wrong was the brake light switch and a blocked crankcase breather pipe. This is considerable given that it was used as Volkswagen intended, including a week spent hammering around the Isle of Man TT course.
In a move of what was, with hindsight, errant stupidity I traded it in for an 8L Audi S3 which would prove to be the worst car I would ever own. I am sorely tempted to buy another GTi, but live in fear that it will never be as good as “my” Flash Red example. In addition, even the youngest examples are now at least 10 years old, and many will have suffered the infamous gearbox failures and camshaft tensioner issues which stalk the GTi. The ones that have survived also run the risk of being ruined by crass modifications or overenthusiastic driving.
If I had the time, space and money I would very much love to purchase a GTi in need of some TLC, and restore it to how it was when it left the factory. I should probably avoid the classified adverts for a while…
The Random Volkswagen Collective
Writing about the Polo earlier this week got me thinking about my appreciation for VAG products in general. The result being a list forming, photos being researched and this post about some of the more obscure models to emerge from Germany that I have a fondness for. These are not in any particular order, just the way in which my brain spat them out onto paper.
1999 – 2005 Volkswagen Bora V5
For (almost) as long as the Golf has existed, VW has produced a version with a huge boot grafted onto the back-end to meet the demand of the American market. Those on the other side of the pond have, generally, shown a far greater demand for models with a trunk, resulting in the Jetta, Vento and Bora models. In Europe, these models have never garnered the same appreciation; leaving them to be the unloved middle child, wedged awkwardly between the smaller Golf, but larger Passat.
I, however, have a relative fondness for these ugly ducklings, and the Bora V5 is a particular favourite of mine. Packing 170bhp in later models, the narrow-angle five cylinder was as punchy as it was aurally satisfying. It’s also completely unassuming looking, making it an excellent Q-Car and thus why I love it.
2003 – 2004 Volkswagen Golf R32 (Mk4)
The Mk4 Golf never received an amazing amount of praise in terms of being a driver’s car. Comfort and refinement were the order of the day, with dynamism taking a (spacious) back seat. The GTi failed to win applause, even with the 180bhp 1.8T engine. Then the R32 arrived.
I have probably never lusted over a German hatchback as much as I have the Mk4 R32. Everything about it screams exotic, despite the number of bodykitted diesels and 1.4s out there now. From the 18″ wheels, to the twin exhausts, signature Deep Blue Pearl paintwork and sculpted Konig seats everything about it looks special. Furthermore, if you thought the V5 Bora sounded good, listen to this. It’s 240+ bhp makes it genuinely fast and the Haldex 4WD keeps everything in check. The fact a low-mileage, unmolested, Mk4 R32 has a higher used value than the later Mk5 says everything you need to know; and makes me sad not to be able to afford to have one on my drive.
2005 Audi TT quattro Sport
Until the more recent TT RS, this was the most hardcore version of Audi’s ubiquitous coupe. It’s also the only car I’ve witnessed someone get genuinely stuck in due to its high-waisted Recaro Pole Position bucket seats.
Audi added an extra 15 bhp, removed 75kgs of weight, painted the roof section black and fitted special 18″ alloys. Most of the weight savings came from junking the back seats and rear parcel shelf, leaving a huge strut-brace and motorsport styled cargo net instead. Some people wimped out and picked regular “comfort” seats instead for this 800 only special edition. Losers.
2003 - 2004 Audi S4
To replace the previous S4 model’s 2.7 Bi-Turbo V6, Audi decided the best option was to shoehorn a 4.2 litre V8 under the bonnet. Featuring 344 bhp (one more than the contemporary BMW M3) this engine propelled the subtly styled S4 to 60mph in around 5 seconds and on to a limited top-speed of 155. The pay off was fuel consumption which averaged an official 20mpg; the reality somewhere much further south! It also happens to be another V8 vehicle my Father test drove and then didn’t buy, settling instead for the far more “sensible” Subaru Impreza STI.
2008 – 2010 Volkswagen Passat R36
Answering a question which nobody really seemed to have asked, VW unleashed this muscle-car version of the popular Passat rep-mobile. A 300bhp 3.6 litre (hence the name) V6 placed the R36 in a curious performance middle ground. Quicker than hot-hatches, but slower than the super-saloons. This probably explains why only around 160 found homes in the UK during its production run. I like its charming, unassuming looks and the fact nobody would ever have any idea what it is.
2000 – 2002 SEAT Ibiza Cupra R
By the time this hot little number emerged from Martorell, the Mk2 Ibiza chassis was getting pretty long in the tooth. Dumping the veritable 1.8T unit into the front gave 150bhp in the regular Cupra. However, for the Cupra R, the boost was cranked up to 11 to deliver a further 30bhp, making this supermini properly quick.
Aside from the engine, the R received a host of SEAT Sport parts, including Brembo brakes, stiffer suspension, carbon fibre bits and – most importantly – extra instrument gauges. This made the limited edition R rather special, making it stand out from the regular Cupra model. Contemporary journalists rated its speed, but not its unforgiving ride. Trying to find one today is hard; finding an original one that hasn’t been enhanced by its owner is even more difficult.
2002 – 2005 Volkswagen Passat W8
In the late 1990s/early 2000s Volkswagen was in the process of rapidly expanding its product range and technology across all the brands in its stable. Under the direction of Ferdinand Piech, Wolfsburg churned out some unique offerings; to test engineering or to test the market’s reaction.
The Passat W8 was one of the more left field items offered by VW. In its most basic form the engine was half a Bugatti Veyron W16 or two-thirds of a Bentley W12 (minus the turbos). Producing only 275bhp from its 4-litres isn’t exactly staggering, but did result in comical fuel consumption – around 16mpg! For the 170 people who bought one in the UK they suffered soul destroying depreciation, followed by the realisation they should have just bought an Audi. Pointless; but that’s why I like it.
2002 – Present Volkswagen Phaeton
If the W8 was pointless, the Phaeton took Piech’s narcissism to an entirely new level. Intended to test the technology for the Bentley Continental GT, the Phaeton was also made to make the automotive world realise no market was off limits to VW.
The brief for the Phaeton was that it must be able to hit 300kmh, whilst maintaining an interior temperature of 22′C, even when it was a roasting 50 degrees outside. God knows how much time and money went into the design of this beast, along with the epic Transparent Factory. In particular I love the fact it came with the massive V10 diesel engine, offering up a house-demolishing 553lb ft of torque!
I occasionally pass a Phaeton on my way to work – sadly not a V10 diesel – and it always makes me smile. Knowing a) that somebody lost a boatload of money buying it, and b) the sheer level of engineering underneath is cause for celebration.
2000 – 2002 VW Polo GTi
There is, of course, more than a hint of bias in this inclusion. Having owned a 6N2 Polo GTi for several years, before changing it for an ill-fated Audi S3, it does hold many fond memories for me. Even now I can still remember the specifications: 1.6 litre 4-cylinder with 125bhp and 112lb ft of torque, gave 0-60mph in around 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 130mph. The same engine would go on to power the Lupo GTi which managed to sell even fewer examples than its Polo brother (900 vs 3400).
At the time road-testers praised the upmarket looks and interior of the GTi, along with its respectable equipment count. But it came under fire for a lack of driver involvement and uninspiring handling. To be honest, the latter never really bothered me; I’d tweaked my example so much it went far beyond the original specification!
In the years since the 6N2, the Polo GTi has evolved to be an even closer miniature clone of the Golf GTi. It may be quicker, bigger and fancier, but for me there will always be an endearing charm to my version.
2006-2010 Volkswagen Jetta GLI
So we begin back where we started; looking at a Golf with a fat arse. The GLI has been available as US market mainstay for a number of generations, providing the sedan alternative to the Golf (or Rabbit) GTI. I especially like the Mk5 version for looking so much like the GTI, even down to the wheels and trademark grille, but then wedging a massive trunk at the rear end. Mechanically it was identical to the Golf, using the 2.0TFSI engine with 197bhp sending power to the front wheels. Performance was slightly blunted compared to the GTI, owing to the extra weight of all that junk in the trunk, but it still makes for an effective compact sedan.
In the UK, Volkswagen decided not to include the actual GLI model in its lineup. Instead it offered a curious TFSI version that used the GLI engine in a regular Jetta body; another wolf in sheep’s clothing. Even more curiously, Volkswagen USA also produced a special limited edition diesel Jetta TDI Cup edition in 2010:
Intended to celebrate the USA only race series, this bespoke limited edition matched an aggressive race-derived bodykit to a 170bhp 2.0TDI motor. As a former diesel Jetta owner, this across-the-pond model represented the zenith of derv compact VW saloons to be admired and lusted over. Unfortunately, given the UK’s lack of interest in the Jetta, there was no chance of an offering such as the TDI Cup over here.
So there we go. A collection of the Volkswagen Group’s more unique offerings.
Filling The Hole: The Polo
Yesterday I mentioned how I would save the details of the Panda 100HP’s replacement until today. As promised, here is the new contender to fill the (obviously quite petite) shoes left by the baby Fiat:
Yes, like an errant homing pigeon finally finding the coop, I’ve returned to the Volkswagen stable. This 2006 Olympic Blue 9N3 model proved to be the best option when narrowing down the choices.
The biggest issue with being interested in cars and reading lots about them, is that you can pretty much make a pro’s and con’s list for any possible vehicle. So when you come to actually buy one for yourself, it’s possible to become lost in a wall of facts, figures, reviews and recommendations. In a bid to try to see the wood for the trees, I went back to what I know. The Polo.
Being an SE, this has all the niceties I need to deal with a 14 mile daily commute; CD-player, air-conditioning and (importantly after the Panda) a decent ride to soothe my beaten back. With only 80BHP it isn’t particularly fast, managing 0-60mph in 12 seconds and on to a top speed of around 110. Hardly earth-shattering performance, but certainly less frantic than the Panda and in the real-world not a million miles away either. I’m also hoping the fuel economy will be better due to; a) me being less inclined to thrash it and b) not having the crazily short gearing of the 100HP.
In short, the Polo is a purchase I’ve made mainly with my head, but with a nod to my heart also. Owning a house, maintaining a whippet, and just modern life in general has placed a greater restriction on my ability to pick and choose when it came to car buying. In an ideal world, it’d be a brand-new GTI, a Scirocco R or a Dodge Challenger SRT8. But right now I’m not in a position to have one of those, so the Polo is where it’s at. For now at least.
I also like the fact it’s going to need a little bit of TLC to get it back to it’s best. The previous owner appears to have; washed it with Fairy Liquid, scuffed the front bumper at some point and caused what can only be described as hilariously bad kerbing to those optional 16″ wheels. But all these enabled me to beat the dealer down on pricing, along with giving me something to work on. Happy days.
VW Take up! – Short Test
ESM lives, like rather a lot of people in the UK do, in a city. As such, sensibly (and predictably) ESM drives what is best described as city-car. The end result is making this writer rather well positioned to pass judgement on Volkswagen’s new baby; the up!
VW’s recent track record with the smallest of automotive contenders has been a mixed bag. The Lupo was well regarded but expensive, with the Fox conversely managing to be cheap but unlikeable. With the up! VW hopes to finally kill both metaphorical birds with one polished jewel of a stone.
Even with the £7,995 priced, entry-level, Take up! I got chance to drive there is a sense that this is not just another cheap commodity item. A new car always looks shiny, even in black, but you get the impression those years of grime and bird-crap won’t stop the up! from looking any less glossy. Standard steel wheels add a sense of utility to the Take up! (factory alloy wheels aren’t even an option on this base model) making kerbs less fearsome.
Overall the up! looks more grown-up and upmarket (sorry, pun not intended) compared to the Citroen C1 or Toyota Aygo. It may not have the chintzy bling of an Aston-Martin Cygnet, but it leaves no doubt that this is solid bit of kit.
Toughness is something reinforced when you get in and close the door. It doesn’t clang like a Panda; it thunks resolutely shut. Yes the Take up! might be the bargain basement model, but looking around the cabin you wouldn’t feel short changed for a fiver under £8,000. The only real criticism I could make is that the gear knob felt plasticky – dog toy-esque – as did the handbrake lever. Higher spec models come with more quality items, along with windows you, thankfully, don’t have to wind yourself. But, compared to cars in its class, or ones from segments above, the up! matches its quality billing with ease.
The dash is dominated by a huge round speedometer – no policeman will ever believe you couldn’t tell how fast you were going – flanked by two smaller gauges for the revcounter and fuel. It’s standard VW fare; simple but effective.
Speeding isn’t actually a far off dream in the Take up! despite only making 59 bhp from its 1.0 three-cylinder motor. Yes, 0-62 mph might seem pained at over 14 seconds, but the reality is it doesn’t feel that slow. Pulling away felt slightly hesitant, but this could be due to a more refined electronic throttle sensor compared to the Panda, rather than actual inherent sluggishness. Performance would be more than enough for everyday real-world use, with the benefits of over 62 mpg (officially at least) and the eager pop and offbeat fizz of the triple cylinders.
On main roads and dual carriageway the up! easily kept pace with the hordes rushing to spend money at the local retail park. The gearshift was light and not once did I attempt to go for sixth gear; a habit I’ve developed from running three six-speeders in a row.
Handling wise, there is a) only so much you can really discover on a short test drive and b) only so much you really need to know about a budget city-car. The steering was light but positive, though I do wonder why a 59 bhp car needs a D-shaped steering wheel. F1 cars, even supercars may need a wheel with a squared-off bottom; the up! does not, beyond pandering to a new automotive trend. Or those who’ve played Mario Kart on a Nintendo Wii perhaps.
Cornering displayed some body-roll, as you would expect from a non-sporting car, but not at levels to cause offence or distress. The up! rode bumps and ruts with relative ease, providing my spine with a much needed break from the concrete springs of the Panda 100HP. No this Take up! isn’t a car to attack Silverstone with, but neither is any £8k new mini-car.
By now you might have noticed that there haven’t been many lolz in this post. The truth is, as much as I wanted to make silly up! related name jokes I couldn’t bring myself to undermine this little car. It is the real deal; much like the Range Rover Evoque I drove last year, the up! feels like driving a car for right here and now.
With petrol at £1.40 a litre, driveways getting smaller and roads getting busier this is all the car you could realistically need in 2012. Downsizing is the new vajazzling, so why skimp on quality when you’re making your motoring more affordable?
Verdict
Would I buy one? No. At least not in this specification at this price-point. I’ve been far too spoilt with the luxuries of air-conditioning (not even an option on the Take up!), electric windows and Bluetooth phone connectivity. Furthermore, whilst its performance is spritely I would really need more punch. Were Volkswagen to put the GT up! concept into production, then I’d be prepared to sign on the line.
Would I recommend one? Yes. Without any shadow of a doubt. If you want a brand new city-car, there is no other option; it really is that good. The up! deserved to win European Car of The Year far more than the Volt/Ampera ever did. This is realistic motoring for the 21st-century, the fact a waiting list is already building up suggests others agree with that idea.
Crap Cars I Like #2 – 1992 to 1998 Mk3 Golf GTi
If the first CCiL feature involved cruelly berating an essentially well liked and positively received car for its poor sales, then this one will certainly make amends. The Mk3 Golf GTi was always destined to be universally unloved and unwelcomed by the motoring press and the wider car buying public. Following in the footsteps of the iconic Mk1 and the even more legendary Mk2 (widely acknowledged as the hot-hatch) the Mk3 was always going to have its back against the wall. But when it emerged from the Wolfsburg factory doors in the early 90′s the disappointment for GTi enthusiasts was perhaps even more profound than expected. For a start, just look at it compared to its older brothers:
- “Are we seriously all related?”
Under the pressures of the demands for better safety measures, greater refinement and stricter pollution controls the Mk3 left VW with a number of competing demands. The result was a GTi now weighing over 1000kgs with only a modest increase in power from the 8-valve 2.0litre engine. An output of 115bhp, compared to 110bhp in the Mk2, in the new bigger, fatter body was not going to set the world alight. 0-60 arrived in 10 seconds with a top-speed of 123mph; figures which even my 100HP Panda manages to beat! Handling was noted to be smoother and more mature; hardly the words you want to hear in relation to a performance hatchback.
VW tried to save the reputation of the Golf by later introducing the Mk3 VR6; transplanting the narrow angle motor from the Corrado into the dumpy hatchback body. Whilst the 170+bhp improved performance, inserting a bigger engine into an already heavy car did nothing for the weight distribution and handling. Like a large-bosomed lady in a top that’s too small, the potential for mishaps was ever-present.
Having proven beyond all reasonable doubt that the Mk3 GTi was, as the kids like to say, an epic fail how can I defend my affection for such a vehicle? As the saying goes “if it’s not one thing, it’s your Mother” and that proves to be the case in this instance.
As I’ve noted before, growing up in my house the world revolved around cars and motorsport. Whereas my Father languished in a string of company Vauxhalls (Carlton, Cavalier, Omega) my Mother had a bit more freedom in her motoring choices. The results being a white Fiat Panda (naturally), a Mk2 VW Scirocco GT (lovely) and a E30 BMW 316i (cambelt failure-y). And then one day I found myself at a Volkswagen-Audi dealership in Middlesbrough getting into the passenger seat of a Tornado Red Mk3 Golf GTi 8-valve, which looked rather a lot like this:
- Hmm, a red VW GTi….
The only difference being that the one I was in had the most subtle of headlight eyebrows, giving the front end a slightly more aggressive look. Perhaps even more memorably about the day is the first time my Mother put her foot down on a slip road to join the dual-carriageway. At the time I was probably only about 12 years old and prior to that date I hadn’t heard my Mam swear.
So when the words “oh shit it’s quick” came out of her mouth, I realised a Golf GTi must be rather special! Looking back it wasn’t hugely quick, probably didn’t handle that amazingly and if recent reports are correct, has probably rusted away to nothing by now. But this car meant that I would be indoctrinated into the cult of the GTi.
The end result was a lifetime fascination with all things Volkswagen. Four out of the five cars I’ve owned to date have come from the VAG stable. Something about that Mk3 GTi got under my skin and refused to leave. When I came to buy a Polo GTi it had to be a three-door and it had to be red. My GTi also ended up with a string of subtle modifications, from lowered suspension to bigger BBS alloy wheels; all of which were met with maternal approval.
The Mk3 GTi will not be remembered in motoring history as Wolfsburg’s finest moment; you only have to look at how cheap tidy examples are now for proof of this. The Mk4 redeemed the GTi brand slightly, but even that failed to recapture the imagination of VW enthusiasts. Perhaps not until the Mk5 GTi of 2004 (one of the finest cars I have driven) was the magic of those three letters finally brought back to the Golf brand. The failures of the Mk3 and Mk4 were possibly the places which VW needed to go to in order to make a better hot hatch.
But this is all very much beside the point. That red Mk3 Golf GTi had a profound impact on my childhood and for that it will always hold a place in my automotive affections.
