VW Lupo GTI - Why I'd Have One Over an Up! GTI Any Day of The Week
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- Опубликовано: 3 янв 2022
- Today we look at the rather rare, and often overlooked VW Lupo GTI. Where many claim the modern day Up! to be the successor to the much loved Mk1 Golf GTI, for me the Lupo has many of the qualities which made that car so beloved.
#VW #Lupo #GTI
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The Lupo 3L was developed after a misunderstanding...VW officials heard Renault talking about a 3 litre Clio and VW wanted to beat them to the launch. Just imagine the VW board's horror when all their investment turned out to be for nothing when it transpired that the 3 litre Clio was a mid-engined 3.0 V6 monster!!!
I've heard this story about the A2 also, but I do find it hard to believe (even if I want to believe it)
@@JayEmmOnCars Sold pretty well in Denmark. Spares, however, were dear for the 3L lupo's..... A2's, I still see occasionally.
Interestingly, I heard the story the other way round I.e. Renault thought that VW were putting a VR6 into the Lupo
@@MacBob Except that there never was a 3.0 litre VR6 engine - the 12-valve went to 2.9 but by the time the Lupo was on the market it was 24-valve and back to 2.8 litres - the 3.2 and 3.6 appearing first in the Beetle RSi and going into proper production in the Golf in 2002
@@SabotsLibres yes but Renault didn't know that at the time. Anyway, I doubt either story is true but I like the idea that it gave us the Clio V6
i used to own a lupo 3l, used to manage to do 3liter/100km per tank. I once did a hypermile from the Netherlands to Paris and back. me and a friend managed to achieve 40km/liter (2.5 liter/100km ) on the entire round trip of over 1600km. It proved to be way cheaper than cycling!
Admittedly, I am a cyclist. But that's pretty nifty. I hope you enjoyed your journey.
This was the truly the car of the future and I would have one in a heartbeat it I didn't require a van..
What do we have in 2024? 2500kg battery-powered 4WD SUV's for the school run...
Had 2 of these, including a 2005 Laser Blue one with every option (heated leather, air con etc) which was one of around 10 GTIs ever made in that colour. They do attract the VW tax to an extent but they are great fun and people shouldn't underestimate the effort VW went to when developing these cars with the thinner glass, aluminium bonnet and doors etc which you rarely see these days. Hard to find tidy examples which haven't been messed with now.
I remember your videos of the cars Chris.I ended up buying a 52 plate Raven Blue one.Car was great but i hated the gearchange/clutch on it.I was too used to having a turbo and revs from way down low.
Had a 2005 1.4E in laser blue and absolutely loved it. Such a rare but amazing colour, would love to see a GTI in that colour and, even better, have a drive in it 🤣
Laser blue was something else.
that spec is amazing!!
I have a reflex Silver GTI with every box ticked!
Heated Leather, AirCon, Sunroof, Phatbox.
@@tjc.aviation7595 do you remember what are all the options on the gti ?
I've owned my Lupo GTI since 2004, put 170k miles on it, and it's still going strong. I'm also in the same position as Chris (the owner) in that I own an Up GTI, and whilst it's a good car, the Lupo is more fun!
So pleased you've driven this and loved it! Had an '05 lupo as my first car when I was 17 (back in 2016) and adored it. It was a 1.4 in laser blue and felt like a rocket ship compared to the 1.0/1.2s my mates all had. It was my grandads car and was inherited by me so will always be looked back at fondly.
Would bloody love a spin in a GTI.
Cool
My friend had one of these when we were at sixth form. I’ll never forget thinking he was god bringing a gti to car park. He let me drive it and it was driving down the a30 where I fell in love with cars.
I pretty much owe my car enthusiasm to this car, absolutely loves them, makes my 5 car perfect garage no problem at all.
Like for A30 ref
These are still cool as hell. I always pay attention when I see one. Neither the Fox nor the Up! managed to be as cool as these.
Seen a few really cool modded ones at C&M, including a cracking red one at PH SS in December.
Thank you for this review, Jay, it's about time a motoring journalist reviewed this car. A great example of over engineering during the Piech era, its mot a surprisethat the car drives so well even after 16 years.
Owned two of these in my early 20s. Cracking cars and really stood out from the crowd. The xenons were brilliant and as you say, the engine felt like it had more than 125bhp.
Down to earth as usual...you speak about both the physical car, history of models, obvious competitors plus nerdy details without taking credit for info you have prior obtained.....your reviews some of the best I have seen.... & I have seen many reviews from many well known vloggers....as the song lyric goes "Dont go changing" 🙂
Nice to see a nice original one of these, you so rarely see one that hasn't been "scene'd" to death
Have to say, I always liked the look of this car. After all these years, I still think it holds up really well. The GTI trim is very tastefully done. Subtle, yet nice. Not like the OTT styling you get on today’s cars.
I prefer the Polo GTI of the same time but I agree it's aged very well.
Overdesigned cars like the UP GTI look out of touch and gormless even today, they definitely won't age as well as cars like the Lupo
@@acreativename7999 They won't last like the Lupo either. So much electronic componantry in modern cars that is designed to fail after a certain period makes them non-viable after much less than 17 years!
I like how the front 3/4 view looks a bit like a Innocenti Mini.
Will always have space for a Lupo GTi in my dream garage! Bought a new 1.0E in 2001 as a commuter car and even though it was slow, it was a joy to own compared with the competition
the lupo was one of those rare moments in which VW went playful in their design...usually followed by a weird or watered down other model (polo after the lupo, golf 6 after the scirocco, etc)
Man Scirocco design still holds up to this day. Those damn curves...
Have to agree with Redone, the scirocco is a great car, probably better than the lupo from a driver involvement standpoint, I've owned both a Lupo GTI and Scirocco GT.
@@Badger-Z still amazed VW never did a new generation of it...
@@tavirosu25 Me too. Donut media did a video on the Scirocco which might explain why they arent a consistent model range. Its really good, I'd highely recommend a watch.
It's kinda sad how sterile and bland VW have become of late. They had some really quirky/fun interesting offerings in the 00s but there is barely anything that even interests me in the range now. :-(
Two versions of the Lupo has always had me looking twice. The 3L and the GTI. The 3L for its cozy soundtrack and insanely economical engine. The GTI for its looks. I'm very happy to hear that it is better than i expected. Happy, and annoyed that i can add another car to the "i know i can't afford it, and have nowhere to put it, but i really want one list". As if that list needs to grow bigger than it already is :D
theres a 3L going for less than 2k euros in my country, so damn tempted to go and get it, but 300.000 km even for a daily that would probably net me a trip to the station every 2 months might be a bit dubious
This, along with the Panda 100HP, is one of the last great examples of a body kit transforming a dowdy everyday car into something really desirable. A tasty looking machine!
ignis sport as well
Latest Suzuki Swift Sport too, the difference from the standard car to the sport is considerable.
Twingo Renaultsport says hello.
I would much rather have the higher performance engine and other performance mods and keep the plain exterior so nobody suspects anything. Pretty much the opposite of today's R-Line/ST Line etc.
The Lupo 3L is my personal favourite. It is the car we should drive if we were actually caring about the environment.
Except Audi A2 3l is better built,wont rust and has better accessory list ...even as standard.lupos are rustbuckets...
We had a service receptionist who owned one of these. She was heavily into her Cosworth engined stuff, but drove one of these as a daily. Pretty fun car according to her.
Amazing, sounds like she was in the wrong job though!
@@soundseeker63 Nah, she loved it. Got to meet the man she married (one of the young salesmen), was front of house for a Jaguar dealership, and got paid well enough to enjoy her automotive passion in her free time. Very much living the dream from where I stood haha.
@@paul1978g Ah, Jaguar dealership. Now it makes sense.
Great video, had almost forgotten how good these were. Really appreciate the modern classics on the channel.
These were actually more expensive than the new Mini at the time! The basic Cooper started at under £12k, though admittedly when you specced up the Mini to match the Lupo, they were almost bang on price wise. There was also the Clio Cup which, for a couple of grand more, gave you a whole heap more performace. Viewed in that context, it's not surprising they didn't sell well. That said, time has been very kind to the Lupo - The build quality and the cute/fun styling have aged very well.
I so want one of these. great vid. you're pretty much the only top class creator that does real world cars. great work.d
At £5-10k in the UK and most being nearly 20 years old, think you'd really have to be a dedicated fan to choose one over say a Suzuki Swift Sport.
Yep, the VW tax I'm afraid
swift are shite
A Twingo 133 is a more modern take on the Lupo and is probably more young person friendly given that insurers seem to think any car over 15 years old is a death trap waiting to fall apart the next time it hits a pothole.
@@MrManBuzz Another good alternative! 👍
@@spainter1985 I had one for a year and loved it. The shift in the valve timing at 4k is almost as fun as old school VTEC. A really good choice for a genuine young petrolhead. But most young guys who claim to be into cars just default to the shitty VAG diesel.
I was working for VW during the Lupo era and my memory is that myself and my colleagues all preferred the 100bhp and much cheaper 1.4 16v Sport model over the GTI and it was way cheaper to insure, so would be the one to buy for the under 21yr old driver. We found the GTi clutch way too snappy, making it difficult to drive in traffic, engine fuelling a bit on-off leading to jerky progress, the seats cramped, and the car felt nose-heavy and understeery versus the 1.4 16v. The only thing we really liked was the Audi style alloys as per Jays comments.
I currently own two 100hp sports, one all original currently having an engine rebuild due to its previous owner and the 2nd one with some tasteful mods. Cracking engine, shame their outshadowed by the gti brother. In addition there are sub 200 sports left compared to nearly 600 gti's. Have driven gti's, but the sport does have great personality.
As an 18 year old lad, I was able to afford a sport. It really was a great car. After storing it for years the sills rusted through and it had to be scrapped.
I always wondered about the GTI, but I've never been fortunate enough to own one or even drive one.
The GTI always seemed to have some features I wished the sport did - the better pedal box, hydraulic clutch and fly by wire throttle.
Was still a great car, which I'll probably always look back fondly on.
My son drives an -05 GTI since a year and he loves it. We had to stort out a few things initially but except for the cambelt nothing major, and in terms of space, I'll just note that it carried him and three of his male, 18-year old friends with luggage (1 bag per person) from Zurich to the south of France and back - you can't really ask for more from a car this size! Finally get an -05 or later with the six-speed gearbox, that sixth gear does wonders for the ride comfort.
oh yeah!
I forgot this car existed. Nice video. Really well made. Keep up the good work.
Always loved driving these on Gran Turismo. There's something to be said for how this little box rotates and just clings to each corner. Hope I get to actually experience one in reality one day.
I didnt expect you to love it my brother. Your a really naturally very good video presenter . Joseph
Great review of a great car. I bought a 1 owner Lupo GTI in Jan 21 as a slightly more sensible winter car than my Golf Mk2 16V and I’ve been amazed how good it is. As you say, forget the Up GTI, this is the true successor to the original 1.6 Golf GTI - engine size, wheelbase, size and weight! This will become another modern classic from VW
This is why I love your channel, you try so many things and give even us financially challenged petrol heads something to get excited about!
Nothing is better than fun at a bargain price!
Smashing it with these regular uploads!
Owned 2 of the 3Ls, and it has the best and most beautiful steering wheel in any airbag car! (of the time)
Rather quick as well, drove 190 km/h (118 mph) once. You could just leave it in "manual" and it would shift itself when reaching really high revs.
Also a lot of fun trying to achieve the economy goals in eco mode by staying behind the lorries on the motorway. Got 2,5L/100km (112 mgp) a couple of times that way.
Unfortunately some of the thin and complicated mechanics went out of whack more than seldom, so overall costs including repairs weren't that great.
there is no way a 3l goes 190kmh, 170kmh at best if its downhill
@@MrSimon1909 My first factory new one did in 2002. Not in eco mode. Was rather amazed myself. Steering /suspension wasn't optimal at that speed, so wouldn't recommend trying in an old one nowadays.
@@JakobKsGarage You are probably talking about real speed vs indicated speed and maybe some help with the road conditions. That fully explains the 170-190 difference, and you probably didnt gps log the speed back in 2002?
@@GoldenCroc It was on my way from Oslo to Copenhagen one late evening. If you look on a map, that is actually downwards 😉
I managed to hit 200km/h once, on a big downhill ofc
It's a VW from the Piech era, it's going to be a good car, late 90's to early 2000's VWs were just something else, and it can be said for VAG as a whole, as we got the Skoda vRS's, the Carrera GT, Phaeton, both Harlekins, Murci, Gallardo, the Cayenne which saved Porsche, the 1st R32, the bonkers V12 and V10 TDIs.
Edit for spelling, got the E and I the wrong way round.
And the Veyron. 😁
Im loving these reviews
Ive always wanted one of these since it launched!! Great video mate, yet again 😀👌👍💪
Ive just bought one and it puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. Seriously fun!
Absolutely spot on ! Having run a 1.4 Lupo auto as a city car even though we’ve had it for 15 years plus it drives superbly and feels far more modern - yes modern classic in the making
I love it! Also a fan of the UP! GTI, but I love the looks of the Lupo more. Makes me wish they made a Type R version of my MK1 Jazz
Close as you'd get are the 1.5 vtec ones
They kind of did, it's called the Honda City Turbo II but only available in Japan I believe
Love my up GTi, remapped and lowered. Got it cause I can commute on pennies if needed, 60mpg possible
man, this is such a great channel.
It drives nice and still looks good today. - Great Video! ... and I agree that is more interesting than any Up! can be.
Drove on in Portugal and agree with you, such a fun car that makes you smile.
Why is it that once I’ve watched one of your videos, my next step is to check to see if there’s one available in my part of the world? Loving your work :)
So glad you liked it, it really is the most charming little car. I fall in love with mine more every-time I drive it!
I have a totally standard 2001 moon silver Lupo Gti, still on its original exhaust! owned it since 2014, bought it off a guy who had owned it for 9 years prior
It’s a great little car, nothing in its class that’s any better then or since
Aluminium wings, doors, bonnet, bi xenon headlamps, only 800 sold in the UK market, so rarer than many other cars of any sort
It’s like a mini R32
I used to love my little 6N2 Polo so I expect this is even more fun.
Great car , that's why I've got one as a perfect little run around
Fabulous video and a great video car for all ages. Fun guaranteed.
Nice review, I must admit these have always intrigued me. A number of years ago I was tempted by the Polo GTi of the same era (mk3 from memory?), but I seem to remember I didn’t go for one as they were known to have gearbox issues. At the time the Lupo GTis were slightly newer and out of my price range though
I currently own a 1.4 75hp lupo, and I absolutely love it. Would love to drive a GTI one day as they seem to be very highly regarded.
This genuinely has the silhouette of a shopping trolley.
and that's why we love it xD
My first car was a widebody Seat Arosa 1.0. Loved it so much!
Interesting timing on the video
There has been a Lupo GTI parked up near me not moved for about 6+ years. Yesterday on the family New Years walk we went past it and took some time to look around it. They look great.
Is that in London by any chance ?
My now wife has 1.4 auto for about 7 years.
Great car apart from a leaky sun roof. Loved driving it around.
they're lovely cars. My mother in law got a Seat Arosa in 2001. At the time I had a Boxster, but I often actually chose to drive the Arosa whenever I got the chance!
Alway's liked the little Lupo GTI....and watching this has just made me like them more....Ha !! Brilliant little car!
i loved these when they came out. i got my license in 2002 and i was so longing for a Lupo, but at 18 and only working part time, couldn't afford one of course.
I did have the pleasure of having one over a weekend though, it was the bottom spec 1.0 litre petrol engine, 50bhp, topped out at 96mph/ 155kph when i drove it (manufacturers spec said 94mph/151kph)... and it was a hoot. i loved it. rarely had so much fun in a car that was so basic and with such a tiny engine. sure, for motorway racing you might wanna have that bigger engine, but even the tiny little base engine with that 5 speed manual revved like a * bleep * . i can only recommend them if you can find a good one used. they are SO. much. fun!
I don't agree with your assertion that the Up! GTi's engine isn't special. It is, unlike the original Golf GTi's EA827 1.6 which is a humdrum design only redeemed by its cutting edge (for the time) Jetronic fuel injection. The Up!'s engine may only have three cylinders but it has a lovely spread of torque and is very characterful.
I can't help but feel that the Up GTI would have been a much different proposition with just slightly more power, perhaps 130hp rather than 115.
my Up GTI has a Racingline stage1 map and full induction kit so it puts out just shy of 150 BHP. I totally agree with you that this is how they should have come from the factory.
@@mattmellor4597 Interesting. I never felt mine was underpowered. The ride quality was the only thing that disappointed.
@@mattmellor4597 mine is running about 145bhp, remapped and leaves something's wondering, "wtf just passed me."
@@mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm420 yeah, it used to be like a pogo stick, the eibach streets sorted mine out.
Great content
I have considered the Lupo, but the cars in my region were so wrecked, that I decided to go for a much younger base up! and so far I don't regret the decision, the up! is a good car in terms of quality, even if the transmission/clutch/engine combination of the pre-facelift is not the best and tends to be a bit clumsy in cold weather.
Thanks J, rare little thing!
Drove a pre-facelift Seat Arosa once, and that car felt like a proper big car, it was quick and comfortable both in town and on a motorway.
As a VW enthusiast I would absolutely love one of these
Thanks again jay i like the lupo😎
I’ve had one of these in my stable for atleast 10 years as my little run about and I love it, mines an automatic 1.4S and it just makes me smile
Great for around town and to work and back
Totally classless and so roomy, yiu could wear a top hat 🎩
Had one of the first 6-speeds. My wife and I both have a Up gti. Cheep fun.
I can't tell you how much I used to want one of these as a first car.
Say watching this from a hospital bed , hit by a motorbike , thanks for the good content James , defo cheering me up x
Get better soon Chum!
@@JayEmmOnCars thanks boss , and any buggers who say nasty things you to just ignore mate , your the one laughing and doing well c
My daughter had a bog standard Arosa, was so much fun and very well built
Lucky enough to have a 911 and a VW Lupo GTI. Can't beat it for buzz you get! Less is absolutely more with this cheeky motor.
VWs smaller GTIs are so much more fun, they may not be blistering quick but they still go! Owning an Up GTI myself I absolutely love it! Quite rare as well I haven't seen that many since the Up GTI was launched in 2018.
bloody love these little things!
Had one of these. 6 speeder with heated leather and the best headlights on a small car ever. Got her as a part ex for a Racing Puma I sold as part payment. Guy was about 1500 quid short so threw the Lupo in to seal the deal. I sold it on for 3k back then.
It is what it is an what it is is unbeatable. Every time I see one on the road my hart melts just a little bit because I think there go’s a proper car! Ones up on a time not so long ago they where a thing.
Thinking about one of these for my first car. (or a polo from the same time) Not a GTI but one with a smaller engine for affordability and so I can learn on something that I won't cry over every time I get a door ding
Love the mad looks of the Lupo. I even like the 1.4 diesel
Very beautiful, especially the exterior. I agree in everything, for me one of the best in the A segment 🔝👏
I had a SEAT Arosa 1.4 TDI and loved it, 75bhp and 140lb.ft and very little weight made it hilariously fun to zip about in at 60 mpg.
I miss that car
Bought a 6-speed one from new in 2003....sold it 2 years later for a TT 225....worse day's work I ever did and have missed it ever since.
A blast down a country road but also took me from Manchester to London ever other weekend for 6 months without a moments problem.
If you can find one, buy it!!
Possibly my favourite car out of all those I've owned. I had a 51 plate 5 speed with a CD player and no sunroof. The aircon was useless btw so you're not missing anything! I always missed my 'rocket powered rollerskate' after I sold it.
You're in good company. IIRC the Lupo GTI was shortlisted for EVO car of the year, and they were fighting over who gets to drive it.
I had a Seat Arosa 1.4 16v awesome fun little car especially after I put eibach springs on it.
I liked your review so much that I have just gone and bought one as a daily driver. Am now a proud owner of an unmolested and unmodified Lupo GTI in top condition - identical to this review model but with an in dash 6 CD player and no sunroof. Yes expensive, yes lots of road noise from 205/45 tyres, yes fuelling is OTT on cold start, yes it almost bounces over uneven surfaces. However, what do you get on the plus side ? Its lightness gives it astonishingly good low down and mid range grunt and great flexibility for such a little car. It looks cheeky fabulous and the styling has held up majestically over the 25 years since launch. No doubt this model is a subtle, understated and rare classic with enough output (128 BHP/ton) to be a contender and not a pretender.
Great review of this Lupo GTI! Jay this car is definitely on my radar for possible future purchase, unfortunately since I live in America I will need to wait until 2030 to get one for import to my country. Hopefully I can drive one of these cars on my next visit to the UK or Europe before 2025.
Americans, always after all our good cars, i wouldn’t sell mine if i thought it would end up in America
Always had a thing for lupos. Yet to own a gti. But it’d on my list ! Plenty of special parts on the gti ! I’ve got two lupos atm. One daily. And one track car which has all the gti running gear. My girlfriend has an arosa too !
I own lupo (2000) as my first car and i loveeeeee it ❤️
Used to have a red one, from new... Loved it.... Not super fast, but it was fun.
I do quite like it. If I could find one, I'd definitely consider buying one. I also like the Up! too though
I had a seat arosa for my first car loved it so always wanted one of those
It's a shame we don't get cars like this in the USA. The massively overpriced Focus RS ($40,000+) was the only realistic hatchback choice over here until recently. My local Ford dealership doesn't even stock any new cars anymore (been a while since I've even seen a Mustang).
Can the SUV craze just end, already? Even the new WRX looks like a mini SUV. Gimme a hot hatch or sport wagon any day of the week!
I had a 1998 Seat Arosa 1.7sdi for 2 years, up until Christmas Eve last year, racking up 184000 miles in it's life. I've never and will never have another car as economical as that, in the 2 years I owned it, the worst fuel economy I managed to get out of it was 56mpg and that was when I was really trying hard to see how crap I could make it on fuel, 4th gear, 60mph on the motorway haha.
It would frequently average 77mpg on nearly every journey I took it on but boy was that 50hp agricultural diesel unit slow as a turd! Only 18 of the 1.7sdi model left on the road including that one.
These look awesome!! To bad I have to wait till these are 25 years old before I could ever think of getting one over here to America
I must say, I generally agree with most of your opinions. In this case, also true! I have for a while looked for a good example Lupo Gti for reasonable money, I was never successful. For their current price tag I find many more hatches more appealing.
Had the 1.4 from 2008 to 2021. ♥️🙏 I was never late for meetings....
The Lupo is a proper car. It's a smaller version of the Polo. The UP! is a washing machine on wheels
I own a gti and i couldnt see myself parting with it and dont think id get another car that would give me the fun and joy i get out of the lupo gti...i love the snap in the gear change if you run it on super unleaded it becomes an animal compared to running it on 95
The Lupo was a cool yet expensive..my wife looked at an SE when she passed her test but ended up going for the Ford Ka. Fir some reason she wasn't tempted by the Seat version.
The Fox never made sense as a Lupo replacement as it was a very different car that was supposed to be build to a tighter budget but still wasn't all that cheep and looked dull.
I had the face lifted seat arosa as my first car (which I found looked better than the Lupo) and loved it, It wasn’t the 1.6 but had a 1.4TDI which was an amazing car for its size
Still beautiful today!! ♥️
Nice video!! one proper review of a nice car. Would appreciate if you can do a review of a Yaris T sport as it is a very underrated car.
Still got my lupo gti tucked away . This just made me wanna get it back out 🤣🤣
My girlfriend has a 1.2 Fox. True that the Lupo looks cuter but the Fox was only £6k new. The 3 cylinder sounds cool and it’s quite fun. Would love to Up! the power, brakes and suspension to make a cool sleeper.