Help Me Spec 'My' New Volkswagen Up GTi

That’s right, after around four months of supercharged V8 F-Type R goodness, the car has been collected, leaving me with a Jaguar X-Type project car (soon to be lifted) a 2004 Seat Ibiza that belongs to my girlfriend and whose check engine light has come on this week, and an engineless MX-5.

I am, therefore, a mere pedestrian, whose only reliable means of transport are my legs. Not good for a car guy. And so I asked the guys in the office about what long-term test car I should aim for next.

BMWs, Audis, and Fords were thrown into the mix, but when CT Editor Matt mentioned the hot little VW Up GTi, I was sold instantly. It’s small, fun, easy to place on the road, looks cool and is a car that everyone’s talking about. What’s more, it has fewer than half the cylinders of the Jaaaag, so will be super economical, although around 24mpg from a supercharged V8 F-Type over four months is pretty good going.

As for the Up, that costs from £14,150 for the five-door version (that’s the way I’m leaning, although feel free to talk me into a three-door), and comes with a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder engine with 113bhp, 147lb ft and a 0-62mph time of 8.8 seconds (figures very close to the original Golf GTi).

It comes with tartan seats, a six-speed manual gearbox and an honesty about it that very few cars possess.

I am, therefore, really looking forward to spending a few months getting to know the car, and telling you guys what I like and maybe dislike about it; the Up GTi is, after all, a car that many of you will have looked at and thought ‘hmmm, maybe I’ll have to look at one of those’, so it’s nice to be able to report on a car that’s more attainable than the F-Type might have been.

So, to kick things off, I want you to help me build ‘my’ one (that’s right, like the Skoda Kodiaq Ethan is running, this is another factory order, so the choice is ours!).

Here’s a link to the Up GTi configurator, so have a look at the options and let me know what you’d like to see. I like the sound of the bike and kayak holder (because I like mountain biking and kayaking), so take a look for yourselves and leave your thoughts below.

Cheers!