Up GTI vs Fiesta ST Line

[MOBB]

I'm after cheap fun for about £13k or so, internet tells me the Up GTI and the Fiesta ST Line 140ps is what I should be looking for, both would be 2019 cars I suspect.

Which would you go for? Will be less than 10k miles per year, similar running costs and mpg and depreciation. Similar performance. I don't need/want a larger car this time.

Fiesta has more toys.

I have driven the Up GTI a while back and liked it, and I really like the shape, size etc

I haven't driven a Mk8 Fiesta, but had a mk7 ST which was great, but I don't want the harsh suspension this time.

There seem to be loads of the Fiestas about, but the UP GTI seems rarer, and sell quickly.

Any thoughts?

Edit - I've already owned;

208 GTI PS
Abarth 595
Mk7 Fiesta ST

And the Suzuki Swift doesn't float my boat

Edited by MOBB on Wednesday 5th May 11:21

[J1990]

If just looking at these two specific cars then I don't think there's much competition, the UP GTI is a fun little car and the power of the little thing should keep it very entertaining. The Fiesta ST would be a great competitor but you're looking at the ST Line, i.e. a bog standard car that's just had the aesthetics of the ST added on to it, which blends in to the huge amount of them you see on the road.

[Drezza]

Seems like a big downgrade to go from the ST to the ST Line... Perhaps something like the 208 GTI?

[MOBB]

Cheers both, I'm actually coming from a Tesla Model 3 Performance.............so a bit of a bhp drop!

My commute is now much less than before, and like many people seem to be thinking since lockdown etc, an expensive car sat on the drive most of the time is pointless.

A hot hatch EV doesnt exist yet, so a dinky petrol fun car will do for now.

I've had a 208 GTI PS - great car but I'm after something softer, cheaper to run and less power tbh

Edited by MOBB on Wednesday 5th May 11:58

Edited by MOBB on Wednesday 5th May 11:59

[PH User]

Do you need more than 2 seats? If not you could get something fun.

[MOBB]

PH User said:

Do you need more than 2 seats? If not you could get something fun.

Not really, but I do want half decent comfort

I've tried many MX5's over the year and never gelled with them, if thats your thinking :-)

Edit - goddammit you've got me looking at MX5's now lol

[PH User]

MOBB said:

PH User said:

Do you need more than 2 seats? If not you could get something fun.

Not really, but I do want half decent comfort

I've tried many MX5's over the year and never gelled with them, if thats your thinking :-)

Edit - goddammit you've got me looking at MX5's now lol

Something like a Boxster would give you a good fun/comfort ratio.

[mikeyr]

Presume the Arbath is a bit firm riding and there's also Polo GTI, few about in your range I think.

If it was me I'd get the up! for rarity value and it's more standout than the Fiesta. Which I'm sure is a nice car! It is a shame there isn't a mini hot hatch EV yet, a lightly sportified Zoe would be amusing.

[Canon_Fodder]

MOBB said:

I have driven the Up GTI a while back and liked it, and I really like the shape, size etc

I haven't driven a Mk8 Fiesta, but had a mk7 ST which was great, but I don't want the harsh suspension this time.

Up GTi seems to get slated for it's harsh / jiggly ride so I'd double check that if I was you.

Also seems such a shame they haven't put decent seats in it. R-line type ones from the Polo would be fine, but the standard ones are so flat and basic.

Lack of a left-foot footrest would also irritate me but some people don't care about that

Edited by Canon_Fodder on Wednesday 5th May 13:08

Edited by Canon_Fodder on Wednesday 5th May 13:13

[stevemcs]

It would depend on use for me, around town and blasting down a back road then it would be the UP, spend most of your life on the motorway then Fiesta.

[SydneyBridge]

Seat Ibiza, whatever the fast one is called!

[MOBB]

mikeyr said:

Presume the Arbath is a bit firm riding and there's also Polo GTI, few about in your range I think.

If it was me I'd get the up! for rarity value and it's more standout than the Fiesta. Which I'm sure is a nice car! It is a shame there isn't a mini hot hatch EV yet, a lightly sportified Zoe would be amusing.

Yes I tried a few of the "hot" hatch ev's, I really liked the Honda e the most, I can live with the range but the weight of it and the price (even after using salary sacrifice) I just thought it was too much. Cracking car though.

Hence a cheapo until a really good ev comes along.

There's talk of a e-208 GTI which should be interesting.

[MOBB]

Canon_Fodder said:

MOBB said:

I have driven the Up GTI a while back and liked it, and I really like the shape, size etc

I haven't driven a Mk8 Fiesta, but had a mk7 ST which was great, but I don't want the harsh suspension this time.

Up GTi seems to get slated for it's harsh / jiggly ride so I'd double check that if I was you.

Also seems such a shame they haven't put decent seats in it. R-line type ones from the Polo would be fine, but the standard ones are so flat and basic.

Lack of a left-foot footrest would also irritate me but some people don't care about that

Edited by Canon_Fodder on Wednesday 5th May 13:08

Edited by Canon_Fodder on Wednesday 5th May 13:13

Test driving an UP on Friday so will bear that in mind thanks

[Nyloc20]

I’ve just sold my Boxster and pick up a Fiesta ST Line X next week. Might seem an odd change to some but we bought the Boxster for long Euro trips which won’t be happening for a while. I’ve been a fast Ford and Lotus nut/owner since 1975 and my wife has a Focus ST3. Looking forward to buzzing around in the Fiesta. I did have a good look at other small hatches but old habits die hard in my case.

[anonymous-user]

MOBB said:

Test driving an UP on Friday so will bear that in mind thanks

The ride in the up! GTI can be harsh. They come from the dealer/factory with ridiculous tyre pressures, so tweaking these does help. The damping is worse at low speeds, and it can feel quite crashy at times. The car soaks up bumps and generally behaves much better when it's being driven at speed. It is genuinely the only criticism I have of mine. The motor is great, feels energetic, likes being revved, and it sounds really characterful with the three cylinder thrum. It's an entertaining car to throw around, but it does the practical stuff well too. I've done less than 5000 miles in mine in nearly three years, but I can't see me getting rid of it.

We had a Fiesta 140 ST-Line for two weeks while my wife's car was having some work done to it and it disappointed me. It's a nice place to sit and the interior quality wasn't bad at all, but the engine feels flat, it doesn't feel fast in any way, and the steering has this glassy detachment to it. Just felt like a slightly nice Fiesta than normal, but fairly characterless.

[clockworks]

Kia Picanto GT-Line S is a viable alternative to the Up! GTi.
Slightly down on power, but much better equipped, much longer warranty, and a fair bit cheaper.

When I bought mine 18 months ago, I was torn between the Kia and the Up! GTi. I settled on the Kia, as I found a 6 week old demonstrator with 70 miles on the clock for the same price as a 2 year old secondhand GTi.

[anonymous-user]

clockworks said:

Kia Picanto GT-Line S is a viable alternative to the Up! GTi.
Slightly down on power, but much better equipped, much longer warranty, and a fair bit cheaper.

When I bought mine 18 months ago, I was torn between the Kia and the Up! GTi. I settled on the Kia, as I found a 6 week old demonstrator with 70 miles on the clock for the same price as a 2 year old secondhand GTi.

The up! GTI is certainly holding it’s value well. There are similar cars to mine on AutoTrader for not a lot less than I paid for mine 30 months ago.

[ZX10R NIN]

The Fiesta ST Line all day long it's a better steer nicer with a nicer suspension set up with a nice well appointed interior

ST Line X 140

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102249...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104101...

ST Line 140

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105032...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103270...
An alternative to the Fiesta is the 208 GT Line 110 & they're very good value:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103019...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102199...

DS3 Performance Line 110

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102259...

A very good alternative to the UP GTI is the Kia Picanto GT Line S 100, for well under your 13k budget you'll get a 2019 model with 5 years warranty left & they have a less crashy ride.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102239...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104281...

GT Line 100

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103089...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103220...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105012...

[anonymous-user]

ZX10R NIN said:

The Fiesta ST Line all day long it's a better steer…

I disagree, I think it’s a very bland car, looks OK, but very boring to drive, I think largely in part to the lack of power for the size of the car. It handles nicely, but the engine is a weak point for me, it feels too slow.

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 5th May 18:54

[Tin Hat]

I’ve got an Up Gti, suspension aside it is excellent, it feels quick and is very well packaged. The depreciation that mine has endured is tiny by comparison to nearly every other car I have owned!

I would definitely recommend it