thanks for the links guys, that looks good! if they really do go for the 313k mark, I would seriously consider it for my next car

I greatly appreciate the advice so far. Some really interesting options thrown out. I think I have to consider my needs, with the family, short distances travelled on mainly B roads and the need for some sort of boot (albeit not massive). Also some people may have got the wrong idea with some of the suggested cars (although their suggestions are appreciated) I do want a 'fun' 'sporty' driving experience its just that as stated early on I never get the opportunity to 'stretch the Vrs' legs' so to speak so i'm looking for something which no doubts has less all out performance but is accessbible most of the time.

With that in mind I think i'll organise a test drive of the Citigo 75 (just for the hell of it) but common sense suggests I wait a few months until the Up GT and hopefully new Panda 100HP (or whatever the new one will be called) hopefully come into existance.

Perhaps i'll try a 500 twin air too .......... so many choices!

the twin air is a rocking engine.... sounds like a baby porsche, fast, no tax, and good fuel economy... expensive though, compaired to the 1.2.....

Still waiting for my friend to take me out in his new 500 twin air. I briefly heard it when he left the other day and it's a very interesting sounding engine. Love it though and he said it's incredibly nippy and much more fun to drive than the 307 cc he's just got rid of.

He said he only really uses "Eco" mode though (limits torque I think).

Phil

The Twin-Airs are wonderful and if you like then its maybe worth looking at the ones available now in better cars than the 500.

They will be fine and cheaper in a car with room like a Panda or Punto, also in a Mito, (Maybe best not to)

Fiat Customer Service and Dealership can be terrible, and i would always be inclined to buy from Stock or in the Country and not go on their Waiting or order lists.

Maybe worth looking 3 cylinders smaller Fords when they are readily available, including the Focus.

george

Edited 29 June, 201214 yr by sk4gw

Keep us posted on this one. I like the look of the Citigo vs the UP. A neighbour has the UP and it maybe a great car and better built than the Skoda but I dont like the way the up looks, the Citigo looks a lot better.

Good Luck

I'll just say... "Panda 100HP".....

A hoot, trust me

The 100HP is a fun machine.

On the dark side (dirty diesel) there's the Panda Cross.

Well equipped, offbeat, chunky, 4wd, rare, laughably cheap to run.

And no matter how hard you thrash it you won't ever see three figure speeds.

I've run a 500 and had a 100hp Panda for a while. The Panda is by a mile the better car to drive and much quieter cruising. The twin air is rough when driven economically IMO, compared to the TSi anyway. Incidentally I drove a TSi and a twin-air back-to-back on the same route, and the TSi did use more fuel but not by very much.

Re the original question, it's so true more widely. Especially the bigger cars, v8 BMWs etc, it's just so appallingly wasteful whatever your environmental view point, probably 5% overall efficiency, meanwhile we're supposed to be worried about boilers being 90 not 75% efficient, computer PSUs being 80 not 65% etc.

The new Panda is a much better car than the 500, and with the twin air is a superb small car. I really want one, but just cant get all my gear in one like the Roomster.... obviously. If I didnt need the space for stuff, Id buy a new Panda today.

But, Ive had four new Fiats.... Cinq Sporting, Seicento Sporting, Panda Eleganza and a 500 Lounge 1.4. All were brilliant cars let down by awful dealers and customer service. I bought from 3 different dealers and all were shocking. Tried 2 others for servicing too, and again dreadful.

Lastly, try and buy from stock as Fiat seem very good at damaging their cars before you get them..... all of my new ones had paint/body issues on delivery and all were a pain to get put right. If only Skoda made Fiats!

OP where in South Wales you from? Yours isn't the withe vRS I see regularly parked up a bit from Swansea train station?

OP where in South Wales you from? Yours isn't the withe vRS I see regularly parked up a bit from Swansea train station?

No not me mate.

I'm from Blackwood area so unless someone's using it when I park it up must be someone else.

Just found out by the way that I get a 12% discount on new Fiats with work so even more of a reason to wait for the new 100 hp. Should be a bargain.

Just hope:

1. It arrives later this year not 2013.

2. It is as good as the original.

Might test drive a 85bhp twin air just to see what they're like.

No not me mate.

I'm from Blackwood area so unless someone's using it when I park it up must be someone else.

Just found out by the way that I get a 12% discount on new Fiats with work so even more of a reason to wait for the new 100 hp. Should be a bargain.

Just hope:

1. It arrives later this year not 2013.

2. It is as good as the original.

Might test drive a 85bhp twin air just to see what they're like.

when/if you test drive the Twinair, make sure you take the Eco button off. Works like a Sport button; free the beast and have some fun!!!

Even better, forget it all, move to Scotland and thrash the Vrs!

Edited 29 June, 201214 yr by Bishopton

i dont think you will find what you are looking for in a relatively modern vehicle. I suggest, if you can go old school and search out one of the following. They will be cheap to run and very tuneable;

1. Pug 106 Rallye (1.3 or the mk 2 1.6)

2. Pug 205 Gti (although a good one will be very rare)

3. Williams Clio

4. MX-5 (forget the hairdresser image, rwd and very tuneable)

Have fun

Not keen at all on the Citygo.... when looking at the spec of the thing i don't like the idea of that communications pod you need to plug into the top of the dash every time you get in and out, its like back in the day before inbuilt cd players where you had to keep taking the facia of your stereo system..... a pain in the arse, why oh why did Skoda design it like that. Go for the VW Up.

Yes you are going crazy, stick with the VRS unless you really can not afford it anymore. On PCP you need to look beyond the monthly costs. 60 sounds a good saving but it is only 720 a year and I bet the dealer will take more that that off you to chop it in early. If you can retain your original deposit back then I am wrong. It is easy to get excited car shopping and get sucked in to the new car purchase process.

Yes you are going crazy, stick with the VRS unless you really can not afford it anymore. On PCP you need to look beyond the monthly costs. 60 sounds a good saving but it is only 720 a year and I bet the dealer will take more that that off you to chop it in early. If you can retain your original deposit back then I am wrong. It is easy to get excited car shopping and get sucked in to the new car purchase process.

Thanks for the reply. If you have a look at the original post though the issue isn't cost its the fact that with my work (which is local and takes up a lot of my life!) and family life I dont have time to go off and enjoy the VRs which is why i bought it. My journeys are local and more often than not there are too many cars, roadworks and no overtaking spots!

My thought process was to get a smaller car (albeit with a some sort of boot) that was fun/sporty to drive, small family friendly and could be driven at 90-100% most of the time. The outright performance would obviously not be near the VRs but at least it would sound good thrashed (twin air/2/3 cylinders), and put a smile on my face with the handling/feeling of speed which I dont get with the VRs as explained above. As a bonus fuel consumption, tax, insurance and monthly payments would be more cost friendly.

Best option (from advice of members and research) seemed to be the Panda 100HP however I want to get a new car as i've had bad experiences in the past (which is why the 106 Ralley etc are out) so I think I may wait to see what the new Panda 100hp (or whatever its called) will be like.

I take on board your point about not rushing in and the dangers of getting excited about a new car (I do get bored easily!) so i'll have some test drives wait for the up GT (Ideally Citigo VRs - Prob wont happen) and the Panda 100HP to come out and by then shold have a god chunck of equity in the VRs (I only put £300 down with the PCP).

Thanks again.

Edited 2 July, 201213 yr by FOX1429

Cool you did the PCP the correct way with minimal deposit. In real terms I think getting a new car that way is the cheapest form of motoring.

The VRS sounds like the car you describe you want. Kids get bigger and it is always good to have some space. An up or panda will be a compromise to far. And every time you see a Fabia at the lights you will wish you still had it.

Cool you did the PCP the correct way with minimal deposit. In real terms I think getting a new car that way is the cheapest form of motoring.

The VRS sounds like the car you describe you want. Kids get bigger and it is always good to have some space. An up or panda will be a compromise to far. And every time you see a Fabia at the lights you will wish you still had it.

You might be right.

I think that there's a good few months before the afore mentioned choices are out so I can take my time and if this is just an "i want a new car" phase.

The truth is whatever car i've owned within 6 months i'm looking for the next!!! oh well suzuki jimny it is. ha! ha! (although their owners do seem to love them!!!)

Edited 3 July, 201213 yr by FOX1429

You might be right.

I think that there's a good few months before the afore mentioned choices are out so I can take my time and if this is just an "i want a new car" phase.

The truth is whatever car i've owned within 6 months i'm looking for the next!!! oh well suzuki jimny it is. ha! ha! (although their owners do seem to love them!!!)

Dacia duster ?

Weirdly I just saw my old MkIV 1.8T GTI on the road tonight. Although not that fast it was a car I loved and always regreted selling. I had practicaly every option in the brochure fitted to it. Sold it on impulse for GTI 150 TDI within 2 years, regretted it within six months!

I suffer the same as you very impulsive on changing cars, PCP does not help much either!

Update:

My new car obsession has wone over common sense again!

Since the last update i have been looking around and eventually test drove new seat ibiza cr fr tdi (105bhp).

Found the ride was certainly 'sportier' and not too harsh over the few hours i had it.

The quality of inside I dont think is quite up ther with the fabia ..... but that wasn't the issue with the Vrs.

Enjoyed the feel and control of a manual again.

Anyhow I've ordered a new Ibiza FR CR 143 (couldn't get one for love nor money for test drive) Which worked out same per month as I'm paying now with £100 deposit so financially no loss (will be cheaper on tax and slightly more MPG).

I am really nervous now that i've done the right thing.

Unfortunately i could never get on (as wonderfull as the technology is) with the DSG and am hoping the Ibiza will be as enjoyable as the mk1 Vrs (which I had for a few weeks a number of years ago). Should be a good lump of torque and with a 0-60 of 8.2 sec (albeit in gear accelleration 30-70 will be the best figures) hopefully will be more 'enjoyable' on my B road journeys??

Who knows perhaps I will be gutted (hopefully not) and sure i will miss aspects of the Vrs. I am my own worst enemy with cars.

Car was in stock so will be ready in a week or so although i have to wait to transfer my private plate so mmore like 2-3 weeks/

Will have to give an update then.

Hopefully as its still a VAG vehicle you'll still let me stay on here as I really enjoy the forum and the help anf advice i've recieved for the last 18 months.

I have a Fabia vRS and a fiat 500 Twinair. Twinair is awesome and sounds blinking amazing. Often more fun than the vRS. Sounds like a v8 under the bonnet! Lol. Fuel economy isn't good tho..... Claims 68.9mpg but I only get around 32 in town. Can stetch that to 50-60mpg on a run. Currently averaging just over 40. Rides better than the furby but handing no where near.

http://www.autocar.c...olkswagen-up-gt

First read about it in this months VW driver magazine but cant find a link to that article but the info in that one seems about the same

Really like the Up and the GT looks the ticket - a worthy successor to the Lupo GTi (had one of those and loved it). Never know what the future will bring but I definitely fancy getting one.