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Lupo GTI. Home or Imported?


Old Timer
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Hi fellow VW enthusiasts,

The last thing I want to do is create controversy on a first mail to the group, but I think the question is valid. I'm looking for a decent Lupo GTI, which I want to keep for a long time as I think it it is a seminal VW car. I'm looking for a standard spec, and will keep it that way. My problem is that many offers the market at the moment are for Japanese imports. I'm happy in principle with this as specs can be higher; however, with prices so high, I wanted to know if imports command the same re-sale price as UK delivery cars? If not, what is the hit, and should I be wary of any points when looking to make a deal? Any help you can give to this newbie :rolleyes: to help me get a decent example to own and cherish would be very welcome!

Many thanks!

 

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Japanese cars are well specced and the ones for sale seem to have done few miles, Japan doesn't salt their roads in winter too so no corrosion issues [there aren't many over here really either], I see you have a Golf 4 GTD. With that in mind you might find you prefer a Lupo TDI 

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jap cars look the same spec as all lupos.

mileages seem low.

get one if you want.

but yes, clearly when you're looking for a gti a tdi would be a good choice.....

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I've said it before and I'll say it again. If you're after a lupo gti as it's fast becoming a vw classic, then go for a mk2 golf. GTD of course.

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1 hour ago, Pete said:

I've said it before and I'll say it again. If you're after a lupo gti as it's fast becoming a vw classic, then go for a mk2 golf. GTD of course.

Mk2 GTD is impossibly rare in the UK unless its a conversion but more common than a GTI on the continent so if you can cope with lhd buy one soon before the £ becomes worthless against the Euro

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Hi All,

Many thanks for the brilliant feedback. Particularly to The Penguin for his insightful points! Typo on my part, I have a VI Golf GTD, not a Mk.4 (don't think there was one my Mk.4, my error). I understand the question why? When I was a kid we had brilliant simple cars, but they rotted through in five years. The first car I owned with galvanised metal and wax injection was a 1981 Mk.1 Golf GTI. (I have fond memories of that car). Now cars were still simple, but they lasted!... Come to my Golf Mk. 6 GTD and trust me it is brilliant, and I've no intention to sell it. However this car had a 20% manufacture saving over the Mk.5, and the amount of electronics has gone through the roof! Electrical contacts corrode, sensors fail, lights take in condensation. The basic car is brilliantly made, and even though it is low milage, and fully serviced, the cost of ownership is rising through replacement electrical parts. £500+ on this service alone for these cheap plastic ancillaries.  That is the reason for wanting a simpler car, that does what it says on the tin... "Special" because they bothered to use lighter steal in the body, and use aluminium panels to cut kerb weight. Disc brakes all around, and funky dials. You feel the road through the steering rather than fly by wire, and a great honest engine noise rather than an artificial noise maker. I think the well made cars of the mid eighties to the mid noughties will rise in price because they last, and can be cost effectively maintained without eye watering computer difficulties... And special, means special, not just a different chip in the CPU, flashy badges and a change of dash light colour... I hope that makes sense, and hope I have not trodden on too many toes!?

Good news is, following your advice I have bought a pristine black 2005 Lupo GTI this morning, and can't wait to get it on the drive! :D

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17 hours ago, Old Timer said:

Hi All,

Many thanks for the brilliant feedback. Particularly to The Penguin for his insightful points! Typo on my part, I have a VI Golf GTD, not a Mk.4 (don't think there was one my Mk.4, my error). I understand the question why? When I was a kid we had brilliant simple cars, but they rotted through in five years. The first car I owned with galvanised metal and wax injection was a 1981 Mk.1 Golf GTI. (I have fond memories of that car). Now cars were still simple, but they lasted!... Come to my Golf Mk. 6 GTD and trust me it is brilliant, and I've no intention to sell it. However this car had a 20% manufacture saving over the Mk.5, and the amount of electronics has gone through the roof! Electrical contacts corrode, sensors fail, lights take in condensation. The basic car is brilliantly made, and even though it is low milage, and fully serviced, the cost of ownership is rising through replacement electrical parts. £500+ on this service alone for these cheap plastic ancillaries.  That is the reason for wanting a simpler car, that does what it says on the tin... "Special" because they bothered to use lighter steal in the body, and use aluminium panels to cut kerb weight. Disc brakes all around, and funky dials. You feel the road through the steering rather than fly by wire, and a great honest engine noise rather than an artificial noise maker. I think the well made cars of the mid eighties to the mid noughties will rise in price because they last, and can be cost effectively maintained without eye watering computer difficulties... And special, means special, not just a different chip in the CPU, flashy badges and a change of dash light colour... I hope that makes sense, and hope I have not trodden on too many toes!?

Good news is, following your advice I have bought a pristine black 2005 Lupo GTI this morning, and can't wait to get it on the drive! :D

The Mk 2 Golf was much better v rust than the Mk 1, my early 1984 GTI was still bleeding wax from the rear door when I scrapped it after 20 years of service. They were both simpler but also much lighter, their agility on the road could keep you out of trouble rather than relying on the complex aids we now use. My grandson has bought himself a Mk 2 Golf its just a 1.8 carb but driving it with no power steering brings me my youth back, my best car though was a 16v mk 2 Scirocco, a factory car but converted to rhd from new, I wish I'd kept it:)

DSC01468.JPG

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