2012 VW Up Review: The Ideal 'First Car' Yet So Expensive?

I had the pleasure of reviewing Emma's car, the 2012 VW Up. Please watch the video to hear my thoughts. This particular car is the 2012 VW Up Bluemotion Technology with the 1.0L Petrol engine and 46,000 miles on the clock.
Chapters;
00:00 Intro
00:23 Facts, Figures & Costs
01:58 Design
02:42 Boot
03:01 Rear Seats
03:45 Interior
05:10 Drive
09:09 POV
11:26 Verdict
My handles;
Instagram: @armaganreviews
Email: [e-mail]
Owners Handles:
Instagram: / emma_mcrory
#2012VWUp #VWUKCars
Thanks for watching.

[@SamWorthReviewing]

I loved your facts throughout the review man, top job. Although I like the Up!, it's not exactly cheap. I think the almighty Kia Picanto beats this car by a mile because it's cheaper, more practical and is better looking personally. I think you need to get your hands on a Picanto and see how they compare! 😎

[@ArmaganDemiral]

It’s not cheap indeed, I agree with you on the Picanto. It’s the only car I haven’t driven and it seems more robust

[@campbellgraham1979]

Took my 2012 VW up into the garage this morning for its MOT and just got the phone call to tell me it didn’t need a single thing done. Best car I’ve ever had.

[@chongy9895]

I had an up for my first car, even when I sold it on 150k miles it had literally nothing wrong with it, sold it fairly local and still see it driving about now and again. I gave that car such a hard time, yet the only thing I ever did was put a new clutch in it and serviced it every year.

[@meekcheeks]

I still have my VW UP 2013 and it's my first and only car since. The 6 years I have owned it I've only had one problem and that was the clutch needed replacing after hiting 100k miles. Outstanding reliability and the driving is so much fun. Going for the Ford Puma next year for an upgrade

[@jan-louisvondempter1533]

Love it man, I’m currently 18 and I have a 2015 VW UP 4 door and as a car guy I can say with certainty I absolutely love it. I’m never planning on selling mine.

[@meekcheeks]

@jan-louisvondempter1533 that's good to know! It really was a great car. It didn't look the prettiest but everything you expect from a car you got! Such a crazy model from VW. I have my Puma now and that's also great too!

[@chongy9895]

My first car was an up, took it from 70k to 150k miles and the only repairs it ever needed were a ball joint and a clutch. I've since bought a nice little monte carlo citigo and plan to keep it forever as it costs me barely anything to keep running👍

[@satnammann8232]

I have this car it has stop/start. An optional Garmin can be specced when new, this offers Bluetooth, hands free phone calls, trip computer, sat nav, music streaming, sd card slot, think blue trainer etc. Fantastic little car, very reliable.

[@zaink7037]

These are great cars and hold value well. Just picked up a black 5 door one with the Garmin sat nav, FSH and cambelt done for a bargain price. Had a few UPs before which I flipped. I have a similar car history starting with a Peugeot 107, fiesta, Citroen C1 then a 107 again now deciding on either keeping or selling it for the UP.

[@ArmaganDemiral]

I think it’s time for something bigger

[@SmithyMoto2]

I’m thinking of getting one of these, I’ve currently got a 2009 Toyota aygo and when I just sat in one of these, the difference in quality and comfort was very noticeable. I just want an upgrade from the aygo with a bit more style with a similar mpg and running cost.

[@T4terrible]

Great of you to shout out the IQ - I also owned one of those before buying an UP. The IQ is a great, forgotten car which is overlooked far too often by young buyers!

[@ArmaganDemiral]

The IQ is the best! I did a video on it!

[@SpikeXtreme]

Had my UP for 9yrs and the only problems are condensation on the windscreen in winter,drum brakes sticking when left for weeks on the driveway and first gear selection on morning cold start but really they are minor problems and there are easy solutions. The UP was voted VW's most reliable car and it won a Car of the Year award so it's a good motor.

[@klaushaas]

Hi! Should I pay for the 5-door version to lose less money in the future? Planning to install LPG also..

[@ArmaganDemiral]

Yes, 5 door is always better for resale than 3 door

[@drbennyboombatz9195]

I will have had my up! for 10 years in September, what I love so much about it is the fact you look entirely normal, If I see a police car and I have 6 or 7 Guiness in me (which is a good chunk of the time) I whistle and sing a cute little tune "tra la la la la, I'm just a normal ole man, don't pay no mind to me, tra la la la la, I've drank no Guinness and smoked no weed, tra la la la la" and because the car is conducive to the image of me being a somewhat dithering old man who swerves about a bit and hesitates here n there where perhaps others wouldn't it works out very nicely for me, great car for middle aged drunks/drug users 9/10

[@Birmingham_racing]

Would love one as a first car if I was young but would only buy the turbo version. I've driven the polo non turbo and turbo version of the 1 litre. Hated the non turbo way too slow compared to what I'm use to but the turbo one is just about bearable. Luckily my first car was a 130bhp diesel Ibiza which I remapped to over 170bhp and 300+ ft lbs of torque

[@ArmaganDemiral]

Yep I’d do exactly the same, are you based in brum? I usually go play footie at power league by spaghetti junction

[@zaink7037]

I've bought a few of these cars and flipped them for good money. Just bought a 5 door black one at a bargain price with FSH and cambelt done and I'm really considering to keep it than to flip it.

[@Sir-Prizse]

I have been driving a 2012 VW up! since November. My take up! has no features, no electric windows or air conditioning. Auxiliary heating, rev counter or a glove box? Pff... Who needs that. 😂 The cornering abilities are incredible, I usually take roundabouts and corners at speed limit to save fuel. In general, the car is extremely economical. The car has no power, when it goes uphill a bit you really have to hammer it, but I get over 650 km on one tank of fuel.

[@genericmodz]

What bhp is yours?because mine goes uphill pretty easy

[@Sir-Prizse]

@@genericmodz Unfortunately, mine only has 59 bhp. On steep gradients of 14%, to maintain 50 km/h in third gear I stand with my foot on the floor panel.

[@genericmodz]

@@Sir-Prizse was going to say mine is 73

[@chongy9895]

Basic cars are the ones that will last forever, I love windy windows it's a dying art😂

[@DaveDVideoMaker]

The Volkswagen Ups used to be sold in Mexico. These were never sold in the United States like you said. I didn’t think it was worthy to be sold in the states anyway, cos Americans don’t generally like city cars.

[@ArmaganDemiral]

Heard many Americans complain about the Up not coming to the US weirdly

[@DaveDVideoMaker]

@@ArmaganDemiral I find that strange, because city cars are not that big in America. I know they have the Chevrolet Spark which is a city car, but I don’t think it’s selling well. And as a result, Chevrolet is cancelling it at the end of the 2022 model year.

[@ArmaganDemiral]

@@DaveDVideoMaker ah good ol Chevy! I don’t think they will exist after 10 years

[@martinodendaal1703]

I have one exactly like this - BEST car I've ever owned!!!

[@seansmith445]

What is the MPG like?

[@martinodendaal1703]

@@seansmith445 I can answer you in litres, not gallons.....It average 23km to 1 litre petrol

[@user-bh3qj5oh4n]

Do you believe That a Mini cooper s 05 is better?

[@ArmaganDemiral]

no

[@user-bh3qj5oh4n]

Yea but why?

[@ArmaganDemiral]

@@user-bh3qj5oh4n because it’s a bmw made product

[@youraveragejoe1]

I don’t really like these Ups if I’m honest. Idk, they just don’t feel nice to be in imo, and the seats don’t have any support at all

[@bandokaysauntie8666]

I think it feels alright if u haven’t driven a better car. but when u have driven a better car it’s not great lol.

[@ArmaganDemiral]

@@bandokaysauntie8666 Correct!!!

[@ArmaganDemiral]

Joe, I know what you mean but I tried to compare cars within that price point. I wouldn’t buy this car given I can get insured on more power cars but for younger drivers it’s very ideal

[@youraveragejoe1]

@@ArmaganDemiral that’s a good point I guess I’m just not the target audience for it. Still think the seats would get pretty uncomfortable so they’ve could’ve easily improved them

[@PORRFNK]

The transmission and clutch is the weak point of this car, clunks, teeth grinding, cannot go into gear. The Aygo is better there. But overall an okay car, just a bit too expensive because of the faults is has

[@bobdebouwer7835]

Change the gear oil and add a sip of a slightly thicker oil. When shifting first move the knob into the '2' (without driving) then move it into '1' or reverse before lifting your foot.

[@PORRFNK]

@@bobdebouwer7835 Doesnt work, thicker oil makes it hard to go into reverse in the cold, there are a few things usually wrong, the plastic arm at the gear selector run it's pin through a metal hole, this hole can get corroded and is not lubricated from factory, also the selector does not have a lock at the transmission side when trying to do a reset, there is only a lock at the gear shifter inside the car. Next the cable that pulls up on the transmission pin going into the gearbox needs a bit of slack i.e. The shift from N to 1st should be an entirely horizontal motion (Not up at an angle)Then there is the master and slave cylinder and in general bad clutch in these cars that needs to be upgraded to 190 or 200mm.