VW LUPO GTI : Ten Top BUYING Tips!

[@AdiL-vz6xx]

As an owner of a 210,000 mile Lupo GTi, generally what has been said is true but a few things I feel are necessary to say. If you go and view one, please do NOT rev the tits off it or give it stick unless the engine and oil is at operating temperature. Once at operating temperature give it a big rev and see if any blue smoke comes out, if so then an engine rebuild is needed and will be a little over £1000. Another weak point which wasn’t mentioned was the bushes, most common are tie rod ends so that can be found via play in the steering. There are a lot more points I can give but I’ve probably bored you all enough😂

[@francisbegbie591]

'Joe Achilles heel' LOL!.Had a Raven Blue one for a wee while.Even had a mega rare factory slide/tilt sunroof which worked with no issues.Just wasn't getting used so had to go. Had the high level rear brake light issue.Bit of rust on the boot handle,rust bubbles(not bad) on the top edge of both sills( where it meets the bottom of the front wheel arches).Removed all the wheel arch liners to see if dirt was trapped but they were very clean. Top wee cars,best kept original.Values are heading up all the time now for the best ones.

[@cemofluoglu659]

Great video, thank you. Regarding self-locking mech; advise is to leave door closed but not completely, just leave finger gap and then no need to worry if car unlocks itself

[@gregstory7014]

Remember when these were new, cracking little car, remember the 1.4 16v sport being very underrated aswell. Great tips and knowledge as usual volkswizard!

[@volkswizard]

Thanks Greg, yes 16v is a cool car, had a top spec one in around 2003 with leather and a/c, couldn't go around corners though!

[@pheasantpluckersson2138]

My moon silver 2001 Lupo Gti has had the starter motor scream for 7 years now, it’s funny, because the bloke i bought it off said it had been doing it for the 9 years he had owned it 😂 It’s also got the minor rust issue on the back gutters, and it is minor Such a great little car i don’t think i would ever sell it, it’s just so easy to drive, park and it’s been really reliable You missed out the odd tyre size though, standard were 205 45 15 and only TOYO seem to make them now and they are quite pricey Lots of people just use the 195 45 15 which is just as good i guess Other issues are the radiator fan consumer elay unit that can go faulty and the brake light switch under the pedal fails on them 👍🏻

[@leightonator123]

I knew exactly what he was coming after that intro I've had mine 5 years and it been screaming ever since haha.

[@Si1983h]

In my experience, the automatic door re-locking deactivates as soon as you put the key in the ignition and turn it to the first position... I’ve never managed to lock my keys in the car but until I fixed the micro switch issue, I used to set the alarm off quite a lot by leaving the door open for too long before putting the key in the ignition.🤣

[@volkswizard]

You are correct, ignition on switches the locking off but people just put key in barrel and car still locks. Happened to me with Golf 4, never again 😆

[@Si1983h]

volkswizard it’s a Golf 4 that I have, a 1999 GTI in Futura Yellow!

[@CraigOnCars]

Hello Volkswizard! Thanks for this very informative and useful guide - after watching this i bought a Lupo GTi just yesterday! 😁 Its in great overall condition and a low mileage UK example. It does have a few small jobs to be looked at like the door and boot switch and the drivers side electric window button for the passenger window doesnt work. Would you know how i go about finding the part numbers i’ll need to do these jobs? I was also thinking i may aswell put new door straps in if im having the cards taken off to sort the switches out. They are slightly creaking though the metal bits you said that can come loose are firm at the moment. I’ll also be doing a cambelt service on it too. Hopefully no other gremlins come out!

[@tanyamoores8004]

Ive had my little Lupo GTI over ten years now and it has been a great little car. Every thing mentioned on this video is correct though. Over Ten years of ownership the only things that have let me down were the Ignition Leads and a couple of window switches... The noisy starter motor seems to be something you just have to deal with as it comes back every 6months, however the car always starts regardless. :)

[@alexboyde8129]

Bought a low mileage anthracite in 2007 and sold it in 2018 with 170000 miles on it. Overall the GTI is very solid but minor issues will drive you mad and cost a fortune. For example... condensation builds up on the uppermost HT lead and seeps back down the lead to the coil pack connector which turns to dust. So three out of four cylinders run great but one cylinder looses performance very slowly over time until connection fails completely. Replaced coil pack/ leads twice on my GTI in eleven years as coil packs cannot be repaired basically one out of four connectors on the coil pack turns to metal dust. Once coil pack/ leads have been replaced runs like a new car like I say you don't notice the performance drop off as its very slow over time. So check coil pack connections too

[@jamiewilliams1287]

I bought a standard one this week with 45000 miles on it its in mint condition and chucks you back in your seat every gear change it just brings a smile to my fave such a fun car

[@19keverick91]

How much did you end up paying ?

[@jamiewilliams1287]

@@19keverick91 5750 took it for mot and the guys told me as it stands now its worth 7 grand of anyones money

[@19keverick91]

@@jamiewilliams1287 that's a very good price

[@southcavewanderer840]

I bought a Lupo GTI in December ‘19. It’s black and relatively standard. The only non standard replacements was a head unit, rear pop out windows and Cambridge rear lights. Everything else was stock. Just in the process of renovating it.

[@NB_NB_NB]

What a cracking video. I'll send this to the seller asking £7700 for an 04 GTI import I've just seen, get them to check all is OK. And then check myself anyway

[@alexgarnett5373]

Still got mine .. had it for 5 years and bought it from the original owner great for parking in London and surprising the BMW drivers at the lights.

[@kresa22]

Now you have to find a 9n3 GTi (maybe even a cup edition) 😀 I had a same problem with the automatic locking off the dors on my polo 9n3 and i had to repair it. Driver dors lock was the main problem and i could not even close or open the windows with my keys in the lock. At the end I repair all the locks...

[@iantaf5559]

I had a Lupo 16V 100hp W reg. Great little car but you had to wait until over 3500 rpm to get any performance. It also had strange decals on the seats - like a child had drawn a mouse which was repeated all over the seats. To this day I cannot figure out the meaning of that!!

[@sterlingapparel5604]

The cartoons you are referring to are called Tim and Tom, it’s a German cartoon similar to the English Tom and Jerry 😁

[@LMilesPea]

I've got my eyes on a 1.4 16V Lupo Sport. What are your thoughts on them?

[@jakew6862]

Great video! Very helpful, wish this was about 5 years ago when I bought one 😂 Bought off a well known forum member but was a real lemon. Oil specs all over the rear after driving it home, window switches very temperamental and the alarm would go off randomly 😬 among other issues. Gorgeous car though with bags of character, a car I'd always wanted to own after having a 1ltr lupo as my first car. Mine was on a 51 plate but had a 6 speed box Great content looking forward to the next one 👌

[@skajme]

I have a Raven Blue one, absolutely adore it!

[@volkswizard]

Great colour, would look good on a Lada

[@LangersVW]

skajme loooooove Raven Blue

[@tiko4621]

skajme raven blue? Interesting how the paint names worked in Europe. I’m pretty sure Raven Blue is the same as Jazz Blue in the US

[@AM-jg7ir]

@@tiko4621 it isnt.

[@paullewis1587]

Thanks for the interesting video - can the plastic covers in the roof gutter be removed without damage to preempt corrosion forming using some Dinitrol or similar products? I am looking at one as a small run around that's been imported from Greece - looks very clean for now but would like to keep it that way...!

[@alb9252]

Easily the best video I've seen for a lupo, spot on this mate

[@daranleighton9813]

These look like such fun cars it’s a shame so many got modified/ruined. I haven’t seen one in such a long time.

[@orlandobarron6557]

Great video - good to see these special cars getting attention. One error - Xenons do high and low beam - indicators under projector and the separate inner lights are side lights. Surprised part costs were not one of your 10 items: Some parts are Gti specific and ridiculous prices, some examples are- new headlights are still available, but are over £500 a side, Steering track rod £100 -even my TPS guy thinks the prices are nuts! 6 speed box is pretty bomb proof, had a 110k box rebuilt with Quaif and it was mint inside - transmission problems can occur when Gti specific control arm ball joints get replaced with shorter not Gti ones. Weight saving - along with alloy panels, the Gti had thinner glass, some of the shell panels were thinner gauge than other lupo’s. AVY engine has homologation roots

[@jon_273]

The inner lights have a haloged bulb which is used for high beam too

[@orlandobarron6557]

These lights were considered the best xenons, they were even used to upgrade a model of TVR, they did not use the inner lights - there is a shutter in the xenon unit

[@jon_273]

They are bi-xenon so the xenon light does dipped and full beam using a solenoid operated shutter to change the beam pattern, but there is also a haloger H3 type bulb inside the inner light unit (alongside the 501 type sidelight bulb) which comes on when you select full beam. That's why they are so amazing at night!

[@orlandobarron6557]

Either way, the statement in the film “xenon only does dipped beam” is wrong

[@davebarnett4262]

After lockdown is done I'm going to be looking for a GTI and this is a great help!

[@noseyparker6622]

Buy a decent car mate......you wont pull any birds in one of these.

[@davebarnett4262]

@@noseyparker6622 neither will you with a face like that

[@SpikeXtreme]

Was going to buy a Lupo 19 years ago but didn't feel as if the seat went back far enough ..shame really, looks a nice motor.

[@matmulder]

Great vid - and super rare to see leather too.

[@liamhaynes1]

Really want one of these when I get my license this vid will defo help

[@Drive-n-Vibe]

there was one of these in the showroom when i was picking up my first car in bristol around 3 years ago. they wanted £8k for it. caught my eye as i haven't seen another before or since.

[@darrencottrell5541]

I really enjoyed that Andrew, thanks. A bit of nostalgia and great information. Their run was not dissimilar to the A2, though different cars and markets altogether clearly. Happy Easter to you and your subscribers.

[@volkswizard]

Happy Easter to you too Darren. I guess the common denominator was Mr. Piëch and the atypical use of aluminium though of course to a far less extent. And of course the door check straps 😉

[@darrencottrell5541]

Very true Sir, very true indeed. 😉

[@alexandrumarinescu1]

my favourite vw.❤️ any pov driving videos of it in the near future? ☺️

[@volkswizard]

Not sure, will have to see how COVID-19 pans out. I hope so. Up! GTI vs Lupo GTI on a small track would be the dream but can't see that happening without some sponsorship.

[@jon_273]

If the headlight washers don't work it could be simply because there isn't enough water in the reservoir (when the level gets low the headlight washers stop working to save water for cleaning he windscreen). Also you used to be able to buy a repair kit for the headlight tabs from VW, which can save you having to replace the whole headlight!

[@volkswizard]

The repair kits did cross my find but safe to assume these will be obsolete now as 15 years out of production is a key date. Of course, check level in washer tank, you are correct, I seem to recall headlamp fluid is pumped out higher than screen fluid so bottom half of tank is screen only.

[@jon_273]

@@volkswizard Yep exactly that Andrew. Also the tank is 6.5 litres and can feel like it's taking an age to fill up!

[@titboinet]

Hi! Thanks for the video, very helpful :) I’m thinking about buying one here in France but it’s a 5 speeds gearbox. How is it running compared to a 6 gearbox? Not too loud if take the highway from time to time? (80 mph)

[@jon_273]

There would be no difference as 5th in the 5 speed box and 6th in the 6 speed box are basically the same. The 6 speed box just has less gaps between the gears.

[@daibennett9224]

The starting motor on my Audi a2tdi was noisy,never failed tho

[@LangersVW]

I really really like these I was waiting waiting for you to say it “ the Gearbox” made of cheese did they share the engine and gearbox from the polo GTI?? I personally think the two great little hot hatches are this and G40 owned a G40 but not a lupo but driven one maybe it’s time??!!Great video as always Andrew

[@skajme]

I don't really agree with the gearbox part, obviously there's always going to be ones that have been thrashed but the GTI is not known for having an unreliable box, it's more the standard lupos and as you said the Polo GTi, the Lupo GTi box is different and actually pretty good. I've had two of them for example and neither has had any sort of issues with the gearbox

[@AdiL-vz6xx]

Although both the Lupo and Polo have the AVY engine code, they are slightly different so the AVY from the Polo can’t be straight swapped into the Lupo and vice versa. The boxes are strong if looked after!

[@volkswizard]

Well EVO mentioned the transmissions in their buying guide so I think it's a valid point especially when Club Lupo offered up the GTI specific info: www.evo.co.uk/volkswagen/21118/vw-lupo-gti-review-specs-and-buying-guide The fact you had 2 that didn't have bad gearboxes really doesn't prove a thing. How do you know they weren't replaced or repaired before or after you had them? I had 4 996/997 Porsche 911s that didn't have engines that shat themselves but that doesn't mean "I don't agree" with all the issues on the M96/M96 that are all over the web. Basically every VW gearbox of that era from my professional experience, having forked out £1000s on repairs in the 18 years I have been selling them, was pretty weak especially on the small block engines (1.0/1.4/1.6), some worse than others.

[@rhcpmd]

Would these tips apply for a non-GTI Lupo? I'm going to check one tomorrow as I want one as my first car and I want to know what to look for under the hood.

[@randommandan1]

Just for reference the boot light won’t come on unless the key is in the ignition couldn’t tell if you had the key in or not

[@jakecummings4613]

Hi looking to buy a polo gti very soon. Which one would you recommend the 6c or the new shape

[@mindspinn311]

This is the ideal kind of hot hatch for me, much like old Renault Clios we also never got in the US. Aluminum panels, xenon headlights, high revving engine and center exhaust are things you would never expect in a small relatively cheap car. This was such a good era for fun cars.

[@malcolmscott4150]

Yay yay no Lupos in Oz but great to see the suave mr Chapple at Easter 🐣 such knowledge and wit he must be a wizard ✊

[@volkswizard]

I'm glad you edited that Malcolm :) Such knowledge I must have bought some bad examples and found out the problems the hard way more like! Happy Easter down there sir 👍

[@juandef4115]

Their were a few Japanese cars with Xenon as standard. DC2 integra was one of them. Not exclusive to German exec

[@mrsportschampion5796]

Future classic imo. I had 3 sold it now IAM depressed.

[@osafahmed96]

Are there issues with the UP ASG gearbox As a lot of reviews are saying that it's jerky and not Smooth appreciate advice.

[@sergiogon]

Hey Andrew, don't these engines suffer from high oil consumption after not that many miles? At least I recall reading somewhere that these were based on the 1.4 16v which almost every unit suffers from it.

[@konardkonrado7755]

you didnt mention inner smaller fog front lighths are not produced anymore so if by accident you lose em prepare for 800euro cost for new on ebay or figure out how to repair them becouse i cant find any gloss replacement so you need to DIY

[@jamiesanderson8740]

I used to own one of these, one of the cars of would love to have again!

[@volkswizard]

I hear that a lot Jamie! They aren't ridiculously expensive, there is a niceish one for £4k with 72k miles though might need some work, but probably worth it

[@jamiesanderson8740]

@@volkswizard I did have quite a few issues with it unfortunately... the cam belt snapped (dodgy dealer said it had been done... a lot of lessons learnt) however that hasn't put me off. I've also owned a Abarth 595 which was the closest I could get to the feeling of the lupo but never matched the VW feel.

[@redsea5397]

Hi, could y please suggest me a used car under 10 K or even less ? It should be an Automatic transmission and not a diesel one. Thanks.

[@carllynch8798]

Cracking little cars. Great vid

[@volkswizard]

Thanks Carl, yes very special wee cars 😁

[@PaulJamesMuldoonGYST]

Excellent information, thankyou!

[@michaeljcoulter]

Didn't expect that intro! Haha.

[@kaneharris1277]

I have a lupo sport and like the gti definitely needs the suspension sorting 😂

[@volkswizard]

There is a corner near me that I drive daily and I still recall chucking a Lupo 1.4 16v Sport into it and the initial roll making me think I was going to crash, how they decided that was OK I don't know, 6N Polo was bad too.

[@burnzy3210]

xenon's are mandated to be self levelling? I'd never bloody know because I've always been dazzled by them

[@375-Productions]

You've got the wrong front bumper I think! Edit: forget that, didnt realise the git has a different front end, looks odd imo...

[@robtt997]

Really interesting review thank you .

[@volkswizard]

Pleasure robtt, thanks for commenting

[@steblob]

Could I get a part number for the 3rd brake light please

[@volkswizard]

Sorry I don't have that, try www.ClubLupo.co.uk

[@sparkford04]

Nice one Andrew.

[@volkswizard]

Thanks Keith, (wiv a capital F)

[@profit4775]

great content I really liked it

[@volkswizard]

Thanks Perfect Cars, very good of you to comment in such a nice way 👍

[@jossryan2423]

How much did you sell this for?

[@iantownsend500]

Good car. Even the 1.4 petrol & diesel versions were good

[@volkswizard]

The 1.4 TDI was good but the 1.7 SDI (biggest engine they ever fitted) wasn't bad either, no turbo so quite grunty but probably less good on fuel than TDI.

[@volkswizard]

The 1.4 TDI was good but the 1.7 SDI (biggest engine they ever fitted) wasn't bad either, no turbo so quite grunty but probably less good on fuel than TDI.

[@iantownsend500]

volkswizard 1.7 was good as well. I didn’t know anyone who had the 1 litre petrol version, was that any good

[@francisbegbie591]

Had a 1.4S (75 BHP) long before my GTI.Great wee car but plastic cambelt tensioners started to fail.Well known fault.Didn't throw the belt but an expensive out of warranty fix.This is what happens when costs are cut at VW.

[@Danny-1875]

Miss my lupo gti

[@peterlewis3540]

The only issues, are the age of the vehicle. Any Lupo Gti, is going to be over 15yrs old, and even though most of them have been well looked after, its the simple wear and tear of a car of that age. Less than a 1000 were registered here in the Uk, so their rare vehicles, but age will have caught up with most of them.

[@volkswizard]

I agree age is an issue to some degree but it’s up to the owners to fix issues like door switches when they are faulty, or use the correct alloy panels when repairing the car. As for modifications, these don’t happen with time, only by deliberate actions of the owners and are probably a bigger obstacle to finding a good standard car than wear and tear.

[@BRVYDEN]

I’m on the edge of selling my B4 legacy for one

[@quincym-e4680]

I miss mine had one from new

[@TheShinyShow]

When do you ever see a Lupo that isn't bagged nowadays? That's the first I've seen, every one in person is slammed.

[@volkswizard]

Indeed Ross! Has bagged taken over from coilovers?

[@gavinowen4093]

Yeeeesssss! Number one on the likes! Whoop whoop!

[@volkswizard]

Thanks Gavin, Whoop Whoop back at ya!

[@bign3ck]

Has anyone put a VR6 into one of these?

[@hotenenko]

Main rule: If you see a Lupo GTI on sale - BUY IT!

[@me-gb2wp]

lovely cor

[@volkswizard]

Thanks sir 🙌

[@me-gb2wp]

@@volkswizard don't you fancy these little abarths ?

[@sebastianoricciardi7818]

Uguale alla mia tranne interni in pelle penso che sia una delle auto più divertenti che abbia prodotto la vw!

[@volkswizard]

Sono totalmente d'accordo, grazie per i commenti👍

[@mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm420]

You say aluminum, I say tomato

[@volkswizard]

That was for the benefit of the stateside viewer

[@Axesent77]

@@volkswizard :P don't let them claim the "ENGLISH" language :P JK.

[@dandan9442]

I hope no one is dumb enough to leave a baby alone in a car with the keys in the ignition

[@psykeelea]

Ahh I love my lupo n yea it's a gti modified and on air oops haha good vid..check out my profile for my lupo!

[@traceypotts9425]

First tip is don't buy one crap slow

[@noseyparker6622]

Is it just me or has anyone else noticed these cars look absolutely horrific?

[@boohoo584]

You look absolutely horrific