Hot hatch choices (Golf vs Hyundai?) for a new daily

Messages
308
Ok, went through the same conundrum recently…

had a Golf R from new in 2019 before lockdown for the airport weekly run and “hated” it with an absolute passion. Ok my bad as I did not test drive beforehand but thought I’d done enough reviews with similar conclusions to be comfortable.

For me, it was totally boring… bump and rebound were all wrong for U.K. roads (or where I live in rural Suffolk/Essex. Just inert for my tastes..

So got rid over a year ago and been doing using the Forester but as we are all back up and running since Jan, needed another car as the Forester is “tiring”…

In the end, went for a 2020 2k mile Fiesta ST 3-door with the performance pack (LSD) and pano roof…

1-month and 600 miles in and love it… getting 47mpg on a run with 41 overall…

Handling is a hoot and just enough power to make it interesting without feeling you will loose a licence…

I’d seriously suggest getting one… Does not have adaptive cruise control as manual but don’t need it.

stu
 

philw696

Member
Messages
25,119
It's why I rarely buy from a dealer and never from someone It's not registered to

It's the first question I ask

Is it registered in your name
I've had replies like
Er no
OK you're a dealer then
No no , I just buy and sell a few cars
OK that would be a dealer then you donk
So you're not interested then
That's why I like it here we're all traceable in the system with our unique Siret number.
FB_IMG_1660283769275.jpg
 

midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,102
Ok, went through the same conundrum recently…

had a Golf R from new in 2019 before lockdown for the airport weekly run and “hated” it with an absolute passion. Ok my bad as I did not test drive beforehand but thought I’d done enough reviews with similar conclusions to be comfortable.

For me, it was totally boring… bump and rebound were all wrong for U.K. roads (or where I live in rural Suffolk/Essex. Just inert for my tastes..

So got rid over a year ago and been doing using the Forester but as we are all back up and running since Jan, needed another car as the Forester is “tiring”…

In the end, went for a 2020 2k mile Fiesta ST 3-door with the performance pack (LSD) and pano roof…

1-month and 600 miles in and love it… getting 47mpg on a run with 41 overall…

Handling is a hoot and just enough power to make it interesting without feeling you will loose a licence…

I’d seriously suggest getting one… Does not have adaptive cruise control as manual but don’t need it.

stu
Nah, you want a Suzuki Swift.

Handling is questionable when pushed (slides in the dry thanks to cold skinny tyres), 100mph is acheivable downhill with a tailwind...eventually, tinny build has an olde worlde charm, no cruise control unless you invest in a brick but it's light and has 125bhp and does 54mpg.
 

c4sman

Member
Messages
1,243
I don’t think the fiesta would do it as fun as it may be. My driving will incorporate a 80-100 mile round trip 3 times per week to two of our offices and suspect the fiesta wouldn’t be the do it all hatch in terms of comfort and fun that I’m looking for, but I could be wrong?
 

dickygrace

www.richardgracecars.co.uk
Messages
7,309
I nearly suggested a Fiesta the other day but thought it wouldn’t work for you. They’re fantastic cars though.
 

c4sman

Member
Messages
1,243
I had a 1.0 ecoboost in 2020 as a station car and loved it. Thought the biggest issue on a long drive was the seats, so perhaps an ST with sports seats or Recaros could tick the box. Will books some test drives for when I get back from hols.
 
Messages
308
I had a 1.0 ecoboost in 2020 as a station car and loved it. Thought the biggest issue on a long drive was the seats, so perhaps an ST with sports seats or Recaros could tick the box. Will books some test drives for when I get back from hols.

My daughter has a Zetec (did not go for the eco boost) and they are great but the ST is on another level…

… I do a 140 mile round trip to City airport. 6th gear in “normal” mode runs on 2 cylinders, great cruise control (very good 1mph increments on the rocker switch), Apple car play, Bang & Olufsen speaker system…..

… get off the A roads, into “sport” or “race” mode and the car changes completely… steering is a really quick rack, the torque is amazing (I was blown away how a 1.5 3-cylinder can achieve that) and can cock an inside rear wheel with the Quaife LSD…

… it really is a fun, fast and awesome point to point weapon and then chuck it in “normal” mode and waft to 45mpg…

I am 6’3” and have no space issue…

Stu
 

c4sman

Member
Messages
1,243
My daughter has a Zetec (did not go for the eco boost) and they are great but the ST is on another level…

… I do a 140 mile round trip to City airport. 6th gear in “normal” mode runs on 2 cylinders, great cruise control (very good 1mph increments on the rocker switch), Apple car play, Bang & Olufsen speaker system…..

… get off the A roads, into “sport” or “race” mode and the car changes completely… steering is a really quick rack, the torque is amazing (I was blown away how a 1.5 3-cylinder can achieve that) and can cock an inside rear wheel with the Quaife LSD…

… it really is a fun, fast and awesome point to point weapon and then chuck it in “normal” mode and waft to 45mpg…

I am 6’3” and have no space issue…

Stu
Cheer both. Interested in what real world range you are you getting between fill ups. One thing I’m looking for is something that comfortably does 300+ miles behweeen fill ups (less about cost, more about time spent in petrol stations). Wife’s cupra hits 350ish miles regularly without running on fumes.
 

Hawk13

Member
Messages
1,471
I really liked the Polo GTi I had for about 18 months.

Quick enough, reliable, efficient and didn't attract too much attention.
 

jayblue

Member
Messages
452
We had a Golf GTi performance pack and swapped it out for a 308 GTi.

The 308 is the lightest of the current hot hatches and we find it much more entertaining to drive than the Golf.

Compared to the Golf it drives much more like an old school hot hatch, for a turbo engine it loves to rev. It has a mechanical LSD up front, 380mm Alcon 4 pot rally car derived brakes and a forged engine.

It turns out significantly better economy than the Golf could. It is also less appealing to car thieves as it flies under the radar compared to most other hot hatches.

On the down side the gear change isn't the most precise and some may find the driving position disagreeable. I should add we have done several long distance journeys in it such as the south of France and its a very comfortable car too.

If I had to pick between the original choices mentioned at the start of this thread then the Golf wouldn't even get a look in - I'd be buying the Hyundai every time!
 

Doctor Houx

Member
Messages
791
A Giulia Veloce!
4 pot, 4 doors, 48mpg if taking it easy, 0-60 4.5 secs (with Celtic tuning) or 5 secs standard
Love mine
Just got one for the Mrs about 3 weeks ago and have driven it a few times. Great little car so far with good grunt and great MPG. Only gripe is it seems very softly sprung even with DNA in D and bottoms out on bumpy backroads. Is it normal or are the dampers shot?

Cloverleaf is hotter but more insurance and tax and less MPG
 

c4sman

Member
Messages
1,243
Only problem with the Alfa is I really want a manual whilst such things are available me and a quick search suggests they’re auto only, right?
 

Doctor Houx

Member
Messages
791
Only problem with the Alfa is I really want a manual whilst such things are available me and a quick search suggests they’re auto only, right?
No, ours is a manual. I think the newer ones are TCT (twin clutch) with paddles only though
 

Wack61

Member
Messages
8,764
That's why I like it here we're all traceable in the system with our unique Siret number.
View attachment 104634
In the 1980s my dad who knew nothing about cars took my sister who knew even less to look at a VW polo in a private sale, they test drove it and bought it

First I heard of it was when she bought it round to show me, looked OK but she said it's really slow, so I took it for a drive , really slow meant when the speedo read 30 you were barely doing 20 so I did a bit of detective work

The previous owner was a major so I got his number from the phone book , he'd PXd it with 50k more on it than it was showing so we got on to trading standards

They rang back within 20 minutes , even then they had details on who was selling what , because he hadn't advertised a car in the previous 6 months there was nothing they could do

So I marched round there , big house which is why I suppose my dad thought it was ok , plenty of money so why would he be clocking cars , only that's exactly what he was doing , well until I caught him with the first one he tried

She got her money back and we left it at that , lesson leaned , big house can still = scumbag
 

JMS

Member
Messages
262
I just sold my mk7 Golf GTi performance to buy the Maser. It replaced both my 997 & winter car but after 14months it had to go. I just didn't like the way the power was delivered. I much prefer wringing the neck of a naturally aspirated engine.
I had a mild remap (superchips) which made it bonkers quick, but that was the only fun thing about it, meaning the only way to make me smile was to accelerate.

It was a nice enough place to be. Manual, heated leather, keyless, adaptive suspension, adaptive cruise etc, electronic diff.
It’s a very easy car to drive, and would return 37mpg on a motorway run.

I ruled out the Golf R when I realised they are 100kg heavier than the GTi.

Ultimately the experience has taught me that fun is not the same as fast.

Toyota GR86 or GT86 intrigue me, but I need useable rear seats.