£2000 hot hatches... credit crunch bargains?

Muffin` · 2 Jan 2009 at 02:11

Alex_6n2 said:
Fith gear tested the 172 when it came out. VTS stuck to its rear end round a track. I really dont think there is too much in it tbh

That's shocking, 120bhp v 170 bhp and only 83kg diff with the Clio hitting over 50 lb-ft more

oweneades · 2 Jan 2009 at 07:53

Alex_6n2 said:
Matt: Mid 15s for standard/ish, low 14s are possible modified without forced induction. After that it depends on how much boost you have

Fith gear tested the 172 when it came out. VTS stuck to its rear end round a track. I really dont think there is too much in it tbh

Yes and if you watch that very review you can see the 172 pulling away quite quickly as soon as they hit a straight.

A 172 vs a 106 GTI with the same driver (this is the important part especially for santa pod style launches) would always end in a win for the 172.

Prostheta · 2 Jan 2009 at 08:21

Not a big hot hatch fan myself....i'm partial to our big cat on the basis of comfort, aircon and legroom :-D

(a day before it was lowered 35mm, hence the tractor stance)

merlin · 2 Jan 2009 at 09:02

What is that pos stuck on the back?

peterattheboro · 2 Jan 2009 at 09:06

Who cares about 0-60. How often will you play traffic light GP?

Matt82 · 2 Jan 2009 at 09:09

i doubt many people care about a few 10th saved from 0-60, not many drivers can consistently get quick times anyway, but it is a good indication of how quick a car will go beyond 60 too

Nathan · 2 Jan 2009 at 10:19

get a 172.

Im sorry Alex but a 172 would nail a standard 106 gti. My brothers old cammed, stripped gti was quick but it only matched my 172 stripped cup. His now STANDARD VTS gets embarrassed by the cup.

172 Ph1 would be an ideal car at this price however im not that impressed by the dated looks - ph2 looks better. Also look at GTI-6's

Ed · 2 Jan 2009 at 10:47

Matt82 said:
i doubt many people care about a few 10th saved from 0-60... it is a good indication of how quick a car will go beyond 60 too

It isn't.

Phil W · 2 Jan 2009 at 11:06

My friend paid £900 for a Golf VR6, you have to prepare yourself for things to be going wrong at that age though.

Ste · 2 Jan 2009 at 11:11

I paid 85.9p/l for super unleaded today... now is probably the best time in ages for buying a swift car so do it

Matt82 · 2 Jan 2009 at 11:29

Ed said:
It isn't.

good contribution to the thread, well done

peterattheboro · 2 Jan 2009 at 11:38

Matt82 said:
good contribution to the thread, well done

He's right though.

A really quick 0-60 car could have really short gears and tops out at 100mph.

Where a car with longer gears can cruise all the way to 150.

Matt82 · 2 Jan 2009 at 11:58

and its "longer" gearing would make its 0-60 slower than the shorter geared car

name a car that redlines in top gear at 60mph

Dangerous Dave · 2 Jan 2009 at 12:02

For 2k I would go for a Clio 172 however another option if you like being different is a Punto GT. My friend had one of these with the suspension done and the boost turned up it would leave both a Pug 106 GTI and a Clio 172 behind on both the straights and twistys, it looked good in black aswell.

[TW]Fox · 2 Jan 2009 at 12:03

a Punto leaving a Clio 172 behind on the twisties?

Must be some mistake, surely? The 172 is regarded by many as one of the great all time hot hatches. The Fiat Punto is... not.

Ev0 · 2 Jan 2009 at 12:04

[TW]Fox;13195957 said:
a Punto leaving a Clio 172 behind on the twisties?

Must be some mistake, surely? The 172 is regarded by many as one of the great all time hot hatches. The Fiat Punto is... not.

Ahh but he's comparing a standard 172 to a modded Punto, fair comparison

Tell you what, stick a set of H+Rs on the Clio and fettle with the engine as well, and then have that race again.

Real world there's not much in it between the 172/VTS/106 GTi with the Clio being marginally quicker, but depending on road/driver they can often seem equal. I drove a 106 before getting the Clio and really didn't like it though, it didn't feel quick at all.

Phil W · 2 Jan 2009 at 12:06

[TW]Fox;13195957 said:
a Punto leaving a Clio 172 behind on the twisties?

Must be some mistake, surely? The 172 is regarded by many as one of the great all time hot hatches. The Fiat Punto is... not.

I'd say probably more on the bits inbetween the twisties

peterattheboro · 2 Jan 2009 at 12:09

Matt82 said:
and its "longer" gearing would make its 0-60 slower than the shorter geared car

name a car that redlines in top gear at 60mph

I didn't say it would redline at 60. I said 100. And that was just a rough example. A 172 will do, what, 130? That's the same as my Focus and it has 40 less horsepower.

LiE · 2 Jan 2009 at 12:12

My car is slow 0-60 but 40-70 it's on par with cars with more bhp.

Dangerous Dave · 2 Jan 2009 at 12:13

Yes the Punto needed the suspension done to be able to go round corners where a 106 GTI or Clio 172 don't however it would cost you more than 2k for a Clio with H&R suspension on it and a lot of cash for small power increase out of the engine.

I was comparing them more on cost, there is no doubt a standard Clio/106 GTI will handle better than a standard Punto GT. The Punto had the benefit of huge torque over the Clio so it was making most of it ground out of the corners and on the straights it was however impossible for the Clio to pass the Punto however the Punto cold get past the Clio out of a corner and down a straight. Huge fun driving both of them down a back road.