Soldato
New year, new decade... so must be time to start looking for a new car.
Moving from a mk3 Focus st3 in Tangerine scream. Had initially fancied a mk4 Focus st... But while it drove well, I simply could not get over the rather dubious styling (especially at the front end). Looks like a Volvo from the back and the front is in my opinion, absolutely hideous! Beauty in the eyes of the beholder I suppose. But never the less, don't think it will win any awards for styling. It's also not the performance bargain that it used to be.
So what then besides the Focus ST? So I test drove a few different cars.
- Civic Type R.
Great to drive and I could live with the "fast and furious" looks. But could not get a sensible deal put together (even via CARWOW). I so hate dealers that seem to think that they are doing you a favor by selling you a car (like our local Honda dealer!).
- RS Megane trophy. Probably the most hard core of the cars I tried. But I found the suspension a tag to firm for everyday use. Adjustable suspension is what this car is crying out for. The gear change in the car I drove was not that great either. Plus availability of cars in stock still seems to be an issue! And no way did I want a factory order. I still have nightmares about the RS Clio I ordered once and some 5 months on... did not even have a build date (neither garage or Renault CS seems to give a toss).
- Golf Gti performance (wow an extra 10BHP). Sorry but I found this one of the most boring cars that I've driven for years. It did the job and the cabin was nice but to my mind, it had no soul.
- Hyundai I30 N performance edition. Liked the looks and it also drove well. It's probably got an even higher kit count than the Focus ST. In fact, other than the colour, there are no other options to choose. Though found the steering even in normal mode to be a tad heavy (though accurate). Could also do with loosing 100KG or so and it would be even faster. You can tell where the extra weight is. The bonnet weighs a ton and the doors feel and shut like bank vault doors.
Only car that I fancied and could not get a test drive in a sensible time limit. Was a Peugeot 308Gti.
So what did I get?
Only 5 days from the test drive, to picking the new car up and 2 days of that was the weekend. Now that's how I like to do a deal. Bought via CARWOW and managed around 12% off + a couple of dealer fitted extras for nothing. Happy days. Just got to finish running it in. A couple of tank fulls of petrol should do.
No real issues so far:
- Minor scratches on the front windscreen. I did notice that at the handover but forgot to mention it. You can hardly see them, but they still should not be there! Dealer says they "should be able to do something". But talks cheap. TBC
- Unluckily hit a pot hole coming back. Full of rain water, so no missing it (IE. could not even see it). Thought I'd got away with it. But noticed a small bulge on the side wall of the front passenger side tyre. So I've had to order up another pirelli P zero and they need to be an OEM version branded HN on the side wall. £135 fitted did not seem too bad. And a tyre fitter that doesn't mark your wheel changing the tyre and put the correct pressure in. Local back street garage. His shop looks a dump but nice guy and treated the car with respect. Can't ask for more than that.
- Gear box a bit sticky. First can be a bit of a bugger at times from a standstill. Once you know, you can select 2nd, then into 1st. Common issue by all accounts and goes away completely after you get a few miles on the clock.
Washed the car yesterday for the 1st time and looks like the dealer listened to me and did not polish the car. So out comes the Autoglym super resin polish. It's come up a treat and not a single paint blemish or fault in the paint that I could find. Never had a white car before. Wanted the Performance Blue, but that would have meant a factory order and I am not a patient man. So a choice between white, black (no thanks), or grey (all in stock).
I've fitted some Rally Armor mud flaps (necessary round here) since taking these photos (white car = not easy to get good photos). Just need those branded rubber mats to turn up, something else that's a necessity round here.
Happy days.
PS. Not bothered about showing my number plate.
Moving from a mk3 Focus st3 in Tangerine scream. Had initially fancied a mk4 Focus st... But while it drove well, I simply could not get over the rather dubious styling (especially at the front end). Looks like a Volvo from the back and the front is in my opinion, absolutely hideous! Beauty in the eyes of the beholder I suppose. But never the less, don't think it will win any awards for styling. It's also not the performance bargain that it used to be.
So what then besides the Focus ST? So I test drove a few different cars.
- Civic Type R.
Great to drive and I could live with the "fast and furious" looks. But could not get a sensible deal put together (even via CARWOW). I so hate dealers that seem to think that they are doing you a favor by selling you a car (like our local Honda dealer!).
- RS Megane trophy. Probably the most hard core of the cars I tried. But I found the suspension a tag to firm for everyday use. Adjustable suspension is what this car is crying out for. The gear change in the car I drove was not that great either. Plus availability of cars in stock still seems to be an issue! And no way did I want a factory order. I still have nightmares about the RS Clio I ordered once and some 5 months on... did not even have a build date (neither garage or Renault CS seems to give a toss).
- Golf Gti performance (wow an extra 10BHP). Sorry but I found this one of the most boring cars that I've driven for years. It did the job and the cabin was nice but to my mind, it had no soul.
- Hyundai I30 N performance edition. Liked the looks and it also drove well. It's probably got an even higher kit count than the Focus ST. In fact, other than the colour, there are no other options to choose. Though found the steering even in normal mode to be a tad heavy (though accurate). Could also do with loosing 100KG or so and it would be even faster. You can tell where the extra weight is. The bonnet weighs a ton and the doors feel and shut like bank vault doors.
Only car that I fancied and could not get a test drive in a sensible time limit. Was a Peugeot 308Gti.
So what did I get?
Only 5 days from the test drive, to picking the new car up and 2 days of that was the weekend. Now that's how I like to do a deal. Bought via CARWOW and managed around 12% off + a couple of dealer fitted extras for nothing. Happy days. Just got to finish running it in. A couple of tank fulls of petrol should do.
No real issues so far:
- Minor scratches on the front windscreen. I did notice that at the handover but forgot to mention it. You can hardly see them, but they still should not be there! Dealer says they "should be able to do something". But talks cheap. TBC
- Unluckily hit a pot hole coming back. Full of rain water, so no missing it (IE. could not even see it). Thought I'd got away with it. But noticed a small bulge on the side wall of the front passenger side tyre. So I've had to order up another pirelli P zero and they need to be an OEM version branded HN on the side wall. £135 fitted did not seem too bad. And a tyre fitter that doesn't mark your wheel changing the tyre and put the correct pressure in. Local back street garage. His shop looks a dump but nice guy and treated the car with respect. Can't ask for more than that.
- Gear box a bit sticky. First can be a bit of a bugger at times from a standstill. Once you know, you can select 2nd, then into 1st. Common issue by all accounts and goes away completely after you get a few miles on the clock.
Washed the car yesterday for the 1st time and looks like the dealer listened to me and did not polish the car. So out comes the Autoglym super resin polish. It's come up a treat and not a single paint blemish or fault in the paint that I could find. Never had a white car before. Wanted the Performance Blue, but that would have meant a factory order and I am not a patient man. So a choice between white, black (no thanks), or grey (all in stock).
I've fitted some Rally Armor mud flaps (necessary round here) since taking these photos (white car = not easy to get good photos). Just need those branded rubber mats to turn up, something else that's a necessity round here.
Happy days.
PS. Not bothered about showing my number plate.