![Shaz]sigh[](/styles/overclockers/avatars/4.png){kind=avatar}
Associate
- Joined
- 8 Sep 2003
- Posts
- 1,424
- Location
- Outside
Well, I've been in the market for a hatch lately so I've been scouring the market for cars and thus test driving a bit. Thought I'd give very brief roundups on what I've tested and what I thought (as it's a Sunday night and I'm bored)...
So far...
Honda Civic (1.8 VTEC - 140 bhp)
Honda Civic (2.2 CDTI - 140 bhp)
Seat Leon Reference Sport (2.0 TDI - 140 bhp)
Seat Leon FR TDI (2.0 TDI - 170 bhp)
Audi A3 (2.0 TDI - 170 bhp)
VW Golf GT (2.0 TDI - 140 bhp)
VW Golf GT (2.0 TDI - 170 bhp)
Renault Clio 197 (2.0 - 200bhp)
Mini Cooper S (1.6 supercharged, 170ish bhp)
Skoda Octavia vRS (2.0 TFSI ... 200bhp?)
Right... firstly, the Hondas. Only went to look at the Civic as an afterthought by the girlfriend. Didn't really like the exterior when I first saw it, hadn't grown on me either.. so in we went, low expectations... well... what can I say, it grew on me in the flesh and the interior was lovely. I love gadgets and flashy things and it's just perfect for me. It's huge inside, comfortable and very nifty seats/boot as standard.
On to the drive... the VTEC lacks power but for a non Type R it does the job. Have to rev it's nuts off but that's the point surely? Good handling, no body roll, firm chassis and suspension but soft enough to keep the neck brace at home.
The diesel is the engine of choice, plenty of torque, very refined, normal diesel bit of crazy boost followed by no power at the upper rev range.
Verdict - great all round car, lacks power for any serious speed down country roads, very sensible choice but awaiting the type R...
Seats! The first of the VAG range I've molested. Only driven the diesel variants of this line as the price difference between petrol and diesel is virtually nil.
The reference sport is basically the normal model with a 2.0 140bhp VAG engine in it. Nice drive... and erm... yeah, it was ok. Dodgy interior, lots of plastic, not sure of the outside either. Can see the residuals bombing and this has already been proven by the fact you can pick these up for 11-12k already.
Now, the proper model, the FR. The exterior kit makes it look a LOT better than a base spec engine. It also has the newer 170bhp 2.0 TDI in it. Interior is spruced up with nicer seats, diff steering wheel etc. Thoughts? Very nice drive, controlled through the corners, no roll to speak of but I just felt very uninspired by it, this could be due to the fact it was a diesel. The steering wheel was far too chunky and hard to grip, the gear stick was like a coconut on the end of a twig... just wasn't comfortable. Along with the crazy powerband of the 170bhp VAG diesel (1st gear lasts about 0.3 seconds) I just wasn't sure. Taking this out again for a proper drive next weekend though.
Verdicts - the FR could be a nice compromise between power and cost... especially picked up second hand. The model of choice at the mo is probably the 2.0 TFSI FR, this can be remapped to 245ish bhp/320nm without the crazy power delivery of the diesel... I'd say wait for the Cupra though, the power should be great fun.
On to the A3... great interior. Just feels really solid, very stylish, looks the business. However, it should do because you're not going to pick up an S line trim with a decent engine for under 20k which is a bit of cash really....
The drive? Hmm... wallowy, uninspiring. Meant to go in a straight line on a motorway. Nice engines though, that's VAG for you....
Verdict - fleet/company car, not meant for the twisties or weekend fun.
More VAGs!!! They own the market... the golfs. I only test drove the GTs (newer facelift one) as I didn't dare try the GTi incase I liked it. The new GT look is lovely with classic golf alloys, a bit more of an aggressive front and GT badges plastered around the interior/exterior. The interior feels well put together... if a bit sparse. The reason it's sparse is that you get nothing as standard. To spec a Golf GT up with a diesel engine (the 170bhp especially) to anything bar a steering wheel you're looking at 20k list! 20k for a Golf? HAHAHAHA....
Anyway, the drive. Sort of a mix between the Leon and the Audi really. Nothing special but it was nice, comfortable... the engine felt right in this car though. The reason for this could have been that I didn't try to take this car down the twisties or rally it. The diesel powerband just isn't up to it.
Verdict - overpriced, drop it by 4-5k and it'd be nice. Excellent company car, wouldn't buy it with my own money. Needs more things as standard!
Ah! At last, more interesting cars...
The clio 197.... I thought I'd hate it. I drove it and I left confused, it disappointed me but .. I could see why it could be a very good car. Mulling over this it grew on me.
Firstly, it looks a lot more aggressive/composed in the flesh than from pictures. The interior is nice and the seats are excellent they're firm and grip you well. It's actually surprising how big it is inside really, it also has a decent boot. It's seemingly as big inside as a 1 series (probably smaller in reality though). It has a funky keyless system which tells you to stomp on the brake and press the engine start button.
Driving... handling, excellent as you'd expect, responds well to lift off oversteer too. Speed... this is what gets a lot of people. Firstly you have to rev its nuts off. The dials say you're flying along but it doesn't feel like it. There's no torque steer, the engine is loud but not screaming and the car feels too planted to be on the edge. This should be a good thing but you expect the clio to be a go kart. This new model is just too refined though! And this is the reason that it grows on you as you think about it. It's a warm/hot hatch, it's fast, it's dinky yet spacious, it handles really well but it's comfortable enough to be a daily driver and not force yourself to put up with it. It will also be cheap when the Renault discounts land and probably be a steal in the used markets.
Verdict - at list price? Not a chance, at 13k~ a very good car, very fun and usable... one to watch, especially with cup options.
The Cooper S!!! I love this car. I went in to it not really sure what to expect but as soon as the supercharger whined it's way in to my heart I was hooked.
The interior is feels and smells like a BMW but in forced retro form. You like it or you hate it. If you hate it there's probably an option that will make you like it. That's part of the fun, there's a billion options when choosing your MCS (if buying new). You can make the car you want.
On to the drive and this is where it excels. The supercharger whines, the road noise grows and you can feel this tiny matchbox of a car floating over the tarmac. A corner? No problem, attack it, it'll be fun.
It's amazing how this car grows on you, it's impractical, expensive but it's just really good fun and if you like the looks, it's a winner.
Now... the new Mini is due in November but this time with a turbo. It should address the problem with the current model in that it should drink less petrol. It should also have better handling (no really!). No supercharger whine though
Verdict - possibly my next car but I'll be waiting for the new model... should be a hit regardless of what has been said.
The surprise package, a Skoda. Didn't quite know what to think about this car. I'd seen it before, it looks meaty and mean, it's chunky but... I wasn't quite ready for what I experienced.
The interior is top draw from standard, it dwarfs the golf interior (same VAG parts remember!) from standard with it's half leather, half cloth seats. They are firm and provide excellent support. The dash is well put together and the interior is just a really nice place to be. I'd even go as far as to say it's better than a standard A3. The boot is immense, it's of estate proportions in a hatcback (it's blatantly a saloon!!!).
So, you get in, start it up... very quiet. You put your foot down, release the clutch... then you swear a bit. This thing handles. It's a barge yet it feels like you can throw it about. It also has great acceleration (0-60 in 7.2s iirc). I just couldn't get over how well it cornered or how light the car felt. On top of this you can pick them up new for under 16k from a broker. Under 16k for a car that has a better interior than a golf and has the same chassis and engine as a GTi. Insane!
The problem? It's a Skoda... it's hard to imagine spending 16k on a Skoda (I know). Will be an absolutely excellent second hand buy though as I'd imagine there's quite a chance of the residuals bombing.
Verdict - Obscenely practical, obscenely quick, obscenely huge and obscenely fun. Wow...
Hope you enjoyed my essay. Good night!
So far...
Honda Civic (1.8 VTEC - 140 bhp)
Honda Civic (2.2 CDTI - 140 bhp)
Seat Leon Reference Sport (2.0 TDI - 140 bhp)
Seat Leon FR TDI (2.0 TDI - 170 bhp)
Audi A3 (2.0 TDI - 170 bhp)
VW Golf GT (2.0 TDI - 140 bhp)
VW Golf GT (2.0 TDI - 170 bhp)
Renault Clio 197 (2.0 - 200bhp)
Mini Cooper S (1.6 supercharged, 170ish bhp)
Skoda Octavia vRS (2.0 TFSI ... 200bhp?)
Right... firstly, the Hondas. Only went to look at the Civic as an afterthought by the girlfriend. Didn't really like the exterior when I first saw it, hadn't grown on me either.. so in we went, low expectations... well... what can I say, it grew on me in the flesh and the interior was lovely. I love gadgets and flashy things and it's just perfect for me. It's huge inside, comfortable and very nifty seats/boot as standard.
On to the drive... the VTEC lacks power but for a non Type R it does the job. Have to rev it's nuts off but that's the point surely? Good handling, no body roll, firm chassis and suspension but soft enough to keep the neck brace at home.
The diesel is the engine of choice, plenty of torque, very refined, normal diesel bit of crazy boost followed by no power at the upper rev range.
Verdict - great all round car, lacks power for any serious speed down country roads, very sensible choice but awaiting the type R...
Seats! The first of the VAG range I've molested. Only driven the diesel variants of this line as the price difference between petrol and diesel is virtually nil.
The reference sport is basically the normal model with a 2.0 140bhp VAG engine in it. Nice drive... and erm... yeah, it was ok. Dodgy interior, lots of plastic, not sure of the outside either. Can see the residuals bombing and this has already been proven by the fact you can pick these up for 11-12k already.
Now, the proper model, the FR. The exterior kit makes it look a LOT better than a base spec engine. It also has the newer 170bhp 2.0 TDI in it. Interior is spruced up with nicer seats, diff steering wheel etc. Thoughts? Very nice drive, controlled through the corners, no roll to speak of but I just felt very uninspired by it, this could be due to the fact it was a diesel. The steering wheel was far too chunky and hard to grip, the gear stick was like a coconut on the end of a twig... just wasn't comfortable. Along with the crazy powerband of the 170bhp VAG diesel (1st gear lasts about 0.3 seconds) I just wasn't sure. Taking this out again for a proper drive next weekend though.
Verdicts - the FR could be a nice compromise between power and cost... especially picked up second hand. The model of choice at the mo is probably the 2.0 TFSI FR, this can be remapped to 245ish bhp/320nm without the crazy power delivery of the diesel... I'd say wait for the Cupra though, the power should be great fun.
On to the A3... great interior. Just feels really solid, very stylish, looks the business. However, it should do because you're not going to pick up an S line trim with a decent engine for under 20k which is a bit of cash really....
The drive? Hmm... wallowy, uninspiring. Meant to go in a straight line on a motorway. Nice engines though, that's VAG for you....
Verdict - fleet/company car, not meant for the twisties or weekend fun.
More VAGs!!! They own the market... the golfs. I only test drove the GTs (newer facelift one) as I didn't dare try the GTi incase I liked it. The new GT look is lovely with classic golf alloys, a bit more of an aggressive front and GT badges plastered around the interior/exterior. The interior feels well put together... if a bit sparse. The reason it's sparse is that you get nothing as standard. To spec a Golf GT up with a diesel engine (the 170bhp especially) to anything bar a steering wheel you're looking at 20k list! 20k for a Golf? HAHAHAHA....
Anyway, the drive. Sort of a mix between the Leon and the Audi really. Nothing special but it was nice, comfortable... the engine felt right in this car though. The reason for this could have been that I didn't try to take this car down the twisties or rally it. The diesel powerband just isn't up to it.
Verdict - overpriced, drop it by 4-5k and it'd be nice. Excellent company car, wouldn't buy it with my own money. Needs more things as standard!
Ah! At last, more interesting cars...
The clio 197.... I thought I'd hate it. I drove it and I left confused, it disappointed me but .. I could see why it could be a very good car. Mulling over this it grew on me.
Firstly, it looks a lot more aggressive/composed in the flesh than from pictures. The interior is nice and the seats are excellent they're firm and grip you well. It's actually surprising how big it is inside really, it also has a decent boot. It's seemingly as big inside as a 1 series (probably smaller in reality though). It has a funky keyless system which tells you to stomp on the brake and press the engine start button.
Driving... handling, excellent as you'd expect, responds well to lift off oversteer too. Speed... this is what gets a lot of people. Firstly you have to rev its nuts off. The dials say you're flying along but it doesn't feel like it. There's no torque steer, the engine is loud but not screaming and the car feels too planted to be on the edge. This should be a good thing but you expect the clio to be a go kart. This new model is just too refined though! And this is the reason that it grows on you as you think about it. It's a warm/hot hatch, it's fast, it's dinky yet spacious, it handles really well but it's comfortable enough to be a daily driver and not force yourself to put up with it. It will also be cheap when the Renault discounts land and probably be a steal in the used markets.
Verdict - at list price? Not a chance, at 13k~ a very good car, very fun and usable... one to watch, especially with cup options.
The Cooper S!!! I love this car. I went in to it not really sure what to expect but as soon as the supercharger whined it's way in to my heart I was hooked.
The interior is feels and smells like a BMW but in forced retro form. You like it or you hate it. If you hate it there's probably an option that will make you like it. That's part of the fun, there's a billion options when choosing your MCS (if buying new). You can make the car you want.
On to the drive and this is where it excels. The supercharger whines, the road noise grows and you can feel this tiny matchbox of a car floating over the tarmac. A corner? No problem, attack it, it'll be fun.
It's amazing how this car grows on you, it's impractical, expensive but it's just really good fun and if you like the looks, it's a winner.
Now... the new Mini is due in November but this time with a turbo. It should address the problem with the current model in that it should drink less petrol. It should also have better handling (no really!). No supercharger whine though
Verdict - possibly my next car but I'll be waiting for the new model... should be a hit regardless of what has been said.
The surprise package, a Skoda. Didn't quite know what to think about this car. I'd seen it before, it looks meaty and mean, it's chunky but... I wasn't quite ready for what I experienced.
The interior is top draw from standard, it dwarfs the golf interior (same VAG parts remember!) from standard with it's half leather, half cloth seats. They are firm and provide excellent support. The dash is well put together and the interior is just a really nice place to be. I'd even go as far as to say it's better than a standard A3. The boot is immense, it's of estate proportions in a hatcback (it's blatantly a saloon!!!).
So, you get in, start it up... very quiet. You put your foot down, release the clutch... then you swear a bit. This thing handles. It's a barge yet it feels like you can throw it about. It also has great acceleration (0-60 in 7.2s iirc). I just couldn't get over how well it cornered or how light the car felt. On top of this you can pick them up new for under 16k from a broker. Under 16k for a car that has a better interior than a golf and has the same chassis and engine as a GTi. Insane!
The problem? It's a Skoda... it's hard to imagine spending 16k on a Skoda (I know). Will be an absolutely excellent second hand buy though as I'd imagine there's quite a chance of the residuals bombing.
Verdict - Obscenely practical, obscenely quick, obscenely huge and obscenely fun. Wow...
Hope you enjoyed my essay. Good night!
It is a hatchback as the window comes up when you open the boot, makes it easy to get stuff in and out the boot. Then get it Revo'ed with the spare money to up the power from 200bhp/207lbft to 255bhp/285lbft. Then it will be very quick! Plus £15,572 on broadspeed! 
