What defines a fast car in 2020?

Akagi · 3 Jan 2021 at 09:38

Cyber-Mav said:
Got any pics?

Lots!

theone8181 · 3 Jan 2021 at 09:44

Gibbo said:
Golf R has the most playful chassis of them all, the S3 and particular RS3 due to heavier 5 pot have more understeer and the weight up front makes itself felt. The handling balance can be tweaked with anti roll bars, coilovers etc but you never move away from the fact the balance is poor and even though they are mega quick when tuned they are still boring to drive to someone like me who enjoys driving.

Everybody likes different things and some people just want a hugely confident inspiring car that’s easy to drive fast and AWD will always top that game just some AWD are more exciting than others which mainly comes from engine placement within the chassis and overall weight of the car.

Fair enough, I forgot the golf r is quite weedy. Do the TT and the rs3 share the same engine?

paradigm · 3 Jan 2021 at 09:57

theone8181 said:
Fair enough, I forgot the golf r is quite weedy. Do the TT and the rs3 share the same engine?

TTRS does. It’s also a more playful chassis than the A3/S3/RS3. Same is true for TTS vs S3 and IMO Golf R, the TT is the best of the bunch but obviously compromised in other ways as a vehicle for practicality reasons.

Akagi · 3 Jan 2021 at 10:01

theone8181 said:
Fair enough, I forgot the golf r is quite weedy. Do the TT and the rs3 share the same engine?

Weedy? 1.5 tonnes and 300HP? In what way is it weedy?

Its lardy and powerful.

Nasher · 3 Jan 2021 at 11:09

200hp/ton. Though it's probably more than 1500kg in reality. VW figures and all that

theone8181 · 3 Jan 2021 at 12:57

Acme said:
Weedy? 1.5 tonnes and 300HP? In what way is it weedy?
Its lardy and powerful.

Compared to my M3, and the other 2. I'm a bit out the loop as I thought the r had 250 at one point which is 'only' what my wife's focus is

. Powers relative, mines weedy compared to gibbos

.

Akagi · 3 Jan 2021 at 13:02

theone8181 said:
I thought the r had 250 at one point which is 'only' what my wife's focus is

The S3 is basically the same as the Golf R I believe.

The MK7 Golf R had 295HP in 2014

The MK6 Golf R had 261HP in 2010

The MK5 Golf R32 had 246HP in 2005.

DSG makes the 2014 onwards R's very rapid though, amazing the difference instantaneous gearchanges make.

Kenai · 3 Jan 2021 at 13:25

Acme said:
The S3 is basically the same as the Golf R I believe.

The MK7 Golf R had 295HP in 2014

The MK6 Golf R had 261HP in 2010

The MK5 Golf R32 had 246HP in 2005.

DSG makes the 2014 onwards R's very rapid though, amazing the difference instantaneous gearchanges make.

I think it's more the 300bhp and lower weight of the MQB platform that makes the most difference to previous R cars, until 2017 the DSG in a Mk7 was the same basic DQ250 box introduced on the 2003 Mk4 R32 (albeit I'm sure with some evolution in the software).

Nasher · 3 Jan 2021 at 14:20

R32 was the last time it made a good noise though

Now it's all farts and fake sound, which is cringy.

Akagi · 3 Jan 2021 at 15:29

Nasher said:
R32 was the last time it made a good noise though

Now it's all farts and fake sound, which is cringy.

Indeedee

paradigm · 3 Jan 2021 at 16:34

Nasher said:
R32 was the last time it made a good noise though

Now it's all farts and fake sound, which is cringy.

This is true. Love the 3.2 VR6 in my TT, makes a great noise. My S3 was incredibly muted and dull with the soundaktor disabled, and the upshift/overrun pops and crackles got boring quickly.

The B58 in the 440i makes a pretty decent noise, albeit muted due to the turbo. Still not a patch on the VR6 though.

theone8181 · 3 Jan 2021 at 20:09

Acme said:
The S3 is basically the same as the Golf R I believe.

The MK7 Golf R had 295HP in 2014

The MK6 Golf R had 261HP in 2010

The MK5 Golf R32 had 246HP in 2005.

DSG makes the 2014 onwards R's very rapid though, amazing the difference instantaneous gearchanges make.

Just realised (with the aid of wiki) that I was getting confused between the r and the gti

R.P.L · 4 Jan 2021 at 09:23

Acme said:
Weedy? 1.5 tonnes and 300HP? In what way is it weedy?
Its lardy and powerful.

In the way that it takes longer than 4 sec to do a 0-60

Akagi · 4 Jan 2021 at 09:29

R.P.L said:
In the way that it takes longer than 4 sec to do a 0-60

Makes sense.

pugheaven · 27 Mar 2021 at 16:20

Nasher said:
R32 was the last time it made a good noise though

Now it's all farts and fake sound, which is cringy.

Christ yeah... my mate started up his Golf R... and I was outside, sounded apalling... then I got in he reved it and I'm like what? Where's that soudn coming from... and he sat there smiling saying the stereo rofl... it was emabressing... when a car has to resort to this kind of nonsense I want no part of it?

Rroff · 27 Mar 2021 at 16:24

pugheaven said:
Christ yeah... my mate started up his Golf R... and I was outside, sounded apalling... then I got in he reved it and I'm like what? Where's that soudn coming from... and he sat there smiling saying the stereo rofl... it was emabressing... when a car has to resort to this kind of nonsense I want no part of it?

I usually stay quiet about it but I find the engine/exhaust noise on many newer cars LOL worthy never mind the fake sound. Give me a good V6 any day - as mentioned above loved the old VR6 sound.

pugheaven · 27 Mar 2021 at 17:34

Rroff said:
I usually stay quiet about it but I find the engine/exhaust noise on many newer cars LOL worthy never mind the fake sound. Give me a good V6 any day - as mentioned above loved the old VR6 sound.

Agreed, you can't beat cylinders. However a caveat to that is, I remember our old 146 Alfa 2.0 twin spark, probably one of the best soudning standard 4 pot engines I've ever heard... but yeah 99% of the time, the modern ones especially the turbo's just sound really bland and tinny tbh. It's a shame, but it's where we're moving. I do love a V6 for it's smoothness and a smooth subtle rumble and a straight 6 for that dirty sound. However, have to admit, this V8 Hemi I'm now driving... christ it's re-ignited my love of engines I'll be honest.

naefeart · 27 Mar 2021 at 18:01

I always liked the Audi 5-pot sound, I think they still sound good today -?

Straight sixes are another favourite, edges the V6 out IMO. Can’t beat a V8 though, well it appears you can if you fit two turbos apparently. My old M5 sounded amazing, so did my 4.2 S5. However my V8 RS6 sounds umm, well ok... but you’ve got to be really moving before the sound is really intoxicating. By that point you’ve broken the inner city land speed record and you’re looking at a steep fine! Bloomin’ emissions regs, strangling all the throaty car sounds

SkodaMart · 27 Mar 2021 at 18:16

I remember when a 84bhp Fiesta XR2 used to feel fast.
Thing was it was a featherweight buy today’s standards.
There’s more driver involvement from driving a lightweight car than there is in outright power.
I would sooner have a 125bhp Caterham than an Audi RS3

pugheaven · 27 Mar 2021 at 18:34

SkodaMart said:
I remember when a 84bhp Fiesta XR2 used to feel fast.
Thing was it was a featherweight buy today’s standards.
There’s more driver involvement from driving a lightweight car than there is in outright power.
I would sooner have a 125bhp Caterham than an Audi RS3

Agreed, the most fun I ever had in ANY car was my Pug 205GTI MI16, that was 196bhp in a car that weighed 880kg!!! That thing flew down the lanes on Spax Adjustables... epic car that was and handled like a go kart. Everything is just so bloated nowadays and there is something missing... I think nowadays a lot of younger guys are missing out on the essentials of what it is to drive a car now... the absolute fun factor you get from just a light car with decent horse power... we're in power wars and have been for a decade. People scoff now if it's not 300bhp!