10 Car Hot Hatch Megatest
Discussion
I enjoyed that, cheers for sharing it.
I like the Focus but I would imagine getting hold of one would prove tricky, short of paying a speculator way over the odds.
It'd be the Civic for me, I don't have kids so I don't need the space of a bigger car but they are great to drive.
I like my current Clio 200 and the 275 seems like a brilliant machine so the Megane could tempt me too, especially as prices seem very competitive.
I like the Focus but I would imagine getting hold of one would prove tricky, short of paying a speculator way over the odds.
It'd be the Civic for me, I don't have kids so I don't need the space of a bigger car but they are great to drive.
I like my current Clio 200 and the 275 seems like a brilliant machine so the Megane could tempt me too, especially as prices seem very competitive.
.k-ink said:
I previously attempted to define hot hatches in another thread as small, fun, lightweight cars, with only three doors. However I was shot down by 99% of PH. So clearly the times have changed and things have moved on. There is no point me fighting the tide of opinion any longer. So I am now in agreement with the new definitions. As one poster summed up previously; "If it's hot and it's a hatchback, then it's a hot hatch". Much simpler and more inclusive.
So now that the term "hot hatch" can be freely applied to cars with any BHP, weight, price, number of doors, plus dimensions (so long as the body shell is the small or medium size that manufacturer offers with four seats for the family), then I humbly submit my top three hot hatches of all time, in accordance with PH's agreed rules...
1. Ferrari FF
6.3 NA V12, 650bhp, AWD, 0-60mph 3.7s, 208mph hatchback.
FF is a shooting brake - more easily defined as a coupe-estateSo now that the term "hot hatch" can be freely applied to cars with any BHP, weight, price, number of doors, plus dimensions (so long as the body shell is the small or medium size that manufacturer offers with four seats for the family), then I humbly submit my top three hot hatches of all time, in accordance with PH's agreed rules...
1. Ferrari FF
6.3 NA V12, 650bhp, AWD, 0-60mph 3.7s, 208mph hatchback.
JoeMarano said:
GrumpyTwig said:
You can get them even cheaper than than list too, there were some offered up in the region of 17k new not long ago. When you also consider a few £100 for a remap and you have 300+hp in a very competent FWD chassis you could buy a megane for fun and a decent run about for the price of the 'big boys'.
Yeah I'm a little bit miffed now lolAlthough I did watch some drag races where the quarter mile times of the Polo and Megane werent that different
Comparing the two is pointless as the Megane is leagues ahead as a drivers car.JoeMarano said:
Not drag races but money! I didn't realise the Megane's were that cheap brand new. Then I sulked and was trying to find some positives for my car of which there are many
Fair enough.The Polo is likely to be worth more in 5 years time, being a VAG product. Personally, I wouldn't care about that side of things.. bhp and acceleration times tell less than half the story. If you'd test driven a Megane, I'd find it hard to think you'd choose the Polo. But never mind!
I did consider the Megane but it's the first time in my 32 years I could buy a brand new car out right so thought "why not?"
I didn't want to spend 12-15k on a second hand Megane when the lower class of hatches where around 17-20k brand new and also have lower running and parts costs so I think that's the main reason for it.
Also I think £23k would have been harder to justify to the missus which is always the deciding factor in car choices once past a certain age LOL
I didn't want to spend 12-15k on a second hand Megane when the lower class of hatches where around 17-20k brand new and also have lower running and parts costs so I think that's the main reason for it.
Also I think £23k would have been harder to justify to the missus which is always the deciding factor in car choices once past a certain age LOL
I bought my year old, 10k mile Megane RS for 17k in December. This one was the cheapest in the country by far (over 3k) with Recaros. It was also the only one for sale that matched my requirements perfectly (Recaros, climate pack, Spare wheel, keyless, Cup Chassis and a few other things like met paint).
It was the cheapest in the country by over 3 grand, but still good value even at 20k.
I was also looking at a Trophy of the same age, and even at 22k it was good value for what it offered.
As Jockysteer said, if 0-60 times matter to you, then the Megane wasn't what you wanted. It's not the quickest off the mark, especially compared to the 4WD cars, but once it's on the move it becomes something else. In the dry in the test above, it would've easily been 3/4 places further up. It's the sort of car that feels (in sport mode) that it wants to get you in trouble. The induction noise, exhaust pops (even the standard exhaust is good for it) and the tactility of the controls are incredible, the steering even though partially electric does have feel, the gearbox is great, direct and notchy and the pedals are perfect for heel/toe. It has a genuine bipolar effect to it. In normal mode, it's quiet & comfy with just enough to hint that it's something special. However, flicking a switch, engaging sport mode makes it into what I said above. Although I hate saying it, it becomes a little bit of a beast (silently cringes).
Try one, you'll be hooked.
It was the cheapest in the country by over 3 grand, but still good value even at 20k.
I was also looking at a Trophy of the same age, and even at 22k it was good value for what it offered.
As Jockysteer said, if 0-60 times matter to you, then the Megane wasn't what you wanted. It's not the quickest off the mark, especially compared to the 4WD cars, but once it's on the move it becomes something else. In the dry in the test above, it would've easily been 3/4 places further up. It's the sort of car that feels (in sport mode) that it wants to get you in trouble. The induction noise, exhaust pops (even the standard exhaust is good for it) and the tactility of the controls are incredible, the steering even though partially electric does have feel, the gearbox is great, direct and notchy and the pedals are perfect for heel/toe. It has a genuine bipolar effect to it. In normal mode, it's quiet & comfy with just enough to hint that it's something special. However, flicking a switch, engaging sport mode makes it into what I said above. Although I hate saying it, it becomes a little bit of a beast (silently cringes).
Try one, you'll be hooked.
Edited by Blanchimont on Tuesday 3rd May 15:43
JockySteer said:
Fair enough.
The Polo is likely to be worth more in 5 years time, being a VAG product. Personally, I wouldn't care about that side of things.. bhp and acceleration times tell less than half the story. If you'd test driven a Megane, I'd find it hard to think you'd choose the Polo. But never mind!
That's not really true there's at least 1-1.5k in it price wise & it's in the Renaults favour.The Polo is likely to be worth more in 5 years time, being a VAG product. Personally, I wouldn't care about that side of things.. bhp and acceleration times tell less than half the story. If you'd test driven a Megane, I'd find it hard to think you'd choose the Polo. But never mind!
Plus it's a better drivers car than any VAG product for sale right now.
Edited by ZX10R NIN on Wednesday 4th May 00:20
Blanchimont said:
Stuff at 15:43
Agreed with all that Blanchimont. Let's hope the replacement is big, 5-door only and auto only to protect the value of ours. I genuinely think they will generate a bit of a future cult following as they are special despite being Renaults. Renault seemed to have solved the impossible equation of a decent daily also being a decent track car. Relatively low numbers too. Recaros and chassis Cup are kind of crucial though.Edited by nickfrog on Wednesday 4th May 00:22
ZX10R NIN said:
That's not really true there's at least 1-1.5k in it price wise & it's in the Renaults favour.
Plus it's a better drivers car than any VAG product for sale right now.
What's the cheapest Megane then as my Polo was 18k with a year's free insurance, gap insurance, 5 door, paint option and sports pack etcPlus it's a better drivers car than any VAG product for sale right now.
Edited by ZX10R NIN on Wednesday 4th May 00:20
JoeMarano said:
What's the cheapest Megane then as my Polo was 18k with a year's free insurance, gap insurance, 5 door, paint option and sports pack etc
My reply was to Jockey when he said a 5 year old Polo would be worth more than a Megane which looking online just isn't, the case the best deal I've seen for a new one was 19k.Shouldn't you be comparing the Polo to the Clio? The reason the Polo is close to the Megane on acceleration (all the tests seem to be with the auto) is due to the DSG box, I can't find a manual figure.
Driving wise there's only one car to consider & sorry to say it's not the Polo.
ZX10R NIN said:
My reply was to Jockey when he said a 5 year old Polo would be worth more than a Megane which looking online just isn't, the case the best deal I've seen for a new one was 19k.
Shouldn't you be comparing the Polo to the Clio? The reason the Polo is close to the Megane on acceleration (all the tests seem to be with the auto) is due to the DSG box, I can't find a manual figure.
Driving wise there's only one car to consider & sorry to say it's not the Polo.
No doubt. My car will live 99.9% on sShouldn't you be comparing the Polo to the Clio? The reason the Polo is close to the Megane on acceleration (all the tests seem to be with the auto) is due to the DSG box, I can't find a manual figure.
Driving wise there's only one car to consider & sorry to say it's not the Polo.
tty country roads and not a track so it's a happy trade off Manual has 70nm more torque and identical performance figures although in gear times are obviously quicker.
(6.7 0-60 147mph)
JoeMarano said:
No doubt. My car will live 99.9% on stty country roads and not a track so it's a happy trade off
Manual has 70nm more torque and identical performance figures although in gear times are obviously quicker.
(6.7 0-60 147mph)
I wasn't talking about on track as that's a given, I was referring to the give & take A/B roads, I think you should drive one they cope with the UK's roads very well better than the Golf GTI I drove having not driven the Polo I can't comment on its handling but from what I've read they say the Golf is more composed so to me that still makes the Megane the sweeter car.tty country roads and not a track so it's a happy trade off Manual has 70nm more torque and identical performance figures although in gear times are obviously quicker.
(6.7 0-60 147mph)
As a sidebar I had an ST as a track car my mate had a 265 cup & he would pull lengths on me down the give & take A roads where we live & when we'd swap I'd do the same to him, the corner speed along with the grip & the fact you can pick up the throttle that little bit earlier than you could in the others makes all the difference, it's a brilliant car he now has a Trophy which is another step on again, it's been the cause of a few friends moving their Golfs/Hondas on to buy one of them, I'm just waiting for the Trophy R to come down a little bit more & I'll be buying one of those.
By the way 275/275 cup 0-60 is 6.0/5.8 158mph respectively
Edited by ZX10R NIN on Wednesday 4th May 09:23
ZX10R NIN said:
JoeMarano said:
No doubt. My car will live 99.9% on stty country roads and not a track so it's a happy trade off
Manual has 70nm more torque and identical performance figures although in gear times are obviously quicker.
(6.7 0-60 147mph)
I wasn't talking about on track as that's a given, I was referring to the give & take A/B roads, I think you should drive one they cope with the UK's roads very well better than the Golf GTI I drove having not driven the Polo I can't comment on its handling but from what I've read they say the Golf is more composed so to me that still makes the Megane the sweeter car.tty country roads and not a track so it's a happy trade off Manual has 70nm more torque and identical performance figures although in gear times are obviously quicker.
(6.7 0-60 147mph)
As a sidebar I had an ST as a track car my mate had a 265 cup & he would pull lengths on me down the give & take A roads where we live & when we'd swap I'd do the same to him, the corner speed along with the grip & the fact you can pick up the throttle that little bit earlier than you could in the others makes all the difference, it's a brilliant car he now has a Trophy which is another step on again, it's been the cause of a few friends moving their Golfs/Hondas on to buy one of them, I'm just waiting for the Trophy R to come down a little bit more & I'll be buying one of those.
By the way 275/275 cup 0-60 is 6.0/5.8 158mph respectively
Edited by ZX10R NIN on Wednesday 4th May 09:23
RE what I said about pricing, I meant comparing a 5 year old Polo to a 5 year old Megane, not a new one. Happy to be proved wrong though if Polo's aren't worth more.
Edited by JockySteer on Wednesday 4th May 10:15
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