RE: Chris Harris Video: Hot Hatch Showdown

RE: Chris Harris Video: Hot Hatch Showdown

Thursday 22nd November 2012

Chris Harris Video: Hot Hatch Showdown

Focus ST, Astra VXR and Megane Renaultsport compared on the road, on track and... in the air?



Mucky weather, Wales and hot hatches. These are good times.

Vauxhall has been the underdog in this category for so long now that it's hard to remember when a hot Astra bettered its Ford equivalent. In fact, I'm not sure it ever has. Judged on looks alone, this new VXR has to stand a decent chance. Factor in a set of power and torque figures that make you wonder if a front-driven hatch can handle such numbers, and you have a car that, on UK roads, might be very handy.

The last Focus ST was a pretty remarkable machine: pass a warm towel over the ECU and it would give 260hp, all the while sounding decidedly quattro-like. Sadly, this new car loses a cylinder, and it can only be ordered as a five-door or an estate. The gamble here by Ford is on whether, by taking the ST to a more sensible place, they render it less appealing to the thousands of people who loved the old car for its tuneability.

Can the Astra finally break its jinx?
Can the Astra finally break its jinx?
That hardcore faction probably already adores the Megane Renaultsport 265. I freely admit to being a huge fan of this car - every aspect of it feels precisely developed, and it offers a driving experience that not much else at the price can match. In many ways, it's the strongest argument against the Toyota GT86. Yes, it's front-wheel drive, but you wouldn't believe how much fun you can have in one.

On the road, the Megane can be harsh; on a circuit an ST can feel like a small boat in a force nine. So we drove them in all conditions, on road and a small track. And we did some little jumps in them too.

Not wishing to give the game away, these are three fantastic cars.

Enjoy the vid, as much as I enjoyed my exposure to the type of performance car best suited to UK roads.


 

Author
Discussion

sagarich

Original Poster:

1,210 posts

148 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
Great video, I think I would take the megane.

Although I think I missed if this had the cup option ticked or not? I assume it did as the ride looked very firm...

vescaegg

25,489 posts

166 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
£28k for the focus really highlights how good value the m135i is.

danjama

5,728 posts

141 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
I don't appreciate the looks of any of these three cars. All similar and all ugly.

Grovsie26

1,302 posts

166 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
But isn't the VXR more than the Focus? I don't think the Focus is good value, what comes as standard? Whats a 135i like once you spec a few things? It'a also bloody ugly.

The mengane's interior is gash.

Nice video, id personally take the Focus. Best looking, nicest interior, and i really don't give a monkey's if the others are half a 2nd faster round a tight track, the Ford sounds like the ideal hot hatch to me.

Also whats with VXR's and there horrible gearsticks?

Ecosseven

1,972 posts

216 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
vescaegg said:
£28k for the focus really highlights how good value the m135i is.
.

If you are comparing the base price of the Focus (ST) and the M135i then it's £21,995 vs £29,995. I think both offer good value for money although most people will add a few options.

I also think that the high end hot hatches are in danger of missing their target market. A 210bhp Focus / Astra / Megane at £19k would sell like hot cakes. Do people really need or want the extra 40-60bhp? Just my opinion of course.



Johnnytheboy

24,498 posts

185 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
Ecosseven said:
I also think that the high end hot hatches are in danger of missing their target market. A 210bhp Focus / Astra / Megane at £19k would sell like hot cakes. Do people really need or want the extra 40-60bhp? Just my opinion of course.
Given that they all have little engines with big turbos (are these all 2l fours? I think so), how much cost does that extra 40-60hp incur for the manufacturer? i.e. could they really charge that much less?

I guess they could get 210bp out of a 1.6 though and save some dosh.

grenpayne

1,976 posts

161 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
Great video, thanks Chris, I think I'd take the Megane. Although I agree the Focus is probably the better everyday car, especially as it would deal with family duties when with the wife and kids and then satisfy those hooning urges when you're on your own driving

Mouse1903

839 posts

152 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
I'd have the Megane by a country mile. Focus probably better to drive than the Astra, but I'd choose the Astra because it looks much nicer inside and out. M135i as others have said is the cat amongst the pigeons. I'm torn between the Megane 265 and M135i as my next car, though I think the plan will be to buy a 1-2 year old Megane 265 (depreciation hit!), run it for at least a year then get a 1-2 year M135i :-)

ADM06

1,077 posts

171 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
The M135i is what I'd go for. Yeah it's a bit ugly, but I think most modern cars are ugly if I'm honest.
More importantly it's the only one with correct wheel drive and if its anything like the 135i coupe, 450bhp can be had for a grand.

agent biscuit

92 posts

152 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
chris

im sure u guys could have afforded to test at a more formidable track than llandow….cmon that place is for 3 legged sheep testin and karts!!

rix

2,776 posts

189 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
'Fabby'

Really?! Lol

agent biscuit

92 posts

152 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
chris

im sure u guys could have afforded to test at a more formidable track than llandow….cmon that place is for 3 legged sheep testin and karts!!

Steve vRS

4,836 posts

240 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
I have a soft spot for VXRs as I've enjoyed so many of their days at various tracks around the UK. However this one looks like a real contender. The Renault looks old and the Focus just looks wrong. VXR for me.

Or more likely an A4 Avant or 3 series touring frown

Steve

HorneyMX5

5,306 posts

149 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
Can't afford any of them, need a derv for a daily anyway and not a fan of the styling of any of them. However, great to see them put through their paces, they all sound good which is a surprise and the jumping footage is gold.

_Batty_

12,268 posts

249 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
Shame Renualt cannot make their products last. Slightly better build quality would help them no end.

r1ch

2,867 posts

195 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
Enjoyed that video very much. Megane interior looks a bit naff bar the seats. It'd still be where i'd spend my money though, i get the feeling its more of a drivers car out of the 3.

80quattro

1,724 posts

194 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
Megane for me.

I also got the impression from Chris's reactions during the video that he seemed to enjoy it more than the VXR and ST. It would be interesting to know if he got to play with the traction control settings with the RS monitor, as the default setting can be a touch intrusive when driven hard.

aucklander

164 posts

149 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
As entertaining as chris is, some videos do drag on a bit. I got to 12 mins and called it a day. there is only so long you can watch a talking head interspersed with over-repeated shots of the car driving.

Started playing Harris bingo too: 'Proper', 'genuine', ...

billzeebub

3,862 posts

198 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
Golf GTi please

vrsmxtb

2,002 posts

155 months

Wednesday 21st November 2012
quotequote all
Least attractive Focus design to date, even in ST form.

Why are so many hatches morphing into the same styled form, is it tighter pedestrian impact tests etc??