RE: Ambition vs ability: PH Blog

[TobesH]

V8RX7 said:

TobesH said:

Hot hatches = Ford when it comes to the balance of pace, practicality and affordability, plus whether you are a Fordy or not, there is no denying Ford's heritage as a performance car brand.

Not to me it doesn't.

Ford's greatest cars
GT40
Mk1 & 2 Escort
Sierra Cosworth

For the best Hot hatches I think:

VW Golf I & II
205 / 309 Gti
Astra GTE 16v (I know I'm in a minority with that one)

I can't think of a single Ford Hot Hatch that was the best in it's class.

Of course subjective view. The Focus RS Mk2 was 'best in class' surely, the new Fiesta ST seems to be doing rather well.

[Shadows]

Andy ap said:

This thread seems to be going off topic, but I think the argument lies with should we be pinning our hopes on a manufacturers heritage even if they seem to of lost their way and their principles. Even if its more a case of the market is calling for different things now and so if a new car maker can come along with a clean sheet and make a name for itself then fine.

I think the biggest question now in this day and age is who are going to be the pioneers of the Kia following? and I don't imagine they are going to be someone that would care two hoots about brand reputation, heritage and history/nostalgia. I imagine it will be bought just as much by women and families as well as the intended young single(ish) people that were the target market of the original GTi's. I reckon the Pro_Cee'd Gt has almost as much chance of being a success as the resurrected mini and 500. Although a 20k asking price does seem a little steep, they trying some exclusivity thing there?

Edited by Andy ap on Wednesday 26th June 22:11

I don't believe comparing the Kia to it's financial competition is going off topic, they have priced it straight out of the warm hatch territory straight into hot hatch. Same price as the Focus ST, Mazda 3 MPS and potentially the Cupra (Not R).

I'm unsure as to what market they are aiming this at? Probably Golf GTI owners? It's slightly less BHP but slightly cheaper.

[Mouse1903]

TobesH said:

The Focus RS Mk2 was 'best in class' surely

If you are forgetting the Renaultsport Megane

[Lowtimer]

I'd certainly have had the Megane over the Focus RS.

[northandy]

jason61c said:

Would someone really pay over £300 a month and/or £9k to rent a focus for 2 years? That just seems bonkers to me.

Or buy it outright and flush 8k down the drain in depreciation?. At least with a pcp you can only lose as a maximum the 9k, if its not worth the GFV at the end if 2 years if its worth more you put that money into another car or pay the finance off and sell it. If the car was only worth 9k you give it back and walk away

In the same scenario on buying outright you lose 11k

Pcp isnt the devil its made out to be in every circumstance, buy well with a discount, low rate finance and the differences arent so wide.

[jason61c]

northandy said:

Or buy it outright and flush 8k down the drain in depreciation?. At least with a pcp you can only lose as a maximum the 9k, if its not worth the GFV at the end if 2 years if its worth more you put that money into another car or pay the finance off and sell it. If the car was only worth 9k you give it back and walk away

In the same scenario on buying outright you lose 11k

Pcp isnt the devil its made out to be in every circumstance, buy well with a discount, low rate finance and the differences arent so wide.

I understand what you're saying but paying 9k to hire a new car for two years is just plain stupid really, especially a focus.

[Shadows]

jason61c said:

I understand what you're saying but paying 9k to hire a new car for two years is just plain stupid really, especially a focus.

Well a new BMW 335i is £479 a month with a 5 grand deposit over 48 Months.. Then there's around a 10K settlement figure if you wish to keep it.

So the BMW works out at just under 23K to rent it and you think the Focus is crazy?