RE: Hyundai i30 N | PH Used Buying Guide
Discussion
PokiGTA said:
While the i30N was a stunning first offering from the Korean brand, I still don’t understand why the Peugeot 308 GTi 270 doesn’t get a look in as an alternative to the Golf? Lighter, faster, better stuff... The only real benefit with the Golf or i30 is the infotainment system but you’re in a hot hatch? Who cares if you have a bigger screen?
The Pug is the best hatch in that market by a fair margin and it has a real LSD and bigger brakes than pretty much every other car on the market (bigger here in Aus than the Jeep GC SRT). The 1.6 has been around in the RCZ PSE for ages and is solid and unless you’re a weird height the tiny steering wheel and odd cockpit can be sorted.
The i30 tho, is a good car. But it sounds like the competition for the all rounder Golf, is the soft option.
I dont like Peaugeots really but it is true that the 308 is wayyyy better... It just is..The Pug is the best hatch in that market by a fair margin and it has a real LSD and bigger brakes than pretty much every other car on the market (bigger here in Aus than the Jeep GC SRT). The 1.6 has been around in the RCZ PSE for ages and is solid and unless you’re a weird height the tiny steering wheel and odd cockpit can be sorted.
The i30 tho, is a good car. But it sounds like the competition for the all rounder Golf, is the soft option.
Dombilano said:
308 gti has a torsion beam rear axle and torque robbing 1.6 engine.
Like most fast Renault hatches and they're known for being rubbish handling cars. Maybe the latest one with a 1.8 litre engine makes up for it.Nowt wrong with a well setup torsion beam rear in a relatively light FWD car.
I have driven one for about 15 miles and it was alright but didn’t make me look at the classifieds.
That said it drove every bit as well as a MK7 GTI PP and the spec was decent.
The exhaust pops and bangs were a novelty for half an hour but to live with would be annoying. I hate the fakery, it doesn’t pop at all when not in N mode.
That said it drove every bit as well as a MK7 GTI PP and the spec was decent.
The exhaust pops and bangs were a novelty for half an hour but to live with would be annoying. I hate the fakery, it doesn’t pop at all when not in N mode.
PokiGTA said:
While the i30N was a stunning first offering from the Korean brand, I still don’t understand why the Peugeot 308 GTi 270 doesn’t get a look in as an alternative to the Golf? Lighter, faster, better stuff... The only real benefit with the Golf or i30 is the infotainment system but you’re in a hot hatch? Who cares if you have a bigger screen?
The Pug is the best hatch in that market by a fair margin and it has a real LSD and bigger brakes than pretty much every other car on the market (bigger here in Aus than the Jeep GC SRT). The 1.6 has been around in the RCZ PSE for ages and is solid and unless you’re a weird height the tiny steering wheel and odd cockpit can be sorted.
The i30 tho, is a good car. But it sounds like the competition for the all rounder Golf, is the soft option.
and you can get the 308 gti brand new for £21k...far better value than the i30nThe Pug is the best hatch in that market by a fair margin and it has a real LSD and bigger brakes than pretty much every other car on the market (bigger here in Aus than the Jeep GC SRT). The 1.6 has been around in the RCZ PSE for ages and is solid and unless you’re a weird height the tiny steering wheel and odd cockpit can be sorted.
The i30 tho, is a good car. But it sounds like the competition for the all rounder Golf, is the soft option.
Test drove a 308gti - really wanted to like it think its a great looking car - but absolutely no feedback from the steering at all, which gave me no confidence in it.
Also seems to be on the boost all the time which coupled with those uprated brakes meant having to really give mm-precise inputs via the pedals. That was quite exhausting but also felt really unnatural when combined with its gear change which had the longest throw I have ever experienced - like working an old signal box.
Looking for a warm/hot hatch and would like to consider this but prices a bit strong. probably end up with a Fiesta ST.
Also seems to be on the boost all the time which coupled with those uprated brakes meant having to really give mm-precise inputs via the pedals. That was quite exhausting but also felt really unnatural when combined with its gear change which had the longest throw I have ever experienced - like working an old signal box.
Looking for a warm/hot hatch and would like to consider this but prices a bit strong. probably end up with a Fiesta ST.
TBH if money had been no object I'd have probably gone for a Civic Type-R tbh but it wasn't so an ex-demo i30N was a no brainer really (for me).
I think there's a lot of good cars in this sector though so it really is down to personal preference. I too did wonder about buying a Hyundai but, having had it a year and a half, I'd have another one.
I think there's a lot of good cars in this sector though so it really is down to personal preference. I too did wonder about buying a Hyundai but, having had it a year and a half, I'd have another one.
Edited by BigMon on Sunday 21st February 20:33
We went from a Golf GTI with 200bhp, albeit a Mk6, to a 2020 i30 with 200bhp. Accepting one is new and the other was an update of the Mk5, the i30 is just better to drive than the Golf in every way, with a ride the Golf couldn't imagine. I know its not the same as comparing an i30N to a Mk7 GTI, but I still don't get what the attraction is to the Golf. The Golf we had was dull, the i30 is much more entertaining. I've only drive one Mk7 Golf, a 1.4 TSI, but that was also quite generically dull, and wouldn't suggest the GTI would be as great as its plaudits claim.
The dash might not have the same level of softfeeliness but its all clear and it all works. And my betting is that it'll just continue to work without throwing out random lights every so often.
And as for 'taking a chance' on an i30, they outsell the Golf 2:1 over here. The idea that the Golf isn't competing with any other hot hatch, and has transcended mere hot hatch to become some other-worldly Car God did make me chuckle. The power of Marketing over Engineering.
The dash might not have the same level of softfeeliness but its all clear and it all works. And my betting is that it'll just continue to work without throwing out random lights every so often.
And as for 'taking a chance' on an i30, they outsell the Golf 2:1 over here. The idea that the Golf isn't competing with any other hot hatch, and has transcended mere hot hatch to become some other-worldly Car God did make me chuckle. The power of Marketing over Engineering.
One of my friends has one of these, I have driven it on track a few times and think it a great bit of kit...he has since modified it with a remap to 300ps, Resonator delete etc and it feels built to take punishment.
Until recently I have is a succession of GTI’s as company cars and no which I would prefer!
Until recently I have is a succession of GTI’s as company cars and no which I would prefer!
Mpg combined cycle starting with a 4? I am sure every long term test I’ve read on these has them as thirsty old gals
Love the exhaust on these, Bert knows what (most) hot hatch drivers want.....just a shame don’t seem to have sold loads p, think badge snobbery and pcp deals weren’t great. Holding value though
Love the exhaust on these, Bert knows what (most) hot hatch drivers want.....just a shame don’t seem to have sold loads p, think badge snobbery and pcp deals weren’t great. Holding value though
PomBstard said:
We went from a Golf GTI with 200bhp, albeit a Mk6, to a 2020 i30 with 200bhp. Accepting one is new and the other was an update of the Mk5, the i30 is just better to drive than the Golf in every way, with a ride the Golf couldn't imagine. I know its not the same as comparing an i30N to a Mk7 GTI, but I still don't get what the attraction is to the Golf. The Golf we had was dull, the i30 is much more entertaining. I've only drive one Mk7 Golf, a 1.4 TSI, but that was also quite generically dull, and wouldn't suggest the GTI would be as great as its plaudits claim.
The dash might not have the same level of softfeeliness but its all clear and it all works. And my betting is that it'll just continue to work without throwing out random lights every so often.
And as for 'taking a chance' on an i30, they outsell the Golf 2:1 over here. The idea that the Golf isn't competing with any other hot hatch, and has transcended mere hot hatch to become some other-worldly Car God did make me chuckle. The power of Marketing over Engineering.
The Mk6 came out in 2008, so you're comparing a decade old car (and let's be honest, the Mk6 brought nothing new from the Mk5, so most of it was 2004) to a new one. Nice to know that 16 years of development resulted in improvements.The dash might not have the same level of softfeeliness but its all clear and it all works. And my betting is that it'll just continue to work without throwing out random lights every so often.
And as for 'taking a chance' on an i30, they outsell the Golf 2:1 over here. The idea that the Golf isn't competing with any other hot hatch, and has transcended mere hot hatch to become some other-worldly Car God did make me chuckle. The power of Marketing over Engineering.
Now compare it to a Mk7. Even an early one.
How many left is suggesting around 2-2.5,000 sold in the UK which is why you don’t see many about. You can probably pick a new one up for not much more than the used prices but I’d expect them prices to fall this year as the updated model is introduced.
Head over to the Nurburgring (with Hyundai now becoming one of the official taxis) and the place is flooded with them a really popular car I just don’t think it got the sales it deserves in the UK.
If I didn’t get a Yaris I was very close to getting the 2021 model of this.
Head over to the Nurburgring (with Hyundai now becoming one of the official taxis) and the place is flooded with them a really popular car I just don’t think it got the sales it deserves in the UK.
If I didn’t get a Yaris I was very close to getting the 2021 model of this.
PokiGTA said:
While the i30N was a stunning first offering from the Korean brand, I still don’t understand why the Peugeot 308 GTi 270 doesn’t get a look in as an alternative to the Golf? Lighter, faster, better stuff... .
It's more newsworthy. Nothing to do with the cars themselves. Media sites like PH and all the others are about getting pages read/subscribers etc. To do this you have to attract attention and a new i30N will do it better than a 308GTI. Simple as that.Always liked these and tried one last year. Really nice car and a great package. Lots of fun, sounded hilarious and felt solid.
For me, it just didn't quite feel as special overall as the Megane RS280 we went for.
It doesn't help that the N-Line trim diluted the distinguishing looks of the full-fat N - you need to be eagle-eyes to tell an N from an N-Line which seems a shame. Ford ST-Line does the same. By comparison the Renault is more recognisable with flared arches and unique front and rear.
A daft thing sticks in my memory - the lower-spec i30s had metal interior door handles, the Ns were black plastic. Obviously that's not what you buy the car for, but seemed a bit mean for the flagship. I'm not saying the Renault is a Bentley inside, but that and similar tiny details just let the interior down a bit.
Overall they're a very similar proposition, and I totally get the appeal of the N, they're great cars.
For me, it just didn't quite feel as special overall as the Megane RS280 we went for.
It doesn't help that the N-Line trim diluted the distinguishing looks of the full-fat N - you need to be eagle-eyes to tell an N from an N-Line which seems a shame. Ford ST-Line does the same. By comparison the Renault is more recognisable with flared arches and unique front and rear.
A daft thing sticks in my memory - the lower-spec i30s had metal interior door handles, the Ns were black plastic. Obviously that's not what you buy the car for, but seemed a bit mean for the flagship. I'm not saying the Renault is a Bentley inside, but that and similar tiny details just let the interior down a bit.
Overall they're a very similar proposition, and I totally get the appeal of the N, they're great cars.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff