astra vxr vs focus st vs fn2 type r

[300bhp/ton]

R1gtr said:

Don't encourage him, yes the Mk1 Focus RS is nice but nearly all have been chavved and modified

I've seen very few that have been chavved. Yes quite a few modded, but that's true of the ST/VXR.

R1gtr said:

clean ones are over priced

There seems to be plenty of choice. Plus they will hold their value, while things like an ST or VXR simply won't. £6k or so invested in an RS is far safer than £6k invested in an ST.

R1gtr said:

not to mention slow

R1gtr said:

pretty sure Evo did a comparison with the ST when it came out and it was slower in lap time than the ST.

Really who gives a chuff, the road isn't a race track

R1gtr said:

Not to mention everytime you sit in one you have to look at 'That' steering wheel....probably the sttiest thing I have ever seen in a car!

Really?

[10 Pence Short]

Torquey said:

Or on the other hand...



Had an FN2 for 3 years and cannot think of anything I'd like to replace it with yet. It has flaws but its good enough for me.

Got to love Honda; all that flashy flashy on the dash, then the cruise control tell-tales are exactly the same as the ones I had on my Accord in '99.

[R1gtr]

300bhp/ton said:

R1gtr said:

Don't encourage him, yes the Mk1 Focus RS is nice but nearly all have been chavved and modified

I've seen very few that have been chavved. Yes quite a few modded, but that's true of the ST/VXR.

R1gtr said:

clean ones are over priced

There seems to be plenty of choice. Plus they will hold their value, while things like an ST or VXR simply won't. £6k or so invested in an RS is far safer than £6k invested in an ST.

R1gtr said:

not to mention slow

R1gtr said:

pretty sure Evo did a comparison with the ST when it came out and it was slower in lap time than the ST.

Really who gives a chuff, the road isn't a race track

R1gtr said:

Not to mention everytime you sit in one you have to look at 'That' steering wheel....probably the sttiest thing I have ever seen in a car!

Really?

So you like the steering wheel?
I have a ST which I think is quick'ish,tho it is nose heavy and would need a few mods to sharpen up the handling,but even in bog standard form if it is quicker point to point than a MK1 RS then yes the RS is relatively 'Slow'.

I do like the RS but there are better weekend cars out there and as a do it all hatchback, again there are better choices.

[ToothbrushMan]

theguvernor said:

Smart Forfour Brabus.
Performance figures are almost the same 0-60 wise.

I was going to ask "eh?" then looked the figures up. He aint far wrong.

Think the ST is probably the best all rounder but I think the 2.5 five pot lets it down in terms of MPG and maybe insurance and tax over a 2.0

[300bhp/ton]

R1gtr said:

So you like the steering wheel?

Honestly I'd say there really isn't much in it. Both aren't things of beauty, but I wouldn't not buy a car just because of the steering wheel.





At worst I'm sure you could swap something different on.

R1gtr said:

I have a ST which I think is quick'ish,tho it is nose heavy and would need a few mods to sharpen up the handling

I actually quite like the ST and as a family car I think they are probably not a bad mass market offering. But the op said it's for weekend use.

R1gtr said:

but even in bog standard form if it is quicker point to point than a MK1 RS then yes the RS is relatively 'Slow'.

Not convinced on this. Road driving is largely about sanity or lack thereof it.

The RS is lighter and has a trick diff, it'll be the more focused drive. Lap times are immaterial really. Both cars are offering similar 0-60mph times and I suspect the RS has the better power to weight ratio.

R1gtr said:

I do like the RS but there are better weekend cars out there and as a do it all hatchback, again there are better choices.

I think there are better weekend cars too, the RS is just probably one of the more special hatchback offerings. But personally I'd not opt for a hatch unless I really had too.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Monday 27th January 16:16

[R1gtr]

Fair enough, I needed a hatchback as the dogs occasionally need a lift.
How about a Mini GP mk1 for the OP?

Christ just noticed the ST seats in your pic, yuck!!

[300bhp/ton]

R1gtr said:

Fair enough, I needed a hatchback as the dogs occasionally need a lift.
How about a Mini GP mk1 for the OP?

If you need a hatchback then that is perfectly fine. But the op hasn't said what they need the car to do. And often people just look at hatches because they are common, not because they are the best solution for what they want.

[rb5er]

Torquey said:

DUMBO100 said:

Get used to this but it's good fun doing it

Or on the other hand...



Had an FN2 for 3 years and cannot think of anything I'd like to replace it with yet. It has flaws but its good enough for me.

Haha, he posts that he managed 19mpg over 320 miles and you post that you managed 42mpg over 3 miles.

Edited by rb5er on Monday 27th January 17:31

[davey68]

Owned a 2007 ST-3 and 2010 FN-2. Late FN2 like mine had xenons and LSD standard which improves it, LSD made it quite a weapon on the twisties. MPG I averaged 31. ST averaged 25 so a fair difference there. I love VTEC so i'd probably suggest FN2 as it feels quite nimble and chuckable especially compared to the ST (nose heavy understeer). However the ST was more comfortable and made a great noise. I'd imagine a remapped or mountuned one would go very well as the 222hp 2.5 engine is in a very mild state of tune. Oh gearshift in the ST is good, in the FN2 its fantastic.

[Gtcomet]

Thanks for all the replies guys, didn't expect so much feedback!
After a bit more consideration, I think the vxr would be a bit raw for me, and although they look the part, I'm not much for the interior (except for the seats). I do like the idea of the focus, certainly fancy the 5cyl engine, but fuel economy seems a bit of a sore point, which although isn't a big issue, is worth considering. Then onto the civic, Love the interior and looks; and that the economy probably wouldn't be too bad when out of vtec (mate has an ep3 which is relatively frugal when driven steady).
I had considered something a bit more special like an s2000/r32/350z, but with my budget, these are more likely to be towards the bottom end and I'd like to come as new as I can really. Did think about the renault, although I'm not a big fan of french cars (although my mk1 megane was indestructible!).
Again, thanks for the replies, much appreciated. Think I'll have to have a good look at a few and see which I prefer.

[LiamM45]

I had the same choice in July. I bought the VXR, there's a build thread on here too.

My reasoning, after driving all three -

Focus - didn't 'feel' quick, it felt a bit over weight. Showing signs of rust on 07 plate cars. Fuel economy wasnt too clever either and the interior wasn't that nice.

Civic - nice interior, good looking car. Nice to drive but just didn't do anything for me. My friends EP3 is a much better car.

Astra - nice Recaro seats. More fun to drive than the other two. They're a simple thing and not much goes wrong, mine does 30-35mpg all day long. Closer to 40 on a run. Running costs have been pennies so far for a modern 240bhp hot hatch.

Completely forget what Clarkson said about the Astra, go drive one. ANY turbo'd 200+bhp FWD car will understeer if you plant the throttle mid corner. I've just fitted some Eibach springs to mine and it has transformed the car while retaining nigh on OE ride quality.

Even after saying the above I don't think you'd be disappointed with any of the 3 you're considering. I will say though when I first went to look I didn't want the VXR, I wanted the ST. It was only after driving both my mind was changed.

[Crafty_]

Gtcomet said:

Thanks for all the replies guys, didn't expect so much feedback!
After a bit more consideration, I think the vxr would be a bit raw for me, and although they look the part, I'm not much for the interior (except for the seats).

Just to add to what Liam said go drive one, I don't think they are raw - unless you start doing silly things (maybe deliberately?) you can't really get in to trouble with one.
If anything you might find the focus too much the other way, I did.. as always YMMV.