RE: Hyundai i30 N Performance: PH Fleet

[Deep Thought]

Tannedbaldhead said:

I wish my 208gti had an exhaust I could turn down.
Sporty exhausts can be great fun. They are not so much fun droning away for the duration of a long motorway journey. Last month I drove from Central Scotland to Cork in the South of Ireland and back then the next week did a return trip to Manchester. The I30 N in quiet mode would have been perfect for such road trips.

When we're all driving around in silent electric cars in a few years time, you'll reminisce about that exhaust....

[Derek Chevalier]

Onehp said:

A slightly different track test because it is on a very tight track, which incidentally resembles the roads I enjoy most a lot better than the usual track tests.
You'll be surprised at which car is the quickest. Or perhaps not...
https://youtu.be/Vfhw07KOjow

Interesting ad, er test.

[Onehp]

Derek Chevalier said:

Interesting ad, er test.

Really? On such a narrow track I can think of a few reasons why the Type R isn't as fast as expected, one is set-up, the other is width.

[Greg 172]

Deep Thought said:

Tannedbaldhead said:

I wish my 208gti had an exhaust I could turn down.
Sporty exhausts can be great fun. They are not so much fun droning away for the duration of a long motorway journey. Last month I drove from Central Scotland to Cork in the South of Ireland and back then the next week did a return trip to Manchester. The I30 N in quiet mode would have been perfect for such road trips.

When we're all driving around in silent electric cars in a few years time, you'll reminisce about that exhaust....

Hmm, yes and no. My 208 GTi was picked up Wednesday and has been replaced with a Leon FR 1.8. Leon is much more peaceful, feel quiet and grown up in comparison. l can barely hear the engine and in a way that's quite nice.

On the other hand I did feel a bit sad when the inspection guy started upthe GTi to leave. It's wasn't particularly loud on start up, but always made me smile.

[SidewaysSi]

TXG399 said:

I was lucky enough to spend a day in an i30 N at Milbrook recently and I was very, very impressed. If my circumstances were appropriate there is absolutely no doubt that I'd buy one. The feel and handling were incredible, IMO it handled better than an FK2 Type R, and the build quality was also faultless.

I wouldn't class the feel as incredible at all to be honest. I actually found it really quite lacking in that department. It does have a decent chassis though with very decent grip but on road I don't think it would be a particularly fun car, especially when far below its handling limits.

Also the words 'intoxicating', 'incredible sounding' ,'character', 'soul', used by another poster is somewhat over egging it.

The i30 is a fine car but is far from having God like talents which some people like to think it has.

Negatives for me were poor steering feel, pedals which weren't best placed for HnT changes, a slightly notchy gearchange, insufficient low down pull (it never felt particularly quick) and almost too much grip. Consequently you probably would very rarely make it dance on road. Though that is probably symptomatic of the modern hot hatch rather than a criticism of the Hyundai in particular.

And the interior materials felt cheap, if such things matter.

Edited by SidewaysSi on Friday 31st August 17:51

[Derek Chevalier]

Onehp said:

Derek Chevalier said:

Interesting ad, er test.

Really? On such a narrow track I can think of a few reasons why the Type R isn't as fast as expected, one is set-up, the other is width.

I can think of 3 why it would be quicker, 80kg lighter, 40hp more and I'd be willing to bet the Civic's tyres are slightly better on track too. Not sure how you think the setup makes it inferior?

[Derek Chevalier]

Recent comparison of i30N vs rivals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMwiOf6hD8s

[the_hood]

Vocht said:

I mean how can a Hyundai come out of nowhere and knock Type R's, Renaultsports, GTIs etc off their perch?

It hasn't!

[Niffty951]

Vocht said:

Before experiencing the I30N and coming from a Golf R myself I was extremely sceptical of the Hyundai and thought all the great reviews were just paid for promotions and favourable reflections of large advertising campaign spends. I mean how can a Hyundai come out of nowhere and knock Type R's, Renaultsports, GTIs etc off their perch?

Well they well and truly have done! Yes a Golf R may launch better, yes a Type R may be faster round a track, objectively the I30N is trumped in most areas, but it's got more character and soul than the lot of them. From the way it turns in to the incredible sounding exhaust, the I30N is intoxicating. I find myself driving my "Ultimate Golf" and wishing I was in a cheaper Hyundai, who'd have thought I'd ever say that.

If you haven't tried an N I implore you to do so, you'll be hooked.

I enjoyed that read, added to the value of the article thank you. I strongly suggest you look at the OBD plug in remap options for your last year of ownership. It can be put back to standard when the time comes but it'll bring out a character in the car you didn't think possible. The standard car is capable but flat, dull, withstrained. A map awakens the beast inside. It's a different experience entirely.. and extracts a precious few more mpg on the motorway too.

[Onehp]

Derek Chevalier said:

Onehp said:

Derek Chevalier said:

Interesting ad, er test.

Really? On such a narrow track I can think of a few reasons why the Type R isn't as fast as expected, one is set-up, the other is width.

I can think of 3 why it would be quicker, 80kg lighter, 40hp more and I'd be willing to bet the Civic's tyres are slightly better on track too. Not sure how you think the setup makes it inferior?

Not inferior per se, but I do think the Type R is more set up for high speed stability and the i30N more towards agility. Outright power doesn't matter either on a track like that, response much more so and they should be fairly equal there. In the end a few tenths or even a second difference doesn't matter on the road...