RE: Hyundai i30 Fastback N revealed
Discussion
SidewaysSi said:
w00tman said:
SidewaysSi said:
Good chassis but engine lacks low down pull, the steering has little feel, it feels cheap inside, pedals are poorly positioned for HnT, the gearchange is a bit notchy, has plenty (too much?) grip.
A very capable though ultimately quite dull car IMO.
Having sat in one of these over the weekend (but not an owner) I couldn't disagree more with some of what you've said - it's a £28k hatchback and felt equal to my mk7 golf inside, with really only the lower-down plastic feeling cheap. Why h&t if you've auto rev matching? also, I'm not sure too much grip is much of a problem, is it?A very capable though ultimately quite dull car IMO.
First really dissenting opinion I've ever heard on the car. I have no skin in the game, but there's not many critics of this out there at the moment.
Compared to its peers it may be fairly good but not sure I would get on with any of them in that case!
Even in a RWD car I can't imagine wanting less grip ever. I think even in drifting it's not actually about lack of grip from a car but more about weight transfer more than reducing grip.
Anyways, back on topic I think it's a huge shame with this car that everyone loves it but everyone seems too concerned about resale value and looking to get these after a few years when the price has dropped significantly. Real shame as I think Hyundai have really got it right with this.
Jayho said:
Why would you like a fwd hot hatch to move about a little? Lack of grip surely means understeering? I know it can be fixed with a bit of lift off etc, but as much fun as it can be, it is a corrective action which slows you down.
Even in a RWD car I can't imagine wanting less grip ever. I think even in drifting it's not actually about lack of grip from a car but more about weight transfer more than reducing grip.
Anyways, back on topic I think it's a huge shame with this car that everyone loves it but everyone seems too concerned about resale value and looking to get these after a few years when the price has dropped significantly. Real shame as I think Hyundai have really got it right with this.
Fairly sure Hyundai/Kia have some of the best residuals these days.Even in a RWD car I can't imagine wanting less grip ever. I think even in drifting it's not actually about lack of grip from a car but more about weight transfer more than reducing grip.
Anyways, back on topic I think it's a huge shame with this car that everyone loves it but everyone seems too concerned about resale value and looking to get these after a few years when the price has dropped significantly. Real shame as I think Hyundai have really got it right with this.
Jayho said:
SidewaysSi said:
w00tman said:
SidewaysSi said:
Good chassis but engine lacks low down pull, the steering has little feel, it feels cheap inside, pedals are poorly positioned for HnT, the gearchange is a bit notchy, has plenty (too much?) grip.
A very capable though ultimately quite dull car IMO.
Having sat in one of these over the weekend (but not an owner) I couldn't disagree more with some of what you've said - it's a £28k hatchback and felt equal to my mk7 golf inside, with really only the lower-down plastic feeling cheap. Why h&t if you've auto rev matching? also, I'm not sure too much grip is much of a problem, is it?A very capable though ultimately quite dull car IMO.
First really dissenting opinion I've ever heard on the car. I have no skin in the game, but there's not many critics of this out there at the moment.
Compared to its peers it may be fairly good but not sure I would get on with any of them in that case!
Even in a RWD car I can't imagine wanting less grip ever. I think even in drifting it's not actually about lack of grip from a car but more about weight transfer more than reducing grip.
Anyways, back on topic I think it's a huge shame with this car that everyone loves it but everyone seems too concerned about resale value and looking to get these after a few years when the price has dropped significantly. Real shame as I think Hyundai have really got it right with this.
But for me, the car has more fundamental problems to be a properly focused driver's car. Shame as the warranty isn't bad.
Jayho said:
Why would you like a fwd hot hatch to move about a little? Lack of grip surely means understeering? I know it can be fixed with a bit of lift off etc, but as much fun as it can be, it is a corrective action which slows you down.
Even in a RWD car I can't imagine wanting less grip ever. I think even in drifting it's not actually about lack of grip from a car but more about weight transfer more than reducing grip.
Anyways, back on topic I think it's a huge shame with this car that everyone loves it but everyone seems too concerned about resale value and looking to get these after a few years when the price has dropped significantly. Real shame as I think Hyundai have really got it right with this.
Having been out with a pro driver on the i30N experience day at Millbrook I can confirm it can move around a lot if you want it to and push it hard enough. Even in a RWD car I can't imagine wanting less grip ever. I think even in drifting it's not actually about lack of grip from a car but more about weight transfer more than reducing grip.
Anyways, back on topic I think it's a huge shame with this car that everyone loves it but everyone seems too concerned about resale value and looking to get these after a few years when the price has dropped significantly. Real shame as I think Hyundai have really got it right with this.
AJB88 said:
Jayho said:
Why would you like a fwd hot hatch to move about a little? Lack of grip surely means understeering? I know it can be fixed with a bit of lift off etc, but as much fun as it can be, it is a corrective action which slows you down.
Even in a RWD car I can't imagine wanting less grip ever. I think even in drifting it's not actually about lack of grip from a car but more about weight transfer more than reducing grip.
Anyways, back on topic I think it's a huge shame with this car that everyone loves it but everyone seems too concerned about resale value and looking to get these after a few years when the price has dropped significantly. Real shame as I think Hyundai have really got it right with this.
Having been out with a pro driver on the i30N experience day at Millbrook I can confirm it can move around a lot if you want it to and push it hard enough. Even in a RWD car I can't imagine wanting less grip ever. I think even in drifting it's not actually about lack of grip from a car but more about weight transfer more than reducing grip.
Anyways, back on topic I think it's a huge shame with this car that everyone loves it but everyone seems too concerned about resale value and looking to get these after a few years when the price has dropped significantly. Real shame as I think Hyundai have really got it right with this.
It really didn't excite me at all which was a shame.
Why has the Kia N brand gone to the bother of developing a signature colour (the blue one), then used anonymous grey for the press car on this model? My neighbour has a Stinger in grey and it's not as good looking as the red used in the adverts.
Whatever happened to the colour palette of years past?
However, please buy/lease this car now so I can have one for half price in 3 years (in blue).
Whatever happened to the colour palette of years past?
However, please buy/lease this car now so I can have one for half price in 3 years (in blue).
SidewaysSi said:
Let's agree to disagree. I have driven the car and it is decent but lacks the fun factor for me, particularly on road. And why do you want too much grip? I like my cars to move about a little.
Compared to its peers it may be fairly good but not sure I would get on with any of them in that case!
Oh no, totally agree to disagree - I appreciate you being able/happy to expand on your views on it. Your views are totally valid, I was keen to understand them a little more - so appreciate you sharing.Compared to its peers it may be fairly good but not sure I would get on with any of them in that case!
For me, I'm interested in one based on everything so far - it's not a rip-roaring monster like the A45 (but it's not £50k, either), it's not a mad Japanese turbo-nutter b*&stard like the Type R (but it also doesn't look like *that*) and it's not as staid and generic as the fabulous-but-very-germanic Golf R.
I did chuckle at the person who said "then I saw the price - £28k - no thanks" - the price of every bloody new car is expensive these days - my Fiat 500 Abarth was knocking on £20k new!
alfabadass said:
Stick an Audi or BMW badge and everyone would be hating it.
Well yes that's part of the appeal isn't it? It isn't another default German premium brand car, but one which due to its unfashionable badge will probably be bought by "those in the know". Bit like the original Subaru Impreza Turbo..obviously without the rally heritage, but looks well built, has enough power, doesn't shout "Halfords", has good road test reviews and the promise of good reliability (not a given with BMW and Audi these days), plus a strong warranty. What's not to like?alfabadass said:
Stick an Audi or BMW badge and everyone would be hating it.
If you stuck a BMW badge on this, no-one would believe it was meant to be there. BMW haven't designed a car with surface treatment this simple since the E46. Personally I think it's better looking than anything BMW are currently producing, but I appreciate that's a very personal thing; some people presumably like the intersecting compound curves BMW and Mercedes are so fond of these days. Edited by kambites on Thursday 27th September 08:15
kambites said:
alfabadass said:
Stick an Audi or BMW badge and everyone would be hating it.
If you stuck a BMW badge on this, no-one would believe it was meant to be there. BMW haven't designed a car with surface treatment this simple since the E46. Personally I think it's better looking than anything BMW are currently producing, but I appreciate that's a very personal thing; some people presumably like the intersecting compound curves BMW and Mercedes are so fond of these days. Edited by kambites on Thursday 27th September 08:15
This^^GCs and fastbacks aren't that big in the UK. They're designed for markets where estates, sorry "touring", models don't sell well due to image problems.
We see estates as classy, our minds filled with wistful visions of shooting parties dressed in Harris Tweed, throwing a dozen brace of pheasant in the back of a Volvo 740 on a purple hillside, or antiques dealers loading one up with a Queen Anne dresser, ready for the long slog up to auction rooms at Quaint On The Wolds.
On the continent, estates are working vehicles, and considered undesirable by the aspiring middle classes, so the fastbacks sell much better.
In short, anyone struggling to understand the styling on these things, don't worry about it, we're not meant to.
We see estates as classy, our minds filled with wistful visions of shooting parties dressed in Harris Tweed, throwing a dozen brace of pheasant in the back of a Volvo 740 on a purple hillside, or antiques dealers loading one up with a Queen Anne dresser, ready for the long slog up to auction rooms at Quaint On The Wolds.
On the continent, estates are working vehicles, and considered undesirable by the aspiring middle classes, so the fastbacks sell much better.
In short, anyone struggling to understand the styling on these things, don't worry about it, we're not meant to.
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