RE: Focus ST vs. Golf TCR vs. Megane Trophy vs. i30 N

[Drekly]

Sutcliffe does seem to like the Megane in this latest vid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwP5--0VI78

Personally don't care if it doesn't lap as fast as the SEAT.

[MikeDB1]

I recognise all of those roads as my farm is nearby. And I bet my Impreza performs better over all of them, especially in the damp/wet that is usual here. And if the Scooby was still on sale it would be a couple of grand cheaper as well !! I accept that an Impreza is not what you want running around a polluted city centre but why oh why do we allow politicians to set stupid limits on what we can and can't drive in the countryside.

[MikeDB1]

cidered77 said:

Not because the MX5 isn’t so much fun, but because it’s noisy, uncomfortable, there is no air con, the interior is all nasty plastic, and the stereo is crap.

Not an MX5 I recognise. With the new engine it makes a great noise, the air con is excellent, it's well fitting plastic and WTF are you listening to the stereo rather than the noise from the exhausts as you boot it out of every corner.

But I accept comfort depends on your size, but then I couldn't buy a new Focus RS as the seats won't raise and I couldn't see over the bonnet well enough, whereas the Mazda is 'just right', at least for me. But if you don't fit the Mazda, you've no hope with the Elise.

In reality it's just a civilised toned down version of the Elise for those who don't want to take a track car for their trip around the NC500 or other Scottish and Welsh roads.

But I will add some negative MX5 points that annoy me - the general software for the control panel is poorly laid out and crap, whilst the sat nav is beyond useless. And the latest software 'update' makes the car switch back to turning off the engine when stationary every few journeys, despite me turning it off.

[Derek Chevalier]

MikeDB1 said:

I recognise all of those roads as my farm is nearby. And I bet my Impreza performs better over all of them, especially in the damp/wet that is usual here. And if the Scooby was still on sale it would be a couple of grand cheaper as well !! I accept that an Impreza is not what you want running around a polluted city centre but why oh why do we allow politicians to set stupid limits on what we can and can't drive in the countryside.

I'm not sure it would be that much better

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/honda/civic/2018/f...

[anonymous-user]

Derek Chevalier said:

I'm not sure it would be that much better

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/honda/civic/2018/f...

I don't know which impreza he has but if his isn't better I'd bet my 12 year old one is.

[MikeDB1]

Derek Chevalier said:

MikeDB1 said:

I recognise all of those roads as my farm is nearby. And I bet my Impreza performs better over all of them, especially in the damp/wet that is usual here. And if the Scooby was still on sale it would be a couple of grand cheaper as well !! I accept that an Impreza is not what you want running around a polluted city centre but why oh why do we allow politicians to set stupid limits on what we can and can't drive in the countryside.

I'm not sure it would be that much better

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/honda/civic/2018/f...

I did say on damp Peak District roads - not a drag strip or what looks like a smooth tarmac'ed Californian (?) road. 4WD is a necessity in the Peak District unless you want to join the bikers at the bottom of one of the many ravines.

[MikeDB1]

Elatino1 said:

Derek Chevalier said:

I'm not sure it would be that much better

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/honda/civic/2018/f...

I don't know which impreza he has but if his isn't better I'd bet my 12 year old one is.

9 years old. And there's a place near Buxton that modifies them perfectly to suit the roads around here.

[CraigV6]

nickfrog said:

It was a no brainer indeed. For me the Trophy is a downgrade for track use compared to the 280 Cup with the wrong wheel size and expensive replacement disks. The difference in weight is very modest too at 18kgs. Discounts on cash were more substantial on a 280 than on a Trophy so that should smooth the blow on depreciation. For such a track capable daily, PCP seems a bit strange as you can't track it.

Edited by nickfrog on Thursday 3rd October 10:15

I think you’ve said most of that a few times previously.

[Derek Chevalier]

MikeDB1 said:

Derek Chevalier said:

MikeDB1 said:

I recognise all of those roads as my farm is nearby. And I bet my Impreza performs better over all of them, especially in the damp/wet that is usual here. And if the Scooby was still on sale it would be a couple of grand cheaper as well !! I accept that an Impreza is not what you want running around a polluted city centre but why oh why do we allow politicians to set stupid limits on what we can and can't drive in the countryside.

I'm not sure it would be that much better

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/honda/civic/2018/f...

I did say on damp Peak District roads - not a drag strip or what looks like a smooth tarmac'ed Californian (?) road. 4WD is a necessity in the Peak District unless you want to join the bikers at the bottom of one of the many ravines.

The Civic seems to do OK in damp conditions (albeit on track).

https://www.hepworthmotorgroup.com/news/the-honda-...

[Zarco]

MikeDB1 said:

I did say on damp Peak District roads - not a drag strip or what looks like a smooth tarmac'ed Californian (?) road. 4WD is a necessity in the Peak District unless you want to join the bikers at the bottom of one of the many ravines.

What happens without 4WD? Terminal understeer into the ravine of doom?

[anonymous-user]

Fwd is certainly is not the optimal layout in the wet.

[Zarco]

Neither is 4WD a necessity.

[MikeDB1]

Zarco said:

MikeDB1 said:

I did say on damp Peak District roads - not a drag strip or what looks like a smooth tarmac'ed Californian (?) road. 4WD is a necessity in the Peak District unless you want to join the bikers at the bottom of one of the many ravines.

What happens without 4WD? Terminal understeer into the ravine of doom?

That's where the bikers end up :-) Or at least a proportion of them. Youtube for the latest incidents.

But seriously, apart from the silly speed limits, Peak District roads are similar to the Isle of Man with some bikers saying they are better in places. And most of the top places on the Manx rally go to 4WD each year.

[MikeDB1]

Zarco said:

Neither is 4WD a necessity.

Not if absolute speed isn't a necessity, no. My MX5 is a lot slower than the Impreza but often more fun. But it's horrible in the sort of wet we've been having recently here.

[Derek Chevalier]

Elatino1 said:

Fwd is certainly is not the optimal layout in the wet.

On the public roads, I don't see how it's a limiting factor

[anonymous-user]

What do you drive? I find my fwd car quite limiting in the wet compared to my awd cars. Pulling out of a junction or accelerating round a bend can result in a lot of wheelspin or understeer respectively.

[Derek Chevalier]

Elatino1 said:

What do you drive? I find my fwd car quite limiting in the wet compared to my awd cars. Pulling out of a junction or accelerating round a bend can result in a lot of wheelspin or understeer respectively.

FK8 Civic Type R. Yes, pulling away hard can result in wheelspin but once up and running I find it fine.

[anonymous-user]

Derek Chevalier said:

Elatino1 said:

What do you drive? I find my fwd car quite limiting in the wet compared to my awd cars. Pulling out of a junction or accelerating round a bend can result in a lot of wheelspin or understeer respectively.

FK8 Civic Type R. Yes, pulling away hard can result in wheelspin but once up and running I find it fine.

I guess the Cup2 tyres on my car make it a fair bit more slippery when accelerating on a bend in the wet but the torque of a turbocharged car certainly makes breaking traction in wet conditions more frequent.

[MikeDB1]

Derek Chevalier said:

Elatino1 said:

Fwd is certainly is not the optimal layout in the wet.

On the public roads, I don't see how it's a limiting factor

If tyres aren't the limiting factor, what is ??? I wouldn't have thought suspension or engine on these modern turbo cars, and if your engine is a bit lacking you can usually tune them up a bit.

But everyone from F1 and WRC downwards always say tyres are the limiting factor on how fast they can go, so I don't see how it's any different on public roads.

[Derek Chevalier]

MikeDB1 said:

Derek Chevalier said:

Elatino1 said:

Fwd is certainly is not the optimal layout in the wet.

On the public roads, I don't see how it's a limiting factor

If tyres aren't the limiting factor, what is ??? I wouldn't have thought suspension or engine on these modern turbo cars, and if your engine is a bit lacking you can usually tune them up a bit.

But everyone from F1 and WRC downwards always say tyres are the limiting factor on how fast they can go, so I don't see how it's any different on public roads.

The speed limits.