RE: £25k mega-hatches | Six of the Best
Discussion
Nik Gnashers said:
I think that's a tad of an exaggeration si.
The M140i isn't the sharpest handling car of the article, for sure, but unless the article was 'best hatches for trackdays' then that is not the point.
It's not a 'mess' at all, it's very good until you push it at 9/10ths and then it's suspension & diff starts to fall short (which is easily remedied if that is what you want the car for.
Completely agree with this.The M140i isn't the sharpest handling car of the article, for sure, but unless the article was 'best hatches for trackdays' then that is not the point.
It's not a 'mess' at all, it's very good until you push it at 9/10ths and then it's suspension & diff starts to fall short (which is easily remedied if that is what you want the car for.
ash73 said:
lee_erm said:
Get yourself a nice Z4M Coupe for that money. Which is also a hatchback. All be it without rear seats!
You won't be getting many people in the back of the Megane either.Steve12NG said:
Quite an entertaining discussion.
Have only been in one on the list (a mate had an early Mk 7 Golf R hatch) but I was so impressed I just bought the estate version (wagon as we call them in Oz).
Frankly as a daily driver it’s hard to imagine a better all round car.
Depends what your daily drive is, everyone's is different as are their needs, so the perfect daily car will be different depending on what you need from that car. Have only been in one on the list (a mate had an early Mk 7 Golf R hatch) but I was so impressed I just bought the estate version (wagon as we call them in Oz).
Frankly as a daily driver it’s hard to imagine a better all round car.
DoubleD said:
Depends what your daily drive is, everyone's is different as are their needs, so the perfect daily car will be different depending on what you need from that car.
Of course. Perhaps I should have said “all rounder”. I drive it to work, put the dogs in the back (filthy) on days off, drive to the shops etc., and still find it fun to go for a morning blat through the hills for a pie and coffee on days where the weather would otherwise dictate I stay at home.
It’s a great all round car, but not necessarily the sharpest of the bunch.
Can you get a Scirrocco R in budget. I know its 'just a golf', but its not. Prettier and rarer than any on the list and a blast to drive. Fro. The list, Honda, Golf and Focus really appeal. Its crazy you can now find so much performance for what is, comparatively, such little outlay...and such diverse characters of car!!
Steve12NG said:
DoubleD said:
Depends what your daily drive is, everyone's is different as are their needs, so the perfect daily car will be different depending on what you need from that car.
Of course. Perhaps I should have said “all rounder”. I drive it to work, put the dogs in the back (filthy) on days off, drive to the shops etc., and still find it fun to go for a morning blat through the hills for a pie and coffee on days where the weather would otherwise dictate I stay at home.
It’s a great all round car, but not necessarily the sharpest of the bunch.
And underneath it’s still a Golf. Solid interior, looks good. Not too lairy, no mad stickers. Just fairly discreet and a bit of a Q car.
Combine all the reasons why Golfs sell so well anyway with 300bhp AWD and it’s a winning combination.
Same goes for the new M135i. Once you get past the fact that it’s a 4-pot AWD you’ll see plenty of previous 135/140 owners saying it’s a much better tied down car that’s quicker and more capable than the old one in the real world and in all weathers. Again add in a really good interior and tech and it’s a very well resolved combination.
Combine all the reasons why Golfs sell so well anyway with 300bhp AWD and it’s a winning combination.
Same goes for the new M135i. Once you get past the fact that it’s a 4-pot AWD you’ll see plenty of previous 135/140 owners saying it’s a much better tied down car that’s quicker and more capable than the old one in the real world and in all weathers. Again add in a really good interior and tech and it’s a very well resolved combination.
SidewaysSi said:
The Ford and VW are pretty lame and the BMW a mess unless tweaked.
The Mégane is surely easily the best out of that lot.
The Megane or Honda are probably the best bets for something exciting for sure. BMW have a habit of making a brilliant engine and chassis and fitting fairly average suspension components. It's very odd, they can make the proper M cars work very well on bumpy roads but the 'M-sport' or whatever it's called this week, is always a bit all over the place once you venture beyond 7/10ths. Actually saying that, the M2 is too harsh IMO as well, so perhaps they actually don't care!?The Mégane is surely easily the best out of that lot.
M140i is good value out of that lot. The Mégane might be a great hot hatch but it doesn't have a huge following, so may take a while to sell at that price.
Focus RS though, that's the one! It's a classic with a fantastic engine - and not many mainstream cars have kept their value so well from new. I like the blue, I think the green would be too much for me though!
Focus RS though, that's the one! It's a classic with a fantastic engine - and not many mainstream cars have kept their value so well from new. I like the blue, I think the green would be too much for me though!
Hub said:
M140i is good value out of that lot. The Mégane might be a great hot hatch but it doesn't have a huge following, so may take a while to sell at that price.
Focus RS though, that's the one! It's a classic with a fantastic engine - and not many mainstream cars have kept their value so well from new. I like the blue, I think the green would be too much for me though!
Most of the Focus RS take ages to sell as well. Focus RS though, that's the one! It's a classic with a fantastic engine - and not many mainstream cars have kept their value so well from new. I like the blue, I think the green would be too much for me though!
Both have the same issue that they have certain dealers that have somehow manage to get away with asking stupid prices and people base their valuations on that.
Quite a few times when I've been buying cars the enthusiasts tell me to ignore valuation guides. They are irrelevant to market value they think.
The same thing keeps happening. Once they get to the end of their ownership they find that the amount of private buyers willing to ignore price guides are few and far between. They have no option of trading the car in as every dealer goes by the book that they thought was irrelevant. Hence why they end up sitting on the market for ages.
The Honda FK8 seems sooo good on paper, until you do some research:
They overheat during hot weather (c. 30degC and above), especially during trackdays.
Gearbox roulette, and if yours is duff, its faults will be myriad. And Honda won’t honour its warranty.
Much of that purposeful-looking venting is actually cosmetic and/or ineffectual (overheating).
So, as you trundle along with the engine in limp mode because it’s summer, while trying to get the gearbox to select a ratio and/or stay in gear, you realise you’re driving the car equivalent of padding your Calvins with socks. Magnificent.
They overheat during hot weather (c. 30degC and above), especially during trackdays.
Gearbox roulette, and if yours is duff, its faults will be myriad. And Honda won’t honour its warranty.
Much of that purposeful-looking venting is actually cosmetic and/or ineffectual (overheating).
So, as you trundle along with the engine in limp mode because it’s summer, while trying to get the gearbox to select a ratio and/or stay in gear, you realise you’re driving the car equivalent of padding your Calvins with socks. Magnificent.
NGK210 said:
The Honda FK8 seems sooo good on paper, until you do some research:
They overheat during hot weather (c. 30degC and above), especially during trackdays.
Gearbox roulette, and if yours is duff, its faults will be myriad. And Honda won’t honour its warranty.
Much of that purposeful-looking venting is actually cosmetic and/or ineffectual (overheating).
So, as you trundle along with the engine in limp mode because it’s summer, while trying to get the gearbox to select a ratio and/or stay in gear, you realise you’re driving the car equivalent of padding your Calvins with socks. Magnificent.
So...are they ALL like that? The world over? Honda produce car with chocolate mechanicals would be a big story, no? I am genuinely interested as I have always had Honda pegged as an impeccable company for engineering integrity and research and development. Have they finally produced a lemon?They overheat during hot weather (c. 30degC and above), especially during trackdays.
Gearbox roulette, and if yours is duff, its faults will be myriad. And Honda won’t honour its warranty.
Much of that purposeful-looking venting is actually cosmetic and/or ineffectual (overheating).
So, as you trundle along with the engine in limp mode because it’s summer, while trying to get the gearbox to select a ratio and/or stay in gear, you realise you’re driving the car equivalent of padding your Calvins with socks. Magnificent.
NGK210 said:
The Honda FK8 seems sooo good on paper, until you do some research:
They overheat during hot weather (c. 30degC and above), especially during trackdays.
Gearbox roulette, and if yours is duff, its faults will be myriad. And Honda won’t honour its warranty.
Much of that purposeful-looking venting is actually cosmetic and/or ineffectual (overheating).
So, as you trundle along with the engine in limp mode because it’s summer, while trying to get the gearbox to select a ratio and/or stay in gear, you realise you’re driving the car equivalent of padding your Calvins with socks. Magnificent.
Thanks for the insight.They overheat during hot weather (c. 30degC and above), especially during trackdays.
Gearbox roulette, and if yours is duff, its faults will be myriad. And Honda won’t honour its warranty.
Much of that purposeful-looking venting is actually cosmetic and/or ineffectual (overheating).
So, as you trundle along with the engine in limp mode because it’s summer, while trying to get the gearbox to select a ratio and/or stay in gear, you realise you’re driving the car equivalent of padding your Calvins with socks. Magnificent.
I've long been a Honda fan but it seems they are losing the plot by not honouring warranty faults
Quality problems on their motorbikes as well from personal experience
Very sad
biggbn said:
Can you get a Scirrocco R in budget. I know its 'just a golf', but its not. Prettier and rarer than any on the list and a blast to drive. ...
Was thinking about ‘Rocco R, too. Great value, also good rep for reliability, which is unusual for a hot VW. Autocar’s Focus RS vs Scirocco R vid:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9VqbsWzKJMo
I was hot hatch hunting back in 2018 with an open mind but as soon as I spent a bit of time with the Honda there really wasn't any other choice to make. Admittedly the Ford RS I was looking at was the newer model and a better like-for-like comparison might have been an in yer face lime green MK2 but it was an easy decision for me anyhow.
renmure said:
I was hot hatch hunting back in 2018 with an open mind but as soon as I spent a bit of time with the Honda there really wasn't any other choice to make. Admittedly the Ford RS I was looking at was the newer model and a better like-for-like comparison might have been an in yer face lime green MK2 but it was an easy decision for me anyhow.
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