Mega Hatch Vote - Golf R v RS3 v A45AMGv M135i v WRX STI
- Thread starter ZermattV
- Start date
jimmybell said:
Not really sure about that but. I would have been more inclined to agree if BMW hadn't devised this M performance entry brand as I would agree if we were talking about the old 135i. You have to remember that the M135i, although not entirely an M car does have an M division hand in it's development to justify the letter before it's name. For example, I believe they claim the suspension is 80% M. The RS is obviously a full fat model as is the AMG with it's hand assembled engine but the Golf R is possibly the most normal of the lot, built by the same disgruntled workers and out of date robots at the Wolfsburg plant along with all the other Golfs, Polos, Ups etc.
I would say the comparable cars in their brackets are M135i - Golf R - S3 - RS Megane - Type R - Cupra 280 then the super special division SAS assassin models such as A45 AMG (possibly the S model) - RS3 - Rs Megane Trophy Cup thingy - Cupra 280 Sub 8 and of course the M2 and Golf R400 when they come out.
Actually the M2 might be a weird one. It could be viewed more as a cayman competitor.
Test drove the R this morning, it was a 3 dr, DSG with 19's. Few observations:
- Ride is firm, but well damped. Perfectly acceptable for daily use on 19's an no fancy dynamic ride.
- It's quick alright!! You'd never think it's a 2.0, so much torque.
- Sounded really good, symphonised or not, I can get past that.
- Using the paddles was actually good fun, but I did find the DSG hunting a couple of times in auto mode, not even under much load.
- Surprisingly like the DSG farting noise and shift are very quick in sport mode, but annoyingly lazy in comfort, found myself hitting the paddle twice thinking it hasn't processed it, then suddenly jumped down 2 gears.
- Steering has pretty much zero feel, but well weighted and sharp.
- Cabin is very good as you'd expect, feels bigger than the 320d saloon hire car I had a few weeks back.
- Sat Nav screen quality\graphics are quite poor (standard size)
- Handles well!
- Couldn't feel haldex, but it was dry and reviews say the same, needs to be wet.
- Certainly doesn't understeer!
- Seats are nice, but not as supportive as they look, must good be for the "bigger built" person.
- Zero sense of occasion, to be expected, it's a 3 dr hatchback I guess
I guess if I was to go to one car (Z4M and 5 series) it would do a very good job, but that's the problem with a 1 car fleet, it just does everything well....
Also test drove a 30d X3. Very impressed, things have progressed a lot from the previous version that my wife has. Perfect size for family use and that 30d engine really shifts, rides very well even on 20's, cabin feels much better than it looks in pictures. Harman Kardon sounds very fantastic. Very impressed, shame the rear end doesn't look better! MPG quite poor when cold (30mpg) but got it up to 38mpg. Of course, again, zero sense of occasion. Think I'd get pretty bored after a year or so, really need one just to replace the 5 and keep the Zed.
I picked up my daughter at lunchtime from school, she was so excited to get picked up in the Zed with the roof down, waving at all her friends.... it's not just me that enjoys it....
I don't know what to do..... Not sure I could stomach the price new for either!
- Ride is firm, but well damped. Perfectly acceptable for daily use on 19's an no fancy dynamic ride.
- It's quick alright!! You'd never think it's a 2.0, so much torque.
- Sounded really good, symphonised or not, I can get past that.
- Using the paddles was actually good fun, but I did find the DSG hunting a couple of times in auto mode, not even under much load.
- Surprisingly like the DSG farting noise and shift are very quick in sport mode, but annoyingly lazy in comfort, found myself hitting the paddle twice thinking it hasn't processed it, then suddenly jumped down 2 gears.
- Steering has pretty much zero feel, but well weighted and sharp.
- Cabin is very good as you'd expect, feels bigger than the 320d saloon hire car I had a few weeks back.
- Sat Nav screen quality\graphics are quite poor (standard size)
- Handles well!
- Couldn't feel haldex, but it was dry and reviews say the same, needs to be wet.
- Certainly doesn't understeer!
- Seats are nice, but not as supportive as they look, must good be for the "bigger built" person.
- Zero sense of occasion, to be expected, it's a 3 dr hatchback I guess
I guess if I was to go to one car (Z4M and 5 series) it would do a very good job, but that's the problem with a 1 car fleet, it just does everything well....
Also test drove a 30d X3. Very impressed, things have progressed a lot from the previous version that my wife has. Perfect size for family use and that 30d engine really shifts, rides very well even on 20's, cabin feels much better than it looks in pictures. Harman Kardon sounds very fantastic. Very impressed, shame the rear end doesn't look better! MPG quite poor when cold (30mpg) but got it up to 38mpg. Of course, again, zero sense of occasion. Think I'd get pretty bored after a year or so, really need one just to replace the 5 and keep the Zed.
I picked up my daughter at lunchtime from school, she was so excited to get picked up in the Zed with the roof down, waving at all her friends.... it's not just me that enjoys it....
I don't know what to do..... Not sure I could stomach the price new for either!
No suprise the 135 is topping the poll (on a bmw forum!)
My vote was the Golf... With its awd and more relaxed drive is a much better all rounder than the 135.
The A45 is too expensive... But i would include the focus/ fiesta RS (although undriven) as those should offer outstanding value!
My vote was the Golf... With its awd and more relaxed drive is a much better all rounder than the 135.
The A45 is too expensive... But i would include the focus/ fiesta RS (although undriven) as those should offer outstanding value!
jimmybell said:
Well admittedly I haven't driven the RS3 either, it's too new, but I've read/watched about six in-depth reviews of it now from some pretty well respected journalists (Chris Harris etc.) and they are all pretty consistent. Nice engine with great sound, nowhere near as quick as you think (the Autocar full road test figures support this btw), overly harsh ride although not quite as awful as the previous model (where have we heard that before on an Audi RS?), understeers like buggery on a circuit (was slower than the Golf R) and is frankly ridiculously expensive once a few options have been ticked. Compared to an S3 which is way more civilised in damping, has 95% of the performance, looks nicer to these eyes. It's always the same with Audi - the S is the better model and makes more sense. Audi just don't seem capable of producing rewarding RS cars. Those models should be head and shoulders above the rest of the range and instead their cheaper sub-brand (VW) produce a car £10k cheaper that will lap faster. Shouldn't RS cars be the ultimate VAG group sporting cars (i.e. on track) this side of Porsche and Lamborghini? Can you imagine an M135i being quicker than say an M2 or an M4 in the same way?
I've been careful to leave out my natural anti-Audi bias here as Zermatt was hinting at!
well balanced review OG - or you could do the Jax thing which is have the S and up the power as he has done with his S4 which looks pretty reserved but goes like stink .I'm not in a very Pro- Audi mood having just been overtaken by a Guy in an S5 coming out of a local village on a section where they have put down new chippings - cue spray of chippings one of which has put a small chip on SWMBOs Qashqai windscreen - :x :x
ZermattV said:
It wasn't on the list
I don't mind that it's being slated for it's looks, it's going to split opinion, like the EP3 did/does.
But in anycase the type R was built for speed/handling, 7:50 round the ring will go head to head with a Porsche Cayman even with Walter Rorhl at the wheel as someone in another thread referenced, so it's got bags of potential as a car to get to grips with.
But in anycase that's whats good about the current car market, there's an [ugly/cheap/boring/flimsy/garish/overpriced/ubiquitous/practical - delete as appropriate] mega hatch for everyone out there
In real world driving the Type R is quicker than the RS3. The in-gear acceleration times are better and it only has 6 gears not 7 like the RS3. It might not be as fast from a standing start (0-100 in 13.4 versus 10.3) but that's not really how most of us access the performance on a day-to-day basis.
Don't shoot Rob though - as he said at the outset, this was Autocar's "mega" hatch top 5 list not one he compiled. Otherwise the Megane Trophy would HAVE to be in it (as would the Type R).
Don't shoot Rob though - as he said at the outset, this was Autocar's "mega" hatch top 5 list not one he compiled. Otherwise the Megane Trophy would HAVE to be in it (as would the Type R).
I would toss the Audi and the Merc to the side straight away, theres more exciting drives at that price, the Subaru is from the 90s with an interior to match so doesn't really figure. The Golf is very competant and appeals but its just can't compare for me for the rear drive 6cyl feel good factor no matter how you look at it, which leaves the M135i as the best day to day alrounder and a steal at the price. With the adaptive suspension I find its a lovely relaxed drive when you want and a beast the next when the mood takes you with that lovely ///M soundtrack. My only reservation is alweather use compared to the Golf but a small price to pay for the improved feel good factor. Regarding the M135is looks, I find it more unusual than ugly, the breadvan profile makes it stand out from the sea of Fords and humdrum hatches etc. I'm still tempted to get another next year, very impressive car when you live with it. The Megane is just too track focussed, too hardcore to be a liveable proposition and the interior is standard Renault plastic fare.
Love mine after 12 months
Tim.
Love mine after 12 months
Tim.
