Mega Hatch Vote - Golf R v RS3 v A45AMGv M135i v WRX STI
- Thread starter ZermattV
- Start date
Here's a point...
Which one wins for practicality? I mean.. there's a reason you're buying a hot hatch instead of a Z4 right.. if i was, it'd be to complement my Z4's lovely boot space and enable me to spend EVEN MORE time in Ikea.
Now the RS3 appears the biggest, but any idea which is? And is it somethign that would sway you. Granted 3 doors look the nicest but some of them mask the extra size pretty well.
I went mountain biking in a 5 door 1 series, it worked with 2 bikes and 3 people, but i think 3 bikes would be a struggle, especially with 3 people.
Which one wins for practicality? I mean.. there's a reason you're buying a hot hatch instead of a Z4 right.. if i was, it'd be to complement my Z4's lovely boot space and enable me to spend EVEN MORE time in Ikea.
Now the RS3 appears the biggest, but any idea which is? And is it somethign that would sway you. Granted 3 doors look the nicest but some of them mask the extra size pretty well.
I went mountain biking in a 5 door 1 series, it worked with 2 bikes and 3 people, but i think 3 bikes would be a struggle, especially with 3 people.
Good question regarding the relevance of practicality.
My experience as a man with 2 young kids (the reason why my z4 went in the end) who has the occasional need for transporting my road/mountain bikes, snowboards etc. I can only speak in terms of the Golf R (which in terms of space/practicality is identical to the Audi) and the M135i as i've spent roughly the same time living with both. I have test driven an A45 and found it too small for my needs (I believe its the second smallest car in the class in terms of boot and rear leg room after the Volvo V40). The Subaru being a saloon is just right out for me. Had a 3 series saloon once and got rid of it because it was so impractical.
This may surprise some but i'm absolutely convinced the boot in the Golf and the RS3 is smaller than the 1 series. 4wd/Haldex gubbins eats into the depth of the boot quite considerably, the boot is a very useful cube shape though with very little intrusion from the slope of the rear seat. It also comes with a central ski hatch as standard so i can travel 4 up with winter sport equipment. I couldn't get any of my bikes in the boot of either the R or the M135i without putting the rear seats totally flat (even if i removed front wheels) so i have no idea how you managed 3 plus 2 bikes in a 1 series (mine was also the 5 door).
In terms of rear passenger space the Golf is more like a 3 series in terms of size. The rear door aperture is much friendlier to getting children into car seats, the rear bench is flatter so it's more accommodating for 3 adults and is more suitable for child seats. The M135i had these odd, large bolsters where the wheel arches curve into the seat area so the base of the bench is almost bucketed meaning the flat area isn't actually wide enough for most child seats. This meant boosters and buckle in car seats sat over the seat belt clips which was a total pain in the arse. This issue doesn't exist in the Golf and my son can actually clip himself into his seat. I also had the issue that both children could kick the backs of the front seats in the M135i, my son could even kick the drivers arm rest which he would do to annoy me when he got angry. The Golf seems to have a few inches more space as even though the children are bigger now their legs don't reach anything (thank god).
The Golf wins hands down for it's storage. Admittedly the cheap skates at work never spec'd the extended storage on the M135i. However, even with that the Golf still blitzes this area with a large air conditioned glove compartment, arm rest cubby, centre console cubby, under seat drawers, drivers side under dash storage, huge door bins both front and rear, overhead storage above the rear view mirror. It's also worth mentioning that they all are lined with a sort of felt material to stop things rattling.
They are both pretty practical cars but we are finding the Golf to be better for family duties. We all generally get less narky on long journeys and although the boot is smaller we are yet to be met with the problem of having something not fit.
My experience as a man with 2 young kids (the reason why my z4 went in the end) who has the occasional need for transporting my road/mountain bikes, snowboards etc. I can only speak in terms of the Golf R (which in terms of space/practicality is identical to the Audi) and the M135i as i've spent roughly the same time living with both. I have test driven an A45 and found it too small for my needs (I believe its the second smallest car in the class in terms of boot and rear leg room after the Volvo V40). The Subaru being a saloon is just right out for me. Had a 3 series saloon once and got rid of it because it was so impractical.
This may surprise some but i'm absolutely convinced the boot in the Golf and the RS3 is smaller than the 1 series. 4wd/Haldex gubbins eats into the depth of the boot quite considerably, the boot is a very useful cube shape though with very little intrusion from the slope of the rear seat. It also comes with a central ski hatch as standard so i can travel 4 up with winter sport equipment. I couldn't get any of my bikes in the boot of either the R or the M135i without putting the rear seats totally flat (even if i removed front wheels) so i have no idea how you managed 3 plus 2 bikes in a 1 series (mine was also the 5 door).
In terms of rear passenger space the Golf is more like a 3 series in terms of size. The rear door aperture is much friendlier to getting children into car seats, the rear bench is flatter so it's more accommodating for 3 adults and is more suitable for child seats. The M135i had these odd, large bolsters where the wheel arches curve into the seat area so the base of the bench is almost bucketed meaning the flat area isn't actually wide enough for most child seats. This meant boosters and buckle in car seats sat over the seat belt clips which was a total pain in the arse. This issue doesn't exist in the Golf and my son can actually clip himself into his seat. I also had the issue that both children could kick the backs of the front seats in the M135i, my son could even kick the drivers arm rest which he would do to annoy me when he got angry. The Golf seems to have a few inches more space as even though the children are bigger now their legs don't reach anything (thank god).
The Golf wins hands down for it's storage. Admittedly the cheap skates at work never spec'd the extended storage on the M135i. However, even with that the Golf still blitzes this area with a large air conditioned glove compartment, arm rest cubby, centre console cubby, under seat drawers, drivers side under dash storage, huge door bins both front and rear, overhead storage above the rear view mirror. It's also worth mentioning that they all are lined with a sort of felt material to stop things rattling.
They are both pretty practical cars but we are finding the Golf to be better for family duties. We all generally get less narky on long journeys and although the boot is smaller we are yet to be met with the problem of having something not fit.
Great viewpoint there, really interesting to hear. Regarding the 1 series, we had both front wheels off the bikes 
I'm genuinely close to dropping a few hundred quid on a lease on one of these cars, i think they're more usable than saloons for daily practical tasks, but sadly id probably go for the DSG in the golf R (or maybe just the GTI?) for London traffic. The RS3 sounds nice but is so much more expensive.
watching the Evo Golf/RS3 vid the Golf comes out on top in everything but exhaust noise.
Regarding the golf estate - iirc there's a good lease deal on them but they look butt ugly imo
I'm genuinely close to dropping a few hundred quid on a lease on one of these cars, i think they're more usable than saloons for daily practical tasks, but sadly id probably go for the DSG in the golf R (or maybe just the GTI?) for London traffic. The RS3 sounds nice but is so much more expensive.
watching the Evo Golf/RS3 vid the Golf comes out on top in everything but exhaust noise.
Regarding the golf estate - iirc there's a good lease deal on them but they look butt ugly imo
ZermattV said:
I'm not quite as far north as you lads but i've never let RWD stop me from running a BMW as an every day family car. We ran winter tyres on the M135i and it handled everything with ease. I actually took great satisfaction in driving past other cars stuck in the snow like it was nothing at all. Loved the looks of disbelief.
The M135i is a very unique proposition in this sector. I did however feel that it's USPs (RWD and much larger displacement engine) were also what singled it out as not really fitting in as your stereotypical hot hatch, which to me is a car that goads you to act like a hooligan and rewards when you do so. It always felt more like a shrunken 3/435i to me. Although definitely faster than my Golf R in every area apart from traffic light GP it always felt a little lazy and a wee bitty soft, more like the bigger GT/Autobahn bruisers.
jimmybell said:Great viewpoint there, really interesting to hear. Regarding the 1 series, we had both front wheels off the bikes
I'm genuinely close to dropping a few hundred quid on a lease on one of these cars, i think they're more usable than saloons for daily practical tasks, but sadly id probably go for the DSG in the golf R (or maybe just the GTI?) for London traffic. The RS3 sounds nice but is so much more expensive.
watching the Evo Golf/RS3 vid the Golf comes out on top in everything but exhaust noise.
Regarding the golf estate - iirc there's a good lease deal on them but they look butt ugly imo
The reviews have been very weird. That guy from Evo went well in the Golf but then Autocar hustled a standard Cupra 280 round Cadwell Park a fair bit quicker than a Golf R and clearly enjoyed it a lot more.
Other more recent group tests have also been very weird. Evo did one with the Megane coming out on top, the Golf second, then i think the Cupra, Type R and then the M135i in last place. The Golf was the slowest around Anglesy in that test, they just decided they liked it or maybe the Golfs had the fattest envelopes stuffed under the sun visors. Then the following month Top Gear mag had a hatch mega group test where they crowned the Golf R and had the Fiesta ST in the top ranks (which is fair as it is brilliant). In their track test with Gordon Sheddon (the Stig) on his home track at Knockhill he went fastest in the type R then i think RS3 and M135i (M135i had highest speed) and rather bizarrely the Megane trophy was miles down on it's track time.
Reviews are good for passing the time really.
Much of a muchness eh.
Pick based on your idea of best looking, most practical for your usage, and price point.
The RS3 is so pricey its nuts, as is the Merc (and i dont like the sound). Not bowled over by the 135i looks, and it does seem like just-another-bmw, but i do like the golf. The megane i think is probs my fav as it's a bit more interesting, and cheaper than some of these, but not too practical, sadly. Not a fan of the scooby at all.
Maybe i'll go play in a GTI and an R and see what the fuss is about. If you could dream, and money was no object, and you could invent your own - i'd be keen to see what a 3door RS3 looked like, but they'll never make it now they've somehow decided it would compete with a TT.
Pick based on your idea of best looking, most practical for your usage, and price point.
The RS3 is so pricey its nuts, as is the Merc (and i dont like the sound). Not bowled over by the 135i looks, and it does seem like just-another-bmw, but i do like the golf. The megane i think is probs my fav as it's a bit more interesting, and cheaper than some of these, but not too practical, sadly. Not a fan of the scooby at all.
Maybe i'll go play in a GTI and an R and see what the fuss is about. If you could dream, and money was no object, and you could invent your own - i'd be keen to see what a 3door RS3 looked like, but they'll never make it now they've somehow decided it would compete with a TT.
Mowflow said:
I would normally agree, I've been running 5 series for the last 6 years with winter wheels which have been great, also had the satisfaction of passing Quattro's etc
However, I moved house in Feb to the country and my drive way is quite steep onto a main road, so I need to commit to pulling out and getting up to speed quickly.
I wish bmw would do something a little more with the M135s styling I mean come on double dish wheels for a start those bloody awful daisy allow wheels. Come on its a fairly impressive proposition then stick those wheels on it, looks pretty pedestrian. The original rear light set up look dreadful what they were thinking.
I much prefer the 2 series, but i prefer coupes to hatches.
Looks nice with CSLs too
Still non of these modern turbo ponies float my boat. Id rather have an E46 M3.
I much prefer the 2 series, but i prefer coupes to hatches.
Looks nice with CSLs too
Still non of these modern turbo ponies float my boat. Id rather have an E46 M3.