"Garrett Davis" (GarrettDavis)
04/04/2014 at 11:30 • Filed to: None
4
38|
"Garrett Davis" (GarrettDavis)
04/04/2014 at 11:30 • Filed to: None | 4
| 38 |
The hot hatch isn't exactly a recent trend in the US, but it never really caught on here like it did in Europe. Sure, we've had the GTI here forever, the Civic SI could sometimes be had in a hatch, and the MazdaSpeed 3 has been tearing up our streets for the better part of a decade now, but we still never had the selection that our European friends did. That is starting to change now, though, and we have more hatches to choose from than ever before.
I'm not exactly a stranger to these micro wagons, as I drive a relatively "lukewarm" hatch ('97 318ti) right now, but I figured it was time for an upgrade, mostly because the term 'hot hatch' is so much catchier. I just happen to be in the market for one of these little beasts, and have been doing what I always do when I'm shopping; researching the ever loving shit out of anything that has to do with what I'm buying. With this being the case, I figured it was my duty to pass this information on to you. Yes, I know, how noble of me, right?
So. Here I have compiled a list of all the cars (in no particular order) we have available that meet the criteria with some quick notes about how they drive and how well equipped they are, along with some tech specs. Why? Because we all love tech specs, Tex Mex, and more tech specs, that's why. I have driven most of these cars, either on multiple test drives from dealerships, generous colleagues/friends, or a few counts of good ol' grand theft auto (don't worry, I brought them back. Eventually).
Note: All prices shown below are as of writing this article, and will be shown below by the Jalopnik standard of "how many V6 Mustangs you can get for that much," which is currently $22,510 starting.
Mini Cooper S
Who says you can't buy a BMW hatchback in the US anymore? Yeah, yeah, the new Mini isn't actually all that mini anymore, and it certainly isn't British, but they're damn fun cars. I have never been a huge fan of the styling — especially not the interior (which is now greatly improved for 2014) — but I can appreciate it as a driver's car, which comes first and foremost for this list. The Mini was just refreshed for 2014, so I haven't driven the new generation, but I spent some time behind the wheel of a 2012, and it was a lot of fun. It totally changed my mind about the car, and now I just get it.
This one isn't exactly the fastest on this list, but that speaks more to the quality of contenders rather than the shortcomings of the Mini. Acceleration is quick. Not mind boggling or violent, but it's very consistent. There is no turbo lag to speak of, and the little turbo 4 pulls strong throughout the rev range. Throw this thing into some twisties, and it all comes together. Suddenly it makes sense why these flood autocross courses. The ride is pretty stiff in normal driving, but feels just right when you toss it into a corner. There is surprisingly little body roll, and you get that characteristic go-kart feel when you crank it around a turn. It just... works. When it comes to living with the car, I could see its small interior space becoming a problem, due to the fact that there really isn't any. The back seat remains a challenge for most any adult, and there isn't a whole lot of room for gear, so plan ahead.
Also, they finally took the gigantic speedometer off of the center of the dash, so, you know, 20 points to Gryffindor, or something.
Specs:
Horsepower: 189
Torque: 207 ft-lbs
Curb weight: 2,760 lbs
MPG: 23/36 city/highway
0-60: ~6.5 sec
Top speed: 136 mph
Price: 1.05 V6 Mustangs or $23,800
Reviews:
Ford Fiesta ST
This little guy has quickly become a bit of a favorite in the auto journo world, and for good reason. It's a small, practical, and light little hatch with nearly 200 ponies stuffed under the hood, and some severely underrated torque figures twisting its tires. The best part about it, though, is its price. Add in a few grand for some of the best OEM seats this side of $40k, and the Fiesta ST is an absolute steal. Anything that can come out favorably !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! has to be good (take this time now to argue in the comments, I'll wait).
The Fiesta is at its best on twisty canyon roads, but it makes its power so early that launching out of any corner or stoplight is equally fun. It sits right at the sweet spot of power where you can hammer on the throttle any time you want, and not really have to worry about getting into too much trouble. Steering feel is excellent and very direct, allowing you to swoop in to tight turns at higher speeds than your gut tells you feels safe. There are some drawbacks, though. Those excellent Recaro seats take a bit of breaking in, especially for bigger guys/gals, and interior space in general is just a bit tight. Get used to brushing your passenger's knee when shifting (could be good or bad), and don't plan on packing too much gear in the back if you plan on carrying more than a few passengers.
Also, the driving position is a little off. You sit up pretty high, and the shifter is way down low below your knees. Though this could just be more of a problem for me, as I am a fair bit taller than average. Still, for the price, it's hard to complain. This might be the best performance deal in the industry right now, and that's saying a lot.
Specs:
Horsepower: 197
Torque: 202 ft-lbs !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
Curb weight: 2729 lbs
MPG: 27/35 city/highway
0-60: ~6.4 sec
Top speed: 137 mph
Price: .95 V6 Mustangs or $21,400
Reviews:
Ford Focus ST
For years Ford Europe has been taunting us with these cool, properly fast hatchbacks that we thought we'd never get here on the correct side of the Atlantic (that's right, shots fired). But Ford finally got their act together, and now we have two hot little potatoes from them that are causing quite a ruckus. All they need to do is bring the Focus RS over here and we would be able to stop complaining, but until then, we'll have to make due with the ST. This is just fine by me. This new Focus body style is the first one I ever had a reason to pay any real attention to. Before, the Focus was just as 'meh' as a base Civic or Corrolla, but they really stepped up their game with this latest generation.
Compared to the Fiesta (because brothers are always compared), this car feels a bit more... fire breathey. Stomp on the skinny pedal in this, and you're immediately met with two things; One, the headrest on the back of your head, and two, the steering wheel jerking to the right. The torque steer isn't as bad as the Speed 3, but it's most definitely there. Surprisingly, I actually kind of like it. It's enough to let you know it's packing some serious twist, but not so much that I'm worried about the guy in the lane next to me. The handling here is just excellent. I have never driven a car with a more direct and responsive steering than this. The turn in is incredibly precise, and coming out of a corner brings something not many people are used to in a front drive anything: lift-off over steer. This sounds like a bad thing, but it's surprisingly manageable, and makes it a ton of fun to toss around. The interior is very well appointed here, with nothing feeling super cheap, and MyFord Touch is finally not terrible (just in time for them to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! ). Once again, you get some bespoke Recaro seats if you pony up the extra dough (and you should), and while they aren't quite as tight as the Fiesta's, they will still take some getting used to.
The driving position in the Focus just feels perfect, though. The pedals are arranged perfectly for some easy heel toe action, and the steering wheel and shifter are exactly where they should be. Once the seats break in, this will make for a great (if a bit stiff) cruiser.
Specs:
Horsepower: 252
Torque: 270 ft-lbs
Curb weight: 3196 lbs
MPG: 23/32 city/highway
0-60: 5.7 sec
Top speed: 155 mph
Price: 1.04 V6 Mustangs or $23,625
Reviews:
Volkswagen Golf GTI
If you looked up the term 'hot hatch' in the dictionary today, it wouldn't be in there. But if it was, there would be a picture of a GTI right next to it, which would be weird because dictionaries don't typically have pictures in them. This is because VW basically invented the market in 1976 when they first introduced the 108 hp GTI, which was good for a blistering 0-60 run of 9.0 seconds! That sounds a bit less than stellar these days, but that was pretty quick at the time.
Luckily, VW has kept up with the times since then, and the GTI is a very quick little machine still today. Its specs may seem a bit more modest than others on this list, but you would never know it from driving one. This is probably the most mature, and well sorted platform of the bunch, but it remains one of the quickest, and is certainly up there in terms of handling as well. VW surprisingly has managed to keep any semblance of torque steer out of the equation (I'm looking at you, Mazda), and all four tires keep firm grip in the corners. Plus, for 2015, you can get it with the Performance Package that boosts the power up significantly. For all that performance, it doesn't exactly skimp on practicality, either. Trips to Home Depot are still very doable here, which is part of what has always made the GTI so great.
It would be nice if we could turn the traction control completely off, though. Someone slap VW on the wrist for me.
Specs:
Horsepower: 210-220
Torque: 207-258 ft-lbs
Curb weight: 3113 lbs
MPG: 24/34 city/highway
0-60: ~5.7-6.1 sec
Top speed: 150 mph
Price: 1.11 V6 Mustangs or $25,095
Reviews:
MazdaSpeed 3
Mazda refreshed the 3 for the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but they haven't carried the Speed 3 over to the new body yet, so this is still the second generation, which is getting a bit long in tooth. When the first Speed 3 hit the scene in 2007, it immediately earned it's reputation as a rip snortin' little beast of a sleeper. Even in its second generation, it doesn't look so much different from the standard trim, given how aggressive the styling already is. Once you hear it wail at wide open throttle, though, you'll be smiling almost as wide as that gaping grill in the front — well that's my theory on the design, anyway.
This is definitely one of the most powerful contenders here, and it isn't shy about letting you know it. The term 'torque steer' seems to have been borne of this car, but it's manageable when you know what to expect, thanks to a real limited slip differential and the fact that they actually limit boost in first and second gear. Handling is plenty competent, but has a tendency to understeer pretty hard under throttle. The steering just feels heavy in general, but is very responsive. Power is surprisingly sparse coming out of corners, and needs to build more revs to hit its sweet spot, at which point it launches like a champ. Interior space is great, and everything you touch has decent-for-the-price materials, and the steering wheel is pretty nice — but the interior is starting to feel a bit dated.
The clutch, like the MazdaSpeed 6, is very binary. It's either engaged completely, or not at all, which takes some getting used to. Also, it should be noted that this engine is largely unchanged since its introduction, so while it makes great power, you're paying for it in comparatively low mileage — lowest of the bunch, actually.
Specs:
Horsepower: 263
Torque: 280 ft-lbs
Curb weight: 3223 lbs
MPG: 18/25 city/highway
0-60: ~5.8 sec
Top speed: 146 mph
Price: 1.07 V6 Mustangs or $24,200
Reviews:
Chevy Sonic RS
Hah! But seriously, GM, bring the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! over here. Ford's making a killing on their hot hatches and you have this as your only competition. Come on.
Fiat 500 Abarth
File this one in with the Mini under cars that surprised the hell out of me. I'll be completely honest and say that I really hate the styling of the 500. I seem to be somewhat alone in that, but I could just never get past its bubblegum looks. The Abarth adds some cool logos and paint, but it still just looks like a K-pop Smart Car to me. When I went out to lunch with a guy from work one day, he offered to drive, and we walked up to an Abarth 500. I chuckled and asked if it was his wife's car, to which he just laughed and told me to get in. What happened next is we peeled out of the parking lot and by the time we got to the restaurant 47 quite illegal seconds later, I had a hell of a time pulling my size 14 foot out of my mouth.
So it's not that this thing is all that fast in comparison to anything on this list, it's how unexpected its power is, and how well it corners — which is not unlike a magnetic slot car. The 500 is relatively tall and narrow, and the seating position feels pretty high, but there is only the slightest hint of body roll around turns. The 500 grips harder than I ever would have given it credit for, and can it stop on a dime. There are of course some drawbacks to all this. The ride is pretty stiff, and there isn't a whole lot of weight to keep it from bouncing around over hard bumps or pot holes. Interior space is of course quite lacking, but you knew that by just looking at it. The back seats are strictly a toddler affair, and I'm pretty sure I've seen more storage space in single cab trucks than what the 500 has in the back. Still, like I said, you know what you're getting into, here.
The interior is kind of a mixed bag. Any Abarth additions are very nice, but there are definitely some chintzy feeling materials in there, as well as some very love it or hate it styling. The Abarth steering wheel, though, is seriously a work of art. Much nicer than the price tag would suggest.
Specs:
Horsepower: 160
Torque: 170 ft-lbs
Curb weight: 2564 lbs
MPG: city/highway
0-60: ~7.0 sec
Top speed: 27/32 mph
Price: .98 V6 Mustangs or $22,095
Reviews:
Hyundai Veloster Turbo
This is at the bottom of the list simply because I have never even sat in one, let alone drive one. Still, it would be irresponsible of me to ignore it completely, so here you go. Most car guys seemed to just laugh this car off when they first saw it in 2011, but when Hyundai crammed 201 horsepower in it a year later, there was nothing to laugh at anymore. Well, except for maybe that weird third door. What's the deal with that again?
Whereas the base Veloster made it to 60 mph in about the same time my '91 Cherokee did (seriously, over 9 seconds), the Turbo sprints up to speed so fast that... Oh wait, no, OK it's still the slowest one here. BUT, from what I read, it can !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , which is mighty impressive. Other than that, the suspension doesn't seem to be much to write home about, and it has none of the traction trickery that the rest have to keep the front wheels in line. After reading a few reviews, I'd say this is more of a "pretty warm" hatchback, as opposed to being a true hot hatch. Or, as Edmunds put it, it's "Sporty VS Sports," and the Veloster seems to sit firmly on the side of the former. Still, the optional matte paint is kinda cool, and I'll be honest, it looks pretty damn good from a side profile.
If you want a proper sports car with that illustrious slanty H badge (as we all do), I would suggest looking at a Genesis Coupe, which is excellent.
Specs:
Horsepower: 201
Torque: 195 ft-lbs
Curb weight: 2800 lbs
MPG: 24/33 city/highway
0-60: ~7.3 sec
Top speed: 139 mph
Price: .99 V6 Mustangs or $22,300
Reviews:
Wrap up
So, you might be wondering why I left out anything that I left out, well I'll give a few reasons. First, I'm just looking at the "cheap" hot hatches, so anything below $30k. This leaves models out like the Golf R and the John Cooper Works stuff, and I didn't want a bunch of overlap like how almost every Mini has an S model, and they're all kind of hatchbacks. Then there is the Subaru WRX (or as I like to call it, the Sub Dub), which is no longer available in a hatchback !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , and any number of similar cars that really are competition for these, but aren't quite hatchbacks like: the Toyobaru twins, Genesis Coupe, Civic Si, Dart GT, Scion TC, and of course, the Mustang V6.
So which one did I decide on for myself? I'm pretty sure I'm going with the Focus ST. It seems to have just the right mix of insanity and practicality for me, as I need the ample rear space for weekends (ladies). The Fiesta was my first choice, but it's just too small for my 6'4" 245 lbs frame for every day life, and cargo space was a bit limited. The GTI was also high up there for me, but after spending years around various years my friends have owned, I wanted to try something a bit different. Honestly though, with choices like this, it's hard to argue with almost anything you could pick.
Hopefully this compilation helps someone out. If I save just one poor Jalop from a Sonic RS or Veloster Turbo, I've done my job.
dinobot666
> Garrett Davis
04/04/2014 at 11:38 |
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I like the Sonic RS. Comes in a bit below the ST in terms of interior appointments, but the seats are nicely bolstered and I think the driving position is better than that of the Camaro(!) that GM currently offers. All the other cars in this comparo have been talked about to death on the internet.
Also, the V6 Mustang can be had a pretty low price point, but they're not for everybody and aren't always cross-shopped against hot hatches. I wish people would throw these metrics out, because they don't serve any other purposes other than to prove that you should always buy a V6 Mustang instead. I think?
davedave1111
> Garrett Davis
04/04/2014 at 11:41 |
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Actually, if you look up 'hot hatch' in the dictionary, it is in there:
http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/261…
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Pronunciation: Brit. hot hatchback n. at hot adj. and n.1 Special uses 3 .
colloq. (orig. Brit. ).
hot hatchback n. at hot adj. and n.1Special uses 3 .
1984 Financial Times 21 July 11/8 All round, the HF Turbo looks like a good bet for the hot hatch stakes.
1989 Car & Driver Sept. 33/3 Its delightful engine is..responsible for transforming this otherwise dull econobox into perhaps the best of the domestic-market hot hatches.
2005 Evo June 163/1 The best hot hatch ever? Well, it's either this or its grandaddy, the Clio Williams.
No mention of the Golf GTi. Good taste with the HF Turbo and Clio Williams...
Tom McParland
> Garrett Davis
04/04/2014 at 11:45 |
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Just a note on the Fiat...they are a hoot to drive and can be had with huge discounts. This is a "new" 13 leftover for under 19k (MSRP 25k)
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Garrett Davis
> davedave1111
04/04/2014 at 11:45 |
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Well I'll be. I actually checked the Merriam Webster on my desk.
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Garrett Davis
> Tom McParland
04/04/2014 at 11:47 |
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Wow, that's a hell of a deal.
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Tom McParland
> Garrett Davis
04/04/2014 at 11:48 |
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Yeah if I didn't already get my small car thing out of my system (04 Cooper S) I would get an Abarth for myself
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Garrett Davis
> Tom McParland
04/04/2014 at 11:51 |
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If I didn't need the space, I think that would be my car. I could get over the styling when its that fun to drive.
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davedave1111
> Garrett Davis
04/04/2014 at 11:54 |
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I'm surprised it's not in MW. Maybe because it's UK English more than US English, but it's a common phrase.
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Garrett Davis
> davedave1111
04/04/2014 at 11:56 |
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Well this is a relatively small edition. They probably left out phrases like that to keep it short.
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Garrett Davis
> dinobot666
04/04/2014 at 12:00 |
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The RS isn't a bad car, it just really doesn't compete with any real hot hatches, which is why GM needs to get on it! We need more competition in this area.
About the whole V6 Mustang thing...
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dinobot666
> Garrett Davis
04/04/2014 at 12:10 |
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I think the Sonic RS competes with the Honda CR-Z and by some extent, the Honda Fit Sport. :D
Saracen
> Garrett Davis
04/04/2014 at 12:13 |
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I got to hoon a Focus ST, and it was a lot of fun. You'll love it. My second choice if I didn't fall for the Golf R.
spanfucker retire bitch
> Garrett Davis
04/04/2014 at 12:18 |
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The Mazda3 2.5 Hatchback is something of a "lukewarm" hatchback ala the Veloster. I definitely wouldn't call it a hatchback, but it provide you enough amusement for you to at least test drive one.
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Garrett Davis
> spanfucker retire bitch
04/04/2014 at 12:21 |
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But have you driven the Speed 3? It most definitely falls into this category.
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spanfucker retire bitch
> Garrett Davis
04/04/2014 at 12:23 |
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Well yeah, the Speed3 does. I'm talking about the regular Mazda3, with the new 2.5 liter SkyActiv engine. It's not a hot hatch, but it's pretty peppy all the same.
Goshen, formerly Darkcode
> Garrett Davis
04/04/2014 at 12:29 |
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"This is because VW basically invented the market in 1976 when they first introduced the 108 hp GTI"
No. Mini Cooper? Alfasud TI? The Abarth cars? Renault 17 Gordini? Does anything ring a bell?
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Garrett Davis
> Goshen, formerly Darkcode
04/04/2014 at 12:33 |
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Maybe I should have said in the US, but even still, the GTI is what really popularized the turbo hatchback market.
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Garrett Davis
> spanfucker retire bitch
04/04/2014 at 12:34 |
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Ah, I see what you're saying. Yeah, and with the new body style, its a really great little car. They really stepped up their game.
Jayhawk Jake
> Garrett Davis
04/04/2014 at 12:37 |
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revrseat70
> Saracen
04/04/2014 at 12:40 |
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Sorry for the thread jack, but can you give me a rundown of your ownership experience with the Golf R? My wife and I are about to start looking for one. Of course the Focus ST is our other consideration.
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Goshen, formerly Darkcode
> Garrett Davis
04/04/2014 at 12:41 |
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Heh well, the original GTI wasn't turbocharged. The first turbo hatch was the Renault 5 GT Turbo (not to be confused with the Renault 5 Turbo). But yes, in the US the Golf GTI had an important role, although it could be argued that it was (at the time) overshadowed by Japanese models.
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Jayhawk Jake
> Garrett Davis
04/04/2014 at 12:42 |
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Well fuck you too.
I love my RS. Is it as fast as the rest? Not stock, but for a mere $315 I now have as much power as an Abarth for less money with extra practicality. Not to mention comfortable seats, a stylish interior and easily the most badass dashboard on this list. Oh, and exposed projector headlamps FTMFW
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Jayhawk Jake
> Garrett Davis
04/04/2014 at 12:48 |
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The only way it doesn't compete is power, but it's so cheap to get more. You get 25 hp and 25 tq for $200 with a tune from Trifecta, and that puts it on par with an Abarth. In a straight line my sonic feels faster than an abarth, and with my inexpensive catback it doesn't sound half bad either.
Get the right deal on a Sonic and I think you end-up with a hard to beat value. The Fiesta ST may be more fun, but I prefer the interior layout of the sonic and the sonic gets leather and heated seats (which are huge if you have winter) for a few grand less than a similarly equipped fiesta.
Hopefully chevy crams a bigger motor in one, but honestly overlooking it like you did isn't fair at all, especially on a forum of car enthusiasts
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Garrett Davis
> Jayhawk Jake
04/04/2014 at 12:50 |
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Like I said to someone else, the RS isn't a bad car, it really just doesn't compete here. Also, you can't really bring something in because of aftermarket upgrades. My daily also has 138hp stock, and after quite a few upgrades, it won't hold a candle to any of these in a straight line except maybe the Veloster, but probably not.
GM needs to bring a proper hot hatch to the US, that was the point of including it here.
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Garrett Davis
> Jayhawk Jake
04/04/2014 at 12:53 |
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Come on, man. I just said that it's not a bad car, and you're admitting yourself that stock, it doesn't compete. I've driven the RS, and its really not bad to drive, and it is certainly more fun than a standard Sonic, but until GM puts some real effort into it, it doesn't belong on this list.
And if the aftermarket counted, this list would be flooded with cars. The Sonic isn't the only car out there where extra power comes cheap, far from it.
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Saracen
> revrseat70
04/04/2014 at 12:56 |
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I bought it new just under two years ago and have put 44,000 miles on it. It's been completely trouble free.
With stock power it's fun, but at some point I would recommend at least a flash (go with APR) and an intake (I recommend VWR or Neuspeed). It really wakes up the top end.
There are a few things to keep in mind if you buy one:
- Don't buy it expecting fuel economy. I drive %75 highway and average 22-23 mpg.
- The most important maintenance item is the cam follower. This is a piece that actuates the high pressure fuel pump when a camshaft lobe pushes against it. It's designed to wear over time...on a stock fuel pump it should be inspected every 30k miles (I replaced mine at 37k). If you modify your car and decide to upgrade the fuel pump, the lifetime of this part will drop to 10k. It is a $40 part and a ten minute job if you already have an aftermarket intake (the engine cover, which is part of the stock intake, needs to be removed). If it fails, it will cause significant damage to the top end.
- The free 30k service includes changing the haldex clutch oil. Make sure they do this. The dealer I went to didn't and I had to get it done later.
- There has been a recent service action for those cars with an engine build date in February and March 2012, for water pump failure. Check the engine build date and make sure the pump was replaced if the engine was build before March 20th.
- Make sure the TSB for the stereo's bluetooth connectivity has been applied, otherwise it will only play music streamed from bluetooth in mono.
- It has a sound actuator that generates fake engine noises. This is stupid. I unplugged it within a week.
- Direct injection = eventual carbon buildup cleaning.
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Jayhawk Jake
> Garrett Davis
04/04/2014 at 12:59 |
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I was being sarcastic with the fuck you, but seriously: you did a full write up of everything but just shit on the Sonic, then professed you were saving people from it and the VT.
It's got 148 lb-ft of torque. That's really nothing to scoff at, it feels quick. The Fiesta ST came out a model year later, and Chevy didn't refresh the Sonic this year. Who knows what the future will bring.
The reason I mention the upgrades is because of how easy they are. Having a car isn't solely about the performance, and the Sonic certainly holds its own in quality, style, comfort, and useability. It's worth considering on those merits alone, and if you want more power it's so damn easy to get it that it seems worth mentioning.
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Garrett Davis
> Jayhawk Jake
04/04/2014 at 13:15 |
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Have you driven any of the other cars on this list? I just really feel like they're very much in a separate category. Especially when you can get the Fiesta ST for seriously only $250 more, which is an absolutely massive upgrade. It literally makes almost 100 lbs-ft of torque to the wheels over what the RS makes at the crank. That's huge. And with a few hundred dollars on a tune and air filter, Matt Farah's Fiesta is making 148 lbs-ft of torque and 187 hp at the wheels.
Quick comparison:
Sonic RS costs $21,150
Fiesta ST costs $21,400
Yes, the RS feels quick, I completely agree, but in comparison, the Fiesta is a rocket ship, and they might as well be the same price.
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revrseat70
> Saracen
04/04/2014 at 13:16 |
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Great! Thank you for the information. I am fully aware of the cam follower, but did not know the rest. I'll be sure to do my research on the engine build date. I stay very much on top of maintenance and heard about changing the oil more often than suggested by VW. Glad to hear yours has been trouble free. Built on a Wednesday, or do you think it's more or less consistent?
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Saracen
> revrseat70
04/04/2014 at 13:29 |
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Oh yes, don't change oil any less often than 5k miles.
I think it's pretty consistent. There don't seem to be any major problems not withstanding ignorant owners. Some had clutches go out early, but they probably abuse the crap out of their cars.
On that note, if you go stage 2 (flash, fuel pump, exhaust), the stock clutch won't lost long at those torque levels.
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revrseat70
> Saracen
04/04/2014 at 13:39 |
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Ok cool. I'll probably just go stage 1 or 1+ for the majority of it's life considering it'll be my only car for a while. For installing tunes and disabling the esc, would I need to get my own copy of VAG-COM or what?
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Saracen
> revrseat70
04/04/2014 at 14:14 |
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You need a VAG-COM cable for Stage to ESC defeat. For installing tunes, you will need to go to a shop or dealer that licenses the software you want.
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Jayhawk Jake
> Garrett Davis
04/04/2014 at 14:18 |
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I've driven all but the MS3 and FiST.
That price comparison isn't completely fair. To get similarly equipped models the Fiesta will cost $2-$3000 more (leather, heated seats, heated mirrors)
I'm not bringing down the FiST, I'm just saying the shitting on the RS is a little unfair. We are all entitled to our opinions, and I'm expressing that I didn't appreciate the way you treated my car in your hot hatch write up
Ferrero1911
> Garrett Davis
04/04/2014 at 14:42 |
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Nice write up. I have an Abarth and I love it, but I can't argue that the Focus ST is a better car for most people. I've been meaning to test drive one. The only reason I can fit 4 wheels and tires in my car is because I took the rear seats out.
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Garrett Davis
> Jayhawk Jake
04/04/2014 at 15:19 |
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Argh! How many times do I have to say that the RS is a good little car? I like it, it just isn't the hot hatch that GM says it is!
The Sonic is a great little car, and worlds better than the Aveo it replaced, and the manual RS is the very best version of that car. It just isn't a hot hatch in the same way that my 318ti isn't. They make about the same power, have similar 0-60 times, are fun little cars to throw into corners, but they aren't hot hatches. Any insults I leveled at your car apply precisely to my own car as well.
:)
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revrseat70
> Saracen
04/04/2014 at 15:30 |
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Thanks for the information! Hopefully my wife and I will love it!
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Jayhawk Jake
> Garrett Davis
04/04/2014 at 16:42 |
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To be fair I don't consider it to be a hot hatch either. I call it a warm hatch.
Eutropius
> Garrett Davis
04/04/2014 at 16:44 |
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Obligatory 'jesus christ I can't believe how cheap Mustangs are in the US what are you even doing looking at shitty hatchbacks!?' post.