FOST: Year Two

"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
08/22/2020 at 18:34 • Filed to: None

I just don’t think hot hatches are the answer.

The car is great. For those following, I’ve had two warranty issues since purchase, a leaking a/c seal and a water filled headlight. Both minor issues, both resolved by the dealer. Handles great. Comfortable seats, a mazing with snow tires. Fuel economy is a bit weak.

It just ain’t fun.

The tubo four makes what I would call “healthy” power, but even if it is enough to really feel fast, I cant tell because the car is geared too short to really enjoy it. It constantly feels like it is tugging at the reigns, and it never feels really relaxed in the power band. 6th gear is 3000 rpm at 80 mph. The 6 speed is totally wasted. With no LSD, I can’t get traction on launching with the stock tires, goodyear eagle f1 summers. Or it bogs due to lag. Also, it’ s my daily driver so I can’t really hoon it anyway. FWD just isn’t cutting it. This is my second hot hatch too, having previously owned a cooper s.

As a daily, it is great. But as far as satisfying my itch, it just can’t. I definetly plan on keeping the car, but my intention of being responsible and satisfying my inner oppo has not been met. I can’t recommend it for that reason, and frankly I think I have given up on the whole segment. Would rather have something super economical to eat the mileage and put the money I saved towards something absurd.

DISCUSSION (20)

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > My bird IS the word
08/22/2020 at 18:58

I mean... you’ve had a Cooper S and this, have you spent much time in a GTI? They wipe the floor with STs. They’re the standard bearer for hot hatches for a reason.

My bird IS the word > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
08/22/2020 at 19:05

Yeah rode in a friends. It ate its camshaft just outside of the warranty period and vw refused to replace it.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > My bird IS the word
08/22/2020 at 19:09

Classic TSI move. A friend has a Mk6, had to have a turbo replaced then later cracked his block. They do break a lot. I’ve not heard any major issues with Gen 3 TSIs.

My bird IS the word > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
08/22/2020 at 19:11

I’m not knocking your choice.,if it satisfies your speed craving, that’s great. The segment just doesn’t excite me, and I really wish it did since they make so much sense.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > My bird IS the word
08/22/2020 at 19:16

I personally think hatches in general are the best body style. I don’t really care how fast they are, just that they handle well and are fun to drive. It’s hard to have one single car that does everything including reliable daily service and being fun without it being a compromise somewhere else. To me, hot hatches are a good choice if you can have only one car.

My bird IS the word > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
08/22/2020 at 19:20

I was encouraged by how good small economy cars have been getting, car tech has really come a long way. Maybe if it was AWD it would be enough. I would get an auto in my next DD though.

Jb boin > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
08/22/2020 at 19:26

Not to be rude but in Europe the Golf GTI is the standard for the mildest hot hatch as being about as good as a “normal” Golf as a daily driver and/or for peoples who don’t care much about the sporty look and feel.

The Golf 7 performance seems to be doing better in that aspect but still not what i would choose if i wanted something fun to drive but i know you have less choice in the US so i would possibly end up with one if i lived there (and was in the market for such a car) .

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Having fun in a hot hatch depends on the roads you have around you and how much versatility you need from the car.

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Would love to have a shorter gearbox on my A3, it’s one of the most frustrating aspect of it when trying to have fun on small roads and doing city driving which is most of what i am doing ; plus it has only 5 speeds with the 5th being too short (if i recall corectly, i’m aro und 3400rpm at 80mph/ 130kph) .

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Jb boin
08/22/2020 at 19:37

Right now the only legit hot hatches we have in the US are the GTI, Cooper S, and Veloster N. I don’t count the JCW or CTR due to cost and limited availability. I wish we got more here. But noooo, here’s an Edge ST...

Gerry197 > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
08/22/2020 at 19:39

Huh? In what way does a GTI wipe the floor on a ST?

Especially in regards to performance that the OP is looking for. It certainly isn’t from straight line performance, handling is pretty similar.

The one area the GTI shines against the ST is more comfort and interior refinement, but over the last several years in regards to performance numbers the ST and GTI are either nearly equal or the ST has had a clear advantage in that regard.

So if the ST is too slow for him, so would the GTI. The OP is better off getting a used Corvette.

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > My bird IS the word
08/22/2020 at 19:39

It took me a year or so to fall out of the “honeymoon phase” when I had my ST. I had similar feelings then too. How many ST-Oppo’s are left these days?

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Gerry197
08/22/2020 at 19:42

Interior is better, better handling, faster. Better aftermarket, too. They’re both good cars but the GTI is better. And they still sell em here...

Gerry197 > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
08/22/2020 at 19:47

...

My bird IS the word > K-Roll-PorscheTamer
08/22/2020 at 19:49

Theres still a few. Lack of passion really keeps me from posting about mine, perhaps that is more common.

Gerry197 > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
08/22/2020 at 20:05

True on most accounts, however the speed between the two are generally very close. The more powerful ST being held back a bit by weight and a manual, but generally their times from 0-60 and quarter are within a margin of error, barely 1/10th of a second in a few cases.

The OP wants speed an excitement, if the ST isn’t doing it for him, I doubt the more polished but similar speed GTI will change his mind on the breed.

The GTI is a better overall car, but I don’t think it’s fast enough for the OP is my point.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > My bird IS the word
08/22/2020 at 22:17

I made it one year with my turbo beetle and had similar gripes. Though the beetle lacked a suspension up for the task ad well. But mostly it drove me crazy not having an lsd, and it seemed like tires were vital. I always thought with $2,000 or so in upgrades it would have been great to drive but no way I would have put that into the beetle. I haven’t given up on hot hatches; I could see myself getting a FiST but I would get it with the intention of getting an LSD.

Jewish Stig > My bird IS the word
08/23/2020 at 00:14

Rear wheel drive is the answer.

My bird IS the word > Jewish Stig
08/23/2020 at 01:04

I guess. I hope when I finally get to drive my trans am some distance that it just charms the shit out of me or I’m gonna be in trouble.

My bird IS the word > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle
08/23/2020 at 01:06

Kills me because the focus has no body roll. At all. A little stiff but I blame the rubber band tires they put on these. It should be a great package even without the LSD.

My bird IS the word > Gerry197
08/23/2020 at 09:04

Well, better off with something like a honda fit and a used corvette lol

K-Roll-PorscheTamer > My bird IS the word
08/23/2020 at 20:09

That could very well be the reason I seldom see/read anything about them here anymore. Anytime someone posts about FoSTs here I always think “someone’s still got one!”