Autocar hot hatch shoot out

[boxster]

This weeks Autocar has a big shootout between all the best hot hatches, the GTI is doing well, but the winner of the lot was the Renault Megane.

The following were the tested hot hatch pile (in no particular order):

VW Golf GTI
Peugeot 207 GT
Ford Fiesta ST
VW Golf R32
Fiat Panda
Mini Cooper S
Honda Civic Type R
Mazda 3 MPS
Ford Focus ST2
Vauxhall Astra VXR
Seat Leon Cupra
Audi S3
Renault Clio 197
Renault Megane R26

Enjoy the video:
http://www.autocar.co.uk/VideosWallpapers/Video.aspx?AR=224261&Mode=B

 

[GTI 2.0T]

nice video...
thanx for sharing

 

[sniperviperman]

to be honest, I think it is amazing that the GTI is still in competition in this test. don't forget that the GTI is already 3 years old while all the other competitors are brand new on the road or at max 1 year. it's already been chosen 3 year hothatch of the year. And I think we will never see that again for a long time from volkswagen. I excpect the MK 6 GTI of same calibre.

 

[GTI2007]

nice video but I still prefer the GTI a serious lot over that damn ugly Megane.

 

[A1an]

Great video. I'm a big fan of the Mégane Renaultsport 230. Would be cool to see a Renault come-back to the US.

Still wondering why in the hell Ford is wasting their time with a "redesign" on the US Focus when they have that beautiful chassis over there. Focus has gone from an affordable European-style vehicle to an aging Escort replacement. Such a shame. I guess that is why I finally came over to VW.

 

[jagee80]

nice video but I still prefer the GTI a serious lot over that damn ugly Megane.

Yeah the Megane is too ugly for my taste.

 

[BurntGauge]

Yeah the Megane is too ugly for my taste.

x3. But I'd love me some S3! :thumbup:

 

[murcielagoGTR]

the Cupra R is a clean/ nice looking car....too bad it sux according to this test

what really shocked me was the R32 suct ass!:iono:

 

[Ballinfrogs]

its telling me "cannot play DirectShow Player"...whats that mean??

 

[arsenal55]

That was some poor explaining IMO. I guess Top Gear and 5th Gear have spoiled me.

On a side note, the R32, S3, Focus, and Civic Type-R all sound awesome.

 

[RedlineMotorworks]

weird that they chose the ugliest car to win...

I'm surprised they kept the GTI over the R32.

I have to say the Civic looks pretty cool

 

[Whafrodamus]

Those guys seem kinda boring.

 

[arsenal55]

agreed, they are quite boring.

 

[Andrew]

I watched the Auto car test with interst. The Migane is a beast of a car and an aquired taste, I actually like it, it looks like it will do what it claims. The R32 is an odd one, a friend just bought one and it sounds amazing and looks the bizz without being boy racer. The first thing I noticed was it feels heavy, it's not suptle like the GTI and I would feel a bit twitchy throwing the car into a tight corner at speed. The GTI on the other hand is light and responsive and gives the sense of confidence. The only things I feel let the GTI down and can quite easily be fixed are that extra bit of grunt, fixed with a re chip, and the Australia spec tyres. Here we have, on the 17", continentals which squeel on the most moderate of take offs and have a tendency to jump in hard corners. I did notice that in the video the GTI was on 18".

To conclude my rave it still did very well and maybe if it was a new car the testers would have come to a slightly different conclussion as fashion is still a big part of the package. In my books the GTI is one of the best cars of all time and will be judged so in years to come, the engineers and designers just nailed it.

 

[bsosa69]

So was 2004 the first year for the MKV GTI?