Cloth Ears Posted April 14, 2016 Posted April 14, 2016 Hot hatches, we aren't talking under powered cars. Even with my puny engined 5spd robotised manual transmission in the little fiat I seem to manage holding revs and changing gears pretty easy. It can be quite a blast actually in a little pretty lightweight thing with not much power and yet a rorty engine that gets you feeling you are going a lot faster than you actually are ! The bmw 135i is just 'ok' ? Come on ! Something amiss there. in driving experience it's one of THE best hot hatches around ! Certainly one of best have driven. And the 8spd very seamless a great example how good autos can be and why they don't bother with anything else. Dual clutch transmissions are so good Vw on the gti doesn't even bother offering a manual as option on the main seller since too few bother .... Dual clutch is probably best thing invented when comes to hot hatches Well, I guess I'd just swapped a 1400 Kawasaki for 4 wheels, so most things paled in comparison - and it was only the touring bike. And when it was cornering, it kept on correcting me whenever I started to reach the edge (which I didn't enjoy). So no, I didn't enjoy the BM - but maybe it was just a timing thing. And I didn't enjoy being driven in it (as the driver wasn't very good...;-)), so that may have had something to do with it.
betty boop Posted April 14, 2016 Author Posted April 14, 2016 Well, I guess I'd just swapped a 1400 Kawasaki for 4 wheels, so most things paled in comparison - and it was only the touring bike. And when it was cornering, it kept on correcting me whenever I started to reach the edge (which I didn't enjoy). So no, I didn't enjoy the BM - but maybe it was just a timing thing. And I didn't enjoy being driven in it (as the driver wasn't very good...;-)), so that may have had something to do with it. Well the good thing with the bmw is you can turn it all off if you like or scale back to level comfortable with. Which is more can be said for most cars ... Which have a phenomenal amount of power these days and all the electronic nannies are no doubt there for the incompetents like me as probably only way we can keep on the road ! Ps doubt any car would compare with a large capacity bike. Hey your Kawasaki even has more engine capacity than what I run around in 4 wheels hehe 2
Cloth Ears Posted April 14, 2016 Posted April 14, 2016 Well the good thing with the bmw is you can turn it all off if you like or scale back to level comfortable with. Which is more can be said for most cars ... Which have a phenomenal amount of power these days and all the electronic nannies are no doubt there for the incompetents like me as probably only way we can keep on the road ! Ps doubt any car would compare with a large capacity bike. Hey your Kawasaki even has more engine capacity than what I run around in 4 wheels hehe You know, my favourite thing on the bike (after the heated grips - I could ride with my arthritis for another 3 years!) was the tyre pressure gauge. It told me the pressure as soon as I took off, so it was easy to pin down handling problems to a slow leak (before spearing off the road). You'd expect that on a car more than a bike. It was a bloody good way to bow out of two wheels, as I can't trust my right hand to be able to pull on the brake quickly enough any more. Otherwise I'd still be on it.
betty boop Posted April 14, 2016 Author Posted April 14, 2016 You know, my favourite thing on the bike (after the heated grips - I could ride with my arthritis for another 3 years!) was the tyre pressure gauge. It told me the pressure as soon as I took off, so it was easy to pin down handling problems to a slow leak (before spearing off the road). You'd expect that on a car more than a bike. It was a bloody good way to bow out of two wheels, as I can't trust my right hand to be able to pull on the brake quickly enough any more. Otherwise I'd still be on it. my mk6 golf gti had the pressure monitor....cant remember if the merc did the same too(edit , yes the merc did) I remember the gti warning me once....topped up...and the reset it ...only memory of it 1
st3ph3nm Posted April 15, 2016 Posted April 15, 2016 A well sorted car still has it over bikes in really twisty roads. Later braking and higher mid corner speeds. Once the road opens up a little, of course, the bike waves "bye bye..." 2
Briz Vegas Posted April 15, 2016 Posted April 15, 2016 Its a bit like comparing a sailboard with a 18 footer or a kite board. All very different experiences and different machines. You pick your type of machine first, then you pick your machine by weighing up the pros and cons. A road car is a different proposition to a track car. In truth I know I am a very average driver but I still like a bit of modest fun on a twisty road or even at a round about if the mood strikes me. It seems I will also still reach for the gear knob on a tight bend. There is a tactile pleasure in slotting in a gear for a corner, it definitely make you feel more at one with the car and the driving experience. 3
agelessgoodguy Posted April 15, 2016 Posted April 15, 2016 Watching the British Touring car racing on Foxtel gives one a great opportunity to see many of these Hot Hatches at serious work with a bit of Biffo as well 1
norpus Posted April 18, 2016 Posted April 18, 2016 "I saw that if you had enough power in a small car it is nicer to drive than if you have a big car which is also overpowered. And it is more fun." Ferry Porsche 1
betty boop Posted April 18, 2016 Author Posted April 18, 2016 Interesting quote norpus, hence why perhaps hot hatches are popular 1
norpus Posted April 18, 2016 Posted April 18, 2016 Yes Betty, that resonated with me given that I now enjoy a smaller car than I have had previously. Note that quote was from when he designed the 356 back in the late 40's I like that it still holds true 7 decades later 1
norpus Posted April 18, 2016 Posted April 18, 2016 You know, my favourite thing on the bike (after the heated grips - I could ride with my arthritis for another 3 years!) was the tyre pressure gauge. It told me the pressure as soon as I took off, so it was easy to pin down handling problems to a slow leak (before spearing off the road). You'd expect that on a car more than a bike. It was a bloody good way to bow out of two wheels, as I can't trust my right hand to be able to pull on the brake quickly enough any more. Otherwise I'd still be on it. I'm assuming it was a 1400gtr cloth ears? Lovely bike, light and quick for a big tourer, me likey 1
Cloth Ears Posted April 20, 2016 Posted April 20, 2016 I'm assuming it was a 1400gtr cloth ears? Lovely bike, light and quick for a big tourer, me likey Yup. Always said I'd be wanting a bike like a ZZR1100 crossed with a GTR1000 - and when it came out, I got it. Plus, there's a local place making a very good cruise control that I installed on it as well. If there were no cars on the road, I be back on it in an instant!
Sir Triode Posted April 22, 2016 Posted April 22, 2016 Not bad torque out of that 1.6L either, very usable. I've owned a MKV GTI DSG with an APR Stage 1 tune. I traded it in for a RenaultSport Clio IV RS200 EDC. I've now traded that in for a Volvo V60 T5 with Polestar Tune. The GTI's are cool little cars with nice interiors and good power. They come alive with a tune though. However, i did have to carry oil around in the boot for the inevitable fill up. When i sold it the mechatronics needed replacing and the door lock mechanism was broken Hopefully, they have come a long way quality wise. The Clio has been great. Handles like a dream, I take corners at speeds that shouldn't be possible. The new Dual Clutch is fantastic. No more jerking like that VW DSG. With the handling comes a fee though, im getting 10,000kms out of a set of tyres. at $400 a pop, its an expensive car to keep. I think the general consensus from owners is, its a good weekender, not really a daily. I wanted to get a grown up car, so i went and tested the oldest old man car on the market. The Volvo is on a significant step up to both cars in terms of interior luxury. Seat quality alone is almost enough to buy this car. It does the 0-100km/h sprint quicker than both the current VW and Clio, which is an impressive feat for a bigger car. It also has IRS which helps in the corners. To me, its basically a 30cm longer GTI with more luxury and faster. Also on the list for consideration were the Merc A250, BMW 125i and Alfa QV. The Volvo won out on price, comfort and factory backed tuning options Was your MKV GTI pre 2007? And made in Seth Africa?
Sir Triode Posted April 22, 2016 Posted April 22, 2016 BMW 2 series might be rear wheel drive. M2 me thinks. The M2 is not a hatch though.
RockandorRoll Posted April 22, 2016 Posted April 22, 2016 Mine was a MY07, I think it was a Seth Africa build. Apparently the worst of the bunch. I can only speak to my experience though and while it may differ to a lot of people, there's still a chunk of owners who had problems Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
betty boop Posted April 22, 2016 Author Posted April 22, 2016 I remember when Vw got the golf gti out of Sth Africa, think it was a series of mk5. No end of issues. Soon moved back source to Germany I remember an article where merc compared a top line model of there's from Germany and india. And were proud to declare no difference. We still don't get mercs from india The hot hatch version of my fiat comes from Poland. 1
ArthurDent Posted April 22, 2016 Posted April 22, 2016 I only buy Golf's that are made in Germany but South Africa is also where some Australian delivered BMW's and Mercedes are made.
The Fez Posted April 22, 2016 Posted April 22, 2016 HOONIGAN --- Hotter hatch --- he, he -- http://blog.hoonigan.com/gymkhana8/ 3
RockandorRoll Posted April 23, 2016 Posted April 23, 2016 I only buy Golf's that are made in Germany but South Africa is also where some Australian delivered BMW's and Mercedes are made. Yes, i believe the C Class is made in South Africa I think only the PIrelli Mk5 GTI and R32 was made in Germany
analog brother Posted April 30, 2016 Posted April 30, 2016 mk4 r32 was made in bratislava, slovakia. i think the new rs3 comes from the same factory as well. makes sense as they are very similar in ethos. 1
Briz Vegas Posted April 30, 2016 Posted April 30, 2016 (edited) Reading these comments made me realise that my perception of the hot hatch is fairly narrow. Golf or polo Peugeot 20# or 30# Ford Fiesta or Focus Renault Clio or Megane It's a small bread and butter euro hatchback that has gone from nippy to desirable but still relatively affordable. It also made me think of a grey haired fellow I saw yesterday out on the road in his brand new red mx5 ( image for vibe purposes, clearly this is not a red current MX5). The hot hatch is supposed to give a bit of this vibe in a practical format. The guy I saw yesterday barely squeezed into his motor, although he did look like he was enjoying the experience and his old school sporting headwear. Edited April 30, 2016 by Briz Vegas 1
Guest Sime Posted April 30, 2016 Posted April 30, 2016 If I was buying a new car today, an MX5 it would be.
Guest jakeyb77 Posted April 30, 2016 Posted April 30, 2016 Fun car but every time I get in one my eyeliner is at the top of the windscreen. Not made for 6 footers!
Guest jakeyb77 Posted April 30, 2016 Posted April 30, 2016 Haha my thoughts exactly.. Actually goes for any French attempt at a car.. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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