I have decided to sell my fabia and move into the hot hatch arena. I have been on a couple of test drives but I feel I am not truly getting a sense of what each car is like in the limited time I have available.

What do the more experienced here generally look out for when driving. I am thinking about things like handling etc. Are there any things I can look for which will help me determine what would make one car better than another? Most of these things would take me quite a long time to realise; sublte differences between cars etc. I don't want to by the wrong car again. Any ideas appreciated.

Buy what YOU like. What you feels quick, nippy etc etc. Does it make you say 'wow'?

You're the one driving it, not us

What are you current options?

i think if the dealer is desperate for the sale arrange a couple of hours, and take it around the roads you know. Its your money that they want, make sure to write up a shortlist and when you know which cars you like pit the dealers against each other, its like watching crows fight for a corpse haha not to be morbid

What are you current options?

Well, I've narrowed it down to the Seat Leon FR T FSI and the Golf GTi (mk5). Taken them both out once and need to take them both again I think.

Edited 11 August, 200916 yr by stephenSF
Clarification of model

If it's the car for you you'll know it as soon as you press the throttle. I've driven some fast stuff (Astra 888s, VXRs, Focus STs etc.) but flat out in my vRS still makes me smile... and i'll never forget the first day I drove it it just made me like a kid of Xmas morning.

If these cars are doing that for you then you haven't found the right one. Hot hatches are never gonna be cheap to run, so don't even think about costs when buying as they're all pretty much the same. All bands 15-20 insurance, all 25-30mpg... it how they drive that is important.

If it's the car for you you'll know it as soon as you press the throttle. I've driven some fast stuff (Astra 888s, VXRs, Focus STs etc.) but flat out in my vRS still makes me smile... and i'll never forget the first day I drove it it just made me like a kid of Xmas morning.

You've just thrown me into turmoil. I too loved the vrs when I drove it. I'm not really sure what I preferred in the end. I feel a bit bad test driving cars and not buying one but when I'm still not sure I don't want to buy something and then regret not getting something else afterwards.

You're right, I have to like it for myself. At the moment I'm reading so much stuff and basing my ideas on that. A few months ago I was really into the Suzuki Swift Sport after reading loads of amazing stuff about it. Drove it. Didn't like it. Waste of time.

Oh well.

Well, I've narrowed it down to the Seat Leon FR T FSI and the Golf GTi (mk5). Taken them both out once and need to take them both again I think.

Essentially the same car!

Really depends on which one you like more, which interior is better, which you like the look of more!

interior in the leon is carp compared to the golf. however i prefer the looks of the leon and they do seem to be a 'cooler' car.

The more experience you can get the better - reading magazines/reviews/forum opinions is all well and good but its about your choice in the end as you will be the one driving it daily.

When looking at getting rid of my Ibiza i convinced myself a Clio 182 was the way to go because of its rave reviews and amazing handling, and seeing Evo magazine cornering on 3 wheels. I did 2 miles up the road, had a head ache from it's noisy exhaust and found the lack of torque very odd! :rotz:

Given the size of the cars your looking at have you considered (say it quietly).... the petrol Renaultsport Megane....good spec, loads of power and has a trick diff to boot!

and don't feel bad for dealers when taking test drives and not buying - it's kind of what they are there for!

So Dave, I see you got rid of your vrs for a leon. How are you getting on with it?

I too prefer the looks of the leon. I can't see why people seem to like the looks of the GTi so much. I think it's an Emperor's Clothes thing. I also can't see that much between the interior of the Golf to the Leon, despite what people say. I just don't get why people make so much of a fuss. They all look like there in the same class of car to me.

The only thing I think really might make a difference is with the handling. But then it's quite hard to test for the handling when your in a test drive and you feel like you've got your driving instructor in with you.

i got rid of my mk2 'vrs' lol. was a sport... but having driven vrs' plenty of times, there is no comparison really to the leon or GTI.

I think the main gripe people have with the leon is that the dash is very boring. i solved this by spraying all of the silver effect plastic, gloss black. looks far more classy now. In my opinion the leon has the build quality, performance of the golf with a better exterior package. GO LEON!

i got rid of my mk2 'vrs' lol. was a sport... but having driven vrs' plenty of times, there is no comparison really to the leon or GTI.

I think the main gripe people have with the leon is that the dash is very boring. i solved this by spraying all of the silver effect plastic, gloss black. looks far more classy now. In my opinion the leon has the build quality, performance of the golf with a better exterior package. GO LEON!

not really a mk2 vrs? has 25bhp less, alot less torque, different gear ratios and minus a 6th gear

... but having driven vrs' plenty of times, there is no comparison really to the leon or GTI.

What you mean the Leon was a lot faster?

not really a mk2 vrs? has 25bhp less, alot less torque, different gear ratios and minus a 6th gear

it looked the danglies though:thumbup: lol. But yeah you cant compare going from a 130bhp derv fabia to a 200bhp leon or golf. Have you gone for a drive in the leon yet?

I have been for a drive in the leon. The thing that shocked me about the vrs was its brutal mid-range. I didn't have a good test drive in the leon. Will have to have another.