Ignore page 5 everyone! Nothing to see here!

Except my attempts to hold a reasoned conversation you mean?

Ignore page 5 everyone! Nothing to see here!

Except your advice is at the bottom of page 5!! heheh oops

Except your advice is at the bottom of page 5!! heheh oops

:confused:

Yep, I think you're right there, mate. ST's are great, but certainly not a hot hatch (despite 225bhp) as to me, that means agility, poise and feedback and those abilities lie with other cars.

That'll be the 182 Trophy then? (or Elise but I think sports cars aren't on the shopping list!)

I really really would love a 182, test drove one a few times a couple of years ago... still remember it! and the Trophy flavour is better?! Ouch.

Unfortunately sense (AKA lack of dosh) meant I had to get a diesel. Still love it,

Andy.

:confused:

I read all of page 5 and the last post was you saying 'ignore page 5' !

I though it was a little bit ironic, most of page 5 is deleted anyway so it didn't take long.

Andy.

I read all of page 5 and the last post was you saying 'ignore page 5' !

I though it was a little bit ironic, most of page 5 is deleted anyway so it didn't take long.

Andy.

There you go then. All deleted. So ignore it.

mmm ok, duly ignored

I must admit a few weeks ago I took my Mums Volvo V70 T5 for a quick semi-legal blip on this private old road near our house.

Now whilst you know that the Straight-Five Turbo Charged beast would bend my vRS over on a straight line and on the bends and in top end it just did not feel as quick as mine. I really think its purly down to the fact the V70 T5\Focus ST engine is a very smooth engine, and whilst I was just mashing the throttle in a straight line and didnt get much of a feel for it - because its so smooth you often don't appricate the power as much. Whilst the vRS like all High-Powered Dervs delivers the power like a wrecking ball.

I guess its down to personal preference, now whilst I do struggle to get quick starts in my Furby because of the unearthly low-down grunt. That 'wrecking-ball' effect is something that appeals to me alot more then the smoothness of the T5 Block. I guess its because I am a nipper and rather niave to these things.

Each to their own I guess.

That'll be the 182 Trophy then? (or Elise but I think sports cars aren't on the shopping list!)

I really really would love a 182, test drove one a few times a couple of years ago... still remember it! and the Trophy flavour is better?! Ouch.

Unfortunately sense (AKA lack of dosh) meant I had to get a diesel. Still love it,

Andy.

No, of course the Elise is in a different class - after all, it weighs 550kg less than the ST!

Yep, the likes of the Clio have much of the old school hot hatch thing that most of the modern generation of so called hot hatchs simply do not. If they weren't so lardy, they might stand a chance.

I drove a mates very sorted Mk2 Golf a while back (20v). With uprated suspension, it simply rang rings around most modern sporting hatches on a decent twisty road.

Interestingly, the ST does not have that low down grunt feel of the Fabia. Some might call it smooth; I just call it boring. I think it's because it's a lpt that it does that as I had a 2.3hpt Saab (9000 Aero, lots of mods) before and it had seriously massive low end grunt, but about twice the level of boost!! Engine does sound awesome, though - in fact, better than the 5 cylinder Quattro engine that some people compare it to as I have driven Audi S2 and it didn't sound quite the same.

However, I'm a little intrigued by the slight slating the new ctr is getting compared to the previous model. I suspect that, as with a lot of these things, the opinion of a select few who have experienced both cars first hand has now been seized upon by others who repeat it ad nauseum despite not having driven both cars themselves. Not having driven the earlier one, I can't make the comparison. However, seeing how little you can pick up an earlier model for now makes me think that it would make a better used buy than ever now. Certainly better than the mkiv golf gti anyway.

I think you also have to bear in mind whether people like the power delivery of the Honda compared to the latest generation of forced induction cars. The engine has to rank as one of the best ever 4 cylinder units, but it is thin on torque this side of the vvc. That's why I bought an Audi converted Elise rather than the more common Honda K20a one from a donor CTR.

Have to say, they could have easily lifted the power to that of the JDM spec engines, so 220-230 instead of 197.

Jez

The ST is a nice car... but its definately not old-skool hot hatch because its so smooth.. the engine is almost diesel like and lazy in its performance, when i testdrove one there was no point heading for the redline, bags of midrange which suited my driving style... thirsty bugger tho:rofl: oh and the 5 cyl noise is addictive

I think you also have to bear in mind whether people like the power delivery of the Honda compared to the latest generation of forced induction cars. The engine has to rank as one of the best ever 4 cylinder units, but it is thin on torque this side of the vvc. That's why I bought an Audi converted Elise rather than the more common Honda K20a one from a donor CTR.

Have to say, they could have easily lifted the power to that of the JDM spec engines, so 220-230 instead of 197.

Jez

I've seen some very good K20A engines in the Elise also, which have been supercharged on top. Just like the Ariel Atom, which not many supercars can match.

I think you also have to bear in mind whether people like the power delivery of the Honda compared to the latest generation of forced induction cars. The engine has to rank as one of the best ever 4 cylinder units, but it is thin on torque this side of the vvc. That's why I bought an Audi converted Elise rather than the more common Honda K20a one from a donor CTR.

Have to say, they could have easily lifted the power to that of the JDM spec engines, so 220-230 instead of 197.

Jez

1.8t elise? :eek: now i bet thats awesome

took a focus st out for a very long run and agree with the general opinions on here,on tight b roads it is aweful,tbh i can't see any appeal in a hot hatch that is dull on every thing and hopeless with the country roads,the astra vxr is an animal you either love or hate,i hate it,any thing french will fall apart and deprieciate like a stone,the golf gti is not enough car for the money,the octy is quite a bargain but not quite up to the golf which leaves us with the type r,the old one imho was great it was everything a hot hatch should be i will have to wait before posting an opinion on the new one untill i drive it but if it goes as good as it looks it should be good.

I've seen some very good K20A engines in the Elise also, which have been supercharged on top. Just like the Ariel Atom, which not many supercars can match.

For sure, I have friends with the Link-up 300 bhp supercharged Honda. Not been in one of those, but I have been in a couple of n/a 220bhp jobs and they ain't exactly slow either! Mine is somewhere in between.

1.8t elise? :eek: now i bet thats awesome

Yes, mate, it's not exactly sluggish!! I've had fairly rapid cars, but this has TVR performance in a chassis that actually corners. 0-100 in 9.5s. I coldn't quite believe how fast it was when I first took one out.

About 30 of them have been done now, but like the Honda's, they ain't exactly cheap and it involves a lot of work (~60 hours labour) to get them to fit.

Jez