Ok Im Back LOL.... Only got it at 4PM, had to pick son up from station, then went cruising in the pissing rain. Not many photos to be honest but I do have a video, which will keep you going till I can take more....... when the rain stops

 

So how am I finding it, apart from the big sticker in my face saying not more than 85 and 4500 RPM fine.

I did fettle it a few time had to, as I cant remember what it was like. Love exhaust didn't know what they sounded like, but love the pops and bangs.

Stereo is ok, not as amazed as I thought I would be with stereo but its good enough...

Took a few mates out in it, all loved it, had quite a few people comment at lights and usual chavs with their OWL heads trying to get a good look. More photos hopefully tomorrow once weather is nice....

Off to read manual now.. Must learn to use flappy paddles
but loving it, had to come home as I knew you lot would be moaning and also Wife wondered where id been past 3 hours.

Full to brim on VMAX, 54 Quid driven around for 2 hrs and its just started to move down.

 

I love "the reveal!"

Looks pretty mean - enjoy!

 

Fantastic looking motor!!

 

Ty

 

hah nice reveal using your daughter i assume, looks great, congrats and enjoy.

 

Love the colour ,wheels and of course rear wing

 

You've got to give us a walk round vid, and don't forget the sound, would love to hear what it sounds like on the move as well.nice

 

Looks fantastic Ted. Love the wheels and calipers and even the wing looks good in that shot. Enjoy it

 

Littleted, I know you obviously can't do it yet, but I take it you've read up on how to set the car up for launch control...?

 

I've yet to try it on mine but it looks rather amusing.

 

Am I missing the joke does it take longer to setup than it takes the lights to go green?

 

Looks rather nice.... looking forward to the updates

 

That wasn't the point I was trying to make mate. The guy I'm talking about is a bonafide businessman and liquid. What I meant was sometimes it makes sense to buy a car on finance no matter how much money you have/earn.

 

Nope, just a specific combination of Sport+, brake, etc. On mine you need to have driven at least 6 miles so it's warmed up - the A45 is probably similar.

 

Hehe I,ll try do the incar today for you, launch takes about 5 seconds to do If your fast..

Manual , traction off, both paddles up , right paddle to agree, then plant feet and off.

Gotta time it right though as it won't stay forever. Off to snow foam the **** from it now and then try get you guys some better shots and sound

 

From evo:

"...First, you put the car into Drive and hold it on the brakes. Next you press the stability control button once to engage its Sport mode, then switch the transmission to its manual mode. Now pull back on both steering-wheel gearshift paddles simultaneously until the dash display reads ‘race start available’. Then pull the right paddle again to confirm go, and then floor the throttle and release the brake when you’re ready to blast off.

The result – for us – was a 0-60 time of 4.3sec, with 0-100mph taking 10.6sec, numbers that are near-identical to ones recorded for the V8-powered E92 BMW M3. This accelerative force can be replicated over and over again, and is available despite a chunky kerb weight of 1480kg..."


Bit of a rigmarole. But as you do it more and more and get used to it, I'm sure you'll be able to set it up in a thrice. And when you do, you can expect repeatable 0-60 in circa 4.3s.

Everytime; all the time.

 

A pedestrian 4.4 for my shopping hatch. Aren't these new hyper hatches FUN!

 

I love the fact that manufacturers are having a 'hot hatch bhp war'. (Or should they be called 'mega hatches' these days).

Okay, so the heady power outputs are partly brought about by ever-increasing kerb weights... But nonetheless.

Long may it continue!

 

The silly weight increases do seem to be slowing down.

My M135i is lighter than my mk4 Golf R32 - I think the Golf R is lighter still.

When 1500+kgs was becoming the norm (the mk2 Focus RS is about 1500kgs) it really was time to reign in the lard!

They are all still too heavy though!

 

The lack of drama is very impressive. Just grips and goes. Mind, RWD on dry grippy tarmac is a real weapon (despite the fancy electronics).

 

Wholeheartedly agree.

 

A genuine hot hatch should not weigh more than 1300kg in this day and age. Even then, I'd like to see them pared back to around the 1100kg mark, max.

Wish manufacturers would get back to basics. But it's the way of the world, unfortunately: ever more dimensional increases, creature comforts, strengthening and safety features.

As Karl Pilkington would say, "Can't be doin' with it... It's just clutter."


(But I guess it doesn't help things that 'we're all getting bigger' lol )

 

Because MPG/emissions is such a focal point these days the manufacturers only have one direction to go if they want to continue to offer the customer big bhp. Weight saving is going to be crucial to the future of car development, theres a limit to how economic you can make a engine, after all, they do need some fuel no matter how small the amount may be.

Lower weight might be crucial to fuel saving but it's also fun.

 

What engine does the merc have

 

A relatively humble 1991cc in-line 4 with a twinscroll lobbed on.

Nothing humble about the figures though:

355 bhp
332 lb ft
60 in 4.3
100 in 10.6
168 vmax

 

You forgot to mention it doesn't suffer ringland or gasket failure either

 

Ha ha.

 

Wow, amazing figures for a 4cyl 2ltr

It must have some pretty exotic materials in the internal components to handle that power

Presumably twin scroll is to give some semblance of low down grunt