An interesting read. A nice review of the top 4 super hatches.
I must say though I was very shocked to see the S3 come 3rd. I would have expected it to be first?! But its mighty quick - 13 seconds to 100mph...

Not so sure I like the C30 though!

Anyway worth a read in WHSmiths.

What was the overall outcome then?

I think the Guff won, the Beemer got second, the Audi third and the Vulva last.

The Audi was let down by sull steering feedback I think. Unusual, that

But AE seem to change their minds on the "best" car like the wind.

AE - The Daily Star of motoring publications!

Two 4WDs vs a RWD vs a FWD - Quite different cars really.

I'd put the Volvo against stuff like an LCR, a VXR and an ST but I know Volvo are tring to be a bit more highbrow with the C30.

But all in the same price bracket and market, therefore direct competition.

Not that I'd trust any mag, TBH.

Hmmm - The Volvo is an expensive ST.

A bit like many Audis are expensive Skodas.

Still, at least it's not a Saab.

Which is an expensive Vauxhall!

Indeed it is.

Wife's uncle still cringes in embarrassment when we compare his 9-3TiD to our Astra CDTi.

Same engine (Fiat block) but Astra has more torque.
Astra is better specced.
Astra looks more modern - 9-3 shape been around for years.
Astra interior better put together.
More room in the back of ours.
Saab has been back four times in two years.

The Saab was over £20k, the Astra was under £16k.

I just don't get Saabs at the moment - Not a single car in it's range interests me in the slightest.

Meanwhile some Volvos are quite tasty.

I know I know, its not exactly Evo - but its a weekly car mag that gets me through the month

R32 won it, 130i second, S3 3rd and C30 last.

Overall they said that you can get the pace of most of the cars on test for a lot less in the form of a Focus ST. But the cabin and design of these cars make them worth the extra money.

Yeah my old R32 did feel very special to sit in.

Unlike the ST which is WAY too plasticky.

Like the look of the C30 inside though.

If the S3 had a V6, I should think it would do better - That's got a lovely interior.

The GTI is meant to be better than the R32 - an obvious choice IMO.

Driven both GTI and R32 and placed an order for the R32. Frankly it felt way more powerful, sounded great, and you could put the power down so much earlier (4wd).
I really don't get the whole "GTI better than R32" business
Also tested the 130iM, felt more powerful and more special than the GTI, but still not as good as the R32.
Only problem with the R32 a little too tame looking for my taste, but was just too good in all other aspects IMO.

Wall

Wall - In think it's partly that the mk4 R32 was a lot more powerful and heaps better than the mk4 Gti.
The new GTi is a hell of a lot better and closes the power gap and handles well but people are slightly overdoing it by stating it's better than the R32.

Not a lot under £40k can beat the sound of an R32, the quality of the interior, the grip and the hard to describe "togetherness" of the whole package.

Just spray the chrome grille on the new R32 and you have a nice looking car.
What those that can't afford the R32 LOVE to do it try and claim something cheaper is better so they can pat themselves on the back for being "so clever."

Seems to be everyone though saying it's a better car to drive. Virtually unanimous throughout the motoring press.

Matt, I agree totally.
I actually had to stretch my budget to get the R32 over the GTI, but it seemed absolutely worth it, to me anyway. Power, traction, sound, damping, ... everything just seemed better.
Now I just have to wait until 1st week in May before it arrives ...

Kiwi, frankly I really don't know why they say that, to me it was really 30% better, not just marginally, let alone worse!
Also it makes little sense as the R32 in many tests (Autocar, Top Gear, 5th Gear, some german TV show I don't remember the name, etc) has beaten the 130iM, the S3, etc ... so then they are saying the GTI is better than all of those too ... I doubt ... wasn't IMO anyway.

So for my taste very happy with the R32 despite the extra $$$ and the somewhat tame looks

R32 vs 130i - Google Video

It does not help that the scales are different but the 130i is sllllightly faster in a straight line.

If only BMW had fitted an LSD as standard...

130i donuts - Google Video

130i is a good motor but damn it's ugly!
And you can only seat a pair of dwarves in the back.

Evo tested the two together and the R32 was quicker around the track.

Both fun concepts though - Big block N/A motors in little hatchbacks.

Don't listen to Clarkson's ramblings

The 1 series is reasonable in the back, and has a bigger boot than the R32.

I'd be surprised if an R32 with the bucket seat option had any more rear space tbh.

And not slow

BMW 130i M-sport at Bruntingthorpe - Google Video

Hi, I'm getting the buckets option and also the car I test drove had them so I don't know what it's like without, but with it had more rear leg room than the 130, and also the boot was a bit bigger (visually, didn't pull out the measuring tape ).

Performance wise in a straight line the R32 and 130 were about the same, but the R32 soundtrack made it feel faster/ more special. GTI felt quite a bit slower than both.

Cornering they all felt about as grippy but the R32 seemed better damped, and most of all the 4wd allowed to put down the power so much earlier.
The 130i was very nice too but power always had to be put down later.
GTI was good for a front driver but not a patch on the other two IMO.

Looks are subjective but whilst the R32 just seems a little plain to me the 130 looks worse the more I look at it, so I gradually went cold on it.

S3 I didn't try because to me it seems much overpriced compared to the R32, I don't like the looks (same as any A3 IMO), and all Audi's I've driven in the past had tremendously dull steering/setup.

I think the R32 has the right mix of 4wd grip, handling, power, sound, build quality, price and looks to win pretty much all of these contests. Others excel in one or two areas (eg. S3 speed and interior, 147GTA looks, 130i straight line speed and rwd adjustability, GTI price, etc) but as a package IMO it's unbeatable.

When I'll finally get it (3 looooong months to go ...) I'll post some pics and a detailed report

Now an awful lot might regurgitate journo's words but not me.

I have looked in the back of both WITH MY OWN EYES and the 1 series is tiny in the back - The Golf is a lot bigger.

And the 1 series boot is very shallow. The Golf's is shallow because of the 4WD hardware but it's still reasonable.


Look forward to seeing the pics wall - Ignore most of the negative comments. I had just the same when I had the mk4 version soon after it was launched.
Mostly from MG ZS/Rover Coupe/Golf GTi/other slower cars that think they are fast owners....

PMSL

What and listen to yours instead.

Your funny, i give you that!!!

Frankly I'm super-happy with my choice, made after actually trying the cars not just reading the reviews ... so I'm not "listening" to anyone, just posted my feedback on the cars mentioned in the thread

Pics coming as soon as it arrives (black, 5 doors, dsg, satnav, buckets).

Wall

Wall - Whatever you have, some gimp will make a comment lifted from a mag or similar.

A 911 Turbo will be "dull compared to the GT3" and M3 will be "too low on torque" ,etc, etc.

Just make sure you post pics up - Not seen a black mk5 R32 yet (my mk4 one was black - Looked very nice on the rare days it was clean)!

I can post several articles where the S3 ****es all over the beemer and VW. And if you want to know how the MK6 GOLF R32 will handle like go drive the mk2 TT or the S3.

That's weird AL, usually you form opinions from your own experience and NEVER rely on what mags say?

Heard your a real proper car tester who runs several tasty motors and is even let out after 8pm on Fridays until by Mummy and Daddy.

Oh god, here we go again.....

3 certainties in life: Death, Taxes and AL spouting a small and biased selection of other peoples' experiences.

or for less money, go for a WRX wagon with a performance pack. Less quality and prestige, but arguably a better drive than any of them. Always surprised the wagon's ignored in hot hatch tests

Yes, the 1 series is smaller in the back seat than the Golf. But for all the times I carry passengers its never a problem. Sorry if my rambling is based on personal experience

For the record, the 1 series boot is of greater volume than the R32. That's a fact whether anyone likes it or not.

And lets be honest, if you are going to breed like a rabbit and use your car as a taxi, neither is particularly practical

Wall, good luck with your R32 - good cars, no question.

Personally I prefered the 1 series driving environment (from actually driving them, not looking at pictures ) and the feel of actually driving the cars, but its horses for courses and the R32 is a nice but of kit