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Sunday, July 19, 2015

TOP 5 JUNIOR HOT HATCHES YOU CAN BUY BRAND NEW IN MALAYSIA (2015)

Admin 4:06 AM 0

Welcome back! This is the first posting after the 2015 Id Fitr celebrations in Malaysia. I'm technically still on vacation but I think it has been a while since we had a 100% Motoring-Malaysia posting instead of just the news. Well, I suppose there was that 'Spotted For Sale' Alfa 4C, but of course, the more the better. So now's the time for us to state THE BEST JUNIOR HOT HATCH IN MALAYSIA that you can buy right now (July 2015 that is). According to Yours Truly here of course. This is because I have driven them all nd I do believe that it is my duty to tell you guys about it.

Number #5 - Volkswagen Polo GTI

This spot belongs to the Volkswagen Polo GTI. I have stated before that I enjoyed the Polo GTI a fair bit. The car when driven on its own, in isolation is good enough for most to feel a certain motoring high. This car, with its rorty sounding 180hp/250nm twincharged 1.4liter engine and a very aggressive 7 speed dual clutch gearbox makes acceleration entertaining and feels more powerful than what it actually has.

It loses out badly on the handling stakes by only being slightly better than a stock 1.2TSI (with 17 inch wheels). It feels like a car that is all tyres on a very narrow chassis. On the limit it actually feels like its tippy toeing around on the tyres instead of the hard riding chassis actually keeping everything planted. Yes, you can drive rings around most cars, but against opponents like the Ford Fiesta ST and even number #4 below, it should give more than this. And you can never put as much power to the ground like you could the other cars that I've rated ahead of it. I think when Volkswagen comes out with the face lifted and revamped 1.8liter Polo GTI here then things may get better for this car. That has suspension mods that may make it a better car. Can't wait for Volkswagen to bring it in.

Costs RM155,000+ but you could usually get a very healthy discount for it these days.

Number #4 - Suzuki Swift Sport

You're talking old school to the maximum here. If you're the guy stuck in the 1980s and 1990s and always talk about the Peugeot 205GTI and the Volkswagen Golf GTI MK1 and 2 as well as the fact that they don't make 'em like they used to then you haven't tried the current (and previous Suzy Swift Sport). This car is so old school in its performance and its handling that the only thing modern about it inside is the bluetooth and other connectivity functions. And better plastics. And layout. And brighter headlights. And better safety. Oh you get my drift.

Horsepower and torque figures come from days gone by - 133hp and 160Nm from normally aspirated 1.6liter engine coupled to a 5 speed (or surprisingly very nice CVT) gearbox makes it super authentic. Acceleration is spot on 1980s-1990s too - mid 8 seconds and 195kmh. Very pedestrian in this day and age but it's about driver-machine interaction when it comes to hot hatches. This has it in spades.

You can throw it round bends without a care in the world. Bumps in the middle of a corner will not sway its course and it even takes our bumpy road surfaces like a champion. It never gets ruffled and charges on to the next corner with an energy that it unbecoming of its size and category. And the car is still very throttle adjustable (for a front wheel drive) that the tail is your best friend is most corners. The ride is hard but not harsh and suits its sporty characteristics. It will not shake your kidneys unlike some supposedly sporty hatchbacks. Now add the fact that it is pretty refined at highway speeds you've got a car that is also less tiring for those long drives back to the countryside. Oh, the ABS isn't intrusive and will only activate when the brake pedal is really stomped upon.

Cost - RM100,000+ Very affordable and very interactive. I like. I really really like. Yes, it could have been placed higher if not for the super ol' skool performance. But heck, I like nostalgia sometimes.

Number #3 Renault RenaultSport Clio RS 200

Its the car I last drove - the RenaultSport Clio RS200 comes in third. It has 200hp and 240Nm torque from a 1.6liter turbocharged lump coupled to a 6 speed dual clutch automatic gearbox. Now why didn't I place this higher?

Well, I suppose firstly its the price - RM168,000+ before you throw in insurance. Now if you want fancy red trimming you have to add another RM6,000 I think. Less the discount of say about RM20,000 or thereabouts and you still get something expensive compared to the others here (all can be gotten at some large discounts if you buy it at the right time). Price is a big factor as if you're buying a junior hot hatch. Why? Hello, if you had more money you'd be looking at their bigger brothers lah - the Golf GTI, Megane 250 etc etc.

So what's it like to drive? Stable fast but somehow down on interaction and character. The good thing about the Clio RS these days is that the plastics don't feel like bloody croissants and flake away in your hands anymore after buying them. The interior seems as well built as the other cars in here and it feels like a nice place to be sitting in. The car has a very smooth power delivery and gear changes by that DCT is smooth. I find it to be better than some VW DSGs in terms of low speed shifts and nearly as fast on the upshifts when you're gunning for it.

Handling is good and predictable. And when you combine the performance and handling of the Clio RS it works out to be slightly too clinical in my books. There is less driver interaction compared to the two cars that come in below. I also think that Renault Sport had to lessen the torque figures for this RS 200 because it is DCT equipped for the sake of reliability. It does not feel as rapid to drive as some of the others. It's not slow, but it could do with another 20Nm or so to make it thrilling down the straight. Or maybe I should have switched on the artificial sound amplifier and make the darn thing sound like a Nissan GTR when I drove it (yes, you can make it sound like a superbike, a Clio V6, a Renault Alpine or even Nissan GTR from the infotainment system). I suppose its the driver-machine interaction that I crave the most in these sort of cars. The Clio RS is slightly down on this point.

Cost - RM168,000+. expensive in this crowd. More driver interaction needed. But, it is the best if you are too darn lazy to shift by yourself.

Number #2 - Ford Fiesta ST

The Fiesta ST is by far the best handler of this bunch by miles here but it costs RM10,000 more (which is actually opposite as the Pug is more expensive than the Ford in the UK). It would give you the best in terms of outright handling but overall performance falls a little behind - 180hp and 240Nm with some overboost in horses (and torque) on full bore acceleration. It may be slightly slower on paper than the Clio RS but it feels more rapid in some ways. It has to be driver interaction. That missing bit when it comes to the Clio RS over this feisty Fiesta. It, like the Suzy in number #4 has that extra bit of adjustability that makes it a a dream to drive and to own if the budget allows.

But its cabin is a tad more basic looking and less premium than the one sitting at number One. In fact a little too mundane and plain even though it has the nicest looking Recaro seats this side of an Audi RS3. But when you sit in it, you stare at that modern looking but quite cheap looking plastic dashboard. Maybe I am spoilt by the luxuries I have in my life. I think I could live a bit more luxury inside and live with about 10% less handling finesse.

In fact, car number #1 has that. It has 10% less in handling for the extra (almost) 20hp in engine performance and a dollop more torque coupled with a slightly more premium interior (for day to day driving). Call me superficial and slightly cheap (as it is RM10,000 cheaper to buy). But I like my creature comforts and powaaahhhhhhh more than just handling (which I personally can drive around its flaws and traits.

Cost RM150,000 OTR (but you can have this with a discount these days too)

Number #1 - Peugeot 208GTI

And so, unlike what most motoring journos over in the UK or Europe say, I choose the Peugeot 208GTI as my favourite junior hot hatch by the thinnest of margins.......for the moment that is.

In the sub RM150,000 price range I do not think any brand new car can touch the darn thing in all out acceleration. Peugeot claims 0-100kmh in 6.8seconds. I managed 6.5seconds. From a standstill, it is really, really rapid for a supermini sized hot hatch. Stock VW Golf GTIs would actually be surprised if they were trying to follow one. Of course, it has 200hp and 275Nm torque. Torque makes it really move. The only issue is that it does so pretty quietly, much like the Clio RS in some ways. Like refined transport instead of hot hatchback in terms of aural effects. Not that it matters. I state again that I do not think any brand new car under RM150,000 can touch this car in a straight line.

As for handling, the 208GTI is somewhat like its engine. Smooth and tuned for overall driving instead of just balls out driving. Maybe this is why Peugeot only dropped the car by 8mm. The ride is actually quite good for a hot hatch. It isn't as jiggly as some of the others in its class and actually rides better than the base 208 sold here. That one feels light, floaty and glides over bumps instead of absorbing is a little. Well sorted in terms of ride but the price to pay is in its ultimate grip and handling where it lacks some front end grip over the Fiesta and the wildness of its tail in-extrimis (white knuckles and all that wet your pants stuff if you're not ready for it) .

The fact that Peugeot has packaged a very fast junior hatchback with a premium looking interior, good ride, good equipment and only slightly flawed handling coupled with a price below RM140,000 makes it my favourite choice among all of the junior hot hatches sold today in Malaysia.

Yes it does have some drawbacks but I am single mindedly drawn to the engine performance it gives and it may have some front end grip issues (which I believe could be solved with custom alignment and better tyres). And that RM10,000 cheaper than the Fiesta ST has some weight in my opinion. You can do alot with RM10,000. A set of lowering performance springs for the Pug may cost RM1,200 and it would actually help make it a better car. You still save RM8,800 of your hard earned, and now less value due to shitty currency exchange, Malaysian Ringgit.

Cost RM140,000 (and could be less with a discount these days) - A complete package for the money. Of course, if you took the Fiesta ST over this I would also say you made a good choice for the ultimate driver's hot hatch that money can buy in Malaysia. This, the Peugeot 208 GTI, is the better all-rounder for long term ownership in my books.

Note: Why is _________ (fill in with whatever B segment Hot hatch you think should be here) not on this list? Well, is it sold in Malaysia? If not why should it be here? Secondly, why is the Proton Satria Neo not on this list? Hello? Best junior hot hatch? 2015 lah....not 2005. And it's slow..slow...slow...it does not do 0-100kmh in under 10 seconds stock. Hot? far from it lah.

Tested: Peugeot 208 GTI - A car worthy of its GTI Badge

peugeot malaysia

Admin 5:29 AM 0

These days if you want performance and handling for a certain price it would have to be the hot hatchback. These hot hatches were basically souped up versions of compact and supermini sized hatchbacks in either 3 or 5 door variants with added on bodykits, larger wheels and a more powerful engine. Gone were the days where affordable sportiness meant a coupe body. Ever since the first few hot hatchbacks arrived in the late 1970s and early 1980s, this was the way to go for affordable performance.

Peugeot was one of the early ones. They burst into the scene with the 205GTI in 1984. It was a stupendous car. It had a 1.6liter engine with 105hp in the beginning. This would not sound like much in current times but in those days, cars were pretty light. This was an era before airbags, side impact bars in the doors and other safety kit. So the 205GTi had around 900kgs to lug around. This still meant decent acceleration and performance. And at that point of time, 1.6liter family hatchbacks had an average of 95hp to begin with. So the 205GTI reigned supreme. It even liked to cock its inside rear wheel if one drove it vigourously in the bends. It was, a classic. Still is actually. I do wonder what happened to the few I used to see running around in the mid 1990s.

But it has been awhile since Peugeot has actually come up with a car worthy to succeed the 205GTI. The previous GTI made by Peugeots have been a tad bit pudgy. Filled up with too much croissants and foie gras to be nimble. Even the previous generation of the 308THP Turbo felt like it had too much french cuisine to feel properly fast and nimble. But I am actually glad to say that with the Peugeot 208GTI I tested recently that it's back.

The Peugeot 208GTI basically starts out as a normal 208 but adds a different front grille with a very slightly different front and rear bumpers to go with it. It also adds a rear rooftail spoiler and thin wheel arches which the normal models don't have. It also gets 17inch alloy wheels with 205/45/17 tyres on them. Aside from these, there are 'GTI' badges on the C-pillar and on its rump. Internally, it gets red to black plastic trimming, a leatherette covered dashboard with real red stitching, a sporty flat bottom tiny leather steering wheel and a nice chunky weighted gearknob for your manual shifting. The seats are like the 1.6VTI but covered in a GTI specific finish and are grippy yet comfortable too.

Internally, the car gets a turbocharged 1.6liter four cylinder engine coupled to a 6 speed manual gearbox. It gives out 200hp and a very useful 275nm torque. The chassis gets quite extensive mods such as a reinforced subrame up front, larger sized and retuned dampers, different springs (which only lower the car by 8mm unfortunately), larger anti-roll bars, larger brakes and a revised steering turn in rate to boot. Quite a fair bit has been done to the little Pug. Oh, the car is also pretty light. It weighs only 1160kg. A pretty impressive figure these days. Consider this weight with 200hp and things do get pretty interesting actually.

The interior is very well equipped. I think for the price Peugeot is charging – RM139,888otr with insurance, you get a premium feel interior, great front seats, a very useful touchscreen info-tainment system that sounds pretty good, a panoramic roof and parking sensors too. Being a 3 door hatchback also means two longer doors than usual. It is actually quite acceptable to get in or out from the rear seats as the seats slide forward and the longer doors help ingress and exiting.

When you get seated in the 208GTI you actually feel quite good. It feels upmarket compared to some other hatchbacks in the same price range and category. Build quality is pretty good but since its French, it does have its idiosyncrasies. Some of its fittings here and there could be done better. But compare this to any run of the mill Japanese hatchback, the Pug feels special. And also a bit whacked out too. Its the super small steering wheel and that above the steering wheel instrument cluster point of view. You have to get used to the size of the steering and then in the right place, it will block half of the digital speedometer reading, the rev counter above 6,200rpm (which is right at the redline) and speeds below 30kmh on the analog speedometer (see the pic right above - this is what I would see in the Pug with my upright seating and high up steering position actually). Only the French would be able to pass off a design like that and then try to get away with it. Other peeves are the still small glovebox due to the unwillingness of relocating the fusebox in right hand drive cars and the bonnet release on the left side of the car too.

Driving the 208 GTI

Anyway, you get comfy in the nicely scuplted seats and start up the car. Here it slightly disappoints. The engine and exhaust note feels slightly ordinary. The exhaust note is only slightly sportier than usual and can only be heard if you're outside of the car. If you're driving the 208GTI there is only a mere hint of sportiness in the engine or exhaust note. I suppose the 200hp and 275nm torque just wants to be felt and not heard.

But it does make itself felt on ways other than its exhaust note. In the sub RM150,000 price range I do not think any brand new car can touch the darn thing in all out acceleration. Peugeot claims 0-100kmh in 6.8seconds. I think they're just being conservative. I do believe I managed two or three runs with times at least in the low sixes. The engine feels linear and smooth most of the time. But from a standstill, it is really, really rapid for a supermini sized hot hatch. Stock Golf GTIs would actually be surprised if they were trying to follow one. The overall feel of the engine is compliant and tractable at all speeds. It isn't hard to drive in traffic and works well at all speeds. Yes, the only issue is that it does so pretty quietly. Like refined transport instead of hot hatchback noise. Not that it matters. I state again that I do not think any brand new car under RM150,000 can touch this car in a straight line.

As for handling, the 208GTI is somewhat like its engine. Smooth and tuned for overall driving instead of just balls out driving. Maybe this is why Peugeot only dropped the car by 8mm. The ride is actually quite good for a hot hatch. It isn't as jiggly as some of the others in its class and actually rides better than the base 208 sold here. That one feels light, floaty and glides over bumps instead of absorbing is a little. Well sorted in terms of ride but the price to pay is in its ultimate grip and handling.

Whilst the 208GTI handles 200hp quite well by not torque steering on most road surfaces on acceleration, it steering suffers from being a little darty. Maybe its the small size of the wheel and the slightly lack of feedback through the wheel. If you really push the 208GTI through a corner it will actually run wide with understeer and when you feed in more steering, or try adjust on the throttle, it will react by wagging its tail (and cocking that inside rear wheel). It isn't just any nose led hatchback out there. So its a very good thing even though IT could basically use more front end grip ultimately. But once you get the hang of it progress made in one can be very rapid especially with the performance given by the engine.

So aside from what was stated above, the car is bloody satisfying. I truly love the fact that Peugeot has packaged a very fast junior hatchback with a premium looking interior, good ride, good equipment and only slightly flawed handling coupled with a price below RM140,000. Yes it does have some drawbacks but honestly, I am drawn by the engine performance it gives me even though it does not sound like it and it may have some front end grip issues (which I believe could be solved with custom alignment and better tyres). This is the first French hatchback that I have truly fallen for in a long long time. In fact, I don't really remember falling for any in a long time and no doubt, it is worthy of its GTI badge. (Do see below for a comparison between the Peugeot 208GTI and its rivals)

Pros: Sorted ride, Engine gives good performance, very well equipped, premium looking interior,
Cons: Understeers a bit early for my liking, smallish steering makes it slightly darty, small glovebox, quiet sounding for a hot hatch, that small steering wheel and compromised view of the instrument cluster

Conclusion: Possibly the best overall packaged hot hatch under RM150,000 that money can buy. Worthy of its GTI badging.

Specifications
2015 Peugeot 208 GTI

Engine: 1598cc twin scroll high pressure (THP) turbocharged 4 cylinder
Horsepower : 200bhp
Torque: 275nm @ 1700-4500rpm

Transmission: 6 speed manual
Weight: 1160kg

Max. Speed: 230kmh (claimed)
0-100kmh: 6.8seconds (claimed) 6.5seconds (tested)

Fuel Consumption: I averaged around 8.8ltr/100km in a combined cycle – 5.9litrs/100km claimed

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The Peugeot 208GTI vs its rivals

So would I buy this over its natural rivals like the Ford Fiesta ST, the Renault Clio 200RS or the Volkswagen Polo GTI.?

Yes, yes and yes.

The Fiesta ST is by far the best handler here but it cost RM10,000 more (which is actually opposite as the Pug is more expensive than the Ford in the UK). It would give you the best in terms of outright handling and overall performance but its cabin is a tad more basic looking and less premium than the 208GTI. I could live without that 10% less of handling finesse for the extra (almost) 20hp in engine performance and that slightly more premium interior (for day to day driving) that the Pug would give me. Call me superficial and slightly cheap (as its RM10,000 cheaper to buy). But I like my creature comforts and powaaahhhhhhh more than just handling. At this price range mind you.

As for the Polo GTI, as stated before the car in isolation is good enough with its rorty sounding twincharged 1.4liter engine. It loses out badly on the handling stakes by being only slightly better than a stock 1.2TSI. It should give more than this. I think when Volkswagen comes out with the face lifted and revamped 1.8liter Polo GTI here then things may get better for this car.

The Clio RS? Well, you get the same 200hp and in Dual Clutch form. It costs over RM170,000 in terms of list pricing. How much can they cut off?RM30,000? Note that you could get the others with at least RM6,000-10,000 minimum too. Too overpriced in my opinion. Too many electronics and less driver interaction too.

And so, unlike what most motoring journos over in the UK or Europe say, I choose the Peugeot 208GTI as my favourite junior hot hatch by the thinnest of margins.......for the moment that is.