The Focus RS also. The mk6 Golfs have all rusted away or suffered fatal engine failures due to broken pistons or streched/snapped timing chains by now.
My favourite is the megane despite being a big vw fan but for this test they are using the wrong megane, they should be comparing the focus and golf to the r26 not the r26r. Its like comparing a Mercedes touring car to an audi rs4. The megane is a toy more than a regular hot hatch which is a compromise between workhorse and a race horse
As a hot hatch owner and enthusiast one of the things I look for is a good engine sound and exhaust note. I think the 5 pot in the Focus wins that round.
Great video, I drive a GTI VI and just really happy on how it works every day, is the best product to drive each day of the week and not just on the weekend.
What a diabolical review! If you interview a bunch of yuppie badge snobs from London, of course they're all going to choose the dull Golf, if it was a skip with a VW, Audi, BMW or Merc badge pressed on, the snobs would choose it every time. The Megane is a serious track car but too serious for everyday use. The Focus has the best blend of practicality and lunacy, plus you get a lovely 5pot warble to boot! RS every time!
@Charette212 If you mean plastic windows and other features which R26.R doesn't have is this because it is racing car and it is not car for every day. This car for the racetrack and it must be as light as it could be. If you want sports megane for every day, you should look for standard megane RS.
@SLOMatej I live in Canada we have no Megane car here im just giving you my point has a neutral observer. Maybe its fast but god I think it look bad! What the point of testing a track car with those 2 road car?
@nobby2000 oh right I did t realise you were comparing GTI. That's a different market of car. Golf R is the Focus competitor. My whole point is that if actually sit/drive in one, you might they are actually a fantastic proposition for the money.
@Eastwoodzs rs defo m8 i totally agree and although i cant drive it will be more fun t have to work in the corners than just piddle round them like the other 2 torque steer to me is POWER
Can someone explain to me why the R26R is being compared to the RS and GTI? It seems bizarre that an all out track day weapon is being compared to two cars which are just hot hatches. The R26R is a great car but would it still fair as well if both the GTI and the RS were given the same treatment?
put 300 bhp in megane and not that it would have wobbly steering wheel, probably the wheels would fall off when you would pedal to the metal because of the power. and besides... yes, i would like to have fun on the road with my car... but i occasionally i want to hear some music and go on the highway sometimes... so which car i wanna rather choose? and there is a matter of price... golf is almost 10k € more expensive than focus... if you don't have extra 10k... again, what would you choose...?
@haz17tg You just havent driven one. they are so sturdy, nicest inside, and even though they are FWD handle so well. Its like saying you would rather an 11 sec rotor than a 12sec M3.
@sodazman 3b-end) For example look at my current "little" Clio 2 RS1 in my playsit on it on my channel... You will not see visuals tuning on it, a perfect stock Clio 2 RS1 in the appearance But look at also its performances... not the performances of a stock Clio 2 RS1 ^^
@nobby2000 hey I can't fully agree. The golf has 265HP anyway not 200. Its also has AWD which instantly makes it better on more surfaces. To a 100 and quarter mile the R is quicker. Add in some rain or dirt and it gets worse for the Focus. All this whilst being an a car that looks like a sleeper an built like a brick. I like the focus. It's raw etc.. But I value the cabin as much as the supposed speed your suggesting the RS has.
@javisfsr 2c) & the only fact is that Peugeot is the WC 2010, no Audi Audi take interest for the races type Le Mans Series since more decades than Peugeot who taken interest more for Rally or African rally races (since the beggining of the 20th century even)
RS looks great in green or orange, went for the Gti myself for balance of fuel economy/performance, DSG gearbox is superb though racer types might find it just too smooth.
@Mailme81 The regular Golf GTi is what they are testing here and that has 200bhp or 230bhp for the 'Edition 30' model.. The 'R' model is nearly £4000 more expensive than the Focus RS and that is before you add any extras to the Golf 'R' It's just my opinion that they are not good value at those inflated prices, and also not such a 'premium product' that is worth that extra money..... I have owned them myself and they gave me far more trouble and expense than 10 years owning Ford's Focus models..
I do agree the Golf R is too much. And Renaults have their issues and some friends have had trouble with VW's. I thankfully have not had issues with my VW. But you've made a good point.
focus isnt thaaaat quick though a 10 yr old standard fiat coupe 20vt does 0-100 in the same time put a chip and exhaust on it and its seeya focus so not all about horsepower theres weight to consider
End of the day, Focus is best. Most power, awesome handling, and its also very comfort. It has properties from both cars, GTi and R26R so its clear winner... Remember, it also looks and sounds best.
@beatboxbys "Fix or repair daily" where does that come from..?? The Fords of old maybe..?? I'm on my 3rd Focus and I have never had any problems with ANY of them. Apart from wear and tear items and servicing they have never let me down ever and that's in ten years of driving them...
@javisfsr 3c-end) But in spite of that in few years Peugeot built itself a great palmares & victories in all the famous races of Le Mans Series also !! Thus it is even greatest to see that a builder's Sport cars like Peugeot won in littler time all the races in Le Mans Series where others won it in several decades ^^
@SLOMatej This isn't about which is faster on a track. This is a best all-around hot hatch test. Which the GTI definitely wins hands down. The Reno may be the fastest on the track but i doubt anybody would buy a daily driver with a racing harness and no stereo. Now if the competition was about a pure racing/ track car then I would chose the Reno but I would get a nice warranty for when it starts to break =]
why argue lol they are all awesome cars be glad that we have the option now, focus for me though 300bhp is irrisistable and they now have over 400bhp with tuning :)
@haz17tg Actually you're wrong. Being slightly less powerful than the other 2 doesn't make it "rubbish" Actually the Megane is "rubbish at being a hot hatch" because the only thing it can do is track days. It has a floppy plastic rear "window" and the interior is full of roll cages which means you can't put any people in it or items in the back. it all comes down to the RS or GTI, and that's a choice of which you prefer more from a comfort/performance bias
this test was supposed to decide which is the best hot hatch? what happened? why ask yuppies what they will think of the hot hatches when they arent the target market of these cars ... this test has quite a different result to top gears test.. they said the Focus RS was easy to use as a everyday car and is quiet and comfortable to drive.
Well it's an easy choice here in N America, we only have one of these to choose. Hopefully we get some other makes of hatches in the next decade or so (Renault, pleeeeaaase!)
@haz17tg A hot hach is a car to use everyday, not a racing car. It supose to be comfortable and fast... and the Golf is who does it better, that´s what they are saying.
@Karlosovic77 if u want, image respectability and practicallity; and dont care about performance why not a volvo??? honda??? The Focus and the Megane inteed to be fun and pasion....(excuse my english)
The Golf IS the best hot hatch, it looks classy and cool. Most comfortable, best materials used. I used to say that golf gti were boring until I bought a mk6 golf gt tsi, not quite a gti but still a very comfortable, practical car. They are hatch backs after all so if you aren't looking for grown up styling, comfortable and practical then Don't Buy hatch back. Simple.
@hakod 2a) and you forget to speak especially about ONE MAIN THING : the number of participations in these race's car competitions !! & thus tha ratio "Victories/ numbers of participations" & there the French automaders sport cars are so far the 1st before all others Nations since 30 years now Your can search anti-French guy...
Ford 305 bhp 0-62 6sec, Megane 227 bhp 0-62 6sec, Golf 208 bhp 0-62 5.9sec, Golf R 270 bhp 0-62 5.5sec. Golf World car of the year 2009, Golf 4 types of World engine of the year awards. Golf = I rather have car that will enjoy driving as long as i have it in any type of roads conditions that be straight corners rough roads and more, than Ford & Megane = a car that will be fun for short time and rest it is just there and feels like things are falling apart when driven. So Golf does win by far.
@hakod 1a) it is YOUR point of view of guy who dont like French in the base especially & it is much more different ^^ We dont see your country in your strange channel but I think, i'm sure even from an anglo-saxon country or on big influences of anglo-saxon countries to write that you wrote...
You call this a hot hatch test ???!!! If you had focus, meagne and Golf 1.4 Lt or 1.6 then you tst practicality, room, etc. Such cars should be only tested and compared in acceleration, handling, cornerning, braking and test lap in a race ...
Haha good reply. I like all 3 but in reality it really is land slide, golf got award world car of the year and it was barely out basically that perfect. I don't mean to put any of them down but it is not all in racing and track its about everything style quality design inside out and that performance and GTI won by far yet alone that R class that would beat R26R and RS which in my opinion RS only belongs to one production and that is Audi and upcoming RS3 with no competition in this segment.
@tequisport What the hell is the point of a hatchback when you've got a roll cage in the way of everything? The purpose of the hatchback is to be practical and fun. If you want a fun car that's not practical you're far better served by buying a rwd coupe!
Don't get me wrong VW's are very good I just personally just don't think they justify the price tag. Hope you don't have any problems either which one do you have?
@Mailme81 "Man once you sit in a GOLF you will be blown away" Yes, very probably, at the lights by an RS Focus..!!!!!!! No substitute for cubes 2.5litre v's 2litre, and power 300bhp v's 200bhp....
@protestthisaccount You can also buy standard megane RS with all this features, but it also drive better than golf. Chassis is on megane simply the best. Renault Sport has a reputation and tradition, their products are everywhere considered one of the best, but if you and the rest of the VW fans like it or not.
You say that like its a blowout victory. Reality is the Ford was at least not a world away in 3 of the 4 tests. If the scoring were different and 2 points were awarded for the winner, 1 point for runner-up and so on, the Ford was trailing by all of 1 point. The fourth test is so subjective it could probably be thrown out altogether, bringing it to another group of people could completely negate it.
@cumbas Fair comment and I'm certainly not Anti-French. But the current WRC championship is a joke. There are only Citroen and Ford in it..!!! 2 manufacturers does not make a very good championship. Also being at the top in any field of motorsport, does not necessarily mean that manufacturer will produce good or interesting road cars for the consumer....
Yeah for example compare the two sport models of the Golf and Leon (R and Cupra R) Exact same engine. Leon Cupra Base £24,500 ish. Golf R base £31,500, Then compare this to the Megane RS £26,000. My first car was a Seat Ibiza with a Vw engine and that broke pretty swift. Yeah I have driven a Renault my mates Clio and it has a problem where sometimes when your idling at a junction and put the clutch down it stalls. Horrendous error. The bonnet wont close sometimes, Just average cars.
They shouldn't compare the GTI with the R26R and the RS; instead of GTI they should use the Golf R for a better handle and higher power. Since the RS and the R26R are top of the line, but the GTI wasn't.
Both competitions to GTI are top of their range where Golf is not if R was there it would own even more the two. GTI did not win in windy roads but that was pretty good cornering and stuck in perfectly maybe not the same sporty feel everything else the same. Do you think you will be driving around streets like that, NEVER. Everything else it won comfort style looks quality reality design inside out GTI wins.
Can't understand why people rave about VW build quality. Too expensive. Spec one up with leather and some options and you will be thousands more expensive than the equivalent Ford, Renault or Vauxhall etc. They aren't any better built to command that extra premium price..
the GTI isn't meant to be the sportiest in its class.. Its supposed to be for people who use it every day. people who want a small car with good trunk capacity and high build quality. It's little more of a 'mature' hot hatch. But based on this review, the non-GTI version would have also won lol
So if you're looking for a space, confort and apparence -> VW BUT if you're looking for performances and sensations -> Renault RS. I will add that, according to last German ADAC report, the Renault Megane is the most reliable one AND the Ford the less one...
it's a bit pointless: the r26r is closer to a track car than a genuine hot hatch, all striped out. it should be out of the test I would preffer the ford's extreme image and racy interior to the golf's more civilized character. I mean a stock fwd car with a 305bhp is an extreme idea, hence it looks extreme. Oh and we used to have pre-facelift mk2 focus, believe me, it's VERY practical. I'd have an RS and not care if people find it looks bad or boy-racer. But the GTI is iconic and respectable
2b) After ?? lol again Dont speak about that you don know and especialy about me... I hate the visual tuning on a car & all my little sport cars since more of 20 years have not visual tuning or others of visual differents to the stock version I prefer so far "tuning" their engine, so great surprise for the others ^^
Seriously though 4 of my friends own vw and they are so expensive. you have to go to a dealer to get any work done on them. it is ridiculous. my sister just got her battery changed and it coast her 700 dollars. and they forgot to restart the cpu which is the whole reason she took it there. volkswagons are amazing when they are new though, run some miles on them and they are done. although ford is not any better. there is a reason ford stands for "Fix Or Repair Daily."
