Thetownend.com

Thought i'd start a thread for the petrolheads in here, I'll start off with something that caught my eye recently

VW look increasingly likely to start production of the Golf R420

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-new-cars/Search-Results/Spyshots/VW-Golf-R420-2015-why-Volkswagen-is-readying-a-super-Golf-GTI/

A 400bhp+ Golf with a 2.0 Litre turbocharged engine. Crazy

How far can hot hatches go?

I'm quite partial to 'dubs and love the idea of the that. Biggest problem I can see is the haldex 4 wheel drive battering the fun. Never knew why they didn't slip the TTRS unit in a golf to be honest.

4D, you've already started a thread for petrolheads....didn't get much mileage, mind.

http://thetownend.com/index.php?topic=55102.0

There was nothing to indicate that a thread had allready been started. My bad.

Quite Far..Some of these are mouth watering.
http://www.topgear.com/uk/photos/ten-of-the-most-powerful-hot-hatches-ever-2014-02-26

I know this is direct contradiction to the 'petrol' part of the title but http://mashable.com/2015/01/27/tesla-insane-button/?utm_cid=mash-com-fb-main-link

I love how a company puts 'Insane' as an option. I love how effortless and silent the acceleration is. I love everything about the Tesla S and want one desperately.

Blimey... in a Golf? I want one.

I've had a VR6 and a R32 in the past but that's something else. My VR6 was brilliant; the power output was so smooth I'm sure it ignored the petrol I put into it and ran on double cream instead. And boy was it quick.

:nod: A mate had a Corrado VR6 and I just wanted to lick it. Gorgeous car, fantastic engine. Even more so back then.

It depends on the size of the fuel tank, engine efficiency,  road surface quality, driving style, average speed, tyre type and condition, atmospheric conditions, vehicle set-up, quality of fuel, traffic conditions, ambient temperature, how fat driver is, whether the driver knows where he's going or follows a twat-nav,  to name but a few of the factors that will influence how far a hot hatch can go.

Very happy to help...

EU emissions laws may have killed off the V8, but they have caused some huge advancements in fuel efficient engines which has brought with it some brilliant turbo and supercharger technology. There should be plenty more where this Golf's coming from.

VR6's are beautiful engines. If you can get hold of one now in decent nick they'll be silly money in a few years.

I do like some of the smaller engines out there atm though - the Twinair is hilarious and that 1l Ecoboost in the new Fiesta is just a ridiculous thing. 125bhp and 150lb ft would have been inconceivable from a 1l engine even four or five years back.

Most engine changes have been driven (no pun intended) by petrol prices and eu regs. It's led to pretty amazing stuff in the hot hatch market. It seems like every month or so a new car is announced with even more speed/bhp/handling. All from 2l blocks.

I hadn't owned a motor for nine years and back then they were just shit and slow. Ended up getting a hot ish hatch last spring and been chuffed to bits since. Needed a car and was either going for a sub £1000 run around, or splash out on something decent (that I'd have neither been able to afford or get insurance on 10years ago). Did a bit of research and looked at a golf gti (the R was a bit too much). Really liked it and no doubt the build quality was A+... but I passed three more later that day. Wanted something that was a bit more unique, but still good looking and fast (which probably means they are shit)

Ended up with a 3yr 30000 mile, 1.75t 235bhp.  Only seen four on the road in nine months. Probably enough info for 4D to hazard a guess. Anyhow, the point is that whilst carless I took little notice and assumed hot hatches were pushing 200bhp, not 350/400!  I don't understand enough about engines to know when it will stop, but there are no signs at the moment!

Ford really made a break through with their Ecoboost engine. I got an St with the 2l Eco boost. It's a great drive.

Kawasaki N(M)inja H2R - 300bhp and 156 Peter Torks from 998cc -  want one and it's very loud.

The current flashmobile is Leon FR....

170 brake in a car that size....is quick enough for me.

But feels like I've been kicked up the arse after a long journey...

My oldest boy has a K reg Corrado VR6. He loves it to bits and spends hours fixing the fucking thing. He has a supercharger in his garage waiting for attention.


Tesla's are all the rage in Norway where I work (eco bullshit, yawn etc), I think that they sell more than than anywhere else in the world apart from the US. My boss is a real petrol head and has just bought one, the equivalent of £80k in NOKs  :eek: . Sorry, but a family saloon is just not worth that even if it does 0 to 60 in 5.5 seconds.

Also, it doesn't make any bloody noise unlike a real car. Like the Lotus Esprit 3.5 litre V8 350bhp twin turbo I just bought. It's way faster than a Tesla, 0 to 60 in 4.4 seconds and 175mph top end. In metallic British racing green with a tan leather interior too. Apart from taking a road sign out and smashing the front end to bits after hitting a patch of ice on Saturday evening after nine days of owning it, it's awesome  :cry:

Last 4 cars.
Civic type r prem 200 horses. Superb engine and box
Focus ST 2.5 turbo 225 horses. Great 3rd gear  :eek:
Leon fr 2.0 turbo. Ok, didn't like poor road surfaces.
Mini cooper s turbo, great fun. Least power in a few years but a great drive.
Civic is a tough car to beat as a driver's car.

Nah. That's not a Mini, it's a BMW. This is what you need, an ERA. A proper car:

http://www.eraturbo.co.uk/ (http://www.eraturbo.co.uk/)

Which reminds me of the, rAre as rocking horse shit, G60. Available in both Golf and Ccorrado variants, with the earlier golf even having flared intergrale style arches. That'll be a beaut if he gets it bolted on.

And the Esprit makes me feel old, because I still think of it as quite new, even though. It's surely now a classic. I still remember reading about it when it first came out in Performance Car and knocking one out over it finally getting a proper engine.

I'm with you Barry. I have wanted one ever since they came out in 1976 when I was a 16 year old puppy. The last one, a V8, was made in 2004 so only 10 years ago. I saw this one on eBay and just had to have it, a lifelong ambition. Finally. So ok, it will get fixed on the insurance and I am never ever going to let go of it. You can feel people's eyes burning into your back at the petrol station, "flash cunt" but to be honest it was the same price to buy as my good lady's brand new Vauxhall.

The running costs however...

Do you live oppo the bloke with two golden retrievers?

There's a G60 Corrado running around in West Swindon that I have frequently seen around Bridgemead which my lad also knows about. I also saw a 16V in Calne a few months back. They really are specials now, although personally I would rather have a second generation GTX 16V Scirocco...  :)

Chap near me had an old Silver Scirocco for years, and had attached a big black plastic grill to the rear window so it looked like a DeLorean. Was brilliant.

With compulsory flux capacitor under the tailgate window?

How many of you on this are knocking one out whilst reading/typing?

Nope

Yeah, I know it's a beemer but I had the original mini (first car) and loved it 998cc about 42hp, great car. Seen some original mini conversions with type r engines. Wow.

I believe the G60 was supercharged?

Yes it was, the supercharged 1.8 litre G60 was 160 brake, whereas the naturally aspirated European VR6 version was 192bhp. Put a supercharger on that and lordy lordy...

The "bog standard" 16v model was 136bhp, although there were later variants, two litre etc.

Not really a petrol head post but I will take the opportunity...

I have just bought my good lady a new car so I am selling her old one.

2002 Vauxhall Astra 1.4i LS 16v 90bhp hatchback in metallic silver

150k miles

Factory alloys, CD, aircon (needs recharging!), power steering, yadda yadda yadda

Additions include OEM front fog lights and xenon headlamp bulbs

Full service history, all receipts, religiously serviced and maintained by my good self over the last eight years

One year's MoT, done this week

The tyres are good

Just had the cambelt (kit) and auxiliary drive belt replaced this week by Greenmeadow

I renewed the front calipers, new braided stainless brake hoses front and back, new rear brake cylinders and replaced all of the brake lines with copper last summer

I will give it a full 150k service before I sell it on - oil and filter, air filter, pollen filter, spark plugs, front and back wiper blades, anti-freeze change, even new batteries in the remotes!

I will also fit a new pair of front discs and pads, a new set of pedal rubbers and a new set of mats. It will have a full professional internal and external valet before it is sold as well

As you see I am quite anal about my vehicles and I want them to be right. This car is in very good condition - the engine is brilliant and the bodywork is in good nick - and if the servicing is maintained it should last another 100k miles

I'm looking for the market value of about £795

If you're after a clean reliable commute, a good runabout or a cheap second car then PM me  8)

And I missed out 2 crucial characters when saying the Esprit makes me feel old, I meant Esprit V8.

The MD of the company I work for has a Porsche Cayenne GTS. I don't know much about cars (I'm looking at buying a XC60) but it sounds absolutely incredible.

Flash cunt

My boss has one too, it really is a mid life crisis mobile but it is fantastic to go in

Previous boss had his own jet which was even more fun to go in  ;D

Even flashier cunt

He was minted, sold off parts of the company I'm currently employed buy for in excess of £10m, yet was a most grounded and down to earth person.

Not grounded when in his plane, though!

No, I think he sold his jet and another plane to fund his new business venture.

I love the sound of a good motor, even though some of them are a little manufactured these days, christ some even pump false sound into the cabin to make it sound louder and more guttural to the driver.

I like the XC60 a lot. Had an S60 which was the nicest car I've ever driven. Talking of Scandi, aren't there rumours of a Saab revival? I still dream of owning a 9-3 convertible.

Cayennes, BMW X-cars and the like can go burn in a ditch for all I care. If you want a big posh car that can actually go off road, buy a Range Rover. If you don't need it to go off road then there a multitude of other cars that will do the job of showing off you're a knobend a lot better.

As above, Cayennes are an insult to the internal combustion engine.

I am never 'wowed' by a huge 4x4. I really don't see the appeal or the point.

Although I am a hot hatch fan, I feel that some of these are actually moving away from what they were. An affordable hotter version of a standard family car. Some of these cars are approaching supercar stats and command a hefty asking price.

I used to have 9-3, brilliant engine, fab turbo and superb in a straight line. Not so much going round bends. Not the most reliable electronically though. Comfy, good motorway cruiser 

But a complete break from the norm - would love them to come back

Was that the viggen? I've always loved the original 900 turbos!

Sadly not, just the Aero

The 9-3s were just a Vauxhall Vectra with a different shell.

It is what they were based on admittedly but SAAB did a lot of changes to the GM chassis before they became a 9-3

Time to renew the company car. Although company car tax accelerator is putting me off a bit, I'm thinking of getting a new Merecedes c class, anyone driven one. Seem to comes with loads of stuff as standard and look really nice. Considering the amg version, would appreciate any tef'ers previous Mercedes experience.

A colleague has one, it looks nice but the interior looks cheap as fuck

None of the bolts or nuts throughout the car are the same size as their equivalent on the Vectra.

You know a holiday's got boring when you and a mate find that one out.

Hi Jed :bye:

Really? Disappointing. Not much is taking my fancy and I do like a decent interior. I'll have to get down to a mercedes garage.

My boss has a C-class and I'd agree the trim isn't anything spectacular.

Get an A class

Such a beautiful car. I love the AMG A45.

Go for the Vito

Current hot hatch is a Civic Type R. Have yet to drive a better car in its price range.

A substantial part of the reason that Saab went bang was because whilst they were part of GM and supposed to use the GM platforms they would receive it and then spend loads of time and money making it 'better'.

However if you love Saab can I recommend the museum in Trollhatton, been three times its brill!

My nephew bought a c-class recently. Checked the log book to find its previous owner from new was the one and only Paul bodin

I liked Saab, they went their own way, slightly kooky but their own way and different from the norm

I love how there's a 'stealth mode' on their dashboard that turns all the display lights off.

There is NO situation where that is useful.

Agreed. The speedo light would be left on for "safety" - however the electronics were so bad most of the lights didn't display anyway.  ;D

There was also the annoying security addition of having to have the car in reverse to enable you to take the key out.

Seven months after the accident, a lot of grief, hours spent trawling for spares, I finally got my car back from the repairers last week.

I will buy a beer the next time I see them for the first person who can guess the link between these three picture locations and why. Reg will probably get it...

 :pint:

(http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp99/swindon_alan/DSC_0089.jpg)

(http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp99/swindon_alan/DSC_0100.jpg)

(http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp99/swindon_alan/DSC_0120.jpg)

(http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp99/swindon_alan/DSC_0108.jpg)

I know the link, but I've just cheated.. sorry! Nice car though.

James Bond

Yes, but why?

I would buy you a drink anyway :-p

They all have a green car in them, because you put it there.

seven months. SEVEN?

was that due to insurance company fuckwittery?

The top two have been used as locations for Bond shoots, don't recognise the bottom one but I'm guessing it was a location as well?

Sevenhampton church....where Ian Fleming is buried.

I saw you parked up in Sevenhampton taking that picture

Fucking stalker Alex  :sherlock:

I KNEW THAT YOU WOULD GET THAT REG  :clap:

But what is the car connection to all three places?

Nope. It's good and bad. My insurance company - Admiral (I didn't use any specialists for the insurance, their quote was ridiculously low) - coughed up within a few weeks and were absolutely brilliant. They did their best to avoid writing the car off which would make it unsaleable (not that I ever will, this car will go to one of my boys either when the governmunt take my licence away or I die).

I chose a classic car restorer rather than a repairer. The bloke is such a perfectionist that he takes forever as everything has to be exactly right. In the end I got fed up and stole the car back. I'm quite capable of polishing it and tidying up the loose ends. He didn't like it but hey ho. Now I have it and I fucking love it

 :pint:

well, at least it'll look tip top I suppose, but that's quite some time..

good to hear about admiral too. just switched to them

you first re-newel quote will be twice what you're paying now. Cunts.

:nod:

Mine went up year on year. After 3 years the premium was double what I started with. Trouble is they were still the cheapest for the first couple of renewals.

When I went elsewhere they then tried to fuck me over, by saying as I hadn't cancelled 30 days (or some other arbitrary figure) before the renewal date, they'd renewed my policy automatically and I owed them for it as I'd not yet paid... They refused to give me proof of no claims until I paid my premium.

Sounds very familiar. Needless to say they are on my ever-increasing cunt list.

Then I go back to direct line. The ONLY way to get a good deal is to not be loyal/haggle at renewal time. Pretty much true of every company

In fact RAC were the only ones who didn't try and screw me over compared to new customer and still reduced down to around the same price as Green Flag
-----------------
Thanks for the 30 day warning BTW.

Make sure you remove the implied right to charge your card for the following year, otherwise they can automatically renew you.

Thanks. Presumably I'll get a renewal notice before they do?

You will, but if you don't remove the implied right they can automatically charge your card whatever their first quote is on the day your current deal expires. I missed my first renewal email and didn't notice until my credit card bill came through with an extra £650+ on it. To be fair, they sorted it but I was still within the 14 day cool off period so fuck knows what would have happened if it had passed.

Sounds like the next PPI waiting to happen to me. But i'm with them I'll keep an eye on it cheers.

It is Sutton, it's fucking hateful.

With me I'd luckily lost my card so they couldn't charge me. I was also about a month past the renewal date. The cunts said even though they couldn't take from the card, the policy was renewed, so I owed them. Fucking shocking behaviour, especially as I only phoned them for NCD and they refused on account of me not paying my premium.

The thing I don't get is, they said I owed them for a premium that started x days ago, but I was not actually insured during this period as I'd not paid this premium. They even agreed by saying if I crashed I couldn't claim as I was not covered - about the only logical thing they said.

So, and this is what really got my back up, why the fuck do I want to back date my cover, when you've said I've not been covered? And how was my policy renewed, without payment being taken and them stating I'm not covered in the event of a claim. Fucking bottom feeders.

For the record I wrote to the regulator and spoke to my new insurer and it somehow got my NCD sorted.

I think most insurance companies do automatic renewal. I always shop around when the year is up.

Yep and they justify it now by suggesting it's so if you forget to renew you will still be insured and legal.

Renewal notices always come far later than the 30 days they're supposed to give. Not sure if this is also a sneaky way round that too.

My house insurance renewal came recently with a 68% hike on last year. When I checked on a comparison site the company who underwrite my current insurance provider could do it for less than half the price. Go figure.

Also use Quidco or a cashback site. Money takes a while to come through with insurance companies (so to avoid you cancelling after a month and getting in the cashback) but I got £35 quid cashback on my contents insurance and pending £50 on my car insurance this time round.

Or use the blimmin meerkats and get 2 for 1 cinema Tuesday and Wednesdays for a year, whatever is worth more to you.

You used to be able to get that for a couple of quid by buying UK travel insurance for a day :)

or a £10 PAYG phone from Orange :)