The Hot Hatch Discussion Thread: VAG? I prefer my FiST.

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Automotive Insanity > The Hot Hatch Discussion Thread: VAG? I prefer my FiST.

What hot hatch do you own? This poll is closed.
Golf GTI / R / R32	196	0.02%
Impreza WRX / STi	133	0.01%
Mazdaspeed 3	92	0.01%
Veloster Turbo	20	0.00%
Focus ST	149	0.01%
Other Hot Hatch	230	0.02%
Elantra GT	1000001	99.92%
Total:	1000821 votes

[Edit Poll (moderators only)]

Auron: Jan 10, 2002; <img alt="" border="0" src="https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-auron.jpg"/> Drunken Robot Rage

Laranzu posted:

Went to the last Test and Tune night at the local drag track. First time at a drag strip too. Best run in my Stock (aside from tune) was my first at 15.541 @93.72 MPH. Getting first gear to have any traction is quite a balancing act in these cars. A statement echoed by the other STs in attendance. Thinking the first run was the best due to still warm tires and the sun still being out.

Second run was 15.83 with traction control accidentally on and the wife in the car. Third and final was 15.77, after sitting for 2 hours, traction control off and just me.

And holy poo poo does the clutch smell terrible by the end of a run.

What altitude are you at? That seems really slow for stock times unless you're up on the mountains.

# ¿ Oct 10, 2013 18:33

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# ¿ Apr 28, 2024 11:06

Auron: Jan 10, 2002; <img alt="" border="0" src="https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-auron.jpg"/> Drunken Robot Rage

No he probably means the 1,000 mile break in oil change if that's even a thing on those cars

# ¿ Jan 15, 2015 16:46

Auron: Jan 10, 2002; <img alt="" border="0" src="https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-auron.jpg"/> Drunken Robot Rage

veedubfreak posted:

No I knew exactly what he was referring to. I was asking Why.

Just....ug

# ¿ Jan 17, 2015 22:26

Auron: Jan 10, 2002; <img alt="" border="0" src="https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-auron.jpg"/> Drunken Robot Rage

The Locator posted:

I suppose it depends on the dealer you are working with. The dealer I ordered my Focus from is great from a customer service standpoint. We discussed the car I wanted, agreed on a price, and I gave them a $500 down payment. Per our discussions they were free to look for a dealer-swap car, or order from Ford, whichever got me the exact car I wanted.

Once the car was arranged, they told me the exact day it would arrive, and scheduled an appointment to pick it up. I arrived, inspected/test drove the car, signed all the paperwork and drove it home in less than 30 minutes.

This is the second car that I've gotten through them this way (ordering an exact car), and the third that I've purchased from them (my first purchase was an F-150 from their stock). All of them have been exceptionally easy for me. They didn't even require a deposit on the other car I ordered, as it was just a commuter Fiesta, which they would have had no problem just selling if I had flaked out.

Wow, I wish we could buy a car here in Wisconsin that quick. The amount of bullshit paperwork is ridiculous here.

# ¿ Feb 20, 2015 14:34

Auron: Jan 10, 2002; <img alt="" border="0" src="https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-auron.jpg"/> Drunken Robot Rage

When I was looking at hot hatches, the biggest thing I noticed was how much more rear seat leg room the GTI had over the FoST. I'm not really big by any means (5'10"), but with the driver seat in my preferred position, there was TONS of rear legroom. Not so much in the Focus.

# ¿ Mar 2, 2015 02:29

Auron: Jan 10, 2002; <img alt="" border="0" src="https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-auron.jpg"/> Drunken Robot Rage

KYOON GRIFFEY JR posted:

I think this may be at the expense of room behind the rear seat. I recalled the 4-door GTI having a tiny trunk space without folding the seats, but this was a while (2011?) ago on the Mk.6

Its been awhile since I was looking, but I don't remember this being the case. It seemed like the GTI also had more "trunk" space.

# ¿ Mar 2, 2015 21:48

Auron: Jan 10, 2002; <img alt="" border="0" src="https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-auron.jpg"/> Drunken Robot Rage

AnimalChin posted:

Just drove a 2015 maxed Focus ST. 402 package with sunroof.

It felt very ... American? It felt tight, but far far less refined than the GTI I drove. The GTI felt luxurious in comparison. The focus is much cheaper, but I think I see why now.

I felt the exact same way almost two years ago now when I compared the two. The focus felt...sloppy compared to the GTI one very respect except the Recaro seats.

# ¿ Mar 31, 2015 22:42

Auron: Jan 10, 2002; <img alt="" border="0" src="https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-auron.jpg"/> Drunken Robot Rage

Yeah Volkswagen always seems to under rate their turbo cars quite a bit. The new 1.8l in the Jetta is generally dynoing over 160 to the wheels with an advertised 170 HP

# ¿ Apr 1, 2015 15:41

Auron: Jan 10, 2002; <img alt="" border="0" src="https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-auron.jpg"/> Drunken Robot Rage

veedubfreak posted:

Which is why the R being rated at 292 is hilarious Stage 1 APR is making almost 400hp. Mind if I ask how much you spent on that GTI? I was at the dealer a few weeks ago and the maxxed out GTI i was checking out just to get a sense of the car was friggin 32k. The R is only going to be 38 and that gets you almost an extra 100hp and AWD.

I didn't end up picking up either car, but the one I was looking at was the "base" model and I think it was just under 24k.

# ¿ Apr 3, 2015 15:41

Auron: Jan 10, 2002; <img alt="" border="0" src="https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-auron.jpg"/> Drunken Robot Rage

Candlelight Virgil posted:

Why is the service tech at my dealership telling me to use 87 petrol and the handbook says use premium? He said the 87 has less carbon buildup or some poo poo.

While he's right about the carbon buildup with DI engines and 87 octane;use premium. I'll take a little more build up over potentially throwing a rod through the block. This is a recurring theme even with the 3.5 ecoboost in the F150s

# ¿ Apr 27, 2017 15:44

Auron: Jan 10, 2002; <img alt="" border="0" src="https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-auron.jpg"/> Drunken Robot Rage

Well Ford seemed to have fixed the problem with the Gen 2 3.5 ecoboost by adding port injection on top of DI.

# ¿ Apr 27, 2017 19:23

Auron: Jan 10, 2002; <img alt="" border="0" src="https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-auron.jpg"/> Drunken Robot Rage

wolrah posted:

What? How does lower octane fuel lead to less carbon buildup?

Correct answer. Catch cans are a half-assed patch and having multiport injection on top of DI also allows for much easier power increases.

Lower octane fuel burns faster supposedly leading to less vapor and carbon buildup. I don't know how big of a difference it is but I've heard it from my dealership and several places online pertaining to the F150

# ¿ Apr 27, 2017 23:58

Auron: Jan 10, 2002; <img alt="" border="0" src="https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-auron.jpg"/> Drunken Robot Rage

jfreder posted:

This is not true. Faster burn rates would increase effective octane rating.

It is true and pretty common knowledge that higher octane fuel burns slower. It's a simple search away

But yes use what the manual recommends.

# ¿ Apr 28, 2017 01:12

Auron: Jan 10, 2002; <img alt="" border="0" src="https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-auron.jpg"/> Drunken Robot Rage

Just from over

jfreder posted:

I'd be very interested in any resources you have that could help me understand.

Just from experience and sources over the years but here's a couple from a quick search

https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2014/04/11/tech-101-octane-the-facts-and-the-fiction-behind-those-higher-priced-fuels/

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/high-octane-fuel-vs-low-octane-fuel-facts-and-myths.160442/

http://www.meineke.com/blog/using-premium-gasoline-really-save-money/

# ¿ Apr 28, 2017 01:34

Auron: Jan 10, 2002; <img alt="" border="0" src="https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-auron.jpg"/> Drunken Robot Rage

jfreder posted:

These seem to mostly be wrong and the forums post links to some government sites that don't exist or have moved. I suspect when people are saying premium fuel "burns more slowly," they are actually referring to the longer ignition delay of the premium fuel. This refers to how long it takes for a fuel to autoignite under certain conditions (pressure, temperature, and air:fuel ratio). The laminar flame speed of premium vs. regular fuel is essentially the same, neither burns significantly faster than the other. I can't speak to your experience obviously, but I am not aware of any literature that says premium fuel burns slower than regular.

Lower octane fuels don't really burn any differently, they just have shorter ignition delays and hence are more likely to knock. Hot spots can certainly be created in the cylinder from things like carbon deposits which would tend to cause more knock or pre-ignition, but unless you have junk fuel, deposits in the cylinder will come from poor fuel vaporization or running excessively rich. This would typically not be attributable to the octane rating of the fuel.

Don't want to hijack the thread, just find the discussion on knock and deposits interesting.

Hmm well I guess I really don't know then. The technicians that I've spoke to may be wrong then. Anyways, I always ran 93 in my EcoBoost F150 even before the tune based off recommendations and stories of stock trucks throwing rods under low RPM loads

# ¿ Apr 28, 2017 04:35

Auron: Jan 10, 2002; <img alt="" border="0" src="https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-auron.jpg"/> Drunken Robot Rage

What is with the recent trend of having screens awkwardly protrude from the top of the dash? It was one of a few reasons we went with a Civic over the Mazda 3. It�s hideous and doesn�t look good in any car

# ¿ Jan 23, 2018 22:43

Auron: Jan 10, 2002; <img alt="" border="0" src="https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-auron.jpg"/> Drunken Robot Rage

BlackMK4 posted:

Meh, a tune on the EXT will make more than the Si.

And then (potentially) void warranty, have worse brakes/suspension, and lack a LSD...but yeah if you don't care about any of that and want to save $$ the EX-T is an excellent choice.

# ¿ Feb 13, 2018 18:32

Auron: Jan 10, 2002; <img alt="" border="0" src="https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-auron.jpg"/> Drunken Robot Rage

sneakyfrog posted:

back that poo poo up yo.

i void warranties, so honestly i dont care, burden of proof is still on them to prove my modifications damaged the car.

but i suppose you could plan your dealer visits in advance, and hell if you are extra paranoid buy a nice optima battery, swap it in and clean up if necessary and say your battery fried and you swapped it out. then return it and put your old battery in.

i dont care that much but there are options

If they discover a tune was present during any sort of engine failure, you're most likely not going to have a valid warranty claim. Its happened to two friends of mine with their Subarus (ring lands), and lots of people I've seen on the F150 forums with ecoboost engines. From what I've seen, its usually not the dealers themselves that look much into it unless they are specifically requested to by the manufacturer. In the case of one of the Subarus, they actually sent a manufacturer representative to investigate and deny the warranty. This is even AFTER resetting the vehicle to stock, a battery reset isn't going to do a drat thing. The ECU (at least on Fords) keeps a flash count and a tech can go in and see if fuel/spark tables were messed with recently. You're not going to win a fight with a manufacturer if they deny your claim.

# ¿ Feb 15, 2018 17:07

Auron: Jan 10, 2002; <img alt="" border="0" src="https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-auron.jpg"/> Drunken Robot Rage

sneakyfrog posted:

i wasnt submitting that would work in the event of an actual engine failure warranty claim, I was suggesting it if you happened to be taking the vehicle to the dealership just for service. You run 30 pounds of boost into it and blow your engine lol yeah they aint paying for poo poo. on the other hand if you just take it in for a standard service and are worried about the dealership messing with you would be the circumstance i was suggesting it for.

Gotcha, yeah you're right they're not going to just go in and void your warranty because you got a tire rotation and have a tuner, but I believe they can flag your vehicle or leave notes (if the tech is a dick). I always reflash mine to stock mainly so they don't update the PCM and I get locked out of my tuner.

wolrah posted:

At least the ST Fords do not have a flash counter. They have a key-cycles-since-last-reset counter which gets reset when you flash it. If that counter is unusually low it's a strong hint that the car has been flashed recently and that the technician should look more closely for signs of modification.

I was mistaken, you are correct on this and I believe it applies to all modern Fords.

# ¿ Feb 16, 2018 18:25

Auron: Jan 10, 2002; <img alt="" border="0" src="https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-auron.jpg"/> Drunken Robot Rage

Yeah they're waiting to gently caress you on SOMETHING. Be prepared.

# ¿ Apr 4, 2018 19:52

Auron: Jan 10, 2002; <img alt="" border="0" src="https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-auron.jpg"/> Drunken Robot Rage

Voltage posted:

I ended up bailing on my FoRS deal, just couldn't justify 39k before test driving a lot more poo poo. Plus I could get a mildly used FiST for dirt and do some power mods for half that.

yeah its a great car for what it is, but 40k...no. Any hot hatch gets eliminated when it reaches Mustang GT premium PP territory IMO. Especially when its still a cheap as poo poo focus.

# ¿ May 9, 2018 15:58

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# ¿ Apr 28, 2024 11:06

Auron: Jan 10, 2002; <img alt="" border="0" src="https://fi.somethingawful.com/customtitles/title-auron.jpg"/> Drunken Robot Rage

KakerMix posted:

I think that people look at stuff a bit too objectively when you start comparing a Focus RS to a Mustang, like just up an excise emotion from the equation.

If someone goes "Why buy an RS when you can get a Mustang for same price?" I could use the same logic and go "Yeah but instead of a Mustang why not an F-150?"

A Mustang is not a Focus RS, and now with Ford killing the whole car thing it won't be worth as much later either

That's why I said IMO. Little objective about it....other than still being a cheap as balls focus.

Your comparison also doesn't work...as we're comparing sports cars.

# ¿ May 9, 2018 16:42

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Automotive Insanity > The Hot Hatch Discussion Thread: VAG? I prefer my FiST.