Tiffs opinion on last nights 5th gear
Discussion
Did anyone see 5th gear last night, in particular the hot hatch review at the end.
I only remembered it was on just as the closing credits came up.
How did Tiff rate the Civic against the Focus?
Focus for the track
Leon for the road
Civic for both and the "winner"
I think Tiff generally has good taste, after all, I've got the same watch as him.
You probably chose it, he was probably given it... cynic, me?
Well like JC on Top Gear, Tiff compained about the torque steer and tramlining of the RS on the road and therefore still rated the Civic-R as the best of the bunch (Best comprimise between the RS and the soft Seat Leon Cupra). No doubt that the RS is the daddy on the race track though.
RedTeg said: Well like JC on Top Gear, Tiff compained about the torque steer and tramlining of the RS on the road and therefore still rated the Civic-R as the best of the bunch (Best comprimise between the RS and the soft Seat Leon Cupra). No doubt that the RS is the daddy on the race track though.
Strikes me that you can't win... Ford create a turbo-nutter hatch for the hardcore enthusiast, and then having said that's what's needed, they vote for the softer option..
From what I can make out of the new hot hatch reviews I've seen or read, it seems the Focus and Civic are the best of their genre at the moment. Granted the WRX has found itself battling in the same category now, but I just think it's too different to be a direct comparison (do hot hatches have to be FWD??).
I just wonder whether the opinions would be quite so split between them if the Civic cost the same as the Focus.
I just wonder whether the opinions would be quite so split between them if the Civic cost the same as the Focus.
Podie said:
RedTeg said: Well like JC on Top Gear, Tiff compained about the torque steer and tramlining of the RS on the road and therefore still rated the Civic-R as the best of the bunch (Best comprimise between the RS and the soft Seat Leon Cupra). No doubt that the RS is the daddy on the race track though.
Strikes me that you can't win... Ford create a turbo-nutter hatch for the hardcore enthusiast, and then having said that's what's needed, they vote for the softer option..
IIRC the Escort Cosworth cost around 20k all those years ago ... If I'm right the Focus Cosworth isn't such an expensive proposition when you compare it with that. Let's face it - plenty of tuners will be offering power upgrades, I guess the only thing 'missing' is 4WD.
I quite liked it (I don't usually like Focuses), except for the interior - but as they said, it appeals to a certain demographic. It is also not a dodgy looking shopping trolley like the Civic (my opinion).
T/.
mungo said: Did they compare to the Leon Cupra 'R' or the standard Cupra?
What did they make of the Cupra?
It was the 'R' old chap. And Tiff said that it was the best proposition for road use, but too soft to set competitive lap times on track. He said he was having a lot of fun in it, but just wasn't going that quick in comparison to the Civic.
What they fail to mention in all these programmes is that the Focus RS comes with air con and front fogs,
and a 6CD player.
On the Civic, some paint finishes attract a premium, as do the items noted above - even front tweeters cost more on the Civic!
... so when you match the specs, they're actually pretty close...
>> Edited by Podie on Tuesday 29th October 13:09
and a 6CD player.
On the Civic, some paint finishes attract a premium, as do the items noted above - even front tweeters cost more on the Civic!
... so when you match the specs, they're actually pretty close...
>> Edited by Podie on Tuesday 29th October 13:09
be interesting to see how this new alfa hot hatch fairs ... v6 engine, 250bhp. all through the front wheels! must be damned frustrating in the wet around a long corner...
btw wasnt there supposed to be a focus cosworth coming out with 300bhp and 4wd to challenge the lancer evo and impreza wrx sti (j spec not lesser UK spec)? or have they scrapped that and replaced it with the lesser RS?
>> Edited by shadowninja on Tuesday 29th October 13:12
btw wasnt there supposed to be a focus cosworth coming out with 300bhp and 4wd to challenge the lancer evo and impreza wrx sti (j spec not lesser UK spec)? or have they scrapped that and replaced it with the lesser RS?
>> Edited by shadowninja on Tuesday 29th October 13:12
Wonder how much the extra weight for aircon slows the Civic down?
I drove my Civic for a month while I was waiting for a pipe to arrive from Honda for my aircon (including the Le Mans trip which was bloody scorching). Since the kit has been fitted I haven't noticed any obvious performance difference (unless you switch it on).
I drove my Civic for a month while I was waiting for a pipe to arrive from Honda for my aircon (including the Le Mans trip which was bloody scorching). Since the kit has been fitted I haven't noticed any obvious performance difference (unless you switch it on).
Woodster said: I seem to remember reading that the Focus Cosworth was going to be scrapped so that Ford could concentrate on the new Capri project (to replace the Probe).
absolute cobblers. There was never a plan to launch a Focus Cossie in the Focus's current guise... Probe was replaced by the Cougar, which was just as bad.. and the "new Capri" is a good 'un too. 1) it was the media that gave it the name, not Ford and 2) any new coupe will be based on the Focus replacement.
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