30th Sep 2008, 12:04
Your wrong about the torque as the Punto has only 121 lb ft and an RX8, the 231 bhp model, 156 lb. And torque, like the Honda vtecs, is the RX8's down side, yet it still has bags more than the Punto.
I think you must have seen the torque figure in Nm for the Punto and in lb for the RX8, as the Punto is nothing special in the slightest!
30th Sep 2008, 18:36
That list of cars was just as mixed up, and why are you getting so hung up on the Saxo comment? The Fiesta ST for example in standard guise will not match a Clio 172; it weighs more and has less power. This really is common sense.
As for the Mini, well to be honest it is too heavy for the power it has, and is comparable to an MG ZR 160 or Ford Focus ST170. In the hands of a poor and good driver in either car, you may find a HGT can keep up with some of the cars you are saying, but put them on a track or even a drag strip and the difference will be obvious. Nobody has particularly said the HGT is a bad car, simply that the performance figures people are quoting on here are misleading.
I think the reason the HGT is getting compared to the Saxo VTS is that there have been several reviews/comments similar to this one, where people are claiming a car with a book figure of 0-60 in around 8 seconds will actually do it a whole second faster, and that it was underrated by manufacturers etc etc... Couple that with the fact that the Saxo weighs less than the HGT and only has slightly less power, and it's pretty obvious why people are saying they are similar, should be a case of 0-60 being QUICKER in the VTS, and then from maybe 60/70mph onwards the HGT would edge it.
8th Oct 2008, 12:15
Even if they do put out 145bhp, the 0-62 time is still accurate, as they would have tested a normal HGT to get that manufacturer time i.e. a 145bhp one.
8th Oct 2008, 13:17
In regards to the comment on the 7th October; nobody said diesel cars were slow... The closest comment was mine which said diesel cars have relatively slow 0-60 times compared to petrol cars with the same torque figures, because torque makes little difference on standing starts.
As for your car doing 0-60 in under 7 seconds, it may well do but that's because of the 200+ bhp more than the torque.
8th Oct 2008, 18:46
With a diesel it's the torque that makes it so fast. Also so frugal. Petrol cars are more to do with hp, but 200hp in a diesel is something to be experienced.
10th Oct 2008, 10:30
Won't get near 160bhp with those mods, more like 130/135, and even if you had 160, you wouldn't get near a Type R with 200bhp.
10th Oct 2008, 10:36
A Fiesta Zetec S, even with 160 bhp won't beat Civic Type Rs all day, so why say it! Even if it's the mark 5, it'll only be around 150-160 hp per ton, so it may keep up, but beat them, I doubt it!
I've had 2 mk 5 Fiesta Zetec S, and think they are great little cars, and are great handling and really good fun, but don't get carried away just because you've jazzed it up a bit!
14th Oct 2008, 10:54
If you have had two, does that mean Fiestas are rubbish and unreliable?
I had a Punto HGT. It was a good car, but now I have a Fiat Coupe 20vT; wow it's fast. I got it last week, and today a 02 BMW M3 was sitting up behind me and went to go past, so I put my foot down and left it. I was amazed, the HGT would have been left for dead!!!
16th Oct 2008, 04:07
I have an HGT, and I find it to be a bad car to have because:
1. Wipers break
2. Door handles stick
3. The bottom engine cover broke
4. Tailpipe bangs and knocks
5. Passenger airbag light is on
I paid £4.000 for this car 1 1/2 years ago, and I feel let down. It is OK on performance; I've had about 130 mph out of it. Never timed 0-60, but I've beat a Starlet Turbo to about 100mph, but then it went past. I've beat a 325, an Escort RS Turbo, and a Golf GTI Turbo.
I don't rag my car all day, it's serviced every 6 months and I use 101 octane fuel from Tesco.
The radio is good and the handling is tight.
The seats are rubbish.
I think the gearbox is not very good, and should have bean a 6 speed.
All in, I think the car is OK, but only if you are 18 or 19. I am 22, and think it's too slow and needs a turbo.
Thanks!!!
16th Oct 2008, 07:28
If somebody had two of a car, it suggests they were impressed with the first one, not that it was so bad they went out and got another one?!?
I don't think the guy in the M3 would have been too bothered, as everyone knows the Fiat Coupe is a fast car at the total expense of even the slightest reliability.
16th Oct 2008, 09:29
The Coupe Turbo is a fair bit slower than an M3, so I doubt very much you'd have left one, seeing that they've got an extra 125 bhp, and are far superior in every way!
16th Oct 2008, 10:56
A Fiat Coupe has 125 less? So you think an 02 M3 has 345 bhp? LOL the M3 has 330 standard and the fiat is 220, but most Fiat Coupes are modified because they're an old car now, and in 97 they were the fastest front wheel drive car in the world. Many coupe's are running 500-600 bhp now..
17th Oct 2008, 09:03
LOL - No I think an 02 M3 has 343 bhp to be precise. The comment doesn't mention any modifications, so yes the M3 would easily whip the coupe!
And as for being the fastest front wheel drive car in 97, a JDM DC2 Integra is just as fast in a straight line, and a hell of a lot faster round a track,and it'll actually make it round a track without breaking down!
17th Oct 2008, 12:58
02 reg M3 has 343PS so about 338bhp, so the guy commenting saying the coupe has 125bhp less is pretty close on.
27th Oct 2008, 11:54
Punto HGT is well good. I have one and it is the best car for the money. All the toys for under 5 grand, and it's fast too. Not well fast, but fast enough for a 19 year old.
6th Dec 2008, 03:08
Hmmm I used to beat these in my old J reg 1.8 16v Clio... nice cars, but come on they aren't that fast!
15th Jan 2009, 21:01
My missus is hoping to pick up a HGT this week as our poor 1.2 16v Sporting got hit by a Hyundai Accent on Monday just gone. Bloody good car, so next one in line now is the HGT. I tried one before the Sporting, drives well through the gears up to 80mph without knowing it. Not bad for a normally aspirated car 1742cc.
Previous car was a WRX import, and as to power to weight ratio, the Sporting was quite nippy for a 1.2.
Chris
South Wales.
30th Sep 2008, 10:44
Just because she keeps up with your Mini mate, doesn't mean it's the same performance figures, which in fact on a Cooper S ain't 7 seconds anyway, probably nearer 8, as they're only just over 160 bhp, and not that light - barely a hot hatch!!