Volkswagen Golf GTi

In the hot hatch world the VW Golf GTi is legendary. It's become the benchmark for the class and for good reason. It really is the complete car.Good for bumbling along to the shops, yet able to transform itself into a stunning sportster when some enthusiastic driving is needed. A car for every purpose and everybody, the GTi is more than a great compromise, it's a cleverly engineered and sophisticated car that few will find fault with. This is the five door version.

 

As mentioned in my previous post on the Golf VII, I once drove a three door GTi Pirelli,quite quickly through some challenging bends and it was one of life's sheer delights.
The Turbo 2 litre engine in this model, develops 162 kw and 350 nm.
Flooring the throttle, even in D, results in instant, compelling urge, shoving you back in the seat as the twin clutch six speed DSG transmission rapidly snaps through the lower gears with enough grunt to chirp the front tyres. Incredibly, there is no torque steer. This enormous thrust accompanied by the GTi's distinctive  "pop" from the twin exhausts, as the next gear is selected. Changing down, whether using the steering wheel paddles or the console shifter, sees the engine "blip" itself to keep the car's engine speed at the appropriate level, to match the driven wheels.

Select Sport mode and the excitement factor leaps tenfold.
The latest GTi has adaptive suspension and it's a real winner, despite the selector button being on the wrong side of the console for a RHD car. Touching that button,opens the central screen to select which mode you want.

I have driven many cars that claim to have this feature, but in reality, selecting Comfort, Normal or Sport in quite a few of those vehicles, doesn't seem to make much difference at all to the ride.
However in the GTi  there is a noticeable change to the suspension. In Comfort, it really is comfortable. The car effortlessly absorbs almost all normal road imperfections, and even in Sport,  the ride firms up, but not excessively so, delivering a poise and grip that has to be experienced to be believed. On the move, the GTi is whisper quiet, with nary a squeak or rattle.
Creature comforts and niceties abound in the cabin.

The tartan cloth seats on the latest GTi hark back to the first GTi's similar seat coverings.
They are supremely supportive and comfortable from the moment you first sit in them.
 During my week with the car, the daily temperature hovered over 40 degrees, but it didn't faze the engine, nor the air conditioning system. It was positively arctic on the minimum setting. Back seat passengers also benefitting from rear vents in the central console.The GTi incorporates the latest engine idle stop/start technology, which can be overridden, thankfully.On those hot days,I wanted the engine A/C compressor running all the time! 
Rearward vision is enhanced with a camera, the lens hidden beneath the VW badge on the tailgate. It tilts up when reverse is selected.

At night the interior is a nice place to be. White on black instruments and information screens are clear and concise. There's a thin red lighting accent line on the door scuff plates and on the upper edges of the front doors, Footwell lighting adding to the prestige feel of the car. The GTi has a self releasing electric parking brake, which is a feature found on many cars these days and I like it.

The accolades for the GTi and the Golf VII it's based on, keep coming, being judged World Car of the Year in 2013, along with many other individual awards around the globe.
Priced around  44K the VW GTi is simply one of the best all round cars you could possibly ever want or need. 
Peter Sellen.

Peugeot RCZ

It's the TT you have, when you are not having a TT.
Peugeot's sensual Audi lookalike, the RCZ, is one of the most beautiful and spectacular looking cars on the road at any price. Automotive art doesn't get much better than this. From the swooping arched roof with its unique double bubble roof and rear window, the RCZ is an epic headturner, shouting "Hey! look at me!".


Double Bubble roof/window


It's wider and a bit longer than the TT, and there's more room inside as well. Except for
the rear seats, useful only for pets or parcels. Leg room there is zero.
Most would never know the RCZ is based on the more humble 308 platform.
I'm surprised Peugeot doesn't sell more of these, especially when there are stirring 1.6 litre turbo engines on offer and the option of a wonderfully torquey turbo diesel.
I have driven all of them.

      This is the 1.6 litre six speed automatic, producing 115 kw and 240 nm, much less than the 1.6 in last week's GTi. When floored, the engine gets you away reasonably briskly accompanied by a nice growl from beneath the bonnet. Fuel economy averages just over  7 litres per 100 kilometres.
No steering wheel flappy paddles here, manual gear shifts all performed by the console lever. The RCZ's steering is much heavier that the 208 GTi, and requires more effort when
manoevering. That said, it points and turns eagerly into fast corners just as well.

        Driving the RCZ makes you yearn for the brilliant supple Peugeot ride of old.
The 19 inch wheels look fantastic, but they do nothing for ride comfort. The smooth looks of the car aren't matched in this area. There's far too much jiggling and shaking going on, over even mild suburban ruts and bumps. Unforgiving suspension is not a prerequisite for good handling Peugeot. You know how to do it, you've done it before. Please do it again and give us more comfort. 

 

Lets take time to look at another RCZ disappointment. Peugeot has removed one of the original RCZ 's most distinctive design features,the brushed aluminium arches defining the roof line. They've been replaced with dull matt black plastic. A major step backwards in my opinion, unnecessarily diminishing a styling feature that helped  make the RCZ unique.

Roof beam colour notwithstanding,the view rearward from the driver's seat is excellent thanks to thin roof pillars.
The heated leather seats are quite firm, but do a reasonable job, even on longer trips.

The quality of the interior trim and fittings is excellent, and I like the large analogue clock in the central dashboard. A flip up screen takes care of all your car setup and audio needs.A powerful sound system is icing on the cake. However, as I've found on numerous other  cars, having a chrome gear lever surround and chrome topped lever itself, is less than perfect on a sunny day. They act like a mirror, reflecting blinding sunlight, straight into your eyes. I had to resort to throwing a handkerchief over the console at times, it got so annoying. A more welcome brightness comes from the RCZ's headlights. The night piercing bi xenon globes also turn, to follow corners as you steer into them.

The RCZ's boot is huge, with more room than in some sedans. For those who care, your golf clubs will easily fit in there. There's also a small rear spoiler, that is operated either automatically at speed, or manually.

So if you long to be seen in a car whose very existence is to be noticed, the Peugeot RCZ could be the one for you.
Whichever of the three available models you choose, all are priced the same..... $58,990.
Peter Sellen.

Peugeot 208 GTi

When you slide inside a car with a GTi badge attached to its flanks you know you are in for a treat. The Peugeot 208 GTi is such a car. Like its namesakes, the Golf GTi and Polo GTi, the Peugeot GTi is all about performance and handling.  It's a stylish beast, with scalloped side panels, aggressive stance, tinted windows and 17 inch alloys.
The interior highlighted in red on the instrument binnacle, door grab handles and seats gives further indication that the little Pug means business.

Another hint that this is a car to go quickly and corner with the best, is a racing /rally car trick, a red strip stitched into the centre of the upper rim of the steering wheel, so you know which way is up if there's some opposite lock action going on.(Not that there will be, the Pug GTi is an accomplished and neutral handler.) Speaking of detail,the dashboard is pieced together with more red stitching, giving a quality feel to the interior. A large central information screen tells you all you need to know about your car systems, including an excellent audio package.
The seats are instantly comfortable and have just the right amount of support for enthusiastic cornering, of which there will be quite a lot. The Gti is a car that begs you to take it through your favourite bends again and again. I guarantee it  will put a smile on your face a mile wide.

The doors open to almost 90 degrees, allowing easy access for rear seat passengers.
Unleashed to its 6,500rpm redline, the little Pug will reach sixty kph in first gear, 100 in second,and there are four more gears after that. The aluminium topped gearshift lever has a long throw,but swaps cogs with a fine mechanical precision, there's no danger of choosing the wrong gear.

The Gti accelerates from zero to 100 in about six seconds, accompanied by an enormous push in the back as your feet dance on the metal drilled race- style pedals. The 1.6 litre turbo produces 147 kw and 275 nm and is an absolute cracker. In fact this engine has won International Engine of the Year for seven consecutive years. (It's also fitted to the Peugeot RCZ, to be tested here next week.)The steering and handling of the Gti is pin sharp and totally exhilarating. It's an absolute joy. No hint of understeer, nor lift off oversteer. Pure point and squirt motoring at its best. There's a slight, civilised sporty burble out the unique exhaust pipe, but a little more noise, Peugeot, when attacking the throttle, would be nice. Designers are having a field day lately, coming up with innovative shapes for Daytime running lights, taillights and indicators. The Peugeot's distinctive lamps,another example of their fertile imaginations. 

I thought the ride was acceptable for a small performance car, not rock hard like some, but pleasingly compliant on most surfaces. Not quite as compliant as the original 205 GTi  of the 1980s, but pretty good nonetheless.

My only gripe about the interior, is the central armrest. When raised, it pushes against the back of your upper arm, and when lowered and your arm is resting on it, you have to change gears with your fingertips. Applying the handbrake, situated immediately below the armrest, when the rest is down, is also a fingertip job.
That aside, the Peugeot 208 GTi is an absolute delight as a daily driver or weekend sports machine. Add a whole lot of fun into that and you've got an unbeatable blend, especially for  just under 30 K.
Peter Sellen