THEGAYUK

Tag: Five Star Car Review

The latest Five Star Car Review from THEGAYUK.

  • CAR REVIEW | Peugeot 208 GTi Sports Edition

    ★★★★★ | Peugeot 208 GTi Sports Edition

    I don’t quite know how to type the opening lyrics for Tight Fits “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” but shhh now please, there is a lion sleeping on my driveway. It’s the Peugeot 208 GTi Sport. If it wasn’t so bullish you could call it a lion cub because of its size. Driving it however releases the animal within.

    I’ll stop with the lion references now and I’ll ruin the wait for the star rating at the end because it gets Five  from me. Six if I could. It’s not a great car though so don’t be fooled into thinking it is. What you get for a mere £22,595 is an uncompromised hot hatch.

    There are no toys in this car. You can’t decide how you want to set the stiffness of the suspension. Peugeot’s sports division have done that for you while also lowering it 10mm over the original GTi and changing the wheel alignments. They have also given you the torsen differential. To you and me that means limited slip. All this makes for a car with go-kart like handling with almost no body roll. The ride is jarringly firm on potted streets. On main roads it’s quite liveable.

    On the inside you get the usual aircon, airbags, radio with DAB and cruise control but the satnav is a £450 extra. It is needed. The infotainment system is a tad sparse without it. That said you do get a calculator within it. It’s so random I thought it worthy of a mention. What you do get for your money though are 2 delightful bucket seats that both feel great and do their job. What these do however is turn the rear seat into nothing more than a padded parcel shelf. With the 208 being how it is anyway I doubt you’ll get a queue of friends eager to sit in the back anyway.

    Unlike the 207 that this replaced, it feels smaller. It looks smaller. Peugeot have always made the prettiest small cars. While the 207 was a huge mistake with no redeeming features, they have got this one right. Some of the trim and finish is a bit low rent. The paint within the boot shut looks unfinished. At first I thought the parcel shelf cheap by the way it’s been executed but. Simplicity in itself.

    I have kidded myself that this and some of the switch gears look very similar to those used on Peugeot cars from over 10 years ago –  is because the engineers have been busy spending money on the more fundamentals. I was right.

    Sitting behind the small leather bound steering wheel your eyes are directed to the the outside world and just below that the facia panel. For some reason it all sits above the line of the wheel. You then notice that the wheel in your hand is incredibly small. It all works so beautifully. Nice little touches of red stitching throughout and the red lights around the 2 contoured clocks are a really nice touch. You can switch them off if you like but you won’t. It becomes very intimate.

    Driving it is the fun part. It is also the reason why you would buy this model. In no way does it feel that “Health and Safety” have been involved with the development. It has a simple key to start the eager 208bhp engine. You don’t even need to press the clutch pedal to start it. Everything you do is by your choice. The 208 makes you accountable for your actions and this is what makes it such a breath of fresh air. You can even do left foot breaking. This is a car for the action man.

    It is its eagerness that overwhelms your senses. A 0-60mph time of 6.5 seconds is ridiculously rapid. The Torsen diff helping put all that power down without much fuss or wheel spin. Care should be taken when pulling out of a junction either left or right. Its tendency to dart away in your chosen direction is both exhilarating and addictive. Too addictive if I am honest. Those Michelin tyres won’t last long.

    To hell with the cost of the tyres though. The go-kart like handling is secure at higher than normal speeds though you will tend to cruise 40mph corners you’ve taken before at 60mph. Only then do you realise the potential that this car has. And that 205 GTi trait of lift-off-oversteer very much remains. Thankfully it is much more secure and manageable. Many 205 owners will tell you about the days they ended up facing the wrong way or worse, in a ditch. If however, at any point, you think your pants are going brown, the 4 disc brake set up with scrub off speed with alarmingly little fuss.

    The power pack in the 208 is a superb piece of engine. All the power of 208 horses comes in at 6000rpm while 300Nm of torque are there from only 3000rpm. This is puzzling because it does feel nearer 4000rpm when on the move. Change down a gear and then you find it at 3000rpm. The 6 speed gearbox has ratios that require chopping and changing. The throw of the gear shift is way to long in throw though. I’m sure a short throw shift could reduce the 0-60 time by 1/2 a second. It would also add to the already adrenaline fuelled eagerness.

    What was annoying was the boom from the exhaust at low revs and at 3000rpm on the motorway. The 208 suggests a gear on the screen and should you wish to get optimal fuel economy it might make sense. Ignore it, take it up another 500 rpm from the 1900rpm when it suggests and you will enjoy the exhaust note. Or keep it in 5th gear until you really need sixth and the boom vanishes but the fun and snappy throttle responses remains.

    I want one. I don’t think I would tire of it with its hard ride either. In this stripped down form it does what a car should do and that is allow YOU to drive it by human thought and not the computer. I almost forgot, it returns pretty good fuel economy too.

    Likes
    Price
    Very intimate
    No frills just thrills

    Loathes
    Some finishing details are poor
    Long throw of gear stick
    Boom from exhaust at low revs

    The Lowdown
    Car – Peugeot 208 GTi Peugeot Sport edition
    Price – £22,595 (as tested)
    MPG – 35.3mpg (combined)
    Power – 208 bhp 6000 rpm
    0-62mph – 6.5 seconds
    Top Speed – 143 mph
    Co2 – 125 (g/km)

    Find out more http://www.peugeot.co.uk/

  • CAR REVIEW | Subaru BRZ, 30 MPH has never been so fun

    Ask a petrolhead to think of Subaru and rallying won’t be too far from the forefront of their mind. ★★★★★

    The Japanese firm’s turbocharged, four-wheel drive saloons and hatchbacks are a familiar sight on special stages across the globe. This competition pedigree doesn’t go to waste, their road cars benefit from lessons learnt from rallying too. This however, is a very different kind of Subaru.

    While there may be the familiar 2.0 litre flat-four boxer engine up front, there is no turbo. Nor is there four-wheel drive, just the rear tyres are powered. The expected levels of four or five-door practicality are absent as well, there may be four seats (just) but these are accessed by only two doors. Welcome to the BRZ.

    At this point, the more observant of you might be feeling a little déjà vu. That’s because the BRZ has a brother, a car that I’ve already tested – the Toyota GT86. There are three very good reasons for sampling this Subaru though. Firstly, the BRZ is completely standard, unlike the GT86 I tried. Secondly, the Subaru is different in its suspension setup and thirdly, I was desperate for another go with this chassis.

    Like the GT86, the Subaru BRZ has 200hp at a heady 7,000rpm, a six-speed manual gearbox (an auto is available) and a limited slip differential to help channel the power to the road. Visually the cars look very similar at first glance although the front bumper, faux wing vents and badges are different. Inside, there are different dials, dashboard trim and infotainment systems.

    In the case of the test car, infotainment is pushing it somewhat. There’s no sat-nav, Bluetooth or even a touchscreen, just an AM/FM radio, CD player plus an aux-in and iPod connectivity. With most people now possessing Smartphones with navigation included, I don’t think this is too much of an issue. The rest of the interior is well made but unmistakably Japanese – an Audi TT it isn’t.

    The BRZ is a very different proposition to the TT though. Not only is it up to £5,000 cheaper, the Subaru puts driving dynamics above all else. Drop into the low-set and fantastically figure hugging sports seat and you’ll notice the peaks of the front wings show you exactly where the centres of the front tyres are. Thumb the starter button and the engine fires into a distinctive idle, the scene is set.

    Slot the gearstick into first and you can’t help but notice the short, mechanical feeling action that will become very familiar. Unlike modern turbocharged engines that deliver power from what feels like little over idle, the naturally aspirated flat four thrives on revs. While it will pull from under 2,000rpm, you need at least 4,500rpm on the dial before it starts to feel genuinely quick.

    It’s once you get to a set of corners that everything clicks though. The BRZ rides on the same kind of tyres that are fitted to the Toyota Prius meaning there isn’t vast amounts of grip. That may seem strange for a sports car but it’s this that makes it such a blast. Unlike many performance cars, you don’t have to be travelling at ludicrous speed for things to get interesting.

    Even going well within the speed limit, you can feel the chassis working under you. Initially you’ll feel the front run wide but a little bit of commitment will soon see the car oversteering in a wonderfully controllable manner. Never does it feel scary yet it excites and entertains in equal measure. The steering may feel a little odd around the straight ahead but it proves quick and with enough feedback to know exactly what is going on up front.

    Despite the stunning handling, the BRZ is also a lot more comfortable than you’d expect too. You do feel bumps but they are smothered well enough while the car never feels crashy. Compared to the tweaked GT86 I tried, it’s a revelation – you could genuinely use it every day. There’s also a surprisingly large boot and the promise of near faultless reliability as well.

    Naturally, there are downsides. While the boot is decently sized, the gap is quite narrow and the seats don’t fold forward a great deal. Trying to squeeze a not overly big box into the back was quite a hassle. It’s also thirsty (I averaged just under 35mpg), not as well equipped as many hot hatchbacks and slower too. As for the rear seats, they’re suitable for children or the shortest of adults only.

    As you may have guessed already, for me the positives far outweigh the negatives here. Sure it could be more practical but at the end of the day, it’s a coupe. To make a car look like this, practicality will be sacrificed. As for performance, there’s plenty of aftermarket parts out there to make it as fast as you want. Me? I’d be tempted to leave it standard; I’ve never known a car entertain so much at less than 30mph. I want one so badly it hurts.

    Pro

    Handling

    Styling

    Price

    Cons

    Not overly practical

    Thirsty

    It isn’t mine

    The Lowdown

    Car – Subaru BRZ SE Lux

    Price – £23,995

    Power – 200hp

    0-62mph – 7.6 seconds

    Top Speed – 143mph

    Co2 – 181g/km

  • MOTORING REVIEW | Porsche: We’ve Never Had It So Good

    When the Gay UK received an invite to the Porsche experience l jumped at the chance and on a cold and frosty Monday morning l headed to Silverstone not really knowing what to expect other than testing 3 new cars that had been launched.

    (more…)

  • CAR REVIEW | Toyota GT86

    Toyota has produced plenty of icons over the years. From the bruising twin-turbo Supra as seen in The Fast & The Furious to the lightweight and nimble MR2 sportscar or legendary Landcruiser, the Japanese marque has catered well for the petrolhead. Does the GT86 live up to this tradition?

    First impressions on this occasion are slightly skewed by the test car’s distinctly non-standard appearance. Designed for the Goodwood Festival of Speed and inspired by early 80’s ‘IMSA’ racing Celicas, it boasts glitzy gold 18” wheels from Rota, a performance exhaust from Miltek and V-Maxx lowering springs. The stripes are in vinyl and completely removable (not that I’d want to) making the GT86 stand out anywhere your drive it. If I’m honest, it’s Marmite on wheels and I love it. That the standard car already has a chiselled, muscular appearance with an aggressive front and pert bottom doesn’t hurt. Add the stripes and it’s like a real-life Hot Wheels toy.

    Look past the warpaint and you’ll see the features that make the GT86 such a temptation for those who love to drive. Up front is a 2.0 litre ‘flat’ (so called because the pistons travel horizontally instead of vertically) four engine powering the rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. An automatic is available but seems a little out of place in such a focussed driving machine. A super-low seating position and unusual engine contribute to a centre of gravity just 18 inches above the tarmac, figures a Porsche would be proud of. Out back there’s also a limited slip differential to provide plenty of traction or easily controlled drifts if you prefer.

    Inside there is technically room for four but only on short trips or if you really hate your rear seat passengers. More important are the two heavily sculpted front seats that hold you in place perfectly, small yet chunky steering wheel and a giant rev counter right in front of you. The short reach to the stubby gearlever confirms that this is an environment that’s been geared towards the driver. Thumbing the starter button brings the engine noisily to life with a distinctive burble from the giant rear exhaust pipes. The gear change is mechanical feeling, direct and for the most part very enjoyable apart from the odd notchy moment.

    Those expecting serious firepower will be disappointed, the non-turbo engine produces 197bhp at a giddy 7,000rpm. You really have to rev this motor to get the best from it, while it’ll mooch along with less than 2,000rpm on the dial you need over 4,000 before it really wakes up. Even if you do poke it with a stick, the 0-60mph time of 7.4 seconds is only on par with a BMW 320d. Straight line speed isn’t really the point of a car like the GT86 though. The modest power output means you can use more of the performance more of the time without expecting flashing blue lights in your rear view mirror. It also prevents the car from being too intimidating when it comes to cornering, something it does exceptionally well.

    Even at low speeds, you can feel there is virtually no slack in the suspension, steering or gearbox. Up your pace and you find the GT86 corners with barely any roll and is beautifully balanced. Apart from a slightly sticky feeling around the straight ahead, the steering is very well weighted and fast too. Even with all the electronic nannies turned on you can feel the rear of the car pushing you around corners, given a private track (or deserted roundabout) and you’ll find it’s, even more, fun beyond the limit. A stab of throttle in the first couple of gears can unstick the rear tyres and get you sideways. This is not something to be feared though, a quick flick of the wrists on the steering will catch it by which time you’ll be grinning like a complete idiot.

    Downsides? Well those use to a premium German cabin won’t be bowled over by the GT86’s interior. Although everything seems well made, some of the plastics look a bit cheap compared to a VW or Audi while the overall design is a little behind as well. Those after cheap running costs should look elsewhere too, I averaged around 28mpg while carbon emissions sit at 164g/km for the manual. Ride comfort and general usability also suffered at the hands of the modifications on this car. Over a succession of bumps the GT86 could bounce you almost out of your seat and speed bumps had to be taken at a crawl. Parking was a stressful activity thanks to stretched tyres that left the polished lip of the wheel with no protection from curbs; I managed to avoid damaging them but needed a gangplank to get to the curb most of the time. Then there was the noise, fantastic if you were going for it but the exhaust drone at motorway speeds coupled with the tyre roar and wind noise got old fast. No doubt a standard GT86 would be more agreeable on a day to day basis if a lot less dramatic.

    If you think of a car only as a method of transportation to get you from A to B then the GT86 is not for you. Space is limited in the back, it’s expensive to run and not at all comfortable. If however, you see cars as a thing of pleasure that beg to be driven, the little Toyota will be right up your street. From the moment you approach the GT86 to the moment you glance back towards it as you walk away it makes you happy. For some, the modifications may be too much but for me its pure theatre, I’m smitten.

    PROS

    Handling

    Looks

    Noise when driving hard

    CONS

    Uncomfortable over rough tarmac

    Thirsty