You can't keep a good hot hatch down

Back in the late 90's, I had owned a collective of old bangers. A cacophony of dreary, underpowered, rusty pieces of excrement. By the time I was 21 I'd owned an Austin Allegro (a really fantastic start to my driving career), a Mk2 Cavalier, a Rover and the obligatory Mini which insisted on failing to start in any weather conditions other than a heat wave.

As soon as I could afford the insurance, I'd set my mind on a Mk2 Golf GTI. After a short time looking, I became the proud owner of a 1985 Atlas grey 3 door 8 valve GTI, bought from a work colleague. It was mostly original apart from lowered suspension which improved the looks and handling no end. My motoring life has started, I could park it anywhere without people laughing or young children crying. I could at last measure speed without the use of a calendar and more importantly I could be now more confident in taking girls home in it...

I owned it for just over a year only selling because my brother was letting go a 1986 Peugeot 205 GTI which was one of the those cars I'd always wanted. It was the 1.6, 115bhp version and compared the Golf, was a little trickier to drive. To explain further, one of best things about the Golf was that almost anyone with two hands and driving licence could get straight in and confidently drive it quickly. It had predictable, had fun handing and felt solid on the road. You really had to poke it hard to make it bite. The Germanic build quality made it feel safe and you could turn up to a formal summer ball confident that you going to be allowed through the doors.

The Pug, on the other hand, took a while to get used to. To start with the interior was a stark contrast to the VW. Whereas, the Golf offered up lashings of grey and black grown-up materials, the French hatch included as standard at the time, blood-red carpets, red dial needles and red stripes on the exterior plastic side moulds. The driving position was designed more for an Orangutan. You ideally need long arms and short legs to successfully use the controls. One major difference to the Golf was the gear change, whereas the Golf provided concise, quick gear changes, with the 205 it was initially shear guess work to know where all the gears were – first was somewhere near the glove box and second a good six inches behind where the drivers seat. The typically French rhombus-shaped pedals had loads of travel, attempting to drive it in heavy traffic needed a masters degree in mechanical engineering due to the snatchiness of the drive train.

However, despite the many idiosyncrasies of this little car, I loved it. Once you got used to the way it drove, it would continually put a smile on your face. It was light and coupled to  sharp steering, would turn even the most mundane of journeys into a delight. The 1.6 normally aspirated engine would rev enthusiastically and due to the lack of driver aids (traction control, ABS) there was a feeling of being at one with the car. It really was one most rewarding cars I have driven and I have never driven a more fun car since.

Almost 15 years has passed and I've now owned a myriad of various types of car all of varying quality and merits. My previous car was a Volvo V70 AWD which had more gadgets than Maplins. The list of options purchased on this model was incredible and for a Volvo the size of small country, it handled extremely well. Whereas the previous hot hatches were frenzied to drive, in the Volvo you simply wafted around. I even started listening to Classic FM. It was at this point however, that I started to get concerned that I was maturing quicker than my years, so I started looking for something a bit more 'youthful'.

I'd always hankered after another Mk2 GTI and starting looking, but I'd grown tired of having to spend the weekends underneath it, repairing what would inevitably go wrong. I know that VWs have reputation for reliability and they are as popular now as they were back in the 80s so parts are plentiful and relatively inexpensive, however look at it this way; the Golf is over 25 years old and bound to need constant fettling. With that burnt on my mind I dismissed it as an everyday motor.

In a vain attempt of reliving my youth I focused mainly at hot hatches naively thinking that they would be cheaper to buy and run. I initially looked at the MK5 GTI which is a fantastic car with a cracking 200bhp turbo charged engine. There are loads about in varying conditions and mileages but used values are rock solid and trying to find one in good condition with sensible miles and price is somewhat difficult. Additionally, Mr VW had been very stingy with standard equipment so even things that are relatively common on other marques such as steering wheel controls and Bluetooth are only an option. Yes, I really am too lazy to take my hands off the wheel to change the channel on the stereo.

I then looked at both an Audi A3 TFSI and a Ford Focus ST. The Audi had the same issues at the Golf, most had poverty spec, high mileage and expensive to buy. The Focus on the other hand would have been good fun to drive. It has the 5 cylinder 2.5 engine as mated to the Volvo T5s, they sound great too. However, they are fairly expensive to run (high road tax and low mpg). 

After months of looking for a suitable set of wheels I decided on a Seat Leon FR. It's the TFSI, which put simply, is the petrol version. It shares the same engine in the Golf and the Audi producing the same 200bhp through the front wheels. I managed to buy a 2008 model with 58k on the clock, full service history and a set of new Bridgestones on for £6300 which at the time was great value, considering a GTI in the same, condition and mileage would be between £2.5 – £3k more. That's a big difference for something built on essentially the same platform. In fact, it's not only the engine which is the same. The gearbox, suspension, running gear are identical.

On the road, it's incredibly quick. The turbo musters up torque from about 2000 rpm and pulls strongly until above 6000rpm, enough to spin the front wheels in second gear with ease. There is speculation from the garage I take it to that this one may have been remapped at some point, although I don't have verification either way but you need care driving it sensibly and frequent glances at the speedo are required. Handling-wise, it's competent and fun can be had in the twisties, the Bridgestones are sticky in most situations and inspire control. The ride, as on might expect from a hot hatch, is on the firm side and can be quite fidgety on rough surfaces (much to my girlfriend's annoyance) although I don't particularly mind, it's what small, quick cars are all about.

It's all good news as you get more standard toys in the Seat. Cruise control, electric folding mirrors and steering wheel controls are good to have. Upon reflection, I would have preferred the flappy paddle DSG gearbox which is an optional extra. I got very used the auto box in my previous Volvo that I have now become lazy. I decided against going down the auto route as repair costs on a DSG can easily exceed £1k if it goes squiffy so it's got the standard 6 speed manual which is light and easy to use. I would have also liked Bluetooth to connect my phone with.

As with all cars, there are the not-so-good things; notably the interior where it all goes a bit downhill. The dashboard looks like it's come out of an Airfix kit box, lots and lots of cheap, shiny grey plastic. The material on the seats is reminiscent of gauze and it stains very easily. It really shows where Seat have done the cost cutting, it really is nothing to write home about, although I love the steering wheel which looks and feels like an expensive sport Momo wheel I had in my Mk2.

If you want something cheap to run, then this is probably not the car for you. I struggle to get more that 30mpg, averaging maybe about 25mpg which in this day and age is poor. In fact I think my previous Golf had the potential to return more economy. Road tax isn't cheap at £265 a year, and it likes a dose of oil every month which apparently according to the experts online is a characteristic of the engine. 

I am now nearer 40 than I am to 30 and with the probability of kids on the horizon, the end is in sight for hot hatch ownership with a semi-sensible estate its replacement. For those who are or who will be in my situation, go get yourself a fun hatchback. Given another chance to own another in the future, I wouldn't hesitate.