Top Gear Hot-Hatch Shootout

[Deleted member 49882]

Just picked up a copy of Top Gear magazine which included a group test of hot-hatches: Cosworth Impreza, RS500, RS Megane, RS Clio, Golf GTI, Bocanegra, Polo GTI etc.

Disappointing, the Bocanegra didn't really seem to impress that much. I take on board some of the points that were made in the magazine, eg all the fake pieces of plastic and fake carbon fibre, but I genuinely think that it is a pretty neat wee car.

Interestingly, the Top Gear crowd put it just in front of the Polo GTI in terms of outright speed...but other magazines, eg AutoExpress have the Polo out in front.

I think for a 1.4 turbo/super charged car, it held its own rightly. I was less that 0.5sec of the pace of the Clio Sport on their test track which I think is fantastic for the Ibiza. The Clio is essentially a track-ready car, stiffened, lowered suspension, improved steering rack, Recaro seats, Brembo four-pots etc. So, for the Bocanegra to perform on the track and keep pace witht he Clio, I think that is good going.

However...I can't help but feel that SEAT should have gone that little extra mile with the Cupra / Bocanegra to make it a bit more hard core. It is still a nice car though with good potential for upgrades and modification.

 

[CupraDean]

got to agree with you cocmpletely on this bud! i may have to pick up a copy

 

[mardon]

Wonder how mine would perform in the shoot out IbizaRaceBrake certainly showed how to do it on track!

I dont get how they can say one is faster than the other when its the same engine and they weigh near on the same.. Its all brand bollox. Ok interior and build quality may differ between the marks but the performance shouldn't.

I do think AutoExpress and WhatCar are Very Audi BMW bias... Snobs..

 

[GrDuDe_Cupra]

I can tell you that one thing frenchie Clio is good at, is turning in corners. French suspensions are miles better than most cars(in same bracket ofc) so if cupra managed to stay 0,5sec close that is very good.

As far as performance i dunno what Top gear says, but in a street race(straight line) between my cupra and a clio 2.0lt up to 120 km/hour we were side by side, he was at least 2 cars behind me by the time i hit 190km/hour at which point he gave up. Unfortunatelly i had no video as it wasnt a planned race.

To make you feel better look what happens to a Corsa OPC( i think u call em VXR in UK and they decalre 192 bhp instead of 180 of cupra) planned race and the corsa was accelerating from second beap. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4UYdg3S5R8

Bottom line dont trust what magazines say, cos they are so biased its not even funny.

 

[Crafoo]

I bought the mag too but haven't really read the feature properly yet, however seeing the other cars in the lineup it's hardly surprising it didn't made much of an impression with the likes of impreza's and RS500's to play with.

 

[chuckb]

Top gear have never liked the car and I put little store in what they write. stuff em. I have had three cars recently they have loved and I could pick fault with all of them. Also there are things they hated and I liked. It sells glossy pages to those who think Clarkson should be the next pm and the stumpy one with a chip the size of a wardrobe on his shoulder is a minature god. I genuinely like my Boc it has niggles but it put be back in love with cars again.

 

[Silent Shark]

I also got the mag a while ago. They actually have the Boc on a long-term test. They only included it because they were covering the new Polo GTi, and they happened to have the Boc handy to compare it to.

On the plus side, they didn't say they didn't like the Boc, just that it didn't feel special enough (given that they had cars like the Ford RS 500 there, I'm not suprised). The Polo didn't either. Round the track they were on, the Boc was quicker than the Polo though!

 

[MST]

It sells glossy pages to those who think Clarkson should be the next pm and the stumpy one with a chip the size of a wardrobe on his shoulder is a minature god.

 

[mardon]

So is there a little bit about how they are getting on with the boc every month like in most mags?

 

[Dave 77]

Yea i fink this was the 3rd month it featured

Ofc they dont like the DSG il dig out the copys in a bit and have a look

 

[mardon]

I'm starting to get on with my DSG again. Getting better at not hitting the kick down by accident.

In general on the commute to work I love the Auto. On a full blast on the lanes when i'm in the mood the paddles are great fun!

 

[mardon]

Stig hill climb in the boc HERE

 

[Deleted member 49882]

Stig hill climb in the boc HERE

He wasn't hanging around like lol. This just makes me miss my car more lol. Damn you turbo! Am keen to get it back and start to tweak it! Maybe have a go at my own hill climb video...probably end up blowing the turbo again though lol

 

[jc_boc]

i like that video and stuff those fools at TG. They are so used to friving supercars that they can't see the dust from the cloud any more.

 

[robin cur]

At the end of the day its all about Personal Taste I cant stand the new Honda civics but would think top gear would give it a good review, if I worked for top gear I woulden't because I like Seats. if you are happy with your car thats all that matters.

 

[chuckb]

Top Gear = car po*n, Its like top shelf reading matter for car geeks. Want the real thing but have to make do with the next best thing, hairy palms optional

 

[Silent Shark]

I'm a massive fan of Top Gear, but I watch it to be entertained, not informed.

 

[jc_boc]

I agree with that statement too hehehehehehe

 

[Bods]

Just got it today boc did well in the harewoodhill climb out of the small cars clio cup sport did it in 1mins9.4 seconds they are nasty inside and not much in them clio also has 22bhp more. boc did it in 1min 9.97seconds and they have an interior polo GTI was around half a second behind the boc.

 

[jc_boc]

I love how they were claiming the polo gti would be faster than the boc in the press releases and now that we finally have real times we can see that the boc is slightly faster................