The UK Compact Car Guide For Fans
Compact cars are defined by being affordable mid-sized vehicles that are larger than superminis or city cars. The following article is purely for compact car fans - it will give you a summary of the UK history of this popular vehicle type. In addition, multi-purpose vehicles and sport utility vehicles which are designed to be small family cars are often called compact MPVs and compact SUVs. Common compact car engines are 1.5 to 2.4-litre straight-4s, using either petrol or diesel fuel. They have range between 100 bhp (75 kW) and 170 bhp (127 kW). Some models also have economical 1.3 or 1.4-litre units, while high-performance versions, called hot hatches or sport compact sedans, can have turbocharged 2.0 or 2.5-litre engines. The inception of these vehicles dates back to the 70's here in the UK. Then came the 80's - the MK3 Ford Escort went on sale in 1980 to effectively replace the rear-drive saloon format in favour of hatchbacks and front-wheel drive.
It went on to be released in several different versions. Vauxhall's Astra MK2 model, released in 1984, and the Belmont saloon launched in 1986, also caused a stir in the market. In the 1990's, Ford replaced its 10-year-old Escort with the all-new Escort model. Further introductions to shape the compact car market during this decade included the Rover 25, Peugeot 306, Renault Megane, Citroen ZX and its successor the Xsara, Fiat Brava and Nissan Almera. Mazda's 323 also model continued to be in high demand. Moving to the new millennium, the 2000's were kicked off by the Renault Megane II in November 2002, which boasted styling that was unlike any other offering in this sector at the time. By 2005, the Megane II had become Britain's fourth most popular new car. The Ford Focus second generation model was launched in December 2004 and enjoyed the top selling position in this segment, followed by the Astra. These days, the small family or compact car sector has established itself as the most favoured British mode of transport. With many great models and design style to choose from, as well as their reputation for affordable pricing, this type of vehicle is going from strength to strength in the consumer marketplace.
Zero understeer. The new limited slip diff has been brilliantly calibrated but I think the electronics also do a good job of smoothly kicking-in in a natural way that does not detract from the experience. Once completing my track time I headed out to some back roads which were even better than the track itself. Hard to believe. Once on some less refined tarmac it was immediately clear how stiff this car is compared to previous versions. Even at a medium speed the car was moving around a lot over the bumps which is very fun and involving for any driver but I can imagine this kind of character wearing you down over a long drive. But I don鈥檛 think you buy this for the long drive. You buy this car because you love the way it feels. You buy it because you enjoy your driving and want your car to tell you exactly where it is at all times. I do wish it was louder. After driving the race version of the GTI TCR it was even more apparent that this car could have gotten away with a bit more exhaust noise when in Sport mode. Given how the car feels on the road and the way it responds to your inputs the increased sound would have been justified. I鈥檓 also not a fan of the latest touch screen trend as they鈥檙e distracting with overly complex interfaces. Just give me some buttons please. But these are nitpicks. I like this car a lot and if it was my own money I鈥檇 have a hard time choosing something else. The GTI is fast becoming the 911 of the hot-hatch world, evolutionary design with great build quality but more importantly incredibly fun to drive. It鈥檚 amazing how far this car has come since the Golf 5. Well done VW.
This 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI was sold new in Boston, Massachusetts and was imported to Greece in 1990 by the original owner, a Greek shipping captain. The seller is reportedly the second owner and purchased the car four years ago. Power comes from a 1.8-liter inline-four mated to a 5-speed manual transaxle, and the car features an older aftermarket stereo and leather seats. Factory four-lug wheels wear Pirelli P2500 tires. Red trim is shown around the front grille and Rabbit GTI badges are featured. The glass, trim, doors, hood, and rear hatch were removed during the repaint three years ago. 2500). An older aftermarket Sony head unit is fitted. The A/C is said to blow cold following a repair five months ago, and all interior functions are reported to work properly. 118k miles are indicated on the six-digit odometer, with approximately 1k of those added by the seller during their four-year ownership. Note the 5-speed golf ball shifter, shown further below. The 1.8L inline-four features Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection and produced 90 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm when new. Power is sent to the front wheels through a 5-speed manual transaxle and an engine service was performed five months ago.
