Search For The Best Handling Compact In The World

[LeadSlead#2]

With all the different rumours, stories and opinions on modern foreign compacts, known for their impecable handling charictaristics, we've decided to take 5 of the best we could get our hands on, and throw them wildly around the Nurburgring Nordscleife.
The cars? a 4th Gen VW Golf GTI, an Alfa, a Renault, Toyota, and last but not least a Peugeot.

Each car will be driven and judged on all aspects of handling, and also, a little on drivetrain. Since all cars have within 12 hp of each other, power shouldnt be an issue. All cars have been fitted with Goodyear TripleTred's, the latest and greatest all-weather tire from Goodyear. (equal to N2's)

Alfa Romeo 147 2.0 Twinspark 2003
150 HP - 1280KG (2844lbs)
PWR---8.53
Renault Megane 16v 2.0 2003
138 HP - 1230KG (2733lbs)
PWR---8.91
VW Golf GTI 2001
150HP - 1280KG (2844lbs)
PWR---8.53
Toyota Vitz RS Turbo 2002
139HP - 980KG (2178lbs)
PWR---7.05
Puegeot 206 S16 1999
140HP - 1080KG (2400lbs)
PWR---7.71



First up, the Alfa Romeo. We've heard many wonderful things about Alfa's, and seen many devoted fans of their cars.
When we headed out on the track, we instantly knew why. although this car doesnt find grip overly easily, it makes for one hell of a balanced, smooth, torque-steer free ride. fantasic feel, even over the harshest bumps, it still doesnt exhibit much body roll.
The Gears felt nice, though the shifts were slow, hindering it's lap time a bit.
Maximum Grip: 8
Transition: 9
Feel: 9
Transmission: 7.5
Engine: 9.5
Total points thus far: 43

Time for the second car, the Renault Megane, with a sporty 2.0 16v Engine, this car made us want to drive it, despite past experiances with French cars.
Out on the track, this car had the best handling feel of them all, no torque-steer whatsoever, no harshness, minimal body roll, a genuine work of art.
The only problem we had was determining where to shift, with the engine powerband, combined with tall gears, it was a work in itself.
Maximum Grip: 9
Transition: 9.5
Feel: 10
Transmission: 7
Engine: 8
Total points thus far: 43.5

On to the third car, The Vee-Dub we already know and love. But after the Megane, it's handling felt a bit numb, and torque-steer was evident, regardless, the grip the GTI displayed was tremendous, shredding the hills at even a pushed rate.
The drivetrain proved good, with quick shifts, and a powerband that never ran out, the only thing this car needs is less weight.
Maximum Grip: 10
Transition: 9
Feel: 7.5
Transmission: 10
Engine: 9.5
Total points thus far: 46

Our 4th time out, The Toyota proved fast, but unpredictable. on the first turn, a drop to 2nd gear resulted in wild wheelspin, bouncing off the rev-limiter at 7500rpm 3 times before we just threw it in 3rd, wondering how a 139HP car could do such a thing. it felt extremely light, with excellent turn-in, but once it's going, it's going, no turning back. Tremendous grip on higher speed corners, or if you use 3rd gear. luckily, it's powerband and quick gears made that possible in every turn, with only one exception.
Fantasic powerband, ultra-quick gears, and ultra-quick shifts made that portion of the drive a breeze, though with gears this quick, and the engine running out of steam, it pretty well cooked at anything over 120mph.
Maximum Grip: 10
Transition: 7
Feel: 8.5
Transmission: 9
Engine: 9.5
Total points thus far: 44

This is it, the last car up, the Peugeot 206. another extremely quick-geared car proved 3rd gear nice for almost all corners. exceptional turn-in, feeling just as light as the Toyota, despite carrying an extra 100KG's (about 222 lbs). light and nimble were the only ways to sum it up, transition was easier than a breeze, it made you wish you were always in it. feedback was plentiful, without being overbearing, and shifting was quick, direct, and setup so perfectly for this track that we suspect it was tuned, well, just for this track. engine revved-low, but gave out a wonderful powerband when coupled to these gears.

Maximum Grip: 9
Transition: 10
Feel: 10
Transmission: 9.5
Engine: 9
Total points thus far: 47.5

After our subjective ratings, the results stand at
Alfa Romeo 147 2.0 Twinspark 2003
43 Points
Renault Megane 16v 2.0 2003
43.5 Points
VW Golf GTI 2001
46 Points
Toyota Vitz RS Turbo 2002
44 Points
Puegeot 206 S16 1999
47.5 Points

With only the Lap-Times left for the final equation, we decided that it was worth up to 15 points, being, after all, what the cars can really do.
Toyota Vitz RS Turbo 2002
9:14.677 - 15 Points
VW Golf GTI 2001
9:18.143 - 13 Points
Puegeot 206 S16 1999
9:20.544 - 11.5 Points
Alfa Romeo 147 2.0 Twinspark 2003
9:21.668 - 10 Points
Renault Megane 16v 2.0 2003
9:25.738 - 8 Points

!st Place: Toyota Vitz RS Turbo 2002 - 59 Points

2nd Place: Puegeot 206 S16 1999 - 59 Points

3rd Place: VW Golf GTI 2001 - 59 Points

4th Place: Alfa Romeo 147 2.0 Twinspark 2003 - 53 Points

5th Place: Renault Megane 16v 2.0 2003 - 51.5 Points

At the end of the day, we had a 3-way tie on our hands, and had to decide how to break that tie. Basing it solely on subjectives would mean the Peugeot 1st, the GTI 2nd, and the Vitz 3rd. Basing it solely on Lap times would mean Vitz, GTI, & Peugeot, perspectivly.
In the end, we decided we'd go with which we felt had the best handling of the three, but couldnt ignore the Vitz's smash victory at the track,(especially since it wasnt quite as fast as either) and as we're always in favor of actual, physical performance. But provided the GTI's power advantage, the better handling car of the two left was the 206.

 

[amp88]

Good test and well-written 👍

Perhaps you should order the points tally at the halfway stage and the laptimes though, from best to worst?

 

[LeadSlead#2]

Good test and well-written 👍

Perhaps you should order the points tally at the halfway stage and the laptimes though, from best to worst?

I see you on the laptimes, but the halfway part sounds like a giveaway

 

[AMG.]

I see you on the laptimes, but the halfway part sounds like a giveaway

Enjoyable reading. 👍

I'm looking forward to your laptimes. Can perhaps use those as a guideline to see if I can match them. (N2's aarrgghhh!)

AMG

 

[CRXnut]

Nice write up. It would be fun to include BMW 120i

 

[ImprezaAddict]

Cool write up. Though I didnt understand "Vee-Dub." Whats that?

 

[AMG.]

Cool write up. Though I didnt understand "Vee-Dub." Whats that?

....as in Vee double U (VW)

AMG

 

[Smallhorses]

Good subjective comparison. 👍
Must have been very close to call since all of those cars are so similar in performance!

It would have helped a little to see the points breakdown for the cars side-by-side in a table (using the code tags) like this:-

Car:			Alfa Romeo	Renault		VW		Toyota		Peugeot
Maximum Grip: 		8		9		10		10		9
Transition: 		9		9.5		9		7		10
Feel: 			9		10		7.5		8.5		10
Transmission: 		7.5		7		10		9		9.5
Engine: 		9.5		8		9.5		9.5		9
Total points thus far: 	43		43.5		46		44		47.5

This way it's easier to get an idea of where cars excel and fall down compared to each other.

 

[SlowlyButSurely]

Nice Write Up.

Seeing as im somewhat of an expert with the slower cars in GT4, i would've included the Mini Cooper and the Peugoet 106 both cars have excellent handling and can beat cars with much more power around the nurburgring.

Although im glad so see you included the superb 147 2.0 twinspark - a great little car, off topic: i had a pueg 307 and managed over 200mph with it.

 

[michael15]

That's very cool. i'm gonna try something equel later this week.
(don't know if the sentence is right, i'm from belgium)

 

[LeadSlead#2]

Nice Write Up.

Seeing as im somewhat of an expert with the slower cars in GT4, i would've included the Mini Cooper and the Peugoet 106 both cars have excellent handling and can beat cars with much more power around the nurburgring.

Thanks:tup: The Mini Cooper and Peugeot 106 were considered, but were dropped when Peugeot offered us the Peugeot 206 S16, and Mini failed to respond to our calls

@Smallhorses: Great idea, dissapointed I didnt think of that myself

 

[michael15]

no points for braking?

 

[DUNDA]

you should have also included either the Focus ST170 or the RS, but I did do a similar comparison personally, and the Focus RS topped the logs.

 

[Metar]

Well, some of them seem like different classes, don't they? I'd pair the Golf GTI, considering it's size, with the Peugeot 307 rather than with the 206. They just don't seem to be close enough (considering size, power, edition). And, if already, why a Vitz Turbo and Golf GTI, but no 206 in it's sportier version?

 

[LeadSlead#2]

Well, some of them seem like different classes, don't they? I'd pair the Golf GTI, considering it's size, with the Peugeot 307 rather than with the 206. They just don't seem to be close enough (considering size, power, edition). And, if already, why a Vitz Turbo and Golf GTI, but no 206 in it's sportier version?

all cars tested are between 139-150HP
a peugeot 307 has over 200, I believe, and would therefore likely trounce the Golf, on the ring. as would the 206RC, most definetly.
All cars are compact, all cars have relitivly close power numbers, and, the 2 heaviest, have the most power, the lightest, the least power. these were all cars in the game I could find that are in this range, that would not trounce, nor be trounced.
(the Vitz was a last minute addition, and was never expected to hammer the opponents on the lap time, like it did. respectivley, it lost points due to driving like a chimp on crack, smoking tires up to 50mph!)
The Renault was the only car out of it's league here, but couldnt be removed, as it shares names with my girlfriend, (but in french) and inspired the entire test