In all fairness, the 205, Mk1 Focus, Megane Trophy (or any other 10y.o.+ car) would never stand a chance in a comparison looking for the best all-rounder so it was basically between the GTI and the Type-R from the beginning. And even as a VW owner I find the outcome lacks solid reasoning/arguments. It's commonly accepted that the latest Type R, compared with the 7/7.5GTI is in a different class dynamically pushing the FWD limits even further, faster in a straight line, and it even comes with a bigger boot and just as comfortable for daily use thanks to its revised suspension. We'll probably agree that its looks are screaming too much and the interior might lack the class of the GTI but if that's really all that you can criticize it for I can't see how it could realistically be anything other than first in a top hot-hatch list.
As a matter of fact, I visited the site tonight with the intention of writing about the latest EVO hot-hatch review, a much more thorough and focused on the driving article that pitted the 7.5 PP against the 308 GTI and the i30N and saw it coming 3rd out of 3, with the message being the GTI is not at the top of its game as it used to be (in fact it's some distance below the top).
I wanted to actually ask whether people are happy with how VW has left its most iconic car with the least power and driving enjoyment than practically any of its current rivals, merely cashing out on its long heritage and pseudo premium feel. I would really like to see them upping their game for the MK8 because they've shown that they can, but I just don't see it happening...
