people keep saying the golf gti is meant to be pitched against the fiesta etc
surely thats the polo gti's market
the R is pitched against the likes of subaru, RS etc. more specialist performance cars.
the gti is IMO definitely pitched against the ST and VXR etc. all FWD, turbocharged 2 litre 'all rounders'. just because its not in the same BHP bracket doesn't mean they don't compete for the same customers.
the only difference is VW has gone for a hot hatch for everyone which does everything - thats always been the GTI selling point. others have come and gone, been faster or whatever but the GTI remains and is still the most desirable hot hatch. they have got the recipe right.
where as the VXR is for people who don't really know about cars but want big figures with no substance.
the renault is THE drivers car with huge performance and features for its price but without the build quality, after sales and customer service/care and reliability always let renaults down. I absolutely love hot renaults but its a shame they let themselves down at the final fence. they have an amazing product but bollox it up with crap dealerships and poor build.
the focus ST is the one which will take sales from the gti. ford really have moved the game on with build quality. our 4 year old focus rattles less than my 2800 mile old GTI. its going be be pretty, well build, more powerful and excellent value.
I'm sure ford are the only manufacture giving the VW boffins sleepless nights.
