Adrenalin for the Thinking Man

Well, these two cars have the right pedigree.

The brand prestige. The reputation that goes along with it . The technological marvel (The pug has a BMW/MINI-sourced turbo lump while the VW has a much raved-about award-winning 'bi-turbo' one)> Both have the space and practicality which the competition does not have (Neither the BMW 1-series nor the MINI Cooper Clubman have the space to match the pace) . And best of all, undercuts the rest of the pack with (slightly) lower price tags.

Now, that's a THINKING MAN'S ADRENALIN RUSH.

The VW Golf GT: 1.4L inline 4 cylinder Twin charge TSI , 6 speed

The Peugeot 308 Turbo: 1.6L inline 4 cylinder turbo, 4 speed

Either can be yours for a shade under S$100 thousand dollars.

(Anything else with a similarly big badge and similarly big on performance will cost you at least 10-15 grand more.)

Unfortunately, I think with my balls... :p



Q

> But hey, you never know... watch this space.

Red Hot Ambition

Pocket Rocket:
Check out the full grille that even Audi would gladly call theirs; Racy:

Poised.

Sleek.

Perky rear to flash at unsuspecting fellow motorists.

Sporty dials and meters mated to great quality of fit and finish. Impressive.

Who says Hot Hatches have to cost a lot?

(I may have to eat my words)

We have our usual suspects:

>At the top end of the market (okay, they DO cost more than a Pocket): The VW Golf GT/GTI , Audi A3 Sportback, BMW 1-Series, MINI Cooper S (& any MINI for that matter), Volvo C30 T3, Alfa Romeo 147, Fiat Stilo etc.

>Mid market (okay, so these aren't exactly a steal either): VW Polo GT , Opel Astra GTR, Honda Civic Type R, Peugeot 308 Turbo, Renault Megane RS, Subaru WRX/STI etc.

and the

>Mass market (still, there won't be shillings left): Daihatsu Sirion Sport, Subaru R1 Sport, Mazda 2 R and the Suzuki Swift Sport etc.

Latest to join the fray of this lucrative segment is the Chevrolet Aveo5 (2009).

Granted, with normally aspirated 1.4-1.6L petrol engines mated to run-of-the mill 4 speeder (auto) or 5 speeder (manual; recommended to wring the most bang per buck) ain't exactly gonna set this segment ablaze since every car mentioned above can literally run circles around this one.

But we also know the well-sorted chassis that the Chevrolet brand is known for.

The inherent solidity and refinement that established this iconic American brand more successfully world wide than any other Yanky thus far (ok, may be, Chrysler with their spanking SRT8s which isn't fair to begin with, is it?).

Also, note that this new high-specced version is fitted with sport kits , bigger wheels, and a firmed up suspension to what was already a very sexy and sporty base car, it's predecessor already was.

So there. On a budget? Need the space and the race(notice I didn't say 'Pace'), check out the all new Chevy Aveo5, this weekend at a dealership near you.


It won't win Sports Hatch of the Year for sure, but still...

You'd grin like a Cheshire Cat.

Or Drool like a Rabid Dog. ^^

Q