I've driven low capacity FWD Euro cars for 30 years
Fiat 128 (1300cc), Fiat Regatta (1600cc), Lancia Prisma (1600cc), Alfa 33 (1750cc Dual Carb)
Drove a Mazda3 Maxx Sport 2L for 4 years - handles well with reasonable acceleration
Drove a Mazda3 SP23 for 4 years - a little better but had to be auto for the wife, that killed it!
It's a slush box that drinks petrol badly - the performance of the vented front disc's was disappointing from day one
Two months ago I bought a MY12 Octavia VRS Wagon (2L Turbo 147kw)
I wanted a useful car that was also fund for me to drive - handling and power
On the test drive I said to the wife "It pulls nicely, I like it" (I was at full throttle)
No response from the wife so I turned to look at her,
she was clenching the door handle with both hands and had her eyes closed (she does not like fast driving)
After processing the paperwork a week later I drove the car 39km from the dealer directly to a Euro performance shop
and had the ECU flashed with the APR upgrade (which was on special at the time)
So I've been driving it to work for almost 2 months
I drive it on the torque, love the feeling of being pushed back into the seat
Love how it swiftly make progress without looking like I'm hooning around
I have not got "used to it", every time I use the torque I appreciate it's more than normal/average
And then when you really light it up with large throttle opennings it's fun indeed (can't use full throttle/power in 1st)
(With the ECU upgrade the midrange torque boost is awesome but I feel the top end is worse so I short shift with the paddles)
I get 120km more than the Mazda SP23!! (Same tank size) That is a shocking metric for the Mazda SP23!
This got me wondering what range can I get out of the car with the ECU set to factory
I'm half way through the tank right now and it looks promising - likely to be 160k~180k more than the Mazda
It's made the car much easier to drive, much more docile, but still better than average/normal imo
When we bought the Mazda SP23 in 2008 I was not aware of the DSG
Two friends got cars (BMW & Merc) with dual clutches in 2010
I made my mine up that my next car had to be a DSG as I really believe in the technology (despite cost when it goes wrong)
Proof is the Octavia with 26% more power (stock) than the Mazda3 SP23 yet gives greater than 120km extra tank range, I love DSG!
2012.1 Skoda Octavia VRS DSG Wagon - Carbonio cold air intake and pipe - HPA Motorsports BBK 355mm rotors 6 pot calipers
APR Stage II ECU - APR 3" exhaust down pipe & high flow catalyst
APR/HP Roll bars - Eibach springs and Bilstien shocks
Supaloy lower control arms - Enkei 18*8 Wheels
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