Hot Hatches are the Ideal Only Car

[@jackedrussell]

I've watched a few of your videos and they're great. Keep this up and you'll be at 1M subs in no time.

[@MickDrivesCars]

Haven't even thought that far! Really want that 100k plaque tho

[@truthseeker3536]

Gaining 1m subs is not possible on youtube, unless you become a freemason and reach a certain degree on their ranking system.

[@jgfjfgjfhjf]

as a hothatch owner, I second everything Mick says, and confirm that fuel economy is generally quite good. My avg. is 7.5L/100 (37 MPG ish) for the last 20k km, this includes normal driving and the kind to cost the licence. I don't often drive in cities tho. However, I'm not *that* optimistic about hothatches: sure they do everything, don't cost that much more to run than Doris's Honda Jazz, but they compromise on sportiness just a little too much, and so I will jump into an rwd sport sedan the first chance I get 🤷‍♂

[@MickDrivesCars]

Thanks for the comment! I won't mention the... -VAG product alarm-

[@Lucky-hl6bz]

im genuinely surprised you dont have more subs. These videos are great and hella educational.

[@MickDrivesCars]

Huge praise, thank you! I'm still relatively new to youtube so I'm sure there's time :)

[@andrewmckechnie4575]

Hi Mick, love the videos, would love a video on what accessories you have in you're car/what you keep in your car

[@MickDrivesCars]

Interesting one - I don't really keep anything in the car to be honest... The glovebox is empty... There's a big box in the boot but that just houses spare washer fluid and a cloth/window spray.

[@mr_mayday_8984]

Wait until Mick hears about fast wagons hahahah. Those things are the real “do it all machine”. Go on vacation with the family and then hit some twisty roads!! Love your channel. Keep on doing this great work. Greetings from Spain! P.D. Some video ideas: 1) You should make a video comparing a fast wagon and your hot hatch to see the advantages and disadvantages of each. 2) Also, the alpine a110 is, what I think to be, the greatest fun car on sale today, and mechanically it’s the same as your Megane RS. You could make a comparison video between the two. 3) With X amount of money 3 perfect car garage video. Stating reasonable and logical reasons why you chose each of the cars.

[@MickDrivesCars]

Absolutely LOVE the ideas! Thanks!

[@timdevisser4947]

I have a golf 7 1.8t with a few things done to it. I tow my fishing boat with it in the summer, drive through snowstorms to snowboard in the winter and still have a super fun daily driver. Ultimate workhorse car

[@_tech9n712]

I’m a Mercedes fan but the way your rock this car is giving me a second thought of getting this instead of a Mercedes ❤️

[@Sid3300]

The issue with hot hatches of the day, is that they’re really fun when you’re trying to go for it. But when you’re cruising on the motorway they’re screaming along at 3500 RPM. How times have changed 😂

[@Mladjasmilic]

My Punto 1.2 is at 4000 rpm at 120km/h

[@pdcichosz]

Seriously? Even with those 100-gear dual-clutch gearboxes? My old 5-speed 2.5l bimmer is at 3500 doing 140 kph. It ain't exactly screaming.

[@carlosa643]

Yea 100% it's not very relaxed. My 1.2 Clio screams along at 3700rpm at 120km/h. I usually just stick at around 105-110km/h (65mph) just to give it an easier time and to get fuel economy up to 40mpg- a big jump up from 35mpg at the speed limit. At least it puts me always in the powerband. A 6th gear in such a small engine car would make overtakes questionable lol

[@Pharaoh5611]

The larger the engine displacement the lower the RPMs will sit most of the time, I drive a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 liter 5 speed manual and I can cruise at 1.5k rpm without lugging the engine at 62mph/100km/h or 2k rpm at 80mph/130km/h. I converted my speed because Im in the united states.

[@pdcichosz]

@@Pharaoh5611 There are also these things called gears and final drive. My friend's 1.6l 7-speed can cruise at 1.5k RPM too. As well as most modern euro cars these days.

[@RoxusRemo]

I've watched 3 of your vids and now i've been looking at megane rs's for about an hour.... damn haha

[@RoxusRemo]

P.S Mick, what model is yours? Is the trophy or sport?

[@MickDrivesCars]

It's a facelift sport I have a video of sport Vs trophy, it's an early video without the quality of later ones, but I go suuuuper in depth on the differences

[@thegrowl2210]

Only problem is the new ones are out of reach for outright ownership. 40k for a golf GTI! I could be wrong, but I thought the point of the hot hatch originally was to provide performance at an affordable price. More manufacturers should make back to basics hot cars I think, less computers and screens taking over, all you need imo is a basic screen with CarPlay/AA, 6 speed manual, cruise, climate control, a lightweight body and good handling characteristics. It’d be a hit imo.

[@MickDrivesCars]

Proper petrolhead comment. I think most people buy cars on finance and even the 40k golf will be like £500 a month, which is a fairly high amount. Very true. Imagine a Dacia Sandero ''RS'' - 20k, 250ish bhp, 6-speed... dreams.

[@thegrowl2210]

Haha, petrolhead, high praise from you! I just like driving tbh, it's fun! I could bite your ear off if it were a cable disc vs hydraulic disc on a bike though.

[@Qrzychu92]

I mostly agree :D if it's the two of you, yeah, hot hatch is the thing to get! I had 2004 Audi A3 (not that hot, I know), but for two people it was perfect. Enough boot space to go anywhere, enough space in the back to ocasionally take somebody on even a cross country trip, diesel engine consuming 6l/100km, and the abillity to cruise the highways at 160+ no problem. However, I think that if you have a full family with kids, hot estate is better. It is less sporty, but not by much, but SO MUCH MORE PRACTICAL. I recently got a used Audi S5 Sportback (I know it's not an estate :D), and seems to be THE perfect car - Quatrro, super fun engine, relatively low consumption engine (9l for the last 7k km I did, including squeeling tyres on the weekends), best seats I've ever sat in (did 17h drive with one stop, no problems, and I have a bad back!). Upgrade from the A3 is tremendous. And you can drive it REALLY fast

[@kamistake]

you got me Mick !! when i retire my camaro i may just give a hot hatch a go ! 👍🏾

[@MickDrivesCars]

Haha YES! I forget, where are you based? Always wanted to drive a camaro. I'm going to hazard a guess at USA :)

[@kamistake]

@@MickDrivesCars Yes sir, Central Texas to be exact! 🤠 Not too many amazing B-roads by me but I still find plenty of ways to have ethical petrol head fun. 😎 If you ever venture to the states I'll make sure you get to enjoy a 6-speed Camaro with some boost under the hood haha 🫱🏾‍🫲🏻

[@gravityhammer25]

I agree with you, I have a Mini JCW GP it has an 8 speed auto, but it shifts quick enough and gets the job done... Only 2 seats, however can fit a ton of stuff in the back for a car that small. I have a full size spare in the trunk... sorry boot along with some other tools, tire inflator, etc. I can also drive it hard or drive it normal, most of the time I can usually leave high powered RWD cars behind on curvy roads because I can be a lot more aggressive with the throttle. I can utilize the power everyday 301hp/332tq and it has an LSD to help there. Most of the creature comforts are there like automatic adaptive headlights, auto wipers, auto climate control, heated seats, navigation, infotainment, 12v, usb and wireless charger for phone. I was thinking about a Camaro ZL1 but realized on the street I could NOT use the 650hp/650tq, just not necessary to have. I can also fly down a backroad faster in my Mini because it's smaller footprint and it has much better visibility... the Camaro is very wide with terrible visibility and would only be usable on the track really. That Megane RS is a gorgeous car, I wish we had those in America. Unfortunately, people here need to have a giant pickup trucks and SUVs that are bigger than a Semi/Lorry 😔. Another benefit (at least in America) is that hot hatches don't draw a lot of attention, here if anyone drives a Challenger, Charger Hellcat or Scatpack or any of the popular big muscle cars they are highly likely to get stolen (if they are not manual).

[@Tornado2k84]

At the end of the day, personal preference is the deciding factor. But I also think that hot hatches are a good compromise if you can't or don't want to keep two vehicles (sports car and family car). I drive an i20N and in contrast to SUV's or similar, which I have already driven, driving a hot hatch is an experience and not just a means to an end to get from A to B.

[@mtg_369]

I think cars like the Golf R Variant or Cupra Leon Sports Tourer are even better than their hatchback counterparts, especially the extra space in the boot. But both are great!

[@MickDrivesCars]

Very true! I have a feeling a fast estate may be in my future :)

[@JuanMonsalve]

Suzuki Swift checking in

[@MickDrivesCars]

Whoop whoop. Almost bought one but ended up buying a mini cooper s. I've actually driven every generation of that car. All fantastic things. 2nd gen is the highlight for me.

[@PatrickBijvoet]

Hmmm, now I am a conservative driver, and I have the same car, but not a RS but Edition one and not a automatic, but I do 20 Km to the Liter, what is about 47 mpg. I believe a RS can get more economic too. Update: However, you like a sporty drive, so I was just amazed by the difference. One thing we have in common, it is a lovely comfortable car.

[@ElSERFITOO]

I wish someday I could buy one of this 🤪😄

[@MickDrivesCars]

My first car was a 2003 honda civic with 160k miles and no 2nd gear. You'll get there bro 👊

[@lucasceleste4743]

I love that you used Aston Martin Vantage and MX5 in the same sentence when talking about serious sports cars 😂

[@MickDrivesCars]

I've been in the market for a RWD replacement for the Meg and the Aston Vantage keeps coming up so it was on my mind. I don't think it's wrong to say though... They're both out to achieve similar things, just at different budgets :)

[@lucasceleste4743]

@@MickDrivesCars definitely can't go wrong with it (as long as reliability is not a concern) haha. Gonna miss seeing the Meg for sure

[@markycupko]

damn that megane is great!

[@disco530]

Mick having dinner with his girl that night: you just need that much salt, look at the food... I'm have a great day today :)

[@MickDrivesCars]

Correction, I like it spicy

[@robinmarples5198]

Always had hothatches. Will never hange i think. From megane 2 rs26 f1 to leon cupra 280 going by megane 3 265 cup

[@JonathanPicardi]

I have an Audi A3 sport,2 door hatch and can still do the monthly shop with my 3 girls in back

[@martinstyblo6355]

Fully understand your points, but the personal preferences/priorities/trade-offs might be different as well... Let everybody enjoy what he/she prefers. Many smiles per mile!

[@MickDrivesCars]

Very fair

[@usecodemango]

M3 alpina would be my pick

[@SurgeX798]

You’re right but it won’t change my car decisions :)

[@subieasunayuuki]

Modern new hot hatches are so expensive. But a used Ford 2012 - 2018 Focus ST is 👍 It's the only way, it's the cheapest, still has an infotainment system, quite reliable and affordable parts. Maybe a Renault Megane RS aswell. I need to get a driver's license first

[@timnewbury1792]

Hi ya just had my car serviced 2nd year only 7000 miles Yes there is a upgrade for the infotainment system to hopefully sort out the stupid radio tone settings Tim

[@FurryestX]

More space than a SUV, And much Lighter... EFFICIENCY, And Easy to drive

[@samuelgomez3311]

I think you must looking for something with a good platform, enough space and pratical car with some interesring equipment and the less weight possible... And this is a hothatch. So something between 4-4'5m or so, not neccesary more. Good engine and chassis, of course, and is perfect enough for family or just fun

[@himynameisryan]

As a current manual hatch owner I’m switching to a sedan as my only car I don’t like hatches they just look so ugly to me And in my mum’s Camry I can fit more than my hatch To the point where when going on road trips We take the Camry

[@dorukdora6524]

what is the minimum rpm when you drive at 85 mph?

[@andrepipo4542]

Whats your camera, lens and mic?

[@MickDrivesCars]

S5 ii + Sigma 24-70 f2.8 (shot in VLOG and poorly colour corrected) GoPro Hero 11 for the POV stuff Mic is tricky - face moments are on a Zoom LMF-2 In car moments are GoPro in built mic for voice and LMF-2 for exhaust sound, clipped in the boot of the car. Then I (poorly, again) mixed the audio together.

[@andrepipo4542]

​@@MickDrivesCars Colour correction looks nice there. Also where did you get those jeans at 11:40? They look good as well.

[@MickDrivesCars]

Cheapest ones on the Primark rack mate. Same as the t-shirt. Lovely jacket the Mrs bought me though. River Island I think. Piloti shoes OF COURSE.

[@andrepipo4542]

@@MickDrivesCars Great fashion, especially the shoes. You don't sleep though?

[@MickDrivesCars]

Big interview tomorrow... Well, today 😎 Can't sleep

[@Aarti0797]

Donny must of nearly stacked it on that demonic corner and completely cuts that footage 😂 I guess 50mph was abit to fast in your hot hatch

[@MickDrivesCars]

It looked scary but the corner was hella boring lol

[@nk.hoodie8078]

What is your car?

[@MickDrivesCars]

Megane RS 300 (facelift)

[@Devis_M]

NOT THE CHICKENN

[@KH4N17]

Too bad I can't find one here. Edit: Here being Pakistan.

[@SJ-gv1yj]

No RWD though. 🤷‍♀️

[@thegrowl2210]

M135i and M140i.

[@SJ-gv1yj]

@@thegrowl2210 Hatch back body on what is basically the last gen 2 series. Additionally newer ones are X-Drive with FWD bias (I think).