*This a writeup about the Volkswagen Lupo GTI, Toyota Yaris RS Turbo, Mitsubishi Colt 1.5 Sport-X, Mazda 2 1.6, Mini Cooper, Citroën C3 1.6, Peugeot 106 S16. N3 tires and oil change, otherwise stock. I might get around to a follow-up where I tune at least the top contenders, if there is interest. Or move on to more serious machinery 
*
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All the great drivers had to start somewhere. More likely than not with some old, slow car, gradually working their way to the top. Of course, most people never get that far, and will have to stick to small, cheap cars for driving thrills. As we were cruising around in my Corvette 63 the other day, Bob and I passed by a Peugeot dealer. A couple of small cars caught our eyes, and we checked them out. It turned out they were 106s, hard to sell off after production was cancelled last year. As we leaned back in the leather seats, listening to the salesman’s claims of its greatness, it occurred to us that this was the kind of car we needed, a welcome break from the power race. Curious as we are, we decided we might as well check out a few other cars as well, in the price range around 20 grand. A few dealer visits and a less well-filled bank account later, I’d bought eight small cars: Volkswagen Lupo GTI, Toyota Yaris RS Turbo, Mitsubishi Colt 1.5 Sport-X, Mazda 2 1.6, Mini Cooper, Citroën C3 1.6, Peugeot 106 S16, and 106 Rallye. The Rallye was too cheap and spartan to be put into this comparison, considering that we already had the S16. Instead we had the Peugeot motorsport department put some extra goodies on it to make it a track monster for our personal enjoyment.
Our test track is the Autumn Ring Mini, by normal standards a ridiculously short course at just 1,28 kilometers. However, the way it twists up and down throwing corners at you without letup makes for a fun ride regardless of engine power. During our two-day visit, conditions were almost ideal, though cold at 5c. The sun was still high in the sky, track dry and with no leaves or ice patches.
Each getting a warmup round, Bob and I ran three hot laps each. All cars were brand new, with racing oil and grippy road tires provided by our sponsor, GT Auto. I told Bob to drive moderately aggressive, and avoid embarrassing himself. Our best laps for every car can be seen in the table below:
______________Sockzor___Bob
Lupo GTI_______0.48.451__0.50.696
Yaris RS Turbo___0.48.706__0.49.912
106 S16________0.48.801___0.50.067
Cooper_________0.49.052___0.50.280
Mazda 2 ________0.49.228___0.50.476
Colt Sport-X______0.50.034___0.50.930
C3 1.6___________0.50.303___0.51.489
C3 - 114 hp – 1063 kg – 18130 Cr
We expected the Citroën to be too soft and too slow for track driving. It was certainly slow, especially compared to the cars we’ve gotten used to. The tall gearing has to bear some of the blame for this. Second gear goes on until 107 km/h, leaving you out of the engine’s useful rev area above 4000 rpms after upshifting from first, with third being used only thrice a lap and the other cogs unused. The engine spins bravely but simply doesn’t have enough power.
Cornering is neutral, with moderate understeer even at full throttle. Done correctly, a little lift off the gas makes the car turn in nicely. However, quick left-right successions may make the rear end come around a bit too much. Fun, but kills lap times and dangerous on slippery public roads.
Colt - 103 hp – 1030 kg – 14950 Cr
Bob has contacts at Mitsubishi, so I had him strike a deal for a suitable car for this comparo. Let’s just say he won’t be choosing the colours again any time soon…
Relatively tall and narrow, the Colt leans quite a lot in corners and when braking. Still, it’s got plenty of grip and you need to work hard to make the rear tires slip. Unless you go too fast, it’s easy to follow the correct racing line.
The gearbox is unique in this comparo: a CVT. When driving properly (i.e. HARD) the engine hums constantly at 5750 rpms (peak power level), with the transmission changing its ratios for optimal acceleration. It works to a degree, and the Colt beats the C3s lap times, despite having the weakest engine here. The constant engine drone is rather unpleasant over time, though.
2 - 117 hp – 1080 kg – 14500 Cr
Black paintjob and tinted windows help disguise the little Mazda’s rather minivanish looks. And behind the wheel, it’s definitely sporty. More stable than the C3 and more responsive than the Colt, it steers in and rotates nicely. I had a blast chucking it around the track, but Bob didn’t quite warm up to it. It does roll quite a lot, and may understeer as any FF car.
The engine sounds good for a small fourbanger, and the gearing, although too long, is at least somewhat more sensible than on the C3. The brakes were pretty good too.
Cooper - 119 hp – 1115 kg – 22190 Cr
The Mini definitely looks the best of these cars. We expected it to be a great drive too, and it is. The engine lacks the compressor of its bigger brother, but it sounds like a compressor engine nonetheless, with its distinct turbine whine. The Mini is heavy, so it’s not fast, especially below 4500 rpms. Again, tall gearing hampers acceleration.
Despite anti-roll bars and stiff suspension, it leans in corners, but long wheelbase and small dimensions help make it handle somewhat like a gokart. Cornering behaviour is similar to the Mazda, but with a more solid feel.
Lupo - 121 hp – 975 kg – 24160 Cr
By some considered the real GTI heir, this car finally gave us some performance to speak of. The engine is revvy and sounds like it, and the gear setup is reasonable, so it’s slightly faster than the others, except the Yaris.
Though small, it’s well-behaved and has plenty of grip at both ends. Provided that the driver has braked adequately, it pulls itself around the corner, pushing in rather than out. Turn-in is duller than expected, though. Bob couldn’t get any good laps, even though I let him make a few more than usual.
106 - 122 hp – 960 kg – 18810 Cr
The 106 has been around since the early 90s, and the interior feels dated. It still looks good, and as a hot hatch it certainly delivers. The engine revs high and the S16 is pretty fast. It’s the lightest of the contestants, which is reflected by the neutral, throwaround handling. Turn-in is quick and understeer is moderate. Surprisingly, we were unable to make the rear end slide out, no matter how hard we provoked it. Bob did well in this car, almost breaking the 50 second barrier.
Yaris - 144 hp – 980 kg – 18880 Cr
With the most powerful engine and being the third lightest, we expected the RS Turbo to roll over the competition. In a way, it did. The engine pulls well but is otherwise a rather bland experience. With comparably short gearing it made for decent acceleration and top speed –even Bob managed 130 km/h at the straight.
But all this power also makes the Yaris rather unwieldy. There’s plenty of understeer and torquesteer, and the tiny wheels squeal for grip. It’s still fun, but you have to work harder for it. Bob managed, and got a lap just under 50 seconds. On another though, he slid out onto the grass in the final corner. Fortunately he didn’t hit anything hard.
The C3 stands out as the definite loser. Slow and dull to drive, it doesn’t cut it as a driver’s car. Everyday comfort is its strong point, but it hardly matters in this context. The Colt and Mazda are spacious and practical, but leave something to be desired performance-wise. An interesting transmission concept speaks for the Colt, if you can handle the noise. Tall and relatively softly sprung as they are, they still drive reasonably well, especially the 2.
The Mini is loved by everyone, but our Cooper lacked punch. It still handles very well, but is rather expensive for what you get.
The Yaris is fast, but a bit too furious in the wrong way for our tastes. It lacks chassis refinement, and the turbo engine is uninspiring when you look beyond performance numbers. For me, the Lupo worked well on the track. Bob wasn’t able to extract its potential at all, so it’s apparently rather driver sensitive. A serious test drive before you buy is especially recommended here. Its biggest con is the hefty price tag; while it’s a quality car, it’s expensive for what you get.
Old it may be, but the 106 still has claws on the track. For the true racer the Rallye version is a better bet than the more powerful S16, though. It does away with even more weight, making it a true pocket racer. At 12630, it’s a bargain, leaving some cash in your pockets for tuning.
*______________________________________________________________
All the great drivers had to start somewhere. More likely than not with some old, slow car, gradually working their way to the top. Of course, most people never get that far, and will have to stick to small, cheap cars for driving thrills. As we were cruising around in my Corvette 63 the other day, Bob and I passed by a Peugeot dealer. A couple of small cars caught our eyes, and we checked them out. It turned out they were 106s, hard to sell off after production was cancelled last year. As we leaned back in the leather seats, listening to the salesman’s claims of its greatness, it occurred to us that this was the kind of car we needed, a welcome break from the power race. Curious as we are, we decided we might as well check out a few other cars as well, in the price range around 20 grand. A few dealer visits and a less well-filled bank account later, I’d bought eight small cars: Volkswagen Lupo GTI, Toyota Yaris RS Turbo, Mitsubishi Colt 1.5 Sport-X, Mazda 2 1.6, Mini Cooper, Citroën C3 1.6, Peugeot 106 S16, and 106 Rallye. The Rallye was too cheap and spartan to be put into this comparison, considering that we already had the S16. Instead we had the Peugeot motorsport department put some extra goodies on it to make it a track monster for our personal enjoyment.
Our test track is the Autumn Ring Mini, by normal standards a ridiculously short course at just 1,28 kilometers. However, the way it twists up and down throwing corners at you without letup makes for a fun ride regardless of engine power. During our two-day visit, conditions were almost ideal, though cold at 5c. The sun was still high in the sky, track dry and with no leaves or ice patches.
Each getting a warmup round, Bob and I ran three hot laps each. All cars were brand new, with racing oil and grippy road tires provided by our sponsor, GT Auto. I told Bob to drive moderately aggressive, and avoid embarrassing himself. Our best laps for every car can be seen in the table below:
______________Sockzor___Bob
Lupo GTI_______0.48.451__0.50.696
Yaris RS Turbo___0.48.706__0.49.912
106 S16________0.48.801___0.50.067
Cooper_________0.49.052___0.50.280
Mazda 2 ________0.49.228___0.50.476
Colt Sport-X______0.50.034___0.50.930
C3 1.6___________0.50.303___0.51.489
C3 - 114 hp – 1063 kg – 18130 Cr
We expected the Citroën to be too soft and too slow for track driving. It was certainly slow, especially compared to the cars we’ve gotten used to. The tall gearing has to bear some of the blame for this. Second gear goes on until 107 km/h, leaving you out of the engine’s useful rev area above 4000 rpms after upshifting from first, with third being used only thrice a lap and the other cogs unused. The engine spins bravely but simply doesn’t have enough power.
Cornering is neutral, with moderate understeer even at full throttle. Done correctly, a little lift off the gas makes the car turn in nicely. However, quick left-right successions may make the rear end come around a bit too much. Fun, but kills lap times and dangerous on slippery public roads.
Colt - 103 hp – 1030 kg – 14950 Cr
Bob has contacts at Mitsubishi, so I had him strike a deal for a suitable car for this comparo. Let’s just say he won’t be choosing the colours again any time soon…
Relatively tall and narrow, the Colt leans quite a lot in corners and when braking. Still, it’s got plenty of grip and you need to work hard to make the rear tires slip. Unless you go too fast, it’s easy to follow the correct racing line.
The gearbox is unique in this comparo: a CVT. When driving properly (i.e. HARD) the engine hums constantly at 5750 rpms (peak power level), with the transmission changing its ratios for optimal acceleration. It works to a degree, and the Colt beats the C3s lap times, despite having the weakest engine here. The constant engine drone is rather unpleasant over time, though.
2 - 117 hp – 1080 kg – 14500 Cr
Black paintjob and tinted windows help disguise the little Mazda’s rather minivanish looks. And behind the wheel, it’s definitely sporty. More stable than the C3 and more responsive than the Colt, it steers in and rotates nicely. I had a blast chucking it around the track, but Bob didn’t quite warm up to it. It does roll quite a lot, and may understeer as any FF car.
The engine sounds good for a small fourbanger, and the gearing, although too long, is at least somewhat more sensible than on the C3. The brakes were pretty good too.
Cooper - 119 hp – 1115 kg – 22190 Cr
The Mini definitely looks the best of these cars. We expected it to be a great drive too, and it is. The engine lacks the compressor of its bigger brother, but it sounds like a compressor engine nonetheless, with its distinct turbine whine. The Mini is heavy, so it’s not fast, especially below 4500 rpms. Again, tall gearing hampers acceleration.
Despite anti-roll bars and stiff suspension, it leans in corners, but long wheelbase and small dimensions help make it handle somewhat like a gokart. Cornering behaviour is similar to the Mazda, but with a more solid feel.
Lupo - 121 hp – 975 kg – 24160 Cr
By some considered the real GTI heir, this car finally gave us some performance to speak of. The engine is revvy and sounds like it, and the gear setup is reasonable, so it’s slightly faster than the others, except the Yaris.
Though small, it’s well-behaved and has plenty of grip at both ends. Provided that the driver has braked adequately, it pulls itself around the corner, pushing in rather than out. Turn-in is duller than expected, though. Bob couldn’t get any good laps, even though I let him make a few more than usual.
106 - 122 hp – 960 kg – 18810 Cr
The 106 has been around since the early 90s, and the interior feels dated. It still looks good, and as a hot hatch it certainly delivers. The engine revs high and the S16 is pretty fast. It’s the lightest of the contestants, which is reflected by the neutral, throwaround handling. Turn-in is quick and understeer is moderate. Surprisingly, we were unable to make the rear end slide out, no matter how hard we provoked it. Bob did well in this car, almost breaking the 50 second barrier.
Yaris - 144 hp – 980 kg – 18880 Cr
With the most powerful engine and being the third lightest, we expected the RS Turbo to roll over the competition. In a way, it did. The engine pulls well but is otherwise a rather bland experience. With comparably short gearing it made for decent acceleration and top speed –even Bob managed 130 km/h at the straight.
But all this power also makes the Yaris rather unwieldy. There’s plenty of understeer and torquesteer, and the tiny wheels squeal for grip. It’s still fun, but you have to work harder for it. Bob managed, and got a lap just under 50 seconds. On another though, he slid out onto the grass in the final corner. Fortunately he didn’t hit anything hard.
The C3 stands out as the definite loser. Slow and dull to drive, it doesn’t cut it as a driver’s car. Everyday comfort is its strong point, but it hardly matters in this context. The Colt and Mazda are spacious and practical, but leave something to be desired performance-wise. An interesting transmission concept speaks for the Colt, if you can handle the noise. Tall and relatively softly sprung as they are, they still drive reasonably well, especially the 2.
The Mini is loved by everyone, but our Cooper lacked punch. It still handles very well, but is rather expensive for what you get.
The Yaris is fast, but a bit too furious in the wrong way for our tastes. It lacks chassis refinement, and the turbo engine is uninspiring when you look beyond performance numbers. For me, the Lupo worked well on the track. Bob wasn’t able to extract its potential at all, so it’s apparently rather driver sensitive. A serious test drive before you buy is especially recommended here. Its biggest con is the hefty price tag; while it’s a quality car, it’s expensive for what you get.
Old it may be, but the 106 still has claws on the track. For the true racer the Rallye version is a better bet than the more powerful S16, though. It does away with even more weight, making it a true pocket racer. At 12630, it’s a bargain, leaving some cash in your pockets for tuning.
