My response was aimed at the OP, so better than an FK8 is obviously what I am comparing it to.
I find it hilarious how most FK8 owners on this thread are trying so hard to justify buying their car and how "good" it is lol. It is sports car built to fulfil a budget, please do not ever compare it to a luxury premium hatchback such as the A45...
The A45 is no more luxurious than a Focus, that is quite generous, VOE, drive the two cars back to back and you will find the shortfalls in both but one is just that bit better.
I always laugh at threads like this, owners of the older types of the brand comparing 3k mods on a 16+yo car that cost after inflation not far off what an FK8 does now is pointless on a track with different drivers.
Drive a standard EK9, EP3, FD2, FK2 on track in stock and on the road or on track which one is going to be quickest?
Question, does it really matter? You could arguably have as much fun in any of them, in most cases we choose the best we can afford, I have had an absolute hoot in all the cars I have owned, as for which is best, it's always the one I loved, drive that car now and I would be disappointed, cars have dramatically changed in the time I have been driving.
Comparisons such as this in my experience are usually generated because the said car is so good but you have to justify why it isn't despite what others say. I owned an EK9, I admit I was immature, I wanted to think the EP3 wasn't better, reality was it moved it on so much the EK9 was not even comparable.
Guess what I sold the EK9 and bought a DC5 as I couldn't not even consider and EP3 :lol: I sold that in the end pretty much straight away and bought an Elise, better than both
I have yet to read an independent reviewer that has rated the Fk8 as anything but excellent, don't get me wrong it isn't perfect, the inability to select different settings in different modes is annoying, the infotainment and sat nav poor but other than the risk of kerbing an alloy it is an excellent hot hatch and a match for pretty much any car on the road.
Enjoy what you have :asw: