Hey I'm not trying to crap the I30N, in fact I think is the most fun FWD "Big hot hatch"!
I've tried the 280HP manual, and it's very fast, has an awesome chasis, with the best exhaust on the market.
But I can only compare with my Z4 and the cars I've tried.
I'm very used to RWD, thus enjoying powerslides in bends, thats why I tried the M140i (was brutal fast but quite numb, and lacks an LSD), and the fiesta st is not even close fast as the I30N but it's it's just more lose, more fun to trow it... But in a long journey I would chose the I30N obviously.
I'm still searching the most fun car for the road, to keep it forever (before electrics kick's in...)
The GR86 could be the answer, but I want to try a turbo car, maybe a GR corolla who knows...