Am I the only one that doesn't get interest in hot hatches?
Discussion
I just can't get turned on by any form of hot hatch at all. I find myself thinking "that's nice, but at £30k there's so much else I could buy". Like why would I waste £30k on a Golf GTI when I could buy a used Boxster/911 (or thousands of other more exciting cars) for less and keep some money in the bank for running costs? Or even buy a 2.0TSI Golf and get 99% of the experience.
I understand for some people it is a question of practicality, but why not get a nice saloon such as a Jag XF (among countless others)? There are also a multitude of young blokes with no dependents that think, say, a Civic Type R is the be all and end all, when at the end of the day it's still just a Civic, with FWD and a 4pot engine...
It applies to all hot hatches really - they are basically just the same as their less sporty counterpart, a Fiesta ST is still just a Ford Fiesta, a Leon Cupra is still just a Seat Leon. Go get a TT or something...
I understand for some people it is a question of practicality, but why not get a nice saloon such as a Jag XF (among countless others)? There are also a multitude of young blokes with no dependents that think, say, a Civic Type R is the be all and end all, when at the end of the day it's still just a Civic, with FWD and a 4pot engine...
It applies to all hot hatches really - they are basically just the same as their less sporty counterpart, a Fiesta ST is still just a Ford Fiesta, a Leon Cupra is still just a Seat Leon. Go get a TT or something...
You indicate that you get "turned on" by some cars, so we differ. But, that aside, I'm always a bit perplexed when car enthusiasts can't appreciate what a particular (any) type of car offers.
I wouldn't spend £30k on a new Golf GTI, but I can appreciate that if someone wants a practical, reliable, quick and understated car, then a £30k Golf GTI may well fit the bill. Being a car enthusiast, I can also appreciate the difference between the GTI and the TSI.
I wouldn't spend £30k on a new Golf GTI, but I can appreciate that if someone wants a practical, reliable, quick and understated car, then a £30k Golf GTI may well fit the bill. Being a car enthusiast, I can also appreciate the difference between the GTI and the TSI.
Joratk said:
I just can't get turned on by any form of hot hatch at all. I find myself thinking "that's nice, but at £30k there's so much else I could buy". Like why would I waste £30k on a Golf GTI when I could buy a used Boxster/911 (or thousands of other more exciting cars) for less and keep some money in the bank for running costs? Or even buy a 2.0TSI Golf and get 99% of the experience.
I understand for some people it is a question of practicality, but why not get a nice saloon such as a Jag XF (among countless others)? There are also a multitude of young blokes with no dependents that think, say, a Civic Type R is the be all and end all, when at the end of the day it's still just a Civic, with FWD and a 4pot engine...
At the end of the day, all these cars are basically just the same as their less sporty counterpart, a Fiesta ST is still just a Ford Fiesta, a Leon Cupra is still just a Seat Leon. Go get a TT or something...
The new GTI v used Porsche choice is about new v used, not the merits or otherwise of hot hatches.I understand for some people it is a question of practicality, but why not get a nice saloon such as a Jag XF (among countless others)? There are also a multitude of young blokes with no dependents that think, say, a Civic Type R is the be all and end all, when at the end of the day it's still just a Civic, with FWD and a 4pot engine...
At the end of the day, all these cars are basically just the same as their less sporty counterpart, a Fiesta ST is still just a Ford Fiesta, a Leon Cupra is still just a Seat Leon. Go get a TT or something...
Saying the cars are basically the same as the less sporty counterpart misses the point. They are basically the same in terms of practicality and not far off in terms of running costs, while being more sporty. That is precisely their appeal.
Dr Jekyll said:
The new GTI v used Porsche choice is about new v used, not the merits or otherwise of hot hatches.
Saying the cars are basically the same as the less sporty counterpart misses the point. They are basically the same in terms of practicality and not far off in terms of running costs, while being more sporty. That is precisely their appeal.
It's not about new vs used, it's about driving enjoyment and excitement at a certain price point!Saying the cars are basically the same as the less sporty counterpart misses the point. They are basically the same in terms of practicality and not far off in terms of running costs, while being more sporty. That is precisely their appeal.
I prefer my Fiesta ST to my TVR, which is probably sacrilege on here.
It'll do 60 in 6.4s (Mountune), 40mpg on a run, costs £199 to service and it doesn't attract any attention. I love hot hatches. I prefer FWD handling if it's done well, though if the RS comes along and has the right Top Trump numbers then I'll happily spunk £25k on one, and with a massive smile on my face.
It'll do 60 in 6.4s (Mountune), 40mpg on a run, costs £199 to service and it doesn't attract any attention. I love hot hatches. I prefer FWD handling if it's done well, though if the RS comes along and has the right Top Trump numbers then I'll happily spunk £25k on one, and with a massive smile on my face.
Joratk said:
It's not about new vs used, it's about driving enjoyment and excitement at a certain price point!
But what about comparing like for like - a 15 year old golf for 5k vs a 15 year old porsche for 25k? which is the better proposition then?You're comparing old vs new which is a logical fallacy
Joratk said:
Dr Jekyll said:
The new GTI v used Porsche choice is about new v used, not the merits or otherwise of hot hatches.
Saying the cars are basically the same as the less sporty counterpart misses the point. They are basically the same in terms of practicality and not far off in terms of running costs, while being more sporty. That is precisely their appeal.
It's not about new vs used, it's about driving enjoyment and excitement at a certain price point!Saying the cars are basically the same as the less sporty counterpart misses the point. They are basically the same in terms of practicality and not far off in terms of running costs, while being more sporty. That is precisely their appeal.
Some people want a new car, as powerful as they can afford; some want a smallish practical car, they're not short of cash and want to go for the top of the line; as already said above, some people need/want the right mix of fun and practicality, only want to run one car and don't want to worry the risks with an older car.
I'm like you, I want a car I desire - unfortunately the cars I tend to be interested in are way out of my league brand new, but attainable at 5, 10 or 15 years old. I'm happy to go with that and go in with open eyes. The cars I can afford brand new at the same price point are not interesting to me, but it's still fairly easy to understand why others have different wants/needs/tastes to me.
Speed addicted said:
I have no real interest in hot hatches even though I know I would probably enjoy driving them.
I get that they're fast and practical while also costing sane amounts to run, they just don't do anything for me.
I suspect that a well driven luke-warm hatch could possibly hand me my arse whilst driving my Mustang and as for a properly sorted HH the possibility becomes a likelihood would be even greater - all whilst being more economical, practical and (quite possibly) comfortable. And yet I still can't get excited by themI get that they're fast and practical while also costing sane amounts to run, they just don't do anything for me.
It's down to personal requirements / taste, like all purchases. I don't think it's wrong to "not get" them, but think they have merit and I get the interest / appeal as a concept even if I've never owned one (and having driven a few some are really bloody good fun).
I think it's about an attainable performance car, in every sense of the word attainable particularly where can only run a single car for the purposes of transporting yourself / friends / family / stuff and having a bit of fund when the conditions allow. With the exception of the some of the more extreme mega-hatches on sale now, they tend to be affordable to buy and run. There's the familiarity and also the sense that, whilst they can be appreciated in their own right, there was also a progression from cooking to hot hatch that made sense for long time. Your first car might be such and such 1.3, but you'd really like the DoHC 16 valve 1.8 injected such and such, with the uprated this and that
From there you might move onto a performance sedan or even a more obviously sporting car - like the HH was some sort of youthful right of passage in a linear progression of interesting cars (I accept this is not always the case and why should it be. But I think the significance of the HH as a type of performance car is blurred due to the passage of time and the fact that most modern vehicles have a turn of speed (not that that is what hot hatch is all about in my view).
I have to say though that the last one I really thought about buying was a 205 1.9 GTi! Showing my age
I think it's about an attainable performance car, in every sense of the word attainable particularly where can only run a single car for the purposes of transporting yourself / friends / family / stuff and having a bit of fund when the conditions allow. With the exception of the some of the more extreme mega-hatches on sale now, they tend to be affordable to buy and run. There's the familiarity and also the sense that, whilst they can be appreciated in their own right, there was also a progression from cooking to hot hatch that made sense for long time. Your first car might be such and such 1.3, but you'd really like the DoHC 16 valve 1.8 injected such and such, with the uprated this and that
From there you might move onto a performance sedan or even a more obviously sporting car - like the HH was some sort of youthful right of passage in a linear progression of interesting cars (I accept this is not always the case and why should it be. But I think the significance of the HH as a type of performance car is blurred due to the passage of time and the fact that most modern vehicles have a turn of speed (not that that is what hot hatch is all about in my view).I have to say though that the last one I really thought about buying was a 205 1.9 GTi! Showing my age
Its hatches in general that are the issue for me. I owned a 3 door hatch once, hated it. Impractical for anything. Fed up of having to get out to let people in the back. The reclining seat broke after a few months too. And it isn't a getting old thing because I was young at the time. I have always much preferred large performance saloons and estates, with strong aggressive styling. For similar reasons I have never much liked small sports cars either.
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