Hot Hatches or RWD Saloon?
Discussion
blearyeyedboy said:
I'm interested to know what people would answer to the following question:
You have a trip across the Brecon Beacons and you're not in a hurry, so you can make detours to have as much fun as you like. You can pick up the keys to a pretty recent FWD 2 litre hot hatch or a RWD 4 pot petrol saloon. Which would you take?
The best of both worlds.You have a trip across the Brecon Beacons and you're not in a hurry, so you can make detours to have as much fun as you like. You can pick up the keys to a pretty recent FWD 2 litre hot hatch or a RWD 4 pot petrol saloon. Which would you take?
My new car outside my new gaff.
blearyeyedboy said:
DoubleSix said:
I'd take the 6cyl RWD hot hatch...
I can't imagine which one you mean... Who makes one of those? There aren't any posts on here about such a wondrous junior supercar at all. 
I knew someone would bring up the M135i. I wondered whether to mention it or not because it's the obvious get-out to the scenario I mentioned. I suppose what surprises me is that there aren't many published comparisons of hot hatches with more traditional saloons for similar money.
Hot hatch everytime. It's much more fun pushing a perky little hatch to its limits and reving the nuts off it, you can have fun without having to ever go fast. It's the sense of occasion you get with a hatch. Smiles for miles
. A 3 series is just a plush rep mobile that happens to be rwd. Totally free of character Especially if it's a auto
. A 3 series is just a plush rep mobile that happens to be rwd. Totally free of character Especially if it's a auto
Old cars I'd have to either use my Peugeot 205 or Sprinter AE86. The Peugeot for outright pace but the RWD for balanced driving pleasure. Its the steering feel that wins me towards a front engine RWD combo. My old Clio mk2 RS was good, but not as capable as a 205 with a 16v engine. The Clio 3 RS is about as big as i'd want to go for a hot hatch but is the Fiesta ST a close rival or better? The newer Renaults I feel I sit too high and upright but i've not driven the Fiesta.
RWD I'd want something like an MX5 or RX8 if I need those four seats. An Accord Type R may work though, and obviously the Integras or Civics are in the running....
I'm not a fan of the heavier turboed modern hot hatches in design.
so many cars with potential..
Yeah, I suppose the C class was a bad thing to mention by me. I was deliberately trying not to make this just about BMW... but until the XE launches the rest of that RWD group (C Class, IS300h) aren't famed for their sporting potential.
Basically, "Blearyeyedboy's original premise is wrong" seems to be the consensus of the group, and I'm OK with that.
I think the RX8 was a really good idea, hampered by using the wrong engine for these CO2 conscious times. (I'm not saying the rotary engine isn't any good, just that it was commercial suicide when CO2 emissions became important.) Mazda could do worse than to resurrect the concept without a rotary... but they'll never do that.
Hmm... buy a cheap RX8 and do an interesting engine transplant...
I'm sure there's a thread about an interesting LS1 V8 transplant on here.
(Edited for mistyping)
Basically, "Blearyeyedboy's original premise is wrong" seems to be the consensus of the group, and I'm OK with that.
I think the RX8 was a really good idea, hampered by using the wrong engine for these CO2 conscious times. (I'm not saying the rotary engine isn't any good, just that it was commercial suicide when CO2 emissions became important.) Mazda could do worse than to resurrect the concept without a rotary... but they'll never do that.
Hmm... buy a cheap RX8 and do an interesting engine transplant...
I'm sure there's a thread about an interesting LS1 V8 transplant on here.(Edited for mistyping)
Edited by blearyeyedboy on Friday 24th July 21:42
^ Good for you. The point of the thread is to find a fun option with some real-world compromise though. So, for people needing rear seats, what would you suggest for similar mpney/resources? Seriously- I'm not being provocative but not everyone can have an Ariel Atom on their driveway.
justanother5tar said:
330i owner. Ex Fiesta ST owner.
Miss my hot hatch. Now looking at Mini Cooper S's.
As practical, comfy and brisk as it is, I miss throwing a little lively car around. RWD f
king sucks. FWD understeering toy all the way.
I may get flamed for the last sentence.
I used to have a 530, current have a mini, fwd fMiss my hot hatch. Now looking at Mini Cooper S's.
As practical, comfy and brisk as it is, I miss throwing a little lively car around. RWD f
king sucks. FWD understeering toy all the way.I may get flamed for the last sentence.
king sucks, can't get a decent launch of the line and every time it rains and i have nothing rwd to go out in, i cryblearyeyedboy said:
^ Good for you. The point of the thread is to find a fun option with some real-world compromise though. So, for people needing rear seats, what would you suggest for similar mpney/resources? Seriously- I'm not being provocative but not everyone can have an Ariel Atom on their driveway.
If you'd said the previous 2.5 ST vs the E46 330i then it would be a genuinely difficult choice - but for the two listed I'm not sure I'd get out of bed for either of them 
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