The worst hot hatch ever
Discussion
The mk4 Golf GTi 2.0 8v by a country mile (and yes I can comment on that, as I owned one for a year). Just a cynical bit of marketing from VW, as in most other markets it was just badged as a 2.0/SE with plastic wheel trims. This engine was still being offered as the base engine in the Jetta in North America until very recently and has only just been (finally) pensioned off! It was OK at about 5/10ths and an alright car but complained vocally above that. At least Toyota with the Corolla T Sport made some attempt (if a little half-hearted) by putting a decent engine in it!
It looked pretty low-key too, at least the mk3 looked like a GTi. The only reason I bought mine was because I wanted a mk4 Golf and couldn't afford a 1.8T or TDI, so it was this or a 1.6 SE with fluffy seats! I shouldn't have bothered!
Fortunately, I have also owned one of the best hot hatches, a Peugeot 205 GTi!
It looked pretty low-key too, at least the mk3 looked like a GTi. The only reason I bought mine was because I wanted a mk4 Golf and couldn't afford a 1.8T or TDI, so it was this or a 1.6 SE with fluffy seats! I shouldn't have bothered!
Fortunately, I have also owned one of the best hot hatches, a Peugeot 205 GTi!
Edited by white_goodman on Wednesday 2nd December 16:55
ALBA MELV said:
Early Mk4 Astra GSi. These were released initially with the X20XEV (2.0 16v non turbo 136bhp) engine initially before being revised to the Z20LET (2.0 16v Turbo)
No Astra Mk4 GSi's had the X20XEV, only the last MK3's - these were horrible & baggy to drive. All the Mk4's drove quite nicely thanks to the Lotus input.
nct001 said:
Come on guys lets remember the mk4 golf first came with a 1.8 20v non turbo even slower than the 2.0?
No, 125bhp vs. 115bhp. It was a much more modern engine from Audi I think (same as the turbo unit without the turbo?) but I'm guessing the 2.0 8v boat anchor was cheaper for them to use.The Turbonator said:
I've actually fallen in love with my 2.0. Yes it's not fast and it should never have been given a gti badge but it's been a great car.
I do actually quite like the engine note and I rev it more than I should. It's got a deep throaty sound to it and I think it feels faster than what it actually is.
OK. It's the worst car that I have owned mainly due to the reliability, so if yours has been fairly reliable, I get why you might like it. As a car (not a hot hatch), I quite liked it but it definitely wasn't quick (the 1.4 TDI Polo I had immediately after it would have blown it away off the lights). Reliability on mine was terrible and I struggled to better mid-20s mpg (30mpg on a run) and I gave up thrashing it very early on, so that was driving it sensibly! I should have kept the Corrado VR6 that I had previously, as it could get 35-40mpg on a run (used to be a bit of a VW fanboy)!I do actually quite like the engine note and I rev it more than I should. It's got a deep throaty sound to it and I think it feels faster than what it actually is.
VX BlackRat said:
ALBA MELV said:
Early Mk4 Astra GSi. These were released initially with the X20XEV (2.0 16v non turbo 136bhp) engine initially before being revised to the Z20LET (2.0 16v Turbo)
No Astra Mk4 GSi's had the X20XEV, only the last MK3's - these were horrible & baggy to drive. All the Mk4's drove quite nicely thanks to the Lotus input.
Did that overlap with the Gsi at any point?
s m said:
Even the Sri got a 187bhp Turbo iirc.
Did that overlap with the Gsi at any point?
SRi-Turbo and GSi as I recall.Did that overlap with the Gsi at any point?
The X20XEV was an OK engine (much better than the 2.0 Volkswagen 8 valve that is being discussed on this thread!) but a massive let down as it replaced the 20XE/C20XE
Jimmy Recard said:
s m said:
Even the Sri got a 187bhp Turbo iirc.
Did that overlap with the Gsi at any point?
SRi-Turbo and GSi as I recall.Did that overlap with the Gsi at any point?
The X20XEV was an OK engine (much better than the 2.0 Volkswagen 8 valve that is being discussed on this thread!) but a massive let down as it replaced the 20XE/C20XE
FredClogs said:
Fiat Strada Abarth, Fiat Uno Turbo, Fiat Punto Abarth, Fiat 500 Abarth...
Obviously I've never driven or owned any of these cars, I just don't like Fiats...
Wash your mouth out! Back in the day they had power and torque, we were Obviously I've never driven or owned any of these cars, I just don't like Fiats...
Amazed by the performance. Rotted badly, esp the stradas.
GC8 said:
Lightweight Cherry body with a perky Alfasud boxer engine. Launched before the 'hot hatch' thing had really gathered pace, but not a bad car to drive.
How many people deriding, belittling and mocking have ever even seen one, let alone driven one? It WAS a hot hatchback, even if it wasn't pushed as a 'hot hatch'.
Mechanically and to drive, it was brilliant. But it looked rubbish and rotted even faster than a 'Sud. How many people deriding, belittling and mocking have ever even seen one, let alone driven one? It WAS a hot hatchback, even if it wasn't pushed as a 'hot hatch'.
Mk3 Civic GTI
Pictured is my mum's old one outside her house. She bought it in the mid 90s from a family friend who had it from new. In fact he and his father bought identical ones from John Banks in Bury St Edmunds.
1.5l 12v. The only car I've pushed hard enough to see the needle hit the stop at 120mph. That said, it didn't feel very fast - or safe. Had I known about the amount of rust underneath I wouldn't have dared drive the thing.
After failing an MOT she sold it to a guy who took it back to London to do up. This pic is from his Retro Rides page detailing the restoration. A quick DVLA check shows it was last on the road in 2010 so I suspect the rust doing it's thing was the quickest feature of the car.
Pictured is my mum's old one outside her house. She bought it in the mid 90s from a family friend who had it from new. In fact he and his father bought identical ones from John Banks in Bury St Edmunds.
1.5l 12v. The only car I've pushed hard enough to see the needle hit the stop at 120mph. That said, it didn't feel very fast - or safe. Had I known about the amount of rust underneath I wouldn't have dared drive the thing.
After failing an MOT she sold it to a guy who took it back to London to do up. This pic is from his Retro Rides page detailing the restoration. A quick DVLA check shows it was last on the road in 2010 so I suspect the rust doing it's thing was the quickest feature of the car.
Edited by abitlikefiennes on Wednesday 2nd December 18:51
samoht said:
Toyota's Corolla T-Sport was noted above; I thought a previous "hot" Corolla was especially egregious, as they launched a "G6" sports model in 1997, but forgot to do anything about the engine, leaving it with the standard 85hp 1.3L. Yeah yeah, insurance, but it seems really cynical.
That wax the warm version though wasn't it? The hot one was the G6RBogracer said:
All front wheel drive, therefore, all rubbish. Worst one it has to be the Golf GTi, with the expectation set so high by the brand and what you got was pensioner performance.
What on earth are you talking about? Front wheel drive is not the root of all evil.I say this as a long-time MX-5 driver.
Go and drive a good FWD car (Fiesta ST, ITR, etc.) then come back.
samoht said:
Toyota's Corolla T-Sport was noted above; I thought a previous "hot" Corolla was especially egregious, as they launched a "G6" sports model in 1997, but forgot to do anything about the engine, leaving it with the standard 85hp 1.3L. Yeah yeah, insurance, but it seems really cynical.
You could get a 1.6 G6 but not much better performance and like you say it was hardly a hot hatch but it did have a six speed gearbox;) Nothing like the Corollas that went before the GT and the GTI-16 I had three GTI-16 a great hot hatch but rusted in front of your eyes (I will get another to keep one day)Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff