The worst hot hatch ever

[Jimmy Recard]

aka_kerrly said:

Everyone is entitled to an opinion but that is pure hyperbole.

One of the worst ever made is a bit much, I agree.

But it's reasonable to describe it as one of the worst amongst its competition.

[aka_kerrly]

Jimmy Recard said:

aka_kerrly said:

Everyone is entitled to an opinion but that is pure hyperbole.

One of the worst ever made is a bit much, I agree.

But it's reasonable to describe it as one of the worst amongst its competition.

You should have wrote that first time round

Personally I think the Mk3 was a good car when it was launched in 1992 , just not a very good hot hatch compared to the previous mk2.

The Mk3 also shows how by the mid 90s the competition from the likes of the the 306/ZX 16v/Civic VTI had improved considerably by offering better chassis & performance where as VW seemed more interested in focusing on build quality/safety technology as they believed that was what the market wanted.

[Gunk]

aka_kerrly said:

You should have wrote that first time round

Personally I think the Mk3 was a good car when it was launched in 1992 , just not a very good hot hatch compared to the previous mk2.

The Mk3 also shows how by the mid 90s the competition from the likes of the the 306/ZX 16v/Civic VTI had improved considerably by offering better chassis & performance where as VW seemed more interested in focusing on build quality/safety technology as they believed that was what the market wanted.

VW lost their way with the Mk 3 and Mk 4 Golf, I owned four Mk 3's and two Mk 4's and whilst they provided comfortable transport and a decent ownership proposition they were not in the mould of the Mk 1 or 2. However all was resolved with the MkV GTI, I bought one new in 2005 and it was a revelation, a truly brilliant car.

However I wouldn't agree that the Mk 3&4 Golf GTI's would deserve the moniker of the worse hot hatch of all time.

[Fastchas]

Isuzu Piazza - Handled so bad after launch and murdered by the press that they had to get Lotus in to help sort it. Then put a sticker on it saying 'Handling By Lotus'

[IntriguedUser]

WD39 said:

My hot hatch, the Corsa 1.8 SRi, (2003), was always derided by all and sundry, including JC and the motoring press. But to me it was a stellar machine, with bowel loosening acceleration and ICE including radio, cassette and five disc changer CD. I miss Kevin, for that was his name, terribly.

Not sure if you're being sarcastic in the last sentence lol?

I've owned 3, and they're great, same insurance as 1.4/1.2 variants, but a lot faster. I just can't get over the "Toy Car" "Learner's car" comments! Scared away a lot of more powerful cars in that thing...

Time to move on though!

[IntriguedUser]

jwilliamsm3 said:

i had to google it and this site says 7.4

http://www.torquestats.com/index.php?car_id=100

180bhp and 8 seconds to 60 is awful, my astra sri mk4 1.8 with a mere 125bhp was only 8.5

i know stats arent everything but that is pretty bad

Same 1.8 engine in my Corsa C does it in 8 seconds,

I think it must be gearing?

[EDLT]

BrabusMog said:

I always thought the 1st gen Civic Type S just looked like a special edition trim... I've never driven one, so can't comment properly, I'm basing it purely on looks.

Bit late but I have one, in that colour, although a previous owner removed the naff 2.0 badge. I'm fairly sure it is just a trim level, it is much softer than my old 306 and the only "sporty" thing about it is white dials. Was it ever sold as a hot hatch?

[Bradley1500]

Andy S15 said:

I'd like to add my opinion on the Corolla T-Sport as it seems to be getting a fair bit of criticism here.

I had a 2005 (facelift) version which to me is what a hot hatch should be. It had good power (same as an EP3 R in a straight line at least), was practical, reliable, comfortable, better looking than the previous model yet still under the radar and had a proper personality disorder - but that's what I want in a hot hatch.

T-Sport's are a fair bit slower than EP3's, even the supercharged compressor model just matches the EP3's straight-line performance. The handling and body roll is laughable as well.

The MK3 VR6 isn't a hot hatch, it is more of a cruiser. I liked mine but don't confuse it as a hot hatch.

I'm in agreement with most other people in the thread though, the MK4 2.0 8v GTI was a truly terrible hot hatch. Asthmatic engine, awful handling which is a shame as if it had been badged as a GT or similar it would have been a good all-rounder. The GTI badging should have been left for the 1.8T models which were much better, especially tuned.

[stugolf]

Jimmy Recard said:

I think that the mk3 Golf is one of the very worst cars ever built (apart from maybe the mk4 Golf).

Hilarious, have you ever actually driven one? Yes the handling wasn't great and most have some rust issues but that engine....wow

In 1992 they were a fast car capable of 140mph a tad over 7 seconds to 60 and sound like rolling thunder (especially with an air filter or induction kit)

Worst cars ever built? What you sniffing?

[Jimmy Recard]

stugolf said:

Hilarious, have you ever actually driven one? Yes the handling wasn't great and most have some rust issues but that engine....wow

In 1992 they were a fast car capable of 140mph a tad over 7 seconds to 60 and sound like rolling thunder (especially with an air filter or induction kit)

Worst cars ever built? What you sniffing?

To be honest I wasn't particularly thinking of the VR6 - that's a nice engine. I was actually not even thinking of the sporty versions - mostly the small engines. I wouldn't buy a VR6 but I think they're not bad largely by virtue of having a nice engine for the time.

I just think that mk3 Golfs are pretty crap, although I liked the styling when they were new.

I admit that I exaggerated in describing them as being one of the worst cars!

[PK0001]

Fastchas said:

Isuzu Piazza - Handled so bad after launch and murdered by the press that they had to get Lotus in to help sort it. Then put a sticker on it saying 'Handling By Lotus'

Yes, it was a little bit agricultural, but then any car would benefit if Lotus breathed some magic on the handling. The Lotus ones also have black rear spoiler.

I think the 2 litre engine was strtaight from a truck with a turbo bolted on.

In a car park full of XR3i's mine stood out and 0-60 on 8 secs meant not much could keep up with it.

The dash was amazing, everything was in a pod either side of the steering wheel. Lovely velour sports seats.

I loved mine, nothing like it around at the time, bought dirt cheap from Alan Day in North London who seemed to have the rights to them.

Sold it two years later at the same price I bought it for.

[jwilliamsm3]

IntriguedUser said:

Same 1.8 engine in my Corsa C does it in 8 seconds,

I think it must be gearing?

Yea same engine, I knew someone who had the same corsa as you and it was much quicker than my Astra, main reason at the time I bought it, I just preferred an Astra to a corsa at the time.

[coppice]

VR6 was a strange beast- a late friend had one and whilst the engine was lovely (and very pokey for the time ) the ride was weird- an odd floating gait which made me fell ill. Mind you my friend was a bloody awful driver...

[ToothbrushMan]

yes the Punto GT was not a great handler at all but if you got your kicks in straight lines it was quick and my old one today still rips fresh holes from folk who think an old Punto is slow. it is now starting to feel less competitive despite its low weight of exactly 1 ton but hatches are now into the realms of 300+ bhp with the security of 4wd and clever diffs or auto boxes meaning the newer stuff is mainly foot down in Drive mode while you sit back and read a book lol. back in the day nothing beat the little fiat off the lights but todays 200bhp hatches are still easy fodder for the brawny little 1372 engine.

Edited by ToothbrushMan on Tuesday 8th December 12:41