What was the best hot hatch of the 2000s?

[white_goodman]

I have lots of nostalgia for the hot hatches of my childhood (80s/90s) and there have been some fantastic all-rounders in more recent years but for me, the 2000s ie (2000-2009) was where it was that. The cars were safer than their forbearers but still relatively simple and light and yet very usable, 3 door bodyshells were still commonplace and the variety of engine configurations available was probably more than it has ever been.

You could have an NA 6 cylinder with either FWD, RWD or AWD (Alfa, BMW, VW)

The wonderful 5 cylinder turbo in the Focus ST/RS

Revvy NA 4 cylinders (EP3 Civic Type R/Clio 182/197)

and very quick 4 cylinder turbos (Golf GTI/Corsa VXR/Astra VXR/Megane RS/Leon Cupra R/mk1 Focus RS)

and even a supercharged offering in the original MINI Cooper S

Sadly some manufacturers left the building (Peugeot) but Ford, Vauxhall and VW were firmly back in after a few years in the wilderness.

I have a bit of a hankering for a Clio 182 or an EP3 Civic Type R but sadly they're going for a lot more than "shed" money these days but the mk4 Golf R32/mk2 Focus ST were probably my favourite all-rounders.

So what in your opinion was the best hot hatch of the 2000s (2000-2009)?

[pits]

Has to be the Clio 182 as best bang for buck

[RandomCarChat]

From the ones i've driven its the Clio 197 for me, has to have the cup chassis and the Recaros though.

[shirt]

I haven’t driven enough to make a learned comparison. I did take our Clio on a track day the other week. It’s not as composed or as fast as the gt86 that replaced it but I haven’t had that much fun in a car in a very long time.

[white_goodman]

RandomCarChat said:

From the ones i've driven its the Clio 197 for me, has to have the cup chassis and the Recaros though.

I've never driven a 197. I liked the look of it better to be honest but at the time, I remember reviews saying it was a bit gutless? I'm not sure if that was the extra weight or different gearing vs. the 182 (as I never heard such complaints levelled at the 182) or whether people were more used to easy power from turbos by that point.

Shockingly, I did a quick search and couldn't find a decent 182 for less than 5k! In the colour that I would ideally want (French Racing Blue), 8k!

[LuS1fer]

I had a new CTR EP3 and sad though it may seem, it always came across as a bit of a white appliance.

I haven't driven the Focus ST/RS but as far as I am concerned, the "perfect hot hatch" was the Fiesta ST Mk 7. I had a standard one, in black and a Mountune 215 in metallic blue, the best colour. It is one of the few cars I regret selling but when I retired, I bought a bigger car. I wish I had kept it because I sold low, at the end of COVID and they promptly went up in price.

The Mk 8 may have been technically better but a combination of boring styling and crap wishy-washy colours plus the cloned interior of the Focus made them a non-event, for me.

I quite fancied a Renault Mégane RS but never got round to driving one and the CTR FKi started getting expensive though I did like the 2016 ( in a similar blue to the Fiesta).

[geeks]

Its probably the MK5 Golf GTi but personally either the 106 GTi or the Leon Cupra R

[BRR]

I really enjoyed the Clio 182 I had back then, was a lot of fun. My favourites though were the Alfa 147 GTA and the Mk4 R32.

[Retro_Jim]

I'm a little biased as I spent a year working on VW's for road and racing in 2009/10 but the mk5 golf was a huge step forward over the mk4. it was practical, fast and handled brilliantly and the engine could be tuned from 200 to 360 with factory turbo, injectors and intercooler. It did need a remap and a freer flowing cat/ exhaust.

[Muzzer79]

Renault Megane R26R

You said best, not cheapest

[RandomCarChat]

white_goodman said:

I've never driven a 197. I liked the look of it better to be honest but at the time, I remember reviews saying it was a bit gutless? I'm not sure if that was the extra weight or different gearing vs. the 182 (as I never heard such complaints levelled at the 182) or whether people were more used to easy power from turbos by that point.

Shockingly, I did a quick search and couldn't find a decent 182 for less than 5k! In the colour that I would ideally want (French Racing Blue), 8k!

182s certainly feel faster but the better chassis setup and brembos of the 197 are worth having IMO. It was a few hp/ton between them, the 6 speed in the 197 was much tighter stacked and felt like you got more of a chance to play around with the ratios. 197 powerband is much higher, but its fun to chase it!

[white_goodman]

LuS1fer said:

I had a new CTR EP3 and sad though it may seem, it always came across as a bit of a white appliance.

I haven't driven the Focus ST/RS but as far as I am concerned, the "perfect hot hatch" was the Fiesta ST Mk 7. I had a standard one, in black and a Mountune 215 in metallic blue, the best colour. It is one of the few cars I regret selling but when I retired, I bought a bigger car. I wish I had kept it because I sold low, at the end of COVID and they promptly went up in price.

The Mk 8 may have been technically better but a combination of boring styling and crap wishy-washy colours plus the cloned interior of the Focus made them a non-event, for me.

I quite fancied a Renault Mégane RS but never got round to driving one and the CTR FKi started getting expensive though I did like the 2016 ( in a similar blue to the Fiesta).

Great engine/gearbox on the EP3 though?

Mk7 Fiesta ST is a recent highlight. I've yet to drive one but have driven plenty of normal Fiestas of that vintage. Just one of those cars that I kind of want but technically it's a 2010s vehicle.

[Olivera]

Mk1 Leon Cupra R was certainly a great all-round hot hatch when released, however I hesitate to say best as the Mk4 Golf based chassis was rather podgy,.

[I-am-the-reverend]

The Peugeot 306GTi-6. I think they were built up to 2002.....? Even the milder XSi was a cracking car.

[biggbn]

JCW Cooper S for me. Some proper oddballs also shone for me. Mercedes A class 200t in three door manual form and the quicker version of the Beetle V5 with the bodykit. Not objectively the best but I just have so much time for silly things like this

Edited by biggbn on Tuesday 10th February 20:44

[MDMA .]

8L S3 for me. Not the most dynamic, but upped the game, quality wise. Still a good looking car today.

[Mr Tidy]

I've only owned two, the first was a 2000 Seat Leon Cupra and while I liked most things about it the handling left a lot to be desired when really pushing on. By all accounts a MK5 Golf GTi drove much better, possibly because it had IRS.

Years later I bought a BMW 325ti and loved it. So much more fun to throw about than the Leon!

I've had my 2005 330i for nearly 7 years and often regret not buying a 130i.

But there are loads of other options like Focus RS and ST, Corsa and Astra VXR, Civic Type R, various Clios and Meganes, etc.

[s m]

MDMA . said:

8L S3 for me. Not the most dynamic, but upped the game, quality wise. Still a good looking car today.

That was a big favourite of EVO mag as a competent allrounder.

Did really well in their big sporty 4x4 test even against the rally reps

[AlexGSi2000]

They were all great and had their own merits.

I miss my EP3 CTR - was an absolute hoot.

My MK3 Ibiza Cupra was an odd one - looked ok, but you could tell it was a parts bin car - front subframe from a Golf the rear end from a Polo, never felt planted despite the usual modifications.

Edited by AlexGSi2000 on Wednesday 11th February 09:07

[MDMA .]

s m said:

MDMA . said:

8L S3 for me. Not the most dynamic, but upped the game, quality wise. Still a good looking car today.

That was a big favourite of EVO mag as a competent allrounder.

Did really well in their big sporty 4x4 test even against the rally reps

A well sorted/maintained one still drives very nicely today. A lot of cars from the same era now feel old. The Audi, somehow doesn’t.