Best Hot Hatch of the 21st Century – nominations
Discussion
rallycross said:
b
ks.
We’ve had far too many of these threads all too similar and no need for another now.
They always get confused by things like 4wd turbo homolgation specials.
Simple question - what is the best hothatch should have very simple Rules - no four wheel drive turbo models and no homologation specials where only a small Number were made ( less than say 5000?).
The answer is either a Clio Willaims, 205 Gti 1.9, 306 Gti-6 /Rallye or
Megane Rs.
Integra type R does not qualify as it’s a coupe otherwise would be the winner.
Anything 4wd turbo / rally / honologation does not count it’s not a hot hatch never was so that rules out Integrale and Escort Cosworth and current breed like Golf R, Focus Rs etc
Smaller slower hot hatches like 106 1300 Rallye, 205’xs should also be included as outright top Speed/power is not the definition of a true hot hatch.
I grew up driving the original era of hot hatches and don’t consider the new generation of 300 plus bhp cars to be hot hatches.
Clio Williams, 205 and all Pug Rallyes were pre 2000. Clio Trophy would not exceed your 5000 made criteria too, as circa 550 made, maybe a single yellow one too.ks.We’ve had far too many of these threads all too similar and no need for another now.
They always get confused by things like 4wd turbo homolgation specials.
Simple question - what is the best hothatch should have very simple Rules - no four wheel drive turbo models and no homologation specials where only a small Number were made ( less than say 5000?).
The answer is either a Clio Willaims, 205 Gti 1.9, 306 Gti-6 /Rallye or
Megane Rs.
Integra type R does not qualify as it’s a coupe otherwise would be the winner.
Anything 4wd turbo / rally / honologation does not count it’s not a hot hatch never was so that rules out Integrale and Escort Cosworth and current breed like Golf R, Focus Rs etc
Smaller slower hot hatches like 106 1300 Rallye, 205’xs should also be included as outright top Speed/power is not the definition of a true hot hatch.
I grew up driving the original era of hot hatches and don’t consider the new generation of 300 plus bhp cars to be hot hatches.
Agree there are some belters pre-2000 though, a S1 Rallye still does it for me.
Maybe biased but having driven quite a few over the years the only one that astonished me so much I had no hesitation in buying new is the FK8 type r
There is a lot of cars that may qualify that are perhaps better in many ways but in my eyes the civic ticks all boxes for what a hot hatch needs to be
(Which may not necessarily be a good thing for many)
For starters the looks dont appeal to the majority (especially it seems on PH) just like many of the previous best hot hatches, I have said it before but the Escort Cosworth got a bit of a battering for its styling at the time and now is seen by many as the most amazing looking car ever made
Taking its styling (in and out) from the equation I doubt anybody (even on here) could argue it's incredible ability in pretty much every situation you throw at it, track to commute to tip-run
I cant remember it losing one hot hatch group test since launch, that is in 2/3 yrs!
Give it 10-20 years and ask this question again and it would get many more nominations, by then its garishness would have become retro cool and it will be remember as the greatest hot hatch of its time
There is a lot of cars that may qualify that are perhaps better in many ways but in my eyes the civic ticks all boxes for what a hot hatch needs to be
(Which may not necessarily be a good thing for many)
For starters the looks dont appeal to the majority (especially it seems on PH) just like many of the previous best hot hatches, I have said it before but the Escort Cosworth got a bit of a battering for its styling at the time and now is seen by many as the most amazing looking car ever made
Taking its styling (in and out) from the equation I doubt anybody (even on here) could argue it's incredible ability in pretty much every situation you throw at it, track to commute to tip-run
I cant remember it losing one hot hatch group test since launch, that is in 2/3 yrs!
Give it 10-20 years and ask this question again and it would get many more nominations, by then its garishness would have become retro cool and it will be remember as the greatest hot hatch of its time
Pericoloso said:
rallycross said:
The answer is either a Clio Willaims, 205 Gti 1.9, 306 Gti-6 /Rallye or
Megane Rs.
Quoted the thread rules of "introduced after year 2000" and posted cars all much older than that date.Megane Rs.
LOL at massive thread fail.
There's always one!
Ford Focus Mk1 RS - the hot-hatch that started the whole ‘track focused’ hatchback for the road. Officially in the U.K at least IIRC.
VW Golf Mk5 GTi - perfected the ‘jack of all trades, master of none’ but that’s ultimately the whole point off the hot-hatch, and for me the Mk5 GTi started it for Noughties generation and the current Mk7.5 GTi is firmly carrying the flag highly.
Honda Civic Type-R FK8 - took the ‘track focused’ hot-hatch formula and made it work on the road with Golf GTi rivalling quality.
There’s just so many that i could have mentioned but for me at this time it’s those three.
VW Golf Mk5 GTi - perfected the ‘jack of all trades, master of none’ but that’s ultimately the whole point off the hot-hatch, and for me the Mk5 GTi started it for Noughties generation and the current Mk7.5 GTi is firmly carrying the flag highly.
Honda Civic Type-R FK8 - took the ‘track focused’ hot-hatch formula and made it work on the road with Golf GTi rivalling quality.
There’s just so many that i could have mentioned but for me at this time it’s those three.
Clio 172 has to be there.
Corsa VXR also has to be there - ok everyone seems to have a hard on for the Fiesta ST but didn't it take Ford like 5 years to catch up before they actually released the ST? You'd bloody well hope the Fiesta was better after that wait but the Corsa was there first by a long way and can still cut it so deserves credit.
Civic Type R would probably be on the list.
Corsa VXR also has to be there - ok everyone seems to have a hard on for the Fiesta ST but didn't it take Ford like 5 years to catch up before they actually released the ST? You'd bloody well hope the Fiesta was better after that wait but the Corsa was there first by a long way and can still cut it so deserves credit.
Civic Type R would probably be on the list.
Three? It's impossible to choose just three!
In no particular order, I would think all of these are worthy of nomination:
Renault Clio 182 Trophy
Renault Clio 172 Cup
Renault Clio 200 Cup
Renault Megane R26.R
Renault Megane 275 Trophy-R
Renault Megane 300 Trophy-R
Ford Fiesta ST MK7
Ford Focus RS MK1
Ford Focus RS MK2
Ford Focus RS MK3
Volkswagen Golf GTI MK5
Volkswagen Golf R MK7
Honda Civic Type-R FK8
In no particular order, I would think all of these are worthy of nomination:
Renault Clio 182 Trophy
Renault Clio 172 Cup
Renault Clio 200 Cup
Renault Megane R26.R
Renault Megane 275 Trophy-R
Renault Megane 300 Trophy-R
Ford Fiesta ST MK7
Ford Focus RS MK1
Ford Focus RS MK2
Ford Focus RS MK3
Volkswagen Golf GTI MK5
Volkswagen Golf R MK7
Honda Civic Type-R FK8
love a hot hatch and have owned a lot of them in 25 years of driving
see the panda 100hp mentioned a few times, always fancied trying one, bargain prices now as well.
my list would have to be
MK7 Fiesta ST (my first fast ford and brilliant fun, so much value for money)
Clio 197 cup (tremendous handling, revvy NA engine, flat out everywhere)
EP3 Type R (anything with that engine and gearbox would be good)
Audi S1 (manual only, needs a few tweaks to wake it up but much preferred this to my MK7 golf R for driver involvement, no idea what i will replace it with)
see the panda 100hp mentioned a few times, always fancied trying one, bargain prices now as well.
my list would have to be
MK7 Fiesta ST (my first fast ford and brilliant fun, so much value for money)
Clio 197 cup (tremendous handling, revvy NA engine, flat out everywhere)
EP3 Type R (anything with that engine and gearbox would be good)
Audi S1 (manual only, needs a few tweaks to wake it up but much preferred this to my MK7 golf R for driver involvement, no idea what i will replace it with)
Macron said:
SidewaysSi said:
Got to be a Renault doesn't it? Nothing else really comes close if we are being honest.
It does doesn’t it?Which is strange as basically no one would buy or recommend a cooking model to their friends. Well, maybe a Clio as a town car, but people rave about the Fiesta in low powered versions, not so
much the Clio. Mid sized hatches don’t include the Megane on the list if it’s a run about that’s needed. Golf yes, Focus, others. Megane? Not getting a look in.
All hail RenaultSport it seems!
It's interesting to see so many enthusiasts speak of RenaultSport models being great cars, something that in the 00's was not an easy sell to the misinformed.
Mk II Ford Focus RS500/MP350
Sometimes a little ponderous at low speed, but beautiful once moving. Engine and drivetrain leagues ahead of anything else in the class. Not a lightweight hot hatch, by any stretch, but a fine blend of quality, value, and fun. Also very quick in-gear, especially in the MP350/RS500 tune. Easily handles 400+hp without ruining the drive. Some hatches do some things better, but very few have the minerals to beat the RS as an overall package. The engine alone means it wins.
Sometimes a little ponderous at low speed, but beautiful once moving. Engine and drivetrain leagues ahead of anything else in the class. Not a lightweight hot hatch, by any stretch, but a fine blend of quality, value, and fun. Also very quick in-gear, especially in the MP350/RS500 tune. Easily handles 400+hp without ruining the drive. Some hatches do some things better, but very few have the minerals to beat the RS as an overall package. The engine alone means it wins.
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