What's the best 80s/modern hot hatch?
Discussion
I know there's a lot of hot hatch threads on PH but what's the answer to the question? I guess by best I mean your favourite. I know lots of PHers have moved on from hot hatches to RWD and 4WDers but I can bet that a lot of us had a hot hatch as our first quick car and the formula is still pretty compelling as an only car or even for people with multiple cars. Something fast and fun yet practical and affordable to buy and run.
I'll define an 80s hot hatch as built before 1992 (which coincides with the demise of the mkII Golf GTi and the 205 GTi having its power strangled). We'll also exclude any 4WD rally reps (Escort Cosworths and Delta Integrales and the like) and any coupes with hatchbacks (such as VW Corrado etc).
I would have loved to have been in my 20s in the 1980s or 1990s and would probably have owned most of them given the opportunity. Lots to choose from.
VW Golf GTi/Polo G40
Peugeot 205/309 GTi
Renault 5/11 GT Turbo
Renault Clio/19 16v
Vauxhall Nova/Astra GTE
Ford Fiesta/Escort XR/RS Turbo
Fiat Strada TC/Uno Turbo
MG Maestro
Boring and predictable I know but the 1980s was all about these two for me and both would earn a place in my Top 10 fantasy garage.
The 205 being the most exciting to drive but the Golf being the nicer car to live with day-to-day.
As for modern hot hatches, in my mind the 306 GTi-6 started the power race which leads us to where we are today, so anything post-1996 could qualify as a modern hot hatch, although other manufacturers were slow to react.
The one I really hanker to own (the modern equivalent to the 205 GTi in my eyes) is the EP3 Civic Type-R. Perhaps flawed but exciting.
The latest Golf GTI does quite a good job of being a modern equivalent of the mkII, although it is a little dull, so I would choose one of these as being the one to live with day-to-day.
If I had to pick one classic and one modern, I would probably take the RS as my DD and the 205 for the occassional blast to remind me how hot hatches used to be!
I'll define an 80s hot hatch as built before 1992 (which coincides with the demise of the mkII Golf GTi and the 205 GTi having its power strangled). We'll also exclude any 4WD rally reps (Escort Cosworths and Delta Integrales and the like) and any coupes with hatchbacks (such as VW Corrado etc).
I would have loved to have been in my 20s in the 1980s or 1990s and would probably have owned most of them given the opportunity. Lots to choose from.
VW Golf GTi/Polo G40
Peugeot 205/309 GTi
Renault 5/11 GT Turbo
Renault Clio/19 16v
Vauxhall Nova/Astra GTE
Ford Fiesta/Escort XR/RS Turbo
Fiat Strada TC/Uno Turbo
MG Maestro
Boring and predictable I know but the 1980s was all about these two for me and both would earn a place in my Top 10 fantasy garage.
The 205 being the most exciting to drive but the Golf being the nicer car to live with day-to-day.
As for modern hot hatches, in my mind the 306 GTi-6 started the power race which leads us to where we are today, so anything post-1996 could qualify as a modern hot hatch, although other manufacturers were slow to react.
The one I really hanker to own (the modern equivalent to the 205 GTi in my eyes) is the EP3 Civic Type-R. Perhaps flawed but exciting.
The latest Golf GTI does quite a good job of being a modern equivalent of the mkII, although it is a little dull, so I would choose one of these as being the one to live with day-to-day.
If I had to pick one classic and one modern, I would probably take the RS as my DD and the 205 for the occassional blast to remind me how hot hatches used to be!
Renault 11 Turbo's were vastly underrated IMO. My eldest bro used to work as an Area Manager for Renault back in the day, so he managed to not only get all the good cars for the weekend, but also sell us trade ins at cost price.
I had a silver 11 turbo that was passed down by my brother (B850EOC Where are you now?) Silver with a rear spoiler and Pioneer stereo. For a 1.4 turbo it went like stink and was a lovely , comfy car to drive as well. I then "inherited" a 5 GT Turbo in pearlescent white, "chipped" as it was back then by a tuning company in Nottingham. Essentially it involved an adjustable boost valve plumbed into the wastegate to actuator pipe, a re jet of the carb and some very basic reprogramming of the chip to stop the rev limiter iirc.
Maestro turbos were also very quick in the day. There's a real minter in red owned by a bloke at work. apart from torque steering like a biatch, it's actually a bloody nice car.
Ironically I now own another 80's icon which, while not a "hot hatch" could certainly hold its own against anything the French or Germans could throw at it back then.
I had a silver 11 turbo that was passed down by my brother (B850EOC Where are you now?) Silver with a rear spoiler and Pioneer stereo. For a 1.4 turbo it went like stink and was a lovely , comfy car to drive as well. I then "inherited" a 5 GT Turbo in pearlescent white, "chipped" as it was back then by a tuning company in Nottingham. Essentially it involved an adjustable boost valve plumbed into the wastegate to actuator pipe, a re jet of the carb and some very basic reprogramming of the chip to stop the rev limiter iirc.
Maestro turbos were also very quick in the day. There's a real minter in red owned by a bloke at work. apart from torque steering like a biatch, it's actually a bloody nice car.
Ironically I now own another 80's icon which, while not a "hot hatch" could certainly hold its own against anything the French or Germans could throw at it back then.
white_goodman said:
I would have loved to have been in my 20s in the 1980s or 1990s and would probably have owned most of them given the opportunity. Lots to choose from.
No you wouldn't, the insurance was proper silly. I was quoted more to insure an XR2 than it's purchase price when I was 18.Tough to pick which would be my fave, we have been mostly a Ford family and I remember the RS Turbo Escort the most fondly. I always had a soft spot for the Nova GTE/GSI. The turbo cars were just so much more tuneable though and I never really liked the 205GTi despite it being the king in all the road tests, preferred the slightly more subtle looks of the 309 though.
I guess if the chips were down and I had to buy one of these today with my own money it would be the Escort RS Turbo, in red.
205 gti from the eighties, loved every minute of owning one. The big problem for me with modern hot hatches is that they really need to be tracked to be pushed to the limits, they are far to powerful/capable to have fun within speed limits 95% of the time, so from the modern era I would take a 106 Rallye or a Swift Sport for road use.
I ve had a couple of Campaign Mk1 GTI's, a blue one, and a green one, and they were great, better than great.
really were the car of the time.
I moved on to a 3 Door Golf GTI16V 1990 with PAS.
It could do everything, and everything well.
Big and strong, and lowered , not too much, mine had real presence, in black.
but theyre so old now.
As are the 205's.
I'd look at something about 12/14yrs old. IMO, and a bit off topic.
A Subaru Forester WRX a good shout, if you can find an un thrashed/chavved/tarted up one.
Power and handling.
Grip and grunt.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Subaru-Impreza-2-0-Turbo...
really were the car of the time.
I moved on to a 3 Door Golf GTI16V 1990 with PAS.
It could do everything, and everything well.
Big and strong, and lowered , not too much, mine had real presence, in black.
but theyre so old now.
As are the 205's.
I'd look at something about 12/14yrs old. IMO, and a bit off topic.
A Subaru Forester WRX a good shout, if you can find an un thrashed/chavved/tarted up one.
Power and handling.
Grip and grunt.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Subaru-Impreza-2-0-Turbo...
I loved my Polo G40, fast but very fragile, but it had so much character. By no means the finest handling thing but I think it would make you smile just as much as it's more accomplished French rivals.
I'd say the same about the Astra VXR I have now. It's a good hot hatch, fun, fast and flawed. It won't lap Brands quite as quick as say a Megane 225, but you'll have a bloody good laugh trying to go as quick. Mine makes me smile every single day, which is what it's all about right?
I'd say the same about the Astra VXR I have now. It's a good hot hatch, fun, fast and flawed. It won't lap Brands quite as quick as say a Megane 225, but you'll have a bloody good laugh trying to go as quick. Mine makes me smile every single day, which is what it's all about right?
I looked after the Mazda press fleet in the late 80's and got to run around in a 323 turbo (1800 twin-cam with permanent 4x4 and about 180bhp). It wasn't much to look at but was great fun to drive and quicker than most of the competition. I also had a Renault 5 Gordini turbo but the torque steer was horrific and spoilt the driving experience.
My personal fave hatch though, is the BMW 2000 tii touring. RWD & 130bhp. More 70's than 80's though, but still cool.
My personal fave hatch though, is the BMW 2000 tii touring. RWD & 130bhp. More 70's than 80's though, but still cool.
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