Looking for a rwd hot hatch.
Discussion
Being the horribly fickle car enthusiast I am I can never seem to stay in love with a car for more than 6 months and currently I'm looking for something which doesn't seem to exist.
What I want is a car like a hot hatch that I can chuck about and abuse liberally without fear of breakage or death. It has to be fun to drive and have enough power to break traction on demand BUT it really has to be RWD.
Such a car does not seem to exist. My 944 although entertaining commands too much respect. It is too precious, rare and has too much grip to drive like a hatch.
I've driven things like the Elise 112r but they are only interested in setting lap times and have way too much grip for their power. The mx5 (new and old) just doesn't have any power.
I've raced with what is the on paper obvious 3.0 V6 Clio and that looked seriously unstable! More of a pre 4wd Group B rally car for the road than a car you could play with in the wet. Cornering at 120+ it was wiggling from front to back nervously and looked like I would swap ends in an instant at any second!
In terms of handling, the closest thing I can think of in my mind is another E36 M3 but that's just too big for what I'm looking for. I don't want a huge saloon car.
Suggestions?
What I want is a car like a hot hatch that I can chuck about and abuse liberally without fear of breakage or death. It has to be fun to drive and have enough power to break traction on demand BUT it really has to be RWD.
Such a car does not seem to exist. My 944 although entertaining commands too much respect. It is too precious, rare and has too much grip to drive like a hatch.
I've driven things like the Elise 112r but they are only interested in setting lap times and have way too much grip for their power. The mx5 (new and old) just doesn't have any power.
I've raced with what is the on paper obvious 3.0 V6 Clio and that looked seriously unstable! More of a pre 4wd Group B rally car for the road than a car you could play with in the wet. Cornering at 120+ it was wiggling from front to back nervously and looked like I would swap ends in an instant at any second!
In terms of handling, the closest thing I can think of in my mind is another E36 M3 but that's just too big for what I'm looking for. I don't want a huge saloon car.
Suggestions?
You want a hot hatch drift car? I'd imagine that the 1-series is about your only modern option.
If you'll go a bit older there's the old E46 hatch, which is about Golf sized and the Merc C-class hatch which is similar. Going older still, there's things like the Lotus Sunbeam.
Not many small RWD cars have enough traction to break power on demand in anything other than first gear. I don't think it's what many people want.
If you'll go a bit older there's the old E46 hatch, which is about Golf sized and the Merc C-class hatch which is similar. Going older still, there's things like the Lotus Sunbeam.
Not many small RWD cars have enough traction to break power on demand in anything other than first gear. I don't think it's what many people want.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 31st March 15:59
RWD takes you back into the annals of history - last ones were really the Sunbeam and the Chevette HS/R, which are light but not particularly powerful by modern standards.
A little later was the RWD Corolla GT but again not much power there.
Otgher than that i think you're looking at Jap import Starlets (are they RWD or 4x4?)
A little later was the RWD Corolla GT but again not much power there.
Otgher than that i think you're looking at Jap import Starlets (are they RWD or 4x4?)
The Clio V6 is an absolutely great car, but they do understeer a fair bit and yes, you wouldn't want to throw one around in the wet really (where front end breakaway is probably your biggest worry!).
I'd say a 1 series is your best bet. Focus sized, but with a much better driving position, much lower CofG, and a balanced rear drive chassis. Rather ugly, but other than that they really are great cars. Having said that, they've got a grown up feel to the way they drive, it's nothing like a Clio or similar type of hot hatch. Mind you, most FWD hot hatches aren't chuckable and small anymore; even the diminutive Clio's got sneakily bigger over the years, and things like the Panda 100hp have, well, only 100hp!
I'd say a 1 series is your best bet. Focus sized, but with a much better driving position, much lower CofG, and a balanced rear drive chassis. Rather ugly, but other than that they really are great cars. Having said that, they've got a grown up feel to the way they drive, it's nothing like a Clio or similar type of hot hatch. Mind you, most FWD hot hatches aren't chuckable and small anymore; even the diminutive Clio's got sneakily bigger over the years, and things like the Panda 100hp have, well, only 100hp!
LuS1fer said:
RWD takes you back into the annals of history - last ones were really the Sunbeam and the Chevette HS/R, which are light but not particularly powerful by modern standards.
A Lotus Sunbeam is still reasonably quick to me - proper old car you can have on classic insurance as well if it's just a weekend toy?60 in the mid 6s.
John McIlroy, one of the Autocar editors has got one
My money would be on an MX5 - a Mk1 with a proper torsen diff, the bilstein suspension makes something that doesn't need much power to drive all day sideways (if you don't agree a super/turbocharger isn't expensive).
Second choice would be an S14a 200sx. A bit lardier than the MX5, but more power as standard and a bit easier to keep it sideways.
Second choice would be an S14a 200sx. A bit lardier than the MX5, but more power as standard and a bit easier to keep it sideways.
How about one of these without having been chav'ed up if you can find one.
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2602693.htm
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2602693.htm
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