RE: Six Of The Best? Forgotten Hot Hatches

[j_s14a]

Also, what about the Citroen Xantia Activa, surely one of the most bizarre hot hatches ever, along with its stablemate ZX Volcane TD, the original hot Deisel.

[ktm301p]

The Seat is still a poor choice imo!

[Stew2000]

Is the Xsara a hatchback or a coupe?

[M666 EVO]

309 GTi 1.9. Job done...

[thewheelman]

M666 EVO said:

309 GTi 1.9. Job done...

I was just about to mention those! Hard to have a forgotten hot hatch thread without the 309 GTi

[Ramses]

j_s14a said:

along with its stablemate ZX Volcane TD, the original hot Deisel.

80s Golf GTD and the 306 TurboD.....

[thewheelman]

Ramses said:

j_s14a said:

along with its stablemate ZX Volcane TD, the original hot Deisel.

80s Golf GTD and the 306 TurboD.....

The 80's Golf GTD wasn't exactly classed as hot, i think the 306 Turbo D, was the turning point for many people on what a decent diesel engine could do in the right car. Weren't they quicker than the petrol XSi?

[minimatt1967]

I went in a BX16v once but my only real memory was it being spanked by friends Cavalier 16v CDX. I have driven the 405 Mi16, what an brilliant engine, great handling and fat man Recaro's loved it, nearly bought it too.

[thewheelman]

IIRC the little Suzuki Swift GTi was a quick(ish) hot hatch, that was cheap to run...

[soxboy]

thewheelman said:

Ramses said:

j_s14a said:

along with its stablemate ZX Volcane TD, the original hot Deisel.

80s Golf GTD and the 306 TurboD.....

The 80's Golf GTD wasn't exactly classed as hot, i think the 306 Turbo D, was the turning point for many people on what a decent diesel engine could do in the right car. Weren't they quicker than the petrol XSi?

The 306DTurbo was the first car I noticed as being a 'fast diesel', looked identical to the XSi and went well. In gear acceleration was better than XSi, had a good 50-70 time IIRC.

[M666 EVO]

thewheelman said:

M666 EVO said:

309 GTi 1.9. Job done...

I was just about to mention those! Hard to have a forgotten hot hatch thread without the 309 GTi

I know, great little car. I had a red 93' 4 door. It handled like a go kart, was rapid off the line and I managed to find a spotless example. Shame I managed to stack in on the A2 and wrote it off...

However, back to this thread, how did it come about? I would have liked to have put my car forward. Lancia Delta HPE, hatchback, rare, very quick. Surely a contender??? You can't buy it though

[RicksAlfas]

Love the 145 Cloverleafs - had a red Phase 1 and a black Phase 2.
Never got them as shiny as Philip's though!

[Sivraj]

j_s14a said:

Also, what about the Citroen Xantia Activa, surely one of the most bizarre hot hatches ever, along with its stablemate ZX Volcane TD, the original hot Deisel.

I loved both of these but you'll be pushed to find either second hand!
Even as a Citroen mechanic I'd be worried about running a second hand Activa!!

[soxboy]

An old ladyfriend of mine had a red 145 Cloverleaf.

Bit tatty round the edges, liked a drink but good fun and went like a train.

Just like the car

I do miss those funbags

[Osella2]

i was once foolish enough to experiment with what 'torque steer' actually meant. so I floored Beatrice (BX16V, sold a year ago) at the lights on my commute. Car leapt forward and left at the same time... at what seemed like 45 degrees! Sorry i do realise that bragging about unsafe onroad driving practices is neither a) big nor b) clever

[treetops]

Not so much forgotten, as best forgotten.

[LuS1fer]

Osella2 said:

i was once foolish enough to experiment with what 'torque steer' actually meant. so I floored Beatrice (BX16V, sold a year ago) at the lights on my commute. Car leapt forward and left at the same time... at what seemed like 45 degrees! Sorry i do realise that bragging about unsafe onroad driving practices is neither a) big nor b) clever

Don't worry, the Mk II Astra GTE 16v did that as standard.

[swifthobo]

missed the swift gti well ahead of its time now almost forgotten

[swifthobo]

thewheelman said:

IIRC the little Suzuki Swift GTi was a quick(ish) hot hatch, that was cheap to run...

sorry missed this! good man!

[swifthobo]