What's your favourite 1980s hot hatch and why?
Discussion
As my wife and baby seem to be taking over my Impreza, I'm getting a bit nostalgic about a 1980s hot hatch as my DD (only 12 miles round trip). I don't really want to spend more than about £2.5k. I just can't get excited about modern hot hatches with the exception of the Fiat Panda 100HP and Abarth 500 (because they're light and slightly old-school) and the mk2 Focus RS because of THAT engine!
I'm not concerned about outright pace (as my Impreza "family" car does this rather well) but more involvement and something that feels a bit more raw and that you really need to drive hard to get the best out of it. Light weight and the lack of modern luxuries like ABS, PAS and electric windows come to play here a bit I think. Unfortunately, as most of these cars have been thrashed mercilessly for most of their lives, there aren't many left, so the tidy ones seem to be fetching quite a premium!
A Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 or a mk2 Golf GTi are the first two cars that come to mind. I have owned a 1.6 GTi and it was still going strong at 170k, so more concerned about condition than mileage. Back then, I thought the 1.9 GTi was the bees knees (still do in fact), although mine only cost me £1800 ten years ago (a tidy one seems to be significantly more than that now). Have had a brief drive in a mk2 Golf GTi (8v) and was a bit underwhelmed with the performance after experiencing a 205. However, having owned several VWs, I appreciate that they can be slow burners and impress you more over a period of time. Ironically, the Golf always seemed to hold a premium but seems to be more plentiful and cheaper than any other 1980s hot hatch at the moment (for an 8v at least, although I would prefer a 16v). Is this because they last better than their contemporaries and probably won't have had as much spent on them on resto?
The 205 and Golf are probably most widely regarded as the best 1980s hot hatches. Is there a good reason for this? Should I go for one of these or try something different?
I also quite fancy:
Fiesta XR2 (although good ones seem to be £3-4k)
Escort XR3i (ditto but on balance I think I prefer the XR2)
Renault 5 GT Turbo (seem to be going for around £4k if you want one without the Ali G treatment)
Vauxhall Astra GTE 16v (tidy ones £3-4k - have been in one when they were new, it was very fast and bumpy, just like a VXR in fact, or so I would imagine!)
Not strictly 80s but based on 1980s designs:
VW Polo G40 (like the mini Golf GTi looks and rarity but how often do the superchargers need rebuilding? I like this age of Polo but the only one I can see for sale is a bit rusty around the bottom of the doors - only £1500 though)!
Peigeot 106 S2 Rallye (much newer but definitely has that minimalist, 1980s hot hatch vibe).
Am I missing any gems and are any of the alternatives I suggested any good? Am I best of going for a 205 or Golf because they're just better?
I'm not concerned about outright pace (as my Impreza "family" car does this rather well) but more involvement and something that feels a bit more raw and that you really need to drive hard to get the best out of it. Light weight and the lack of modern luxuries like ABS, PAS and electric windows come to play here a bit I think. Unfortunately, as most of these cars have been thrashed mercilessly for most of their lives, there aren't many left, so the tidy ones seem to be fetching quite a premium!
A Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 or a mk2 Golf GTi are the first two cars that come to mind. I have owned a 1.6 GTi and it was still going strong at 170k, so more concerned about condition than mileage. Back then, I thought the 1.9 GTi was the bees knees (still do in fact), although mine only cost me £1800 ten years ago (a tidy one seems to be significantly more than that now). Have had a brief drive in a mk2 Golf GTi (8v) and was a bit underwhelmed with the performance after experiencing a 205. However, having owned several VWs, I appreciate that they can be slow burners and impress you more over a period of time. Ironically, the Golf always seemed to hold a premium but seems to be more plentiful and cheaper than any other 1980s hot hatch at the moment (for an 8v at least, although I would prefer a 16v). Is this because they last better than their contemporaries and probably won't have had as much spent on them on resto?
The 205 and Golf are probably most widely regarded as the best 1980s hot hatches. Is there a good reason for this? Should I go for one of these or try something different?
I also quite fancy:
Fiesta XR2 (although good ones seem to be £3-4k)
Escort XR3i (ditto but on balance I think I prefer the XR2)
Renault 5 GT Turbo (seem to be going for around £4k if you want one without the Ali G treatment)
Vauxhall Astra GTE 16v (tidy ones £3-4k - have been in one when they were new, it was very fast and bumpy, just like a VXR in fact, or so I would imagine!)
Not strictly 80s but based on 1980s designs:
VW Polo G40 (like the mini Golf GTi looks and rarity but how often do the superchargers need rebuilding? I like this age of Polo but the only one I can see for sale is a bit rusty around the bottom of the doors - only £1500 though)!
Peigeot 106 S2 Rallye (much newer but definitely has that minimalist, 1980s hot hatch vibe).
Am I missing any gems and are any of the alternatives I suggested any good? Am I best of going for a 205 or Golf because they're just better?
white_goodman said:
Am I missing any gems and are any of the alternatives I suggested any good? Am I best of going for a 205 or Golf because they're just better?
I'd suggest an alfa 33 QV, the mk3 might not strictly be 80s, but has a glorious 16v boxer engineFor 2.5k you should be able to find a good one with any rust taken care of.
Other then that, a lancia delta integrale? dont know if you can find one for 2.5k, but should be a right laugh.
I'd be boring and say 205gti 1.9 in Miami blue
or big bumper mk2 golf gti 'valver in oak green.
bute recently i have seen two mk1 rs turbos and they're very
in a non-cool way.
and the renault gordini turo thingy (not the turbo 2 or the later turbo - the one with those wheels a bit like ronal turbos / granada ghi wheels). they're mega.
but one of the first two has to make most sense as a 'real car'.
but going a bit later and going for something like a clio 172 (dodgy driving position aside) or a xsara vts (have you seen how cheap they are - even accounting for how lame they look they're cheap).
or big bumper mk2 golf gti 'valver in oak green.
bute recently i have seen two mk1 rs turbos and they're very
in a non-cool way.and the renault gordini turo thingy (not the turbo 2 or the later turbo - the one with those wheels a bit like ronal turbos / granada ghi wheels). they're mega.
but one of the first two has to make most sense as a 'real car'.
but going a bit later and going for something like a clio 172 (dodgy driving position aside) or a xsara vts (have you seen how cheap they are - even accounting for how lame they look they're cheap).
briSk said:
bute recently i have seen two mk1 rs turbos and they're very in a non-cool way.
I know what you mean. They are big money now though. I forgot there was also an S2 RS Turbo which are cheaper and seem to be about the same price, if not less than an XR3i. A tidy S2 RS Turbo in red would be very tempting! in a non-cool way.My family owned a new mk2 golf gti, traded it for a 16valve, having driven both, a mates mk2 astra gte , an xr2, a 205gti , my favorite was the one I owned a 'y' reg xr3i, loved it, the 205 was the best drive by a country mile, the xr3i was my favorite though, it pissed all over the astra and golfs in the handling department, lots and lots of fun, only thing wrong with it was its image, shame really, worst the xr2, friggin matchbox on wheels, total s
te that was the mk2 version, the golfs, great but overrated.
te that was the mk2 version, the golfs, great but overrated.Stubby Pete said:
Talbot Sunbeam Ti or Lotus.
Advantages:
Rear wheel drive
Competiton pedigree
Spares and specialists still available
You'll be struggling on your budget though.
This one, missed this post, buy the daddy hothatch look after it and watch it appreciate, also a mate had a early r5 gordano, non turbo with the classic 3 slot wheels, stunning car.Advantages:
Rear wheel drive
Competiton pedigree
Spares and specialists still available
You'll be struggling on your budget though.
MycroftWard said:
My favoutite is the Rover 220 GTI/GSI.
I had one as my first car, felt very quick back then (7.9s to 60). Wasn't a great handler as standard but I did the lowering springs and dampers, it got such a thrashing I tell you.
I had a coupe Targa top in the late 90's, I think it was G plate, British green and at that age it felt like a rocket! I had one as my first car, felt very quick back then (7.9s to 60). Wasn't a great handler as standard but I did the lowering springs and dampers, it got such a thrashing I tell you.
I'd recommend the AXGT, it came along in '87-88 and then got a revamp in 89 which made it a lot better (bigger wheels and better resolved chassis). Great handling and grip coupled with perky performance with 85hp having to propel the lightweight body. The downside of the tinfoil and crisp packet construction mean that theres probably not many left
Does a 3-door RS Cosworth classify as a hot hatch?
Sadly somewhat more than £2.5k. The Escort RS turbo (Mk 1) looked the dog's danglies in a white stilettos and handbags kinda way. Not that hot by modern standards and never a great handler, but so iconic. It always looked like it was prowling around on those 7-spoke alloys.
Sadly somewhat more than £2.5k. The Escort RS turbo (Mk 1) looked the dog's danglies in a white stilettos and handbags kinda way. Not that hot by modern standards and never a great handler, but so iconic. It always looked like it was prowling around on those 7-spoke alloys.
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