What's your favourite 1980s hot hatch and why?

[CapriV6S]

Only joking mate, he he.

[SVX]

Lancia Delta HF turbo. £2.5K should buy you a minter. My first car, and one of the best I've ever driven. I'd have another in a heartbeat. Cue the usual scorn poured upon 80's Lancias.

[mike9009]

AX GT - was my first drive of a hot hatch in about 1991. I absolutely loved it, quick, light weight, flimsy, pointy and a blast to drive.

A bit more left field MG Maestro Turbo. Never driven one, and not sure on availabilty or price. But spposed to be a riot or torque steer.....

Surely should be both within budget for one that is to be used as a DD


Mike

[morgrp]

Uncle John said:

Alfa 33 16v.

Great sound, different to the crowd, a bit mental in that Italian way and great looking in red.

Hard to find now.

Had one - characterful but not a great car - mine was a 16v cloverleaf driving position was just plain weird, it was flakey and not all that good handling wise and not massively fast - The recaro seats were gorgeous and the engine was great and lovely to work on as a budding apprentice mechanic but the surrounding car was essentially trash - sold it for next to nothing when it failed its MOT and I couldn't be arsed to sort it out - doubt it's still on the road

[vit4]

Nice, usable S2 RS Turbos do come up at this price. Wouldn't be a minter but should hold its value if not appreciate.

Astra GTE or 309 GTI would be my choice though - GTE for that engine, 309 just because it's a nice alternative to the 205.

[Welshbeef]

Charade GTTI 1ltr turbo 99bhp 3 cylinder
XR4i well it is a 3 door hatchback so must be allowed

[Zad]

CapriV6S said:

7-spoke alloys???

Where did yooo go to skooole??

[Johnboy Mac]

Get a Mk2 16v Golf, buy well and you won't lose a penny while owning a bloody good car.

[Welshbeef]

Zad said:

These were quite slow we're they not?

[MH82]

Welshbeef said:

These were quite slow we're they not?

7.9 to 60 so quick in their day. What was quicker in 1985/1986 in it's class?

I like my XR3i but the thing with the XR3i is that they are variable in as much as a good one with a strong engine is fun, but one with a weak engine will feel flat as a f@rt. The CVHs suffer from 2 things; they wear their cams very quickly, and when unleaded fuel came in, the timing had to be retarded so power suffered. If you keep to the standard timing (12 degrees) with the full fat fuel then they are perky in my experience.

Another rare choice could be the RS1600i but not sure how good a 2.5k version would be

Edited by MH82 on Thursday 16th August 21:16

Edited by MH82 on Thursday 16th August 21:17

[DoctorX]

Welshbeef said:

These were quite slow we're they not?

Who cares? Just look at it......laaverly.

Alwys fancied a 130TC too.

[Vince70]

How about an mg maestro or montego turbo.

[Adz The Rat]

MK1 Astra GTE with the C20XE shoved in there, such a cool car and with that engine in it will embarrass a lot of modern stuff.

[CapriV6S]

To Zad,
Sorry mate, didnt take time to read yr post right, just saw Cossie pic and read the post below it. Yes 7-spokes on Escort Turbo. Was only messin anyway.

Agree about white stilettos and handbags post, but if u had a RS Turbo they'd most likely let u into their white pants too.

Unfortunately I didnt have white RS Escort at that time. Had yellow Mk4 Cortina 2000S. Hmmmm.

[jcelee]

Owned a few of these and driven a few more. The standout for me was the mk2 Honda CRX. I had a 130bhp 1.6i-16 but suspect the VTEC is even better. It was beautiful, stupid fast (less than 800kg I believe), great handling - amazing lift off oversteer! and sounded fabulous too. Many have rusted away but still some good ones about under budget I believe.

[LotusOmega375D]

MH82 said:

7.9 to 60 so quick in their day. What was quicker in 1985/1986

Edited by MH82 on Thursday 16th August 21:16

Edited by MH82 on Thursday 16th August 21:17

Wasn't the flyweight R5GT Turbo in the high 6's / low 7's. I think they were cheaper too.

[SirSamuelBuca]

Get a Renault 5 gt turbo. Can get 230 bhp out of them not much money. Leave body standard preferably in white awesome car

[Johnboy Mac]

jcelee said:

Owned a few of these and driven a few more. The standout for me was the mk2 Honda CRX. I had a 130bhp 1.6i-16 but suspect the VTEC is even better. It was beautiful, stupid fast (less than 800kg I believe), great handling - amazing lift off oversteer! and sounded fabulous too. Many have rusted away but still some good ones about under budget I believe.

A great car. Really blown away the first time I drove one. Got pulled twice and fined once in a short time (while the owner was on hols!).

[s m]

LotusOmega375D said:

MH82 said:

7.9 to 60 so quick in their day. What was quicker in 1985/1986

Edited by MH82 on Thursday 16th August 21:16

Edited by MH82 on Thursday 16th August 21:17

Wasn't the flyweight R5GT Turbo in the high 6's / low 7's. I think they were cheaper too.

In July 85 the S1 RS Turbo was the fastest lapping fwd hot hatch that CAR had put round Castle Combe ( beating the Strada Abarth and also coupes like the the 2.8 Capri, Alfa GTV6 ). It wasn't until the August 86 group test of the R5GTT, CRX and 205 Gti 115bhp 1.6 that the R5 Gt turbo beat the RS Turbo time. Renault turned in a 7.2 0-60 time but I've seen a 6.9 time ( as with the later Astra 16v ).
Wouldn't say they were slow when new though for a hot hatch - 7.9 -> 8.1 to 60 and 128 top speed depending on test

[r1ch]

This is my daily



The 205 has always been my favourite hot hatch. Closely followed by the mk1 Golf and the R5 GTT.