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

[Eliser]

XR3i - loved it to bits - apparently only 50 now registered on the roads

[TheDoggingFather]

A bit more modern, how about a 306 GTi-6? Very much of the hot hatch ethos.

[adeel_gt]

Please only consider a R5 gt turbo if u wish to have years and years of headache, heartache and financial ruin.....

[e8_pack]

Ax gt, Better than the gti and go for a mk1, absolute hoot to drive, real fun to be had. Get a mk2 and apply the 4 stud running gear from a Saxo and a vts engine and its even better, 750 odd kilos, handles remarkably well and massive tuning potential for very little money. My ax is getting remapped next week and should see 300bhp+, let the fun begin!

[80quattro]

I don't know how strict the 80's thing is, but you could consider an early Clio 16v or Renault 19 16v. 137 bhp, nice spec inc power steering.

[Rammy76]

How about a FIAT Uno Turbo?
I had the last of the mark 1's and it was quite rapid for a 1300cc! The handling as standard wasnt great but once the suspension was fettled they were a great little pocket rocket!

[Eighteeteewhy]

[crxdave]

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.

+1

Slightly biased, as I've owned 6 of them. VTECs are incredible little cars; with a few choice mods, mine has stuck with some very capable machinery!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4sBLJSsjHQ - Non-VTEC CRX with coilovers and a brake upgrade, 8 min 32 BTG.

Edited by crxdave on Friday 17th August 05:41

[StescoG66]

Alfa 145 QV? Not 80's I know but close

[Some Gump]

Charade gtti
Hot maestro
Metro turbo
Skoda rapide

^ only left field ones i can think f right now, and i'm not sure the rapide is even a hatch!

[Dave Hedgehog]

MH82 said:

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

only .2 slower than the GT86 and everyone i knew (3 or 4 mates had them at one point or another) did light mods to them so they ran mid 6s, which was fast for then

[Dave Hedgehog]

Zad said:

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.

nope its the size above a HH, family car, even thou its a coupe shell

probably the most iconic ford road car in the EU, it really did change everything in terms of affordable performance cars

my cousin had one from new, i adore them

[briSk]

does anyone else remmeber the classic bbc library footage for 'joy riding' (like the classic older yuppy with the brick phone turning around on a street corner to signify the 1980s!).

red maestro turbo doing burnouts on an 'estate in ??newcastle-upon-tyne??. those were the days.

_______

if you're at all able to get to the prescott hill climb this sunday the retro rides gathering would be uite inspiring for this thread! I know some of the cars are borderline 'dubber' but I like a lot of the cars people have in this 'scene' (for want of a better phrase).

[Willber]

You can buy my MK2 ABF for a little more than £2.5k and it's very quick! PM me if interested.

[RS404]

Lovely CRX here http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4152453.htm

[white_goodman]

RS404 said:

Lovely CRX here http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4152453.htm

Yes, that is rather lovely!

[curly72]

Mkl Fiesta supersport, not quick by any standard but still looks retro cool, or maybe something bigger like a Sierra XR4x4

[stinkywinkyboy]

Good call on both these cars, i think as long as you get a decent one you'd be happy with either.
am thinking of a similar 2nd car but is between the 205GTI 1.9 (ive had the 1.6), golf mk2 GTI would need to be 16v(again had 8v golf) or abit left field is the VW corrado VR6?
Early civic VTI or CRX only other car in price range i can like enough to own.

[white_goodman]

stinkywinkyboy said:

Good call on both these cars, i think as long as you get a decent one you'd be happy with either.
am thinking of a similar 2nd car but is between the 205GTI 1.9 (ive had the 1.6), golf mk2 GTI would need to be 16v(again had 8v golf) or abit left field is the VW corrado VR6?
Early civic VTI or CRX only other car in price range i can like enough to own.

Ditto on the 205 GTi 1.6. Haven't owned a mk2 but I would definitely recommend a Corrado VR6. Great car, you would love it! Buy the best one that you can find though and not the first one you find like I did! Despte being based on the mk2 Golf, they have very few parts in common and are therefore quite expensive to fix. I paid too much for mine and then spent about the same again making everything right. It's worth spending a bit more on one that's completely sorted IMHO! It was a lovely car once I'd finished with it though. Looks and sounds fantastic, puts its power down well, a great long distance car and the pop-up spoiler is really cool!

[daveparry]

I second the Fiat Uno Turbo ie in either 1.3 early or 1.4 as the later ones were, brilliant little motors i had 5 of them and at one point both my wife and I had them!