Am I a heretic? I just don't like hot-hatches

[V8RX7]

Gad-Westy said:

a 205, an AX or a Clio or something down a tight little B-road right now. So much fun to just chuck around. Totally different experience to driving a well sorted sportscar or saloon and on certain roads they're just untouchable for sheer fun.

Except for an MX5 or a Caterfield...

[M4CK 1]

V8RX7 said:

Gad-Westy said:

a 205, an AX or a Clio or something down a tight little B-road right now. So much fun to just chuck around. Totally different experience to driving a well sorted sportscar or saloon and on certain roads they're just untouchable for sheer fun.

Except for an MX5 or a Caterfield...

Don't forget the MR2

Hot hatches, who'd want one!!!!

http://www.evo.co.uk/renault/20320/renault-clio-wi...
https://gfycat.com/QuarterlyHastyArabianoryx
https://youtu.be/R3QuH7z1Z1o

Edited by M4CK 1 on Sunday 22 July 01:39

[MrAverage]

If can only have 1 car and you want it to do everything a hot hatch is probably the best compromise.

they do it 'all' pretty well but fall down in areas that dedicated cars excel (obviously). if i want a sports car i'd buy a sports car, if i wanted a diesel mile muncher i'd buy one etc etc.

they fill the all rounder bit pretty well.

Edited by MrAverage on Sunday 22 July 10:00

[ToothbrushMan]

200Plus Club said:

Me neither. Did hot hatches in the 90s and 2000s. Modern stuff is a lot better of course (drove an Astra vxr around croft) but it all leaves me a bit "meh"..

so if you was driving around in the 90s I take it you must now be at least in your 40s, even early 50s possibly.......

and youre seriously using street phrases like "meh"...........

[irocfan]

interestingly enough I saw 2 hatches today that I do like quite a bit. For some reason I never really thought of the 1st one as a hot-hatch, the second is though through and through and even at 14 years old still quite appeals...

VW Scirocco Scala
R53 Cooper S

[SidewaysSi]

I actually prefer them as a 5 door as they can then be used as a practical, family hack. I think the new breed are quite boring and aloof on road but many may like them. However there is no doubting they are quite capable.

If I had a gun to my head to only own one new car, a hot hatch or 340 Touring would probably be on the list. But hopefully I won't be in that position.

[Lester H]

ToothbrushMan said:

200Plus Club said:

Me neither. Did hot hatches in the 90s and 2000s. Modern stuff is a lot better of course (drove an Astra vxr around croft) but it all leaves me a bit "meh"..

so if you was driving around in the 90s I take it you must now be at least in your 40s, even early 50s possibly.......

and youre seriously using street phrases like "meh"...........

Isn’t “meh!” - perish the thought - just part of this text argot : imho, lol etc. Cringeworthy. I would like a new hot hatch, but far less expensive stuff can do 85 % their capability, which you can seldom use anyway.

[Section 8]

I’ve had hot hatches from the first week of passing my test to present day so and got through about 20 plus in that time. They just have everything I want in a car. Small to Mid sized because I don’t need anything larger, can get the dog in the back,has plenty of power in reserve but can act as tame as it’s base spec engined model and not too expensive to maintain.

I’ve had fast saloons too and 2 seaters but I seem to come back to hatchbacks. I think the older cars were vile in 5 door form but the recent ones are fine. Suppose it’s down to seeing far more of them than the 3 door variants. In fact can’t remember the last time I saw a 3 door Golf GTI /R .

Each to their own though just my 2p worth.

[Bibbs]

Nope. Not alone at all. Had a AX GT, hated it.

Friends have had loads over the years, Renault 5, MG Metro, Ford Fiesta, Honda Civic ..

Occasionally had a hirecar that's a hot hatch and found them completely vanilla. Zero interest.

Few mates had CRXs, and that's about the most interesting one for me. But still no interest in actually owning one.

[blearyeyedboy]

rossub said:

Agree about the 5 door aspect. IMO there’s never been a good looking 5 door hot hatch.

I've never understood this. I can see why people prefer not to have a hot hatch, but if you don't need the practicality of rear doors then why not look at interesting coupés instead?
(Not having a go, genuine question.)

I love hot hatches, but I get something different out of luxobarges or an MX5. Liking one type of car doesn't stop you appreciating a different type any more than liking steak means you're not allowed to like cheesecake.

[Gad-Westy]

V8RX7 said:

Gad-Westy said:

a 205, an AX or a Clio or something down a tight little B-road right now. So much fun to just chuck around. Totally different experience to driving a well sorted sportscar or saloon and on certain roads they're just untouchable for sheer fun.

Except for an MX5 or a Caterfield...

I've had a few of each of those. The Seven type cars are great on certain road but are easily upset by bumps and have very limited visibility. The sort of roads that I had in mind are relatively common up this way across Otterburn and around Kielder area of the national park. Very narrow, and undulating but in areas where you can see a fair bit ahead, they're an absolute riot in something quite chuckable with a bit of suspension travel. Drove a Saxo VTR on this sort of road years ago and it was brilliant. An MX5 works quite well in this type of environment too I must admit.

[coldel]

Gad-Westy said:

V8RX7 said:

Gad-Westy said:

a 205, an AX or a Clio or something down a tight little B-road right now. So much fun to just chuck around. Totally different experience to driving a well sorted sportscar or saloon and on certain roads they're just untouchable for sheer fun.

Except for an MX5 or a Caterfield...

I've had a few of each of those. The Seven type cars are great on certain road but are easily upset by bumps and have very limited visibility. The sort of roads that I had in mind are relatively common up this way across Otterburn and around Kielder area of the national park. Very narrow, and undulating but in areas where you can see a fair bit ahead, they're an absolute riot in something quite chuckable with a bit of suspension travel. Drove a Saxo VTR on this sort of road years ago and it was brilliant. An MX5 works quite well in this type of environment too I must admit.

I would say a small hatch is certainly touchable (ooh err) by plenty of cars. The VX220 was brilliant, Elise also. All the two seat low slug derivatives are in their own rights a as good if not a better car to drive and chuck with their low slung, low seating, race seat positions etc. all makes for much more race car feel. I never really had a problem with visibility unless of course you need that extra 20 inches in height to be looking over a crest, but hell how many crests do you get in the course of a years driving vs enjoying the low slung high speed high grip options of the above.

Then of course you might start looking at the WRC cars from the 90s, great bits of kit for relatively little money now most can run safely at 300bhp-400bhp with mods, 4WD, they absolutely eat up back roads etc. whilst still being very mechanical tonnes of feedback and you are actually driving what is to all intents and purposes what they put out in the championship.

I think someone above mentioned MR2 the mk3s are meant to be good cars for throwing about.

[Salamura]

I really can't relate to the OP's views. For me, the hot hatch is the ultimate car, a jack of all trades that allows you to have a shopping trolley, a B-road toy, and a family wagon, all in one. And there is so many to choose from on the new and used markets, there really is something for everyone.

I find that these days they are the only type of car I get really excited about, also because of attainability reasons. Don't get me wrong, I love sportscars, and supercars, but couldn't afford to buy and run one, so I can't really be as interested in them. For someone who's keen on driving, but only has a limited budget and can only have 1 car, there is not much else that comes close.

[CaptainSensib1e]

downsman said:

A hot hatch is a boring family car modified to be sporty. It is nothing like a proper sportscar to drive, but can be very fast and fun.

This sums it up for me. Impressive cars on many levels, but not something I really aspire to. Only ever had one hot hatch and it was quick in a straight line, but no where near as fun to drive as the RWD car that replaced it. They are a perfectly acceptable compromise between practicalilty and performance, but nothing special in my eyes.

[Limpet]

I love my M140i.

I like hot hatches.

If we all liked the same thing, every car on the road would be the same make, model and colour. Vive la différence.

[Cold]

I seem to recall enjoying my 5 Turbo back when they were new, but that excitement might have been just as much to do with not knowing whether it would burst into flames as its ability to entertain an impressionable inexperienced youth.

But I'm not a teenager any more so have no desire to own another hot hatch.

[ToothbrushMan]

Section 8 said:

I’ve had hot hatches from the first week of passing my test to present day so and got through about 20 plus in that time. They just have everything I want in a car. Small to Mid sized because I don’t need anything larger, can get the dog in the back,has plenty of power in reserve but can act as tame as it’s base spec engined model and not too expensive to maintain.

I’ve had fast saloons too and 2 seaters but I seem to come back to hatchbacks. I think the older cars were vile in 5 door form but the recent ones are fine. Suppose it’s down to seeing far more of them than the 3 door variants. In fact can’t remember the last time I saw a 3 door Golf GTI /R .

Each to their own though just my 2p worth.

re; GTi/R- you live on the moon.

[patmahe]

del mar said:

It depends what you expect from a hot hatch.

Little weight and modest power were an exciting blend, working it hard to get the most out of it.

Modern hot hatches are too good and too powerful.

Bingo, a car thats only getting into its stride at 80mph is going to feel pretty dull at 40-60mph and not being able to use its power is just going to frustrate.

I think the previous generation Swift Sport or current UP GTI are two of the better real world performance cars you can buy because you can use all of their performance on public roads without going to jail.

I was in a Ferrari 458 recently and the owner said the same thing, cannot use it as intended on the road. Its not exclusive to hot hatches, all cars are becoming too capable at the speeds they are generally driven.

[C70R]

stuckmojo said:

I liked old school hot hatches, light weight and chuckable.

a 1,500 kg honda turbo fwd excites me as much as filing a tax return.

There's some of this in me, for sure. I don't want it to sound rose-tinted, because not all old hatchbacks were good and not all new ones are anodyne sh*te. But it's unlikely I'd ever choose a ~300bhp 4WD, turbo Golf over a ~300bhp, RWD, N/A E46 M3. I think the overall feeling is one of competency, which really is missing the point of what happened at 'peak hot hatch' in the late-80s and early-90s.

Having said that, if it was to be my only car for a family life and I wanted the occasional giggle when I planted my toe, then I could see why the Golf might make sense.

[zedx19]

Lot of people saying they loved hot hatches when they were younger, but now don't like them. Feel I might be burned at the PH stake here as I'm 38, have a family, have a well paid job and drive a 8 year old Focus ST which is tuned. My wife has a 7 seater so my car is mostly just a toy. I could afford something newer, something faster, something RWD and a proper sports car but I love this oldish hot hatch with an old, dirty Volvo engine. It sounds great, it's full of character and it's great fun to chuck around. Had a fair few hot hatches in my time but this ranks as one of the best and I have no intention of selling or buying anything newer. I can totally see why people might not want to own one but I cannot see why anyone would not have fun in one.