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

[Ahbefive]

I have 2 hot hatches, not because I couldn't afford a v8 rwd car but because I really enjoy my hot hatches.

A friend has a Cayman S with Bilsteins and quaife diff etc and after having a go in my megane on track and having me keep up with him on all our track days he has only gone and added an R26 to his collection.

[Toltec]

Johnnytheboy said:

I have a weekend car (don't need one in the week) and a toy. Both are hot hatches of sorts.

I came to the conclusion that if I bought a car that didn't have a boot I could stick a dog in I'd never use it, as I rarely drive for the hell of it; I'm usually going somewhere.

I have a similar issue, though rear seats rather than boot will do the job and the car that keeps dropping out of the decision matrix at first place is an Evora 400. A 911 and supercharged BRZ are possible alternatives.

When I add in 'must be able to drive in snow' the answer becomes 911 4S and Vitara S - go figure.

[Ultrafunkula]

DoubleD said:

Nanook said:

Ultrafunkula said:

I love hot hatches, I like their capabilities as a jack of all trades car. I see them as the UK equivalent of the blue collar muscle cars in the USA, performance for the everyman. That said, I'd be suprised if there was one that offered the same experience as my Cayman, the closest I've had would have been the the Focus ST but that was dynamically some way off still.
Compromises are part of the hot hatches strength though as they allow its wide range of abilities.

Whilst some hot hatches are right good fun, I doubt you'll find one that's a match for your Cayman in the driving stakes!

All cars have some sort of compromise, even a cayman.

That's true, the cayman makes bigger compromises than the hatch in some areas but the hatch makes more generally.

Regarding the driving stakes, I think the more focussed you make the car in that area, the more it lacks in others and the more you balance all areas (as with the hot hatch) the sooner you reach the limits of the potential of its abilities. I wonder if it would even be possible to make a practical car with dynamic abilities rivalling purpose built machines...

[CABC]

Ultrafunkula said:

I wonder if it would even be possible to make a practical car with dynamic abilities rivalling purpose built machines...

no. 2 cars.

[Exige77]

CABC said:

Ultrafunkula said:

I wonder if it would even be possible to make a practical car with dynamic abilities rivalling purpose built machines...

no. 2 cars.

I prefer two cars also. Both are exactly what I need at different times.

One has cup holders and the other one doesn’t

[CABC]

Exige77 said:

I prefer two cars also. Both are exactly what I need at different times.

One has cup holders and the other one doesn’t

my Elise has the Jockstrap. Luxury.

[Ultrafunkula]

CABC said:

Ultrafunkula said:

I wonder if it would even be possible to make a practical car with dynamic abilities rivalling purpose built machines...

no. 2 cars.

I'd agree. But then I also remember when everyone thought 200 bhp was the limit for a front wheel drive car.

[Toltec]

Exige77 said:

I prefer two cars also. Both are exactly what I need at different times.

One has cup holders and the other one doesn’t

I think there is also some truth in the best car being the one you can and want to drive most of the time. The hot hatch is one solution for this, the practicality allows for more use and the power helps compensate for the compromises in dynamics and packaging needed for practicality. My single car compromise was an Impreza, dynamically better than HHs of the time, only a little less practical and more expensive to run than a hatch.

I have been wondering about a 911, enough practicality to use it for most things, but dynamically superior to a saloon, hatch or estate format. The problem is I wonder if it would just end up frustrating to drive on the road because it would be so capable you would never get to use it properly.

[Exige77]

CABC said:

Exige77 said:

I prefer two cars also. Both are exactly what I need at different times.

One has cup holders and the other one doesn’t

my Elise has the Jockstrap. Luxury.

Burn him

You’ve probably got windows that are operated by electrikery as well.

It’s almost a hot hatch