Best Hot Hatch of the 21st Century – vote here
Poll: Best Hot Hatch of the 21st Century – vote here
Voting Closed
Total Members Polled: 542
Discussion
Patrick Bateman said:
SidewaysSi said:
slopes said:
182 Trophy because Harry Metcalfe put his money where his mouth was
Who cares?Orchardab said:
I’ve had a EP3, 172 and 200cup. Loved them all.
EP3: great car, amazing gearbox and engine.
172: all round fun car, loved it, great mpg.
200: best handling and
The NA 200 Cup nicks it for fun for me. Great handling.
I am sad the Clio 200 is polling so badly here. It’s the Lib Dem of the 21st Century hot hatch leaderboard EP3: great car, amazing gearbox and engine.
172: all round fun car, loved it, great mpg.
200: best handling and
The NA 200 Cup nicks it for fun for me. Great handling.
Rensko said:
As a Clio 182 owner - not much else really does it for me. Couldn't imagine what I'd ever replace it with if that time ever came!
Agree 1000%This is why many of us are now trying to restore/refresh them to keep them going.
As you say, hard to find anything that comes close for sheer price vs enjoyment.
gm77 said:
RS Clio 200 for me.One of the few cars I regret selling - especially given it was liquid yellow
I think the Clio 200 is in that awkward middle ground where its too young to be a classic but out of production long enough to be forgotten by many. Re-do the poll in 2024 and I bet it polls higher. I was equally surprised to see no Megane 250/265/275 in the final mix, given that it led its class from 2010-2016 in most road tester's opinions. The M140i, which even many BMW drivers reckon is "flawed" did make the cut however and is polling as many votes as the hallowed 172 Cup. Just shows how many BMW fans there are in this place!Cups Renault said:
Good shout re the 130i, the original and the 135i coupe built on the brawny but small stature USP.
The practicality aspect I don't get tho....look at the leader of the vote the 182 Trophy, whose front seats don't fold properly in a 3 door.
The space is not great but still useable. The BMW switch to four pot is less about practicality and more about the bottom line management. A corporate decesion that will lose niche buyers and my future trade but win loads of business purchases.
If you have lived with the drivetrain you will know why it's on the list. Better than the Audi offering with one more cylinder, more frugal, more resilient, very good and reliable platform for affordable tuning and 15k less than said RS3 and in most cases faster in gear. The fart box four pots are from a different class of car, they are mechanically brilliant but try an A45 AMG at 80k miles. Over stressed and not a patch pace wise on the go. Yet, the bimmer manages to have also been cheaper/ as cheap as vag, templated options.
The Clio is in a different segment though, so doesn't strictly need to be as practical. And I think it's all about balance for me. The Clio is THAT good in terms of chassis, fun and just general X-factor, that it's easier to forgive those foibles. The BMW is in a bigger segment, where practicality is probably more important, and I'm just not sure the engine makes up for it enough. As I said before, it's not that it's a bad car by any means, it's just that there have been so many great cars in that segment in this century that, for me, the BMW doesn't get near the top ten.The practicality aspect I don't get tho....look at the leader of the vote the 182 Trophy, whose front seats don't fold properly in a 3 door.
The space is not great but still useable. The BMW switch to four pot is less about practicality and more about the bottom line management. A corporate decesion that will lose niche buyers and my future trade but win loads of business purchases.
If you have lived with the drivetrain you will know why it's on the list. Better than the Audi offering with one more cylinder, more frugal, more resilient, very good and reliable platform for affordable tuning and 15k less than said RS3 and in most cases faster in gear. The fart box four pots are from a different class of car, they are mechanically brilliant but try an A45 AMG at 80k miles. Over stressed and not a patch pace wise on the go. Yet, the bimmer manages to have also been cheaper/ as cheap as vag, templated options.
I admit that it is very, very subjective though, and engine configuration just isn't a deal breaker for me.
I've had LY Clio 200, 200 Cup, R26.R, 2.3 Focus RS, and 182 Cup and i keep going back to the 200's.
There is something about the way the car feels that's difficult to describe to people that have never driven one.
If you have even a slightly interesting commute to work, you'll get it. Its just a little race car.
There is something about the way the car feels that's difficult to describe to people that have never driven one.
If you have even a slightly interesting commute to work, you'll get it. Its just a little race car.
In 20 years of EVO magazine COTY since launch in 1998 to 2018 only 4 hot hatches have made it onto the final Top 3 podium along the way beating many supercars and sports cars.
2003 RS Clio V6 255 phase 2
2004 RS Clio 182 Cup
2005 RS Clio 182 Trophy
2016 VW Golf GTi Clubsport S
Good to see that Journalists do get it right sometimes.
2003 RS Clio V6 255 phase 2
2004 RS Clio 182 Cup
2005 RS Clio 182 Trophy
2016 VW Golf GTi Clubsport S
Good to see that Journalists do get it right sometimes.
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