Best Hot Hatch of the 21st Century – vote here

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

Renaultsport Megane R26.R: 14%
Honda Civic Type R EP3: 13%
Volkswagen Golf GTI Mk5: 8%
BMW M140i: 10%
Renaultsport Clio 200 Cup: 6%
Alfa Romeo 147 GTA: 4%
Renaultsport Clio 182 Trophy: 22%
Ford Fiesta ST Mk7: 6%
Renaultsport Clio 172 Cup: 10%
Renaultsport Clio V6: 7%
TOPIC CLOSED
TOPIC CLOSED
Author
Discussion

SidewaysSi

10,742 posts

233 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
Patrick Bateman said:
SidewaysSi said:
slopes said:
182 Trophy because Harry Metcalfe put his money where his mouth was
Who cares?
It's interesting to see what those who have driven all these cars choose to own, more so when you know they could have any of them if they wanted.
Ah but Chris Harris and Dickie Meaden don't have one. So does that mean they are crap?! wink

pembo

1,203 posts

192 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
Clio V6 for me.
I did consider it but insurance cost and service intervals pushed me to be more sensible and get the 350z

Macron

9,807 posts

165 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
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 frown

gm77

98 posts

119 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
RS Clio 200 for me.One of the few cars I regret selling - especially given it was liquid yellow

Frada01

57 posts

130 months

Monday 9th December 2019
quotequote all
Golf clubsport S for me. Yes only 2 seats but actually a very good daily if you have a second car for family chores 😁

Rensko

237 posts

105 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
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!


frayz

2,629 posts

158 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
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.

greenarrow

3,552 posts

116 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
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!

loggyboy

279 posts

177 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
An easy vote for me the MK2 clio.

Technically I would have voted for the base 182 due to silly prices of the Trophy, but i'm on Renaultsport number 8 inc 4x182s, 2x172 and 2x197s, and now race them so that shows my dedication to the french beastie.

Long live the Clio 182. smile

JTH23

2 posts

89 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
Mk7 Fiesta ST for me. Most fun car I've ever owned

Ronaro

200 posts

71 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
Citroen Saxo VTS 16V

jase009

25 posts

181 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
Clio 200 cup for me all day long. Can hold it's own with the big boys in the twisty stuff and was/is affordable. Loved mine!

Jon_S_Rally

3,385 posts

87 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
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.

I admit that it is very, very subjective though, and engine configuration just isn't a deal breaker for me.

EJM Preparation

3 posts

114 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
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.

Willyg33

24 posts

100 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
M140i

Zarco

17,708 posts

208 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
Quite tempted to try a Clio 200 as they are getting cheap now.

Cue

7 posts

193 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
Not sure how to vote, but mine goes to the Renaultsport 182 Trophy

GPH

647 posts

116 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
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.

slayaz

54 posts

188 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
Honda Civic Type R Ep3 all the way for me...

amullally

25 posts

206 months

Tuesday 10th December 2019
quotequote all
R26r
TOPIC CLOSED
TOPIC CLOSED