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
I am so out of touch the hot hatch while once mainstream offering from manufactures is now no longer the case replaced by SUVs. Look forward to the Best SUV of the naughties in twenty years time.
This is like having a poll in 1999 saying which is the best British sports car of the 80s and 90s at least 20 years after the heyday of MGBs, TRs, Austin Healey, E type, Triumph etc.
The car that gets my vote is the Golf Gti as I feel it still meets the remit of a hot hatch an every day car pepped up just slightly and not over the top to be almost a track day car. That is why if on the list the Clubsport Golf would not get my vote.
This is like having a poll in 1999 saying which is the best British sports car of the 80s and 90s at least 20 years after the heyday of MGBs, TRs, Austin Healey, E type, Triumph etc.
The car that gets my vote is the Golf Gti as I feel it still meets the remit of a hot hatch an every day car pepped up just slightly and not over the top to be almost a track day car. That is why if on the list the Clubsport Golf would not get my vote.
Gunter N said:
I am so out of touch the hot hatch while once mainstream offering from manufactures is now no longer the case replaced by SUVs. Look forward to the Best SUV of the naughties in twenty years time.
Yes perhaps but I don't see SUVs as having replaced hot hatches as the choice of hot hatches has never been so wide. I reckon it is even possible to own both. SUVs seem to be taking market share out of estates and MPVs. Gunter N said:
I am so out of touch the hot hatch while once mainstream offering from manufactures is now no longer the case replaced by SUVs. Look forward to the Best SUV of the naughties in twenty years time.
No point in that, might as well just hand the title to Subaru for the Forester STI Lord-Haggis said:
R53 Cooper S. How thats been missed off is beyond me.
I don't like turbos, the super charger is wounderful. I've never been a fan of Clio looks wise and while it may be 'better' in some ways I much prefer the R53.
Pistonheads is being sponsored by Renault for this vote/poll/outcomeI don't like turbos, the super charger is wounderful. I've never been a fan of Clio looks wise and while it may be 'better' in some ways I much prefer the R53.
Lord-Haggis said:
R53 Cooper S. How thats been missed off is beyond me.
I don't like turbos, the super charger is wounderful. I've never been a fan of Clio looks wise and while it may be 'better' in some ways I much prefer the R53.
Interesting, i sold my Clio 182 for a Mini GP1 and hated it. Awful car, massively overrated IMO.I don't like turbos, the super charger is wounderful. I've never been a fan of Clio looks wise and while it may be 'better' in some ways I much prefer the R53.
Then spent 4 years missing my 182 so bad i ended up buying it back.
frayz said:
Interesting, i sold my Clio 182 for a Mini GP1 and hated it. Awful car, massively overrated IMO.
Then spent 4 years missing my 182 so bad i ended up buying it back.
Mainly because GP's are overhyped IMO, esp in price next to the R53 / R53 Works. Fitting 18 inch wheels with run flats to a halo car never made sense to me. My R53 is lightened a fair bit, on decent suspension as the stock shocks were all terrible, and is on decent tyres (16's). It wasn't a halo car, it was a marketing exercise to cover the fact someone accidentally ordered 2000 sets of red mirror caps imo...Then spent 4 years missing my 182 so bad i ended up buying it back.
I will be honest and say I like how the mini looks in stock from for the R53. I never liked how the clio / type r / fiesta etc looked, it always looked like the occupants would be wearing track suits, which they frequently were. Sadly the same people seem to have gotten hold of R53's now, and I'm yet to be able to afford a Morgan.
lemmingjames said:
Gunter N said:
I am so out of touch the hot hatch while once mainstream offering from manufactures is now no longer the case replaced by SUVs. Look forward to the Best SUV of the naughties in twenty years time.
No point in that, might as well just hand the title to Subaru for the Forester STI SidewaysSi said:
lemmingjames said:
Gunter N said:
I am so out of touch the hot hatch while once mainstream offering from manufactures is now no longer the case replaced by SUVs. Look forward to the Best SUV of the naughties in twenty years time.
No point in that, might as well just hand the title to Subaru for the Forester STI Lord-Haggis said:
Mainly because GP's are overhyped IMO, esp in price next to the R53 / R53 Works. Fitting 18 inch wheels with run flats to a halo car never made sense to me. My R53 is lightened a fair bit, on decent suspension as the stock shocks were all terrible, and is on decent tyres (16's). It wasn't a halo car, it was a marketing exercise to cover the fact someone accidentally ordered 2000 sets of red mirror caps imo...
I will be honest and say I like how the mini looks in stock from for the R53. I never liked how the clio / type r / fiesta etc looked, it always looked like the occupants would be wearing track suits, which they frequently were. Sadly the same people seem to have gotten hold of R53's now, and I'm yet to be able to afford a Morgan.
Agreed, I will be honest and say I like how the mini looks in stock from for the R53. I never liked how the clio / type r / fiesta etc looked, it always looked like the occupants would be wearing track suits, which they frequently were. Sadly the same people seem to have gotten hold of R53's now, and I'm yet to be able to afford a Morgan.
I tried to "fix" my GP with Bilstein PSS10s, AP brakes, 17" OZ wheels and proper tyres amongst other high end parts.
It was still s
t... just now owing me more money.Lord-Haggis said:
Mainly because GP's are overhyped IMO, esp in price next to the R53 / R53 Works. Fitting 18 inch wheels with run flats to a halo car never made sense to me. My R53 is lightened a fair bit, on decent suspension as the stock shocks were all terrible, and is on decent tyres (16's). It wasn't a halo car, it was a marketing exercise to cover the fact someone accidentally ordered 2000 sets of red mirror caps imo...
I will be honest and say I like how the mini looks in stock from for the R53. I never liked how the clio / type r / fiesta etc looked, it always looked like the occupants would be wearing track suits, which they frequently were. Sadly the same people seem to have gotten hold of R53's now, and I'm yet to be able to afford a Morgan.
Is this not missing the point a bit. Sure, looks probably make the difference when buying but in deciding "best hot hatch" it must come down to the one that ultimately balances hatch practicality with performance. Had a JCW Mini which looked fab but not even close to any of the Clios for practicality and pure fun. Perhaps you hit on the reason. BMW went after looks (sales) over performance with alloys that were too big and run flats etc etc.I will be honest and say I like how the mini looks in stock from for the R53. I never liked how the clio / type r / fiesta etc looked, it always looked like the occupants would be wearing track suits, which they frequently were. Sadly the same people seem to have gotten hold of R53's now, and I'm yet to be able to afford a Morgan.
Got to be a RenaultSports...problem is which one.
frayz said:
Agreed,
I tried to "fix" my GP with Bilstein PSS10s, AP brakes, 17" OZ wheels and proper tyres amongst other high end parts.
It was still st... just now owing me more money.
Exactly, surely the best hatch will come fully fixed from the factory and not need all this expensive customization. I tried to "fix" my GP with Bilstein PSS10s, AP brakes, 17" OZ wheels and proper tyres amongst other high end parts.
It was still s
t... just now owing me more money.I voted for the 182 Trophy even though I currently own a 172 Cup. The Trophy is better (even though the Cup is lighter and a nicer colour), which is down to just two things, the Sachs dampers and the seats. Which is why I'm always considering to fit both to the Cup.
I had a 205 1.9 GTi back in 2005 which I loved but decided to test drive a Trophy after reading an article in EVO magazine. It was with Steve Coulter of Allvehicles (great bloke) and he really encourages you to drive a car properly on a test drive. At first I thought it was a bit dull and not really any faster than the 18 year old GTi. Then we found some corners and a couple of fast roundabouts. Back in 2005, and on new Pilot Exalto 2's, that level of grip and how it felt whilst cornering was giggle inducing and absolutely intoxicating. All I wanted to do was drive it around corners faster and faster.
I arranged a loan and bought it the next day and drove it straight to Wales. I followed it a few years later with an Integra Type-R and then a Lotus Elan Sprint, which were both better driver's cars in almost all respects, but nothing quite captures the sense of fun that the Trophy gives. Not even the Cup.
Man, I loved that little tomato coloured (but nearly always pink in photos) car.
I had a 205 1.9 GTi back in 2005 which I loved but decided to test drive a Trophy after reading an article in EVO magazine. It was with Steve Coulter of Allvehicles (great bloke) and he really encourages you to drive a car properly on a test drive. At first I thought it was a bit dull and not really any faster than the 18 year old GTi. Then we found some corners and a couple of fast roundabouts. Back in 2005, and on new Pilot Exalto 2's, that level of grip and how it felt whilst cornering was giggle inducing and absolutely intoxicating. All I wanted to do was drive it around corners faster and faster.
I arranged a loan and bought it the next day and drove it straight to Wales. I followed it a few years later with an Integra Type-R and then a Lotus Elan Sprint, which were both better driver's cars in almost all respects, but nothing quite captures the sense of fun that the Trophy gives. Not even the Cup.
Man, I loved that little tomato coloured (but nearly always pink in photos) car.
Hothouse said:
frayz said:
Agreed,
I tried to "fix" my GP with Bilstein PSS10s, AP brakes, 17" OZ wheels and proper tyres amongst other high end parts.
It was still st... just now owing me more money.
Exactly, surely the best hatch will come fully fixed from the factory and not need all this expensive customization. I tried to "fix" my GP with Bilstein PSS10s, AP brakes, 17" OZ wheels and proper tyres amongst other high end parts.
It was still s
t... just now owing me more money.I rate my GP1 more fun to drive than my old M3 CSL
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