Best hot hatch of the century - the results!

[E36Dan]

So the cars that are missing because I'm not reading the thread properly:

• Integra DC2 Type R
• Saxo VTS/106 GTI/306 GTi6
• Corrola 86? Am I allowed to suggest that? Surely if we have 3 Clios for people to nosh off on, we can have a JDM tofu car

Happily remove the 2 of the 3 Mk2 Clios, the V6 and the Trophy. Sachs make good shocks but they aren't worth the premium over a fettled cup.

M140 is such a nobber car it's hard to see them in a positive light. They're good at what they do, if you like that kind of thing. Gets down a back road on its tip toes, feels awfully synthetic. Fast off the lights though and down the bypass...

If Gran Turismo sport is anything to go by then the V6 Clio is a good laugh around Goodwood.

Edited by E36Dan on Wednesday 18th December 11:56

[clarki]

I've said it before and i'll say it again (although wondering if i'm wrong cos nobody else seems to agree, doh!!) but I thought the Clio Trophy was an average hot hatch at best.

Slow, poor brakes, terrible driving position and an atrocious ride (I mean truly awful) plus suspension that needs rebuilt every couple of years to be at its best. Sold mine within a year for a megane R26, miles better car, very underrated and a proper hot hatch.

Side note; loved the R26r.

[Gad-Westy]

E36Dan said:

So the cars that are missing:

• Integra DC2 Type R
• Saxo VTS/106 GTI/306 GTi6
• Corrola 86? Am I allowed to suggest that? Surely if we have 3 Clios for people to nosh off on, we can have a JDM tofu car

Happily remove the 2 of the 3 Mk2 Clios, the V6 and the Trophy. Sachs make good shocks but they aren't worth the premium over a fettled cup.

M140 is such a nobber car it's hard to see them in a positive light. They're good at what they do, if you like that kind of thing. Gets down a back road on its tip toes, feels awfully synthetic. Fast off the lights though and down the bypass...

If Gran Turismo sport is anything to go by then the V6 Clio is a good laugh around Goodwood.

21st century....

[xjay1337]

E36Dan said:

So the cars that are missing:

• Integra DC2 Type R
• Saxo VTS/106 GTI/306 GTi6
• Corrola 86? Am I allowed to suggest that? Surely if we have 3 Clios for people to nosh off on, we can have a JDM tofu car

Happily remove the 2 of the 3 Mk2 Clios, the V6 and the Trophy. Sachs make good shocks but they aren't worth the premium over a fettled cup.

M140 is such a nobber car it's hard to see them in a positive light. They're good at what they do, if you like that kind of thing. Gets down a back road on its tip toes, feels awfully synthetic. Fast off the lights though and down the bypass...

If Gran Turismo sport is anything to go by then the V6 Clio is a good laugh around Goodwood.

I'm sorry, you can't possibly say the M140 is a nobber car then go on to suggest an integra, which back 5-6 years ago before the values went up, were driven exclusively by bell ends who used vtec in the supermarket car park, and a Saxo/106 etc..... I was a passenger in a VTS when I very nearly had a horrific accident when the driver decided to go through a red light at 60 odd MPH when another car was turning! Youthful exuberance... :-)

[E36Dan]

Gad-Westy said:

21st century....

Yikes must read before raging

Still can't believe there are 4 Clios in the top 10

xjay1337 said:

I'm sorry, you can't possibly say the M140 is a nobber car then go on to suggest an integra, which back 5-6 years ago before the values went up, were driven exclusively by bell ends who used vtec in the supermarket car park, and a Saxo/106 etc..... I was a passenger in a VTS when I very nearly had a horrific accident when the driver decided to go through a red light at 60 odd MPH when another car was turning! Youthful exuberance... :-)

Hot hatches and chavs go hand in hand...

[Itsallicanafford]

With the greatest respect to the cars on the top 10, but an ohlins equipped mk3 megane 275 trophy/ Cup-S exists on a whole different level.

[LordHaveMurci]

Alpinestars said:

It’s not an objective list. Never will be. It’s driven by people’s own experiences, which in most cases will be limited, and biased towards what they have driven/owned. In many cases It’s as much a best sellers list as a drivers’ car list.

It isn't though, many people were voting for cars they have zero experience of. Probably why the Trophy won over the 172 Cup - more written about the Trophy.

and Audi S1 & RS3, just

[Truckosaurus]

A deserved win.

Although an M140i and V6 Clio aren't hot hatches.

[Baldchap]

Might have to get a 182 as a pubcar.

[Torquey]

FFS, why can people not just accept the result of a vote.

Whinging your t!ts off will not change the outcome.

[otolith]

grassisntgreener said:

Wasnt too impressed with the EP3 Type R I drove. Again had to be thrashed and the gear shift was literally awful

Given how often it gets onto the list of best gearshifts ever, either it was broken, or you have a very idiosyncratic opinion of what constitutes a good gear shift!

[1974foggy]

Great result for Renault, shows their focus to the cause.
I'm surprised at the lack of the bonkers Focus RS / Focus 2 RS, as others have said.

[bodhi]

Truckosaurus said:

A deserved win.

Although an M140i and V6 Clio aren't hot hatches.

They're both hatchbacks, and go like stink and are enormous fun to drive. Strangely, they are also the only two on this list I would buy with my own money.

[Tickle]

thebestlittlecivicintheworld said:

Audi S1?

RS3?

No doubt the original Audi S1 was classed as the best in it's class, but that wasn't a hatch or post 21st century production.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... - Not much mention of the 21st century S1 or RS3 in the original thread, they never made it to the voting thread.

[geo1905]

Agreed, they are fantastic (check out Harry's Garage on YouTube for the definitive review) However, they are getting a little elderly now and need to be cared for by the right type of owner, preferably one with a decent size garage.

[Trophy-GTA]

M140 and the GTA are in the wrong places on the list. They need swapping around

[CedricN]

I agree with many of the posters in the thread. The Megane MK3 really pushed the boundaries of the hot hatch segment to a new level of performance and very serious handling capabilities, a very significant car imo.

[shantybeater]

Didn't vote but agree with most of that.

M140i shouldn't be in there. Also think the mk5 is up there as a drivers great, same can't be said for the mk6 or mk7 however 'capable' they are.

[Alpinestars]

otolith said:

grassisntgreener said:

Wasnt too impressed with the EP3 Type R I drove. Again had to be thrashed and the gear shift was literally awful

Given how often it gets onto the list of best gearshifts ever, either it was broken, or you have a very idiosyncratic opinion of what constitutes a good gear shift!

One of the best gearboxes in any car.

[GTEYE]

CedricN said:

I agree with many of the posters in the thread. The Megane MK3 really pushed the boundaries of the hot hatch segment to a new level of performance and very serious handling capabilities, a very significant car imo.

The problem I suspect is that not many on here will have had the chance to try/own one. Renault's rather strange attitude to the UK market sees only a handful of dealers, a tiny fraction of its range sold here and a much reduced market share compared to the past.

I suspect no cheap lease deals available on these is the result and hence few cars on the resale market.