Best hot hatch of the century - the results!

[Big Robbo]

Is it ok for a French car to win now because of Brexit??

[ISO51200]

Article said:

In fact, perhaps the greatest indicator of just how good we've had it is to look at the cars that haven't made your top 10 from the 2000s. There's not one of the three RS Focuses, no Megane from the past decade and not a single Mini; we're also without representatives from Vauxhall or SEAT. The PH best of the best is a very exclusive club!

Or it's just a indicator of how much of an echo chamber this site has become

[Turbojuice]

GTEYE said:

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.

I think the cheap lease deals only came at the very end of its life with the run-out cup-s models in 2015/16, and by then the hyper hatch power craze had begun.

Absolutely travesty that the MK3 isn't even in the top 10 though. Also no Focus RS of any kind?

[David87]

Forget million-pound classic car continuations and suchlike, what I want (and would pay good money for!) is a run of brand new Clio 182 Trophy or Williams models. Just me?

[Jon_S_Rally]

E36Dan said:

Obviously the DC2 should have been number 1. Keep your Mcpherson crap.

The Integra is coupe.

[J4CKO]

I have an M135i and it has a hatch, its quite "hot" but it isn't to me a hot hatch, not in the traditional mold like the winner is. Feels more like a downsized fast barge, its accelerates faster than most but to speeds its chassis has very little business operating at. MK7 Fiesta ST came lower but for me is a far superior hot hatch. Its a good car, but it isn't a cohesive package like the best hatches are.

I have to say when I tried a 182 I was disappointed but that's after turbocharged cars so it felt flat, there must be more to it that you get when you have longer than a short test drive, PHer Motrorad offered me one in swap for my CLS, perhaps should have took him up on that.

[300bhp/ton]

Jon_S_Rally said:

E36Dan said:

Obviously the DC2 should have been number 1. Keep your Mcpherson crap.

The Integra is coupe.

In the UK we only got the sporty Type R. But the Integra range was more marketed as a liftback compact car, basically a slightly laydown hatchback. There was a saloon/sedan version too.

[Alex_6n2]

Having owned a Mk3 Megane RS I'm surprised this isn't in the list.

My Megane Cup-S was a far better hatchback in every aspect compared to my Clio 182. Both on the practical and "hot" side of things.

I have an M135i now and wouldn't put it in the top 10 either.

Odd list. Trophy is good, but Megane R26.R and 275 Trophy-R are both better in every way imo

[300bhp/ton]

J4CKO said:

I have an M135i and it has a hatch, its quite "hot" but it isn't to me a hot hatch, not in the traditional.

Is the M135i not somewhat akin to this:



Clearly a hot hatch by any measure.

[otolith]

300bhp/ton said:

Is the M135i not somewhat akin to this:



Clearly a hot hatch by any measure.

I don't know, is the M135i a low volume homologation special for rallying which just happens to have a hatchback?

[300bhp/ton]

otolith said:

I don't know, is the M135i a low volume homologation special for rallying which just happens to have a hatchback?

Or is it a RWD hatchback performance car with seating for 5?

[xjay1337]

300bhp/ton said:

Or is it a RWD hatchback performance car with seating for 5?

It most certainly is seating for 3...........

Driver, passenger, with the seat all the way forward, and one behind the passenger.

We did a 2000 mile trip 4 up in mine and every single journey we did , the lads in the back complained at the lack of space. It is pretty tiny!

[TTmonkey]

Surprised no Mini. Such as the GP. Or are we just too snobby to admit the one of the most fun cars the century isn’t PH enough?

Have to say I wouldn’t have the alpha, the Clio v6 or the BMW in my list of hot hatches. Despite 2 of these being some of my favourite cars.

[T1berious]

<Jesting>

To hatch or not to hatch? That is the question....

Behold! Thy hatch!



Tis different from a boot my lords! The "hatch" raises thus... and it becomes known hence forth as a hatchback! This, my lords does 0 - 60 in 4.8 seconds!

thus stated here!

https://www.evo.co.uk/bmw/1-series/m140i/performan...

Given the performance, tis too quick to be warm and must be "hot"? No?

</jesting>

[LordHaveMurci]

TTmonkey said:

Surprised no Mini. Such as the GP. Or are we just too snobby to admit the one of the most fun cars the century isn’t PH enough?

Have to say I wouldn’t have the alpha, the Clio v6 or the BMW in my list of hot hatches. Despite 2 of these being some of my favourite cars.

Alfa.

And why would anybody be too snobby to include a MINI when Renault who are French & therefore st according to most of the internet, have stormed it? Was a MINI suggested by anybody in the initial thread?

[Turbojuice]

LordHaveMurci said:

TTmonkey said:

Surprised no Mini. Such as the GP. Or are we just too snobby to admit the one of the most fun cars the century isn’t PH enough?

Have to say I wouldn’t have the alpha, the Clio v6 or the BMW in my list of hot hatches. Despite 2 of these being some of my favourite cars.

Alfa.

And why would anybody be too snobby to include a MINI when Renault who are French & therefore st according to most of the internet, have stormed it? Was a MINI suggested by anybody in the initial thread?

About 3 people from memory, all of which own or owned one.

Have to agree with the comment about the Alfa being in the top 10 though. If that car didn't have an Alfa badge it wouldn't come close to the top 10. BMW as well like someone said previously is more of a fast "mini-barge" than a hot hatch. Suspension and brakes are the same as a 120d m-sport's, just that they chuck a straight 6 under the bonnet instead. Don't get me wrong I think they are great, but not worthy of a mention in top 10 hot hatches since 2000.

Edited by Turbojuice on Wednesday 18th December 14:05

[vz-r_dave]

Clio wins with its Bus like driving position.... has to be PH.

[Big Robbo]

T1berious said:

<Jesting>

To hatch or not to hatch? That is the question....

Behold! Thy hatch!



Tis different from a boot my lords! The "hatch" raises thus... and it becomes known hence forth as a hatchback! This, my lords does 0 - 60 in 4.8 seconds!

thus stated here!

https://www.evo.co.uk/bmw/1-series/m140i/performan...

Given the performance, tis too quick to be warm and must be "hot"? No?

</jesting>

That my liege is indeed a hatch though thou failed to mention the Lance hatch betweeneth the small rear seats....

[bakerstreet]

I owned a CTR FN2 (Spaceship shape). Engine and gearbox were superb. However, I wasn't keen on the beam axel rear end and ride comfort (or lack of it) Seriously the ride was the worst out of any car I have ever owned. Even Mrs BS said it was a bit bumpy.

Interesting that all the great Renaults are from years ago. At least BMW managed to get something current in the list, but like others I don't really see it as a hot hatch. Its hardly a priced for the people car unlike everything else on the list.

[Bracken]

I owned a Clio 172 Cup and changed it for a Fiesta ST200 around 3 years ago... the Fiesta was better in every measurable way; quicker, comfier, more economical, just as agile, grippier... but that Clio...