Hatchbacks: 3 doors that much better than 5?

[mollymoo]

So, I've been looking at hot hatches. They're overwhelmingly 3-door.

I rather like having 5 doors. Not just for getting people in the back, but I often like to chuck my shopping on the back seats too. I'd love a 5-door Clio 182 for example, but they don't seem to exist. I've driven plenty 3 and 5 doors in my time, but never two cars where the number of doors was the only difference.

Is 3 doors dynamically that much better than 5? I know it's supposed to offer less weight and more stiffness, but is there really that much difference in practice?

[Deerfoot]

mollymoo said:

Is 3 doors dynamically that much better than 5? I know it's supposed to offer less weight and more stiffness, but is there really that much difference in practice?

I`d have thought the dynamic difference is so small it would be almost impossible for most to quantify.

Given the choice, I`d go for a five door over a three for the benefits you mention.

[Negative Creep]

Aren't 4/5 doors stiffer due to the B-pillar? I though that was why the Evo and Impreza were made in 4 door format. I'd always go for a 3 door given the choice as I think they look nicer, but then I have no kids, social trips etc to worry about

[mattmoxon]

Also consider that the three door model costs more when new, so if the first owner didn't care much for the practicality then they are likely to have saved themselves the cash and gone with the three door option - that and most look better as a three door.

[davepoth]

Negative Creep said:

Aren't 4/5 doors stiffer due to the B-pillar? I though that was why the Evo and Impreza were made in 4 door format. I'd always go for a 3 door given the choice as I think they look nicer, but then I have no kids, social trips etc to worry about

[deltashad]

[Animal]

I'd always go for a 5-door version if only because the doors are shorter!

[deltashad]

We have a 2-door too, I make her get out and move the seat for the little one so it's not a problem really.

[Ved]

5 doors are just better and easier to live with. A 3 door will start to bug you the more you own it IMO but it depends on the lifestyle.

[mollymoo]

deltashad said:

Do you think I can get a nice one for under three grand?

Some people seem to prefer the look for the 3-door, but unless it's actually different shape I usually prefer the look of the 5s, as well as the practicality benefits. Those big, shapeless rear quarter panels just don't do it for me.

[deltashad]

mollymoo said:

Those big, shapeless rear quarter panels just don't do it for me.

Never thought of it that way
My mate's daughter's bf is very cool (that was a mouthful), he runs a Fabia Diesel. It's not a VRS but he's given it extra vroom, a set of polished 928 S2 wheels sitting on low suspension. Looks and goes very nicely indeed.

[Baryonyx]

davepoth said:

Negative Creep said:

Aren't 4/5 doors stiffer due to the B-pillar? I though that was why the Evo and Impreza were made in 4 door format. I'd always go for a 3 door given the choice as I think they look nicer, but then I have no kids, social trips etc to worry about

Yes, what he really should have said is that the great majority of those cars are 4 doors.

[otherman]

I thought the point of 3 doors is because the front doors are bigger so its easier to get in and out, particularly if you like a roomy front with the seats well back. Obviously not aimed at the family market.

[Toltec]

otherman said:

I thought the point of 3 doors is because the front doors are bigger so its easier to get in and out, particularly if you like a roomy front with the seats well back. Obviously not aimed at the family market.

I find three doors are sometimes harder to get in and out of as the angle of opening is smaller when in a carpark.

[Baryonyx]

otherman said:

I thought the point of 3 doors is because the front doors are bigger so its easier to get in and out, particularly if you like a roomy front with the seats well back. Obviously not aimed at the family market.

I've always found the longer doors a pain. My 4 door Impreza is a joy in car parks with the high seating position and the short doors. On the other hand, it could be a faff getting out of my old MR2 Turbo with it's long doors and low seating position. The shorter door is always going to win for ease of escape!

[aka_kerrly]

There are a fair few hot hatches which come in 5 door format within your budget eg,

Golf/Polo GTI

Focus ST170

Leon Cupra - facelift model or possibly even a R model

Civic VTI-S

MG ZS180

Dave

[abbotsmike]

I'm young and have only owned 2 small hatches (corsa and ibiza) but think that the 3 doors just look better. That and they are far more common than the 5 door equivalent. I don't have kids, and anyone that I give a lift to is big enough to get in and out themselves!

[y2blade]

Animal said:

I'd always go for a 5-door version if only because the doors are shorter!

this^^^^