What's your favourite NEW hot hatch?
Discussion
As above but notice that I have said favourite not best. Personally, I have not driven many of the current crop, so can't really comment on which is best. There are often threads on the best hot hatch of all time, where the likes of the mk1/2 Golf GTis, 205 GTi, 306 GTi/Rallye and the ocassional Renault seem to come out favourably (others will also try to argue a case for the Delta Integrale and Escort RS Cosworth too and be attacked for doing so)!
However, what is your favourite of the current crop? For fun and value, I rather like the Abarth 500 but if the ride's as bouncy as my wife's 1.2, it could potentially be quite a handful! The Polo GTi and Fabia vRS also come in the right side of £20k and would be acceptable value alternatives to the larger hatches but I like my hot hatches with a manual box thank you.
Up until fairly recently, my favourite all-rounder would have been the (old) Focus ST followed closely by the Golf GTI but the new Focus ST does nothing for me to look at and although the new engine is more powerful and economical, I like the character and USP that the 5-pot motor gave the old car. So as an all-rounder, the Golf GTI (also available in 5 door) would have to be back on top!
Unfortunately, the Golf GTI is both underpowered compared to some of the more modern designs and no cheaper, so that can't be my favourite hot hatch either!
So for me, it would have to be between the Megane 265 Trophy (as the Clio does nothing for me) or the Astra VXR. These are both far too expensive (I'm sure their predecessors were knocking around the £20k mark). I always liked the look of the old VXR but it was a bit wayward by all accounts and the new one looks even better and has class-leading power. I like the look of the Megane as well though and by all accounts, it's a fantastic steer but unfortunately my prejudice leads me to believe (rightly or wrongly) that it will self destruct a week after the manufacturer's warrant expires, so to my surprise my favourite new hot hatches would have to be:
Abarth 500 for value
Vauxhall Astra VXR overall (both in black please)
What is your favourite NEW hot hatch and why?
However, what is your favourite of the current crop? For fun and value, I rather like the Abarth 500 but if the ride's as bouncy as my wife's 1.2, it could potentially be quite a handful! The Polo GTi and Fabia vRS also come in the right side of £20k and would be acceptable value alternatives to the larger hatches but I like my hot hatches with a manual box thank you.
Up until fairly recently, my favourite all-rounder would have been the (old) Focus ST followed closely by the Golf GTI but the new Focus ST does nothing for me to look at and although the new engine is more powerful and economical, I like the character and USP that the 5-pot motor gave the old car. So as an all-rounder, the Golf GTI (also available in 5 door) would have to be back on top!
Unfortunately, the Golf GTI is both underpowered compared to some of the more modern designs and no cheaper, so that can't be my favourite hot hatch either!
So for me, it would have to be between the Megane 265 Trophy (as the Clio does nothing for me) or the Astra VXR. These are both far too expensive (I'm sure their predecessors were knocking around the £20k mark). I always liked the look of the old VXR but it was a bit wayward by all accounts and the new one looks even better and has class-leading power. I like the look of the Megane as well though and by all accounts, it's a fantastic steer but unfortunately my prejudice leads me to believe (rightly or wrongly) that it will self destruct a week after the manufacturer's warrant expires, so to my surprise my favourite new hot hatches would have to be:
Abarth 500 for value
Vauxhall Astra VXR overall (both in black please)
What is your favourite NEW hot hatch and why?
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