Noughties-era hot hatches | Six of the Best
Think the newest GR Yaris too expensive by half? There is another way...
Renaultsport Clio 182 Trophy, 2005, 116k, PH Auction
By law, whenever the subject of best hot hatches comes up, we have to mention the Clio 182 Trophy because we’ve previously declared it hot hatch of the century (though, impressively, the GR Yaris pipped it to the post when PH turned 25). But even if neither of those things were true, leaving it out of noughties round-up would be nigh on criminal: the special edition model, as pure as the driven snow, embodies just about everything that’s good about hot hatches from two decades ago. As light as a plimsole, as pretty as a picture and, by dint of its origin story, beholden to the UK enthusiast for its very existence. This one, already up to £6,400 at time of writing, has benefitted from plenty of TLC. The hammer comes down on Tuesday.
Alfa Romeo 147 GTA, 2003, 91k, £16,995
Obviously the 147 was not hot hatch of the century in anyone’s book. But in cult classic terms, it might be every bit a rival for the Clio. Why? Because 3.2 Busso, that’s why. Has a more evocative engine ever made it into a hatchback? Granted, back in 2002 Alfa didn’t have the chassis tech to properly contain its 250hp output (or wasn’t interested in spending the money on what it did have) so the GTA was always destined to be a flawed masterpiece. But it looks too good and sounds too great for it not to be worthy of consideration - even when this one, with more than 90k miles on the clock, will require the best of £20k to unlock. Still, an uncut gem of a car.
Honda Civic Type R, 2005, 32k, £19,989
As we’re on the subject of limited-slip diffs (or the absence thereof), let’s move on to the EP3. It spent half the decade vying with the Clio for best value bragging rights - what would we give now to see that flyweight face-off revived? The Type R divided opinion for its bread van appearance, and it couldn’t quite match the 182’s knife-edge handling - but no one questioned the appeal of its K20A motor. Banging off the rev limiter at 8,250rpm is a formative part of many a car history, and thus the model has passed into legend. Or at any rate it is easily famous enough for another £20k price tag to seem realistic for an example that has covered just 32k since 2005.
VW Golf R32 (Mk4), 2003, 70k, £19,999
If the Golf you most associate with the noughties is the Mk5, then we get that. After all, it was the GTI that returned VW to the top of the hot hatch pile after the ignominy (mostly) of the Mk3 and 4. But we make an exception for the R32, and it is well-kept versions of that model which tend to earn the biggest valuations. Hence the £20k asking price attached to this one. Unlike the GTA, VW tried to fix the output problem with all-wheel drive, which makes the R32 enormously assured, though not necessarily enormously fun. But very much like the Alfa, the reward is experienced sonically. And on the basis this one was previously owned by Milltek Sport, you can pretty much guarantee it will be off the chart in that respect.
Ford Focus RS, 2003, 54k, PH Auctions
If you’re unafraid of a little modification, then you might be interested in the Ford Focus RS currently making its way to auction on Thursday. The standard car, it goes without saying, well earns a place among noughties heroes, and though not without its issues, is still among the best and most exciting front-drive cars ever made. This one, courtesy of a Stage 3 upgrade from tuner Sabre, is currently outputting a documented 340hp. As you might expect, it’s had its chassis seen to as well, though has thankfully retained an appearance best described as ‘tasteful’. Fast Ford fans tend to look after their cars, too, and this one absolutely fits the trend with an almost spotless MOT history. One to set an alarm for.
Vauxhall Astra VXR, 2008, 27k, £10,990
If you prefer a sea of unbroken green when it comes to previous tests, good we’ve opted to finish on this lovely-looking VXR. Granted, there are more famous (and yes, much more talented) hot hatches that hark from God’s own decade, but the novelty of an Astra with only 27k on the clock was too much to pass up. Unsurprisingly, it appears to have spent some time away from the road to arrive at such a small number, but the completely standard result is almost a sight for sore eyes. And with 240hp from its lusty 2.0-litre four-pot, it does not lack for old-school, death-or-glory charm. Which is rather the point of buying any hot hatch approaching its 20th birthday.
Surely it wouldn't cost that much?
Think I paid £7300 for a 3/4 year old 23k mile one.
Had it for 5 years and sold it with 60k due to getting a company car.
Was my first hot hatch at the age of 20. Brilliant thing.
Did it have the handling finesse of the french hatches, no. But it wasn’t as bad as the media portrayed. But it was fun.
Cost peanuts to run, one set of discs and a couple set of pads. Tyres would last 6k on the front and it would struggle to do 25mpg with a 20 year old driving it.
Only real issue with them was the gearbox. They couldn’t handle the torque when tuned. 280hp was easy with minimal mods but the gearbox didn’t like it.
Then Clio, then Honda, then Astra.
Swap Clio and Honda around depending on mood, the Honda s looks are the sticking point. Fantastic ugly jellymould.
Focus and Clio Trophy are special, Honda certainly has a special engine.
tters on there, £20k for an old civic is ridiculous Think I paid £7300 for a 3/4 year old 23k mile one.
Had it for 5 years and sold it with 60k due to getting a company car.
Was my first hot hatch at the age of 20. Brilliant thing.
Did it have the handling finesse of the french hatches, no. But it wasn t as bad as the media portrayed. But it was fun.
Cost peanuts to run, one set of discs and a couple set of pads. Tyres would last 6k on the front and it would struggle to do 25mpg with a 20 year old driving it.
Only real issue with them was the gearbox. They couldn t handle the torque when tuned. 280hp was easy with minimal mods but the gearbox didn t like it.
Went for the Civic in the end…. but the JDM version.
To counter the above on the looks, to me they look exactly as a hot hatch should - especially in Championship White.
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