What are your 3 favourite 1980s hot hatches?
Discussion
This is my list, in order of preference;
1. Sunbeam Lotus (I was too young to get insured)
2. Sunbeam Ti (owned one identical to this in Moonstone);
3. Strada Abarth 130TC (I think I must have been drawn to cars with dual twin choke carbs! )
1. Sunbeam Lotus (I was too young to get insured)
2. Sunbeam Ti (owned one identical to this in Moonstone);
3. Strada Abarth 130TC (I think I must have been drawn to cars with dual twin choke carbs! )
Edited by Andy86GT on Wednesday 31st December 09:00
I had a Ford Fiesta XR2 mk2, followed by a 1.6 Pug 205 GTI. Some of my mates had epic cars at the time, Astra GTE 16v, Renault 5 GT turbo etc... Late 80s/early 90's were the best time to enjoy driving imo.
I think the ones I regret not owning most were the Honda CRX VTEC, Suzuki Swift GTI and Astra GTE 16v.
The most disappointing was a test drive in the Alfa Romeo 33 cloverleaf!
I think the ones I regret not owning most were the Honda CRX VTEC, Suzuki Swift GTI and Astra GTE 16v.
The most disappointing was a test drive in the Alfa Romeo 33 cloverleaf!
Andy86GT said:
This is my list, in order of preference;
1. Sunbeam Lotus (I was too young to get insured)
2. Sunbeam Ti (owned one identical to this in Moonstone);
3. Strada Abarth 130TC (I think I must have been drawn to cars with dual twin choke carbs! )
I'd agree with those three.....carb fetish indeed1. Sunbeam Lotus (I was too young to get insured)
2. Sunbeam Ti (owned one identical to this in Moonstone);
3. Strada Abarth 130TC (I think I must have been drawn to cars with dual twin choke carbs! )
Edited by Andy86GT on Wednesday 31st December 09:00
captain_cal said:
That’s not a hot hatch though is it ?When was a massive Saab ever in a group test with an XR3 and 205 GTI, would have been like twice the price and half as big again.
Not sure a Lotus Sunbeam really qualifies either, on carbs, RWD and quite an expensive, limited edition, specialist car. It had a hatchback but the ethos and formula was different. More a Homologation special with elements of hot hatch. Like the Chevette HS/HSR as well.
The original was the Golf GTI, fwd, bit more power, bit of sporty trim and easy to drive/live with for regular punters with decent economy. Normal folk bought GTis, 205s and XR3s in their droves.
There were about 2300 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus’s sold, 400 Chevette HS and 50 ish HSRs, these were tiny numbers, hot hatch doesn’t really do them justice as a category.
J4CKO said:
When was a massive Saab ever in a group test with an XR3 and 205 GTI, would have been like twice the price and half as big again.
Not sure a Lotus Sunbeam really qualifies either, on carbs, RWD and quite an expensive, limited edition, specialist car. It had a hatchback but the ethos and formula was different. More a Homologation special with elements of hot hatch. Like the Chevette HS/HSR as well.
But this is PH and it's Christmas. On that basis I'll choose: Alfasud, 350i coupe and an 037 Not sure a Lotus Sunbeam really qualifies either, on carbs, RWD and quite an expensive, limited edition, specialist car. It had a hatchback but the ethos and formula was different. More a Homologation special with elements of hot hatch. Like the Chevette HS/HSR as well.
uktrailmonster said:
I m a bit surprised nobody has mentioned the Alfasud Ti Cloverleaf yet.
I think it was either the Ti (pre facelift) or the Green Cloverleaf (post f/l, run out model), but not both.
Fantastic cars nonetheless, even though they were an ageing design towards the end. Even the hum drum 1.2 cooking versions were fantastic - not something you could say about the base versions of all the other cars discussed here.
Dapster said:
uktrailmonster said:
I m a bit surprised nobody has mentioned the Alfasud Ti Cloverleaf yet.
I think it was either the Ti (pre facelift) or the Green Cloverleaf (post f/l, run out model), but not both.
Fantastic cars nonetheless, even though they were an ageing design towards the end. Even the hum drum 1.2 cooking versions were fantastic - not something you could say about the base versions of all the other cars discussed here.
I had the pleasure of owning many hot hatches back in the eighties and even found some disappointing the biggest of which was the Escort RS Turbo . In comparison to the RS 2000 of the Seventies I thought it was utter crap though the birds liked them . 1.9 Peugeot 205 GTI would be my ultimate hot hatch and the favourite from all the ones I owned . I bought it from the late Tony Moore of Rickmansworth Sports Cars . Long dead now but what a lovely bloke he was . The car wasn't perfect by any means but what an exciting , lively and rewarding drive it was . I really enjoyed it .
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff