Hot Hatchbacks..

Skillmister · 13 Jan 2017 at 13:48

Janesy B takes far better pictures than me (think my phone is on its last legs this is even worse than normal

), but I thought taking the long way round on a trip to Bangor today would be appropriate

Averaged 31mpg, can't have been trying hard enough.

That section of the A5 is fantastic and the roads were empty which made it even better.

toasteh · 13 Jan 2017 at 14:55

Didn't fancy the extra diversion to the triangle?

Not quite as hot, but considering a Fiesta ST-Line when I get rid of the Mini shortly. Probably only the 100hp version but it's the same engine as the 140 and remaps to ~150 easily.

Skillmister · 13 Jan 2017 at 15:14

Done that plenty when I take my bike to Brenig

Going down to Cardiff in March. Will be going A470 all the way rather than the long (quicker) way round. Should be a blast!

GhostWKD · 13 Jan 2017 at 15:41

Sparky-F1 said:
Most fun I have had in any car was my Fiat Uno Turbo IE , that thing was so light [ like made of paper] and so responsive , it was a riot to drive around town. Traded it in for an Opel Kadett GSi

Rust is lighter than carbon fibre

Sadly I missed my old hot hatches for a bit last year and bought a 8L S3 and didn't enjoy it at all

That said, I then got my Z4 which I don't enjoy either, perhaps I'm just fussy.

Hopefully buying a S2000 instead but the FN2 civic did tempt me to go have a look at one, never got around to doing that though.

Janesy B · 13 Jan 2017 at 15:42

Nasher said:
Give it 40k miles of daily commutes on UK roads

I think that's where I would draw the line.

Hedge · 13 Jan 2017 at 16:29

Commuted in my Megane this week. 60 miles a day. It's more of an engaging drive than my Mondeo thats for sure. However not as easy to just dive into and **** out.

Averaged 33mpg over the week. Thats pretty good for a car with near 300bhp under the bonnet.

Housey · 13 Jan 2017 at 18:19

Kemik said:
I loved the interior in the Polo. It was basically a mini Golf. However, the engine in the 2011 Polo GTI I had drank oil. There was something wrong with it and VW refused to accept that using 18L+ a year of oil for 14,000 miles was wrong. The DSG box was the reason I went for the Golf after my gf's consistent moaning about the Fiesta's seats.

Handling though, I still say my Fiesta was much better sorry You'll still love the Polo though. I think they look great inside and out compared to Ford's plastic interior.

I'm waiting til the end of next year to see the new Fiesta ST before hopefully switching back.

Wasn't yours a smaller engine too? Mine is a 1.8L was the 2011 car not a 1.4 or something like that? As has been said it's not the best hot hatch, I'm sure the Fiesta handles better than it, but as I said this is a car I park at stations and airports but puts a smile on my face there and back to an extent I forgot hot/warm hatches can. If I want to be the best handling or fastest I take the R8 V10 +

chaparral · 13 Jan 2017 at 20:08

Housey said:
If I want to be the best handling or fastest I take the R8 V10 +

R8 don't look to be that fast over here......I reckon you be able to easily get around my island much faster in your polo GTI then your R8

Diagro · 13 Jan 2017 at 21:26

chaparral said:
R8 don't look to be that fast over here......I reckon you be able to easily get around my island much faster in your polo GTI then your R8

Sounds very... whiny

Housey · 13 Jan 2017 at 21:37

V8 needs V10

Dr Who · 13 Jan 2017 at 21:50

Janesy B said:
I think the current lot of small hot hatches hit the mark perfectly, enough power to avoid being mauled by the diesel repmobiles but not so much you end up at licence shredding speed in seconds. I've had my ST for 6 months and I'm happy with my choice, I still have a fully functioning back too, despite what people say about the suspension.

[snip]

I honestly love these cars, even though the seat is a bit snug for me. It is the first hot hatch I have really enjoyed since the Peugeot hay days.

GT3 · 13 Jan 2017 at 22:17

My two favourite hot hatches that I wish I never sold.

25k mile Saxo VTS with 160bhp, group n bilsteins, wilwood 4 pots etc and a completely standard 38k mile s1 106 rallye.

Still got this one but I prefered the 106/saxo chassis.

Housey · 14 Jan 2017 at 11:07

Those 106 Rallye's are superb. One of the lads I raced with bought a mint one a few months back!

djjuk · 14 Jan 2017 at 12:30

Love a hot hatch - had a few in my time. Mk2 Fiesta XR2, Mk2 Escort RS Turbo, Mk5 VW Golf GTI and all were huge fun to drive.

Now got a BMW F30 330d - faster but infinitely more sterile and boring.

Ayahuasca · 14 Jan 2017 at 15:29

Probably classed as a warm hatch but I'm toying with the idea of a new 595 abarth competizione for 199 deposit and 199 a month.

rare · 14 Jan 2017 at 16:31

Had the GP's wheels refurbished in gloss black and nickel chrome. Put them on this morning. Excuse the poor photos. I love this hot hatch !

Boycey0211 · 14 Jan 2017 at 18:57

Ayahuasca said:
Probably classed as a warm hatch but I'm toying with the idea of a new 595 abarth competizione for 199 deposit and 199 a month.

180BHP as standard and the series 4 ones have the bigger turbo capable of 250+ if you're prepared to stump up the cash.

However its not massive power but ridiculous fun IMO, have a test drive and see!

Sparky · 14 Jan 2017 at 20:43

r112 refurbed a few weeks back, Rota Bronze

And noisy hatchback

9designs2 · 14 Jan 2017 at 21:58

Always struggled to find anything I prefer more than a hot hatch, so ended up with a few over the years, even a couple of diesel variants, do they count?
Quick run through, XR3, RS1600i ( kept this as second car for over 15 years, shame I sold it about 8 years ago... dorrr). Escort RS2000 mk5 and mk6, Leon Cupra 150 Diesel, Leon Cupra mk2 TFSI +Revo 300bhp remap. Wife for now has Ibiza Cupra 1.4 DSG, finally current mk3 Focus RS with Mountune...

While I agree with some earlier comments that today's cars require so much speed to get fun and entertaining, making older cars more fun, the Focus RS does pull off the trick of not only being silly quick, but is fun from low speeds, something I believe Ford was aiming for. The torque vectoring allows you to steer with the throttle even from lower speeds, makes it fun drive and rear bias at times. Nothing drives like it, has character, a few traits/flaws but a stunning car.

Sparky · 14 Jan 2017 at 22:56

9designs2 said:
Always struggled to find anything I prefer more than a hot hatch, so ended up with a few over the years, even a couple of diesel variants, do they count?
Quick run through, XR3, RS1600i ( kept this as second car for over 15 years, shame I sold it about 8 years ago... dorrr). Escort RS2000 mk5 and mk6, Leon Cupra 150 Diesel, Leon Cupra mk2 TFSI +Revo 300bhp remap. Wife for now has Ibiza Cupra 1.4 DSG, finally current mk3 Focus RS with Mountune...

While I agree with some earlier comments that today's cars require so much speed to get fun and entertaining, making older cars more fun, the Focus RS does pull off the trick of not only being silly quick, but is fun from low speeds, something I believe Ford was aiming for. The torque vectoring allows you to steer with the throttle even from lower speeds, makes it fun drive and rear bias at times. Nothing drives like it, has character, a few traits/flaws but a stunning car.

Last car was a e90 335i, started off stock and although quick in a straight line, was never really fun. By the time I sold it, 500bhp, coilovers, uprated brakes. Meth injection made it a riot but, was still a bit detached as a drivers car.

Sold it and bought the JCW , not stopped smiling since.