Soldato
- Joined
- 30 Mar 2010
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I agree it would make you feel alive, right up until it kills you!
Hot Hatchbacks..
- Thread starter Housey
- Start date
It's one of the reasons I have my Corrado. While it was considered big and bloaty back in 1994 it's now much smaller and lighter (and with a lower centre of mavity) than most cars, still with ~200bph and the sound of a V6. It has no driver aids and the steering wheel is connected to the wheels the good old fashioned way without any fancy electronics. It puts a massive smile on my face every time I get in it.
I've also always had a Golf GTI or similar in my life. They are great all rounders and extremely practical. I've moved home in them several times.
The price of old skool hot hatches is currently climbing as people my generation rediscover them from their youth.
I've also always had a Golf GTI or similar in my life. They are great all rounders and extremely practical. I've moved home in them several times.
The price of old skool hot hatches is currently climbing as people my generation rediscover them from their youth.
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Soldato
- Joined
- 14 Jul 2005
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- 17,616
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- Bristol
I grew up surrounded by 205s and they are great fun but they aren't quite as robust / solidly built as the Golfs of the era...part of the reason I've got the mk2 GTI and not a 205.
From this morning...
One thing I don't like about the modern ones though is that they have the super bling / big wheels which means the ride quality isn't as good due to less tyre. Quick and capable on the UK roads though for sure and certainly much safer than the old ones like mine.
From this morning...
One thing I don't like about the modern ones though is that they have the super bling / big wheels which means the ride quality isn't as good due to less tyre. Quick and capable on the UK roads though for sure and certainly much safer than the old ones like mine.
All of those would be another league of fun compared to a hot hatch. Unless a hot hatch is highly focused on handling and not just straight line speed they aren't fun. The Lotus won't be that practical and the rear seats in the TT not great for adults but the rest are practical. Hot hatches are boring once you move on.
I grew up surrounded by 205s and they are great fun but they aren't quite as robust / solidly built as the Golfs of the era...part of the reason I've got the mk2 GTI and not a 205.
From this morning...
One thing I don't like about the modern ones though is that they have the super bling / big wheels which means the ride quality isn't as good due to less tyre. Quick and capable on the UK roads though for sure and certainly much safer than the old ones like mine.
Same as my old mk2 GTI 16v although different wheels. Same colour too... Atlas grey?
Checking in with the "I spun an old French hot had when lift-off oversteer caught me out" club. Thankfully I didn't hit anything significant and it left a little ding.
I didn't spin my R5GTT and I wish it was more reliable but it was so much fun when it did run
It had even less metal than a Saxo, the front slam panel might as well have been made out of foil.
Housey has moved on to some of the best cars that money can buy...
I didn't spin my R5GTT and I wish it was more reliable but it was so much fun when it did run
It had even less metal than a Saxo, the front slam panel might as well have been made out of foil.Housey has moved on to some of the best cars that money can buy...
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Soldato
- Joined
- 14 Jul 2005
- Posts
- 17,616
- Location
- Bristol
Yeah Atlas Grey 8v though...with some slight weather seal issues (hence the fogged up window, despite being dry inside). It was originally a small bumper car but it got changed over at some point before I got it.
E: Oh and I had a Renault 5, non hot version, lift off oversteer a few times, one time included putting it on it's roof. Lift off with a 205 XR too and in a 306 xld...didn't bin those cars. Had back end out a touch with the Golf but not from lift off, just due to over braking the rear from lowering it.
E: Oh and I had a Renault 5, non hot version, lift off oversteer a few times, one time included putting it on it's roof. Lift off with a 205 XR too and in a 306 xld...didn't bin those cars. Had back end out a touch with the Golf but not from lift off, just due to over braking the rear from lowering it.
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My mk2 was the first genuinely good car I bought. I loved it back then. I can't remember how old it was but only a few years. Great cars.
Oh really....
TT is crap.
GT86 underpower, if lovely to drive.
RX8 is ok, but engine is a mixed taste
Evora is epic
I hope one day I can move on from a Polo GTI, I live in hope.
Ditto!
Fiesta ST mk7 pretty much has the small hot hatch market (or maybe even the small performance car market in general) cornered right now. They are just too good, well priced, reliable and you can get quite a lot of power from them for just a couple of grand. Still undercutting most rivals.
Only reason I keep thinking about selling mine is I want something bigger and better for driving occasional long distances. The Fiesta ST is a very hard ride and not a good cruiser.
Only reason I keep thinking about selling mine is I want something bigger and better for driving occasional long distances. The Fiesta ST is a very hard ride and not a good cruiser.
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I miss my Audi S1 with 306BHP so much. I hammered the **** out of that thing around Europe last year, and every corner put a smile on my face. I even made myself feel car sick after driving like a bit of a lunatic up the passes in Switzerland 
Can't wait for my girlfriend's F56 Cooper S to arrive
Can't wait for my girlfriend's F56 Cooper S to arrive
There are way more cars. You can't beat a hot hatch for the price but eventually you get bored of hot hatches. I've had my fair share and the only one that was fun was the 205 gti. Lacking power but with it being light and good handling it was very entertaining. Once I got through the turbo cars like the Focus I got bored. It pulled like a train but that gets boring. The op was asking about what was more fun to drive that wasn't an impractical 2 seat car. There are a lot of cars a lot more exciting than any modern hot hatch and you can still maintain practicality like decent sized rear seats and boot.
Name one, you've not done so yet.
Most cars are better than a Polo GTI. The only reason I mentioned the others like the RX8 is you get the sublime chassis like the MX5 but also adult rear seats and the big boot. As you were talking about that in the original post. The engine is also sublime as the chassis. However that is 1 car. You need to get out and try something else. If you have the budget to look beyond a hot hatch then it is well worth it. Once you pair up an awesome chassis, rwd, practicality at a level you are happy with and an engine that suits the car then you have the one. That is personal taste and more than a set of numbers.
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I love hot hatches for all the points mentioned although I dislike how manufacturers have had to move away from larger, revvy engines.
I looked at a few cars before buying my 200 Cup but most were only attractive because of their power which becomes boring fast. I love kicking the arse out of my Clio occasionally as you feel you can actually get close to the cars limits which is where they become fun.
Erm.... you know what Housey's car history and current other car is, right?
//The fact is that with hot hatches you can drive them like you stole them. Everywhere. With mates in it. With shopping in it. On holiday. Out shopping. Anywhere and everywhere, and for a fairly small outlay. That's why they're such fun. Supercars are great and all, but you need the space to play with them and good luck hauling a flatpack desk around in one.