The greatest hot hatch?

[pompei]

I desperately wanted a 105 Strada but just couldn't afford it - bought a 127 GT instead which I loved.

 

In later years I had a couple of Suds, my fave being a Sprint with a 33 1.7 engine. Best car ever (until it went wrong, usually weekly).

[Cavcraft]

Sorry (for being predictable), but for me it had to be the Astra GTE, ideally the Mk2. I do like XR3s, and their reputation of being the boy racers No.1 choice I think actually helps them as being iconic.

[Guest]

Obviously, the answer is....

 

.

 

OK, OK, only kidding. The real answer is the 205.

[Spiny Norman]

Preparing to get shot down in flames here but I never liked 'hot hatches' and never felt the urge to own one, I really don't care for Fiestas/Escorts/Astras etc. The nearest I'd entertain would be a Strada Abarth 130TC but I'd far rather have the same engine in a 2 door 131 Sport.

 

To me a hatch is best served low down the model range as a cheap & cheerful town thrasher. I'd honestly rather have a 205 GL than a GTi.

If I want to go fast I prefer a big barge with all the toys and a bit of metal round me if/when it all goes tits up.

 

If we're allowed Allegros then can I have an Opel Monza?

No? Well one of these might do I guess, if it had the tii engine you could get in ze Fatherland.

[trigger]

A family friend owned the Motormania store in Witham before moving to the Chelmsford store during the 80's and was always coming round in new cars, one's I fondly remember where a white Mk2 RS2000, White Nova GTE, White Astra GTE, Black Escort RS1600i and a Sierra RS500 Cosworth, God i was jealous of him!

 

I sat in my mates Clio Williams at the weekend, the seats were more like comfy armchairs then something you'd expect to find in a hot hatch, most disappointing.

[Justin Case]

There is only one contender

Lancia Delta Integrale Evo by AdamMatheson, on Flickr

[andrew e]

AX GT:

 

Some chap on 't interweb owns it now

 

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default ... ryId=25532

 

Though as a "Cold Hatches" go I had a mark 1 mars red Golf Driver in '92...

[scooters]

Having owned several different hot hatches ...best for hoot value and GR8 4 KILLING YRSEWF IN LIDL CARPARK LAMPOST TRAGITY is the 205 Gti in either flavour although I preferred the 1.6

 

All rounded hot hatch...ie one that I would happily take the kids in. Mk2 golf Gti 3 door 8v format, reliable, tough, wonderfully engineered and fun to drive, always regretted selling mine, bought in 2004 with 150k on clock, for 500 quid, sold 2007 with 170k for 600 quid, apart from tyres, oil, coolant the only thing I eva had to do was replace the fan cowling. I want another!

[scooters]

Quite a lot of what I would call GTs and GTEs here. What is a hot hatch?

[trigger]

I would class a hot hatch a sporty version of a standard family hatchback, so any GT or GTE would be a hot hatch.

[Ben_L]

Ford Racing Puma...

 

With added rust kaos.

[Volksy]

One of my faves was this, not the Sporting, but the GT

 

 

Shall probably be as long forgotten as its predecessor.

[Guest]

.... GR8 4 KILLING YRSEWF IN LIDL CARPARK LAMPOST TRAGITY is the 205 Gti in either flavour ...

....!

 

This sort of lyrical brilliance is what draws me back to Autoshite again and again! I haz dun a actual lulz at this.

[aldo135]

I've always wanted a Lotus Sunbeam, but if you wanted something you could rely on it would have to be a mk2 golf GTI. Or maybe a Volvo 360?

[John F]

Yugo 65, easily.

 

 

(well, it's hotter than the 45)

[stilo_active]

 

Two of my favourites are in this picture. I'd take the Fiat every day of the week, though, especially in Mk1 flavour like this one.

[CreepingJesus]

It's a genuine coin toss for me, between the Astra Mk2 GTE 16v, and the R5 GT Turbo. I always felt the Astra was more the racer, and the Renault more the hooligan; but as both are valid self-justifications for a hot hatch, I'm unable to decide!

As I was thinking about it, the memory banks were reminding me of fun times in (no particular order) Mk3 Astra GTE, Mk2 Astra GTE 8v, Nova GTEs, Fiesta RS1800s, Renault 19 16v and Nissan Sunny ZXT (altho' to be fair it's a coupe), all of which I enjoyed, however briefly.

[Pete-M]

Ooooh, I've owned loads of hot hatches

 

Of the ones I've owned;

 

Mk5 Escort RS2000: Useable every day but great fun on the twisties. My favourite hot hatch.

Strada Abarth 130 TC: brilliant car other than the insane noise levels inside, that thing was noisy on a run.

205 GTi 1.6: which was brilliant but not quite quick enough

205 GTi 1.9: quick enough, but spent all its time trying to kill me.

309 GTi: for being nicer to drive than the 205 and much less likely to kill, but a bit of a minger.

Golf GTi Mk2 8v (2.0): better at everything than the Mk1, with working brakes and excellent economy.

Golf GTi Mk1 (1.: useable and fun, but having utterly shit brakes.

Golf GTi Mk1 (1.6): Rowdy little bugger, four speed box was shit, as were the brakes.

Golf GTi Mk2 16v: Faster than the 8v, but not as nice to use as a daily driver

Delta HF Turbo (carb): Not very quick, thirsty, likely to break down often, not worth the hassle.

Delta HF Turbo i.e.: Handled a bit like the Strada Abarth, nice interior, felt quick.. turbo lag was an issue but much less so than with the carb one. Nice seats. Integrale interior.

Delta Integrales: More of a supercar than a hot hatch, the boot is utterly pathetic, the ride is abysmal and they cost a fortune to run. Fun when let off the leash though.

Escort XR3i Mk3: Ok at most things, not brilliant at anything, not fast but pretty economical, looked lovely. A hot hatch for someone who doesn't want a fast car.

Escort RS1600i: Better than the XR3i at the fun sporty stuff, much nicer interior, looked really lovely. Abarth 130 would crucify it on twisties.

Escort RS Turbo (S1) Worse than the RS1600i at pretty much everything, although it had 220+ (real) bhp so it was never going to be any good. Abarth would crucify it...

Fiat Uno Turbo: Nippy but too small for my liking, ride was harsh in town, didn't really like it.

Fiat 127 GT: As long as it was above 4000 rpm it was quite good fun. If it broke down I could watch it rust.

 

Depends what you want from a hot hatch.

 

If you want a thunka-thunka ride, loads of acceleration, torque steer and the feeling you're about to die then the Astra GTE 16v will supply all that in spades, it'll carry all your stuff and when it ends up in a hedge someone somewhere will want the engine from it. The RS Turbo once chipped will do the same but with a load of turbo lag and a better looking body.

 

For lunatic acceleration combined with the kind of handling that'll mean you arrive at work every damp day (until the accident) with a stupid grin, a pulse of 200 bpm, a wild eyed stare, bad back and a nervous twitch, then it has to be the 205 GTi 1.9. The 1.6 is a lot saner, but still happy to oblige with trying to kill you. R5 GT Turbo handles as well as the 205, is a little bit quicker but won't start more often than not. Both are too small to attempt to carry anything much.

 

For a reasonably normal car that rides like a proper car but is capable of a bit of fun on a B road the Mk2 Golf GTis are pretty good. It's a normal car. It has a decent size boot, doesn't drink tons of fuel and if it is a decent one it shouldn't give any hassle. Most are knackered now though. Mk1s are a bit too small for my tastes, and if I'm honest I don't like the interiors in 'em.

 

The Mk5 Escort RS is a car that I'm surprised more people didn't like. Reasonably subtle to look at, handled very well, engine was smooth enough below 6000 rpm and it pulled like a train. Around town it could be left in 4th gear most of the time - a trait shared with the Mk2 GTi 2.0 - but it had a wide power band so on a fun road there was always grunt available. Steering and brakes were vastly improved compared to the boggo shitbox Mk5 Escorts. Ford ruined them with the Mk6, they lost the looks, the rear discs and the funky bonnet bulges. Unfortunately, the youngest of the proper RS2000 Mk5s is now 20 years old and highly likely to be very rusty indeed...

 

As this is AS, an honourable mention to the MG Maestro EFi. If you want a hot hatch with a lot more interior space than most, that rides and handles better than an Astra GTE, and you're not at all worried about being seen driving the thing, then between breakdowns and wheel bearing replacements the MG EFi wasn't bad. Glad I didn't own one, but it wasn't as shit as I thought it'd be.

[Cavcraft]

Actually, I forgot about the 205GTi! I'd put one of them as my joint favourite with the Mk2 Astra GTE and I'll include another I forgot: the Proton Satria Sport. What a laugh those things are, especially if lowered a little and a straight through/power pipe is fitted.

[Guest]

I have but one word to say about that which appears in the linky below, and that word is BEIGE. Thank you, that is all.

 

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C366289

[Mr Lobster]

Its a bit subjective which is greatest I suppose but my choices would be -

 

VW Golf Mk2 GTi 16V.nt A good one can be a lot of fun, drove a fair number back when they were still newish and enjoyed it lots!

 

VW Polo G40. As Pillock says, relatively unknown and seriously quick.

 

Renault 11 Turbo. Need to own one. Bigger and less obvious version of the R5.

 

And finally, one I owned, regret selling and miss (I think)....

 

Alfa Romeo 145 Cloverleaf by Mr Lobster, on Flickr

 

Loved mine although it was very much a typical Alfa (spent a lot of time broken...)

Decently quick, different and made a nice noise.

[face]

I had one of these ultra-rare Mazda 323 GT's. Non-Turbo flavour.

 

 

They're a 1.6, cracking fun and full of kit - digi dash and electric everything.

 

My mate had a previous shape GT and apart from that I have not seen another on the road. It wasn't even easy to find a picture FFS!

 

My bro-in-law had a mid-90s RX7, like the one below. Some turbo-charged thing it was, but it wasn't set up for OMGTRAMP340SIERRADRIFTLOL1!

 

 

It felt just like a 90's Jap hot-hatch to sit in but went like a rocket. It was ACE.

[messerschmitt owner]

Citroen Visa GTi - performance and handling of a 205GTi but with the practicality of four doors (and a hatch, sorry Philibusmo).

 

Oh and quad lights as standard

[Tetleysmooth]

I used to have one of these:

 

 

Went like shit off of a stick.

 

http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/cla ... -cavalier/

[RichardMoss]

Easy winner, any day.

[HillmanImp]

What about the Scirocco Storm? Never had the pleasure though. Are they just nicer looking (subjective I know) Golf GTis?

 

 

I do like 205 GTis though to drive but the interior build KWALITIE is awful.

Mk2 XR2s are nice too but not as nice to drive as the 205 IMO.

Not had the pleasure of a Metro Turbo since 1993 but remember it being fucking amazing. However it was the first fast car I had ever driven so did not have anything to compare it to at the time.

 

TYhats it with me and hot hatches I think.

 

Whilst still a hatch I would say stuff like the Chavalier SRi is not a hot hatch in my eyes. Too big. A hot hatch in my eyes is golf size and smaller but thats maybe just me.

 

Can we have an Imp Sport? The rear hatch opened...

 

[cort16]

You know what I don't think I've ever owned a hot hatch. I've owned probably 60+ cars and the only one that springs to mind area BX GT and a Nissan Silvia (does that count?) the rest of the fast stuff I've owned has tended to be big saloons.

[HillmanImp]

Ooh! I forgot the Toyota Sera.

 

 

This was truly a great car to drive. Fast, great handling, distinctive styling (which I am putting as a plus).

[Volksy]

I had a Mk1 Storm, it was great, I'd say better than the Golf, certainly prettier and in a way more practical, bigger boot for example. Shame mine rotted away!

[Junkman]