The greatest hot hatch?

[SambaS]

 

Beauty!

[hhhugues]

yeah but surely...

 

[gtd2000]

 

Beauty!

 

That's definitely my favourite by a fairly long shot.

 

I wanted one but had to settle for an AE86 which was actually a really great car as well as a sound investment

[SambaS]

Still got that? It's a car that went from off everyones radar, bar mine. To total frienzied (DRIFT YO) madness, now meaning I'll probably never own one. On a plus side, I guess, some right basket cases were getting welded up. I'd still do the saloon with that big daft rear numberplate. I remember them being in my mates scrappy. Damn good engines.

[gtd2000]

No - it's still very much alive in Ireland these days

 

 

 

[SambaS]

Aah too much Corolla! Definately prefer the non pop up lights on these. Just need someone to post up pics of a nice black saloon to complete the set! Although think they were all misty blue or gold

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

3 years before the VW Golf (in any flavour) appeared, the Italians had already made a hot hatch that's near impossible to beat in terms of sheer driving fun.

 

[J-T]

No - it's still very much alive in Ireland these days

 

 

 

 

Most of the AE82s are over there as well now, that's where my last white one went. Can't believe the prices AE86s reach now, it's crazy! That one looks lovely!

[messerschmitt owner]

and here's another hot hatch - was made to sell this by SWMBO'd

 

DSC_8192 by messerschmitt owner, on Flickr

 

made at a time when the VW Golf GTi hadn't even been thought of!

[cort16]

I like the Shuvit HS's. They're starting to make mega dosh levels so the chances of actually owning one are nill.

 

 

I was going to say the Racing Puma would be a good one to store away for the future but they're already about 5-6 grand each!

 

I recon at shitter level a good modernish Hotish hatch to get just now is a Mk1 Focus ST170.

[Station]

Has anyone actually driven a Golf GTi and can report on them being any good? I mean, just because their false claims that it was the first 'hot hatch', it doesn't make it any good, plus Richard Hammond thinks it's the best car in the world (in his predictable and awful 'My favourite cars in the world' section in Top Gear magazine), which would make total sense if it was really actually shit outside of his brain.

 

I love those AE82's.

[garethj]

Yes, we had a Mk1 Golf GTi 1800 years ago, it was pretty good but the Alfasud Sprint I had at the time was much more involving to drive.

 

I don't think the Honda CRX is a hot hatch, only because it wasn't a hot version of a standard hatchback. It's more like a little coupe.

 

But as long as we're bending the rules, I like this hot hatch

 

I had one of these when it was almost new, a S1 with its 1300cc engine. It was frantic, but not actually that fast. A bloke in work at the time had a speedy Citroen ZX and its 0-60 time was much quicker than my 106

[gallondrunk]

[Spiny Norman]

I could fair go one of these mad little banzai Jap buzzboxes, but I doubt I'd fit in one!

[skattrd]

I could fair go one of these mad little banzai Jap buzzboxes, but I doubt I'd fit in one!

I've got a mate who's 6'3" and about 18 stone, and he fits in mine without issue. We even did a 200 mile roundtrip in it with me in the passenger seat. It was cosy, but not really cramped.

 

I've been thinking about this hot hatch thing, and for me it would have to be a Renault 5 Gordini Turbo.

No, I've not driven one, but if I was allowed any hot hatch that'd be it .... Unless you want to include my Storia X4, then it'd be that one

[fordperv]

Ahem..... Hot. Check. Hatch. Check. Nuff Sed.

 

yes just yes, the 3 door cossie is what springs to my mind it was ground breaking in its day

[Inspector Morose]

Bending the rules till they break.

 

image by Dentaurthurdent, on Flickr

 

Erm, it's a hatch Jim....and my god they're quick and a little bit deadly on the side.

[retrogeezer]

I don't think the Honda CRX is a hot hatch, only because it wasn't a hot version of a standard hatchback. It's more like a little coupe.

 

Well, it's hot, it's a hatchback and it was a coupe version of the Civic, it's full name was the Civic CRX.

[dollywobbler]

I agree to a certain extent that a CRX isn't really a hot-hatch. For my money, a hot hatch should be a performance version of something you can also buy with a distinctly feeble engine. It is a tricky one though, as the front end is pure Civic, so it's far closer to its humble sibling than say a Calibra.

[retrogeezer]

o.k then, if you don't like the Coupe roof line have this instead:

 

[garycox]

I imagine these are not particularly hot at all, but they look great.

 

[Parky]

I had one of those civics, looked great and was lovely and quick but I would still take a 5 Turbo over it any day. Much less reliable and likely to fall apart but when one is on song, it's tough to beat. The 205 is probably the better car but I feel the 5 has the edge on sheer mania.

 

My list (in order) would be

 

Renault 5 GT Turbo

Peugeot 205 GTi 1.6

Corolla GTi

Honda Civic

Fiesta XR2

 

I wouldn't complain about having any of these though! This doesn't contribute anything over and above what's already been posted I admit!

[ChinaTom]

 

These need a mention

[forddeliveryboy]

In the late seventies and early eighties, an injected Golf was much more quick, tough and reliable than anything else - it created the 'hot hatch'/GTi market. VW knew an Alfasud had a nicer engine, better suspension and classier badge but VW made a cheapo-suspension, god-fearing inline four sell to the masses who loved it. Today VW owns Bentley (as was Rolls Royce), Bugatti, Lambo and the rest and makes some of the most desirable cars (for many).

 

I found (when driven as bangers in the early 90s) fast Stradas earthy but great, Uno Turbos were fast but dull, Maestros were odd, Fords XRs were simply a lesson in how to lift the cutomer's leg (and an easy target for honest Car rags) and CRXs not really hot hatches and although quite perfect totally uninvolving. 205s were sublimely quick in the right hands and in good conditions (when in perfect order with decent tyres), but otherwise a bit lethal.

 

Only Mk1 Golfs, 5 Turbos, Suds and rwd Corollas made me smile - refined stuff which emerged in the 90s like Clios and the like were passed the hot hatch sell-by-date.

[fiatdaft]

Had 3 of these,this one got fitted with a slightly modded coupe engine

 

 

 

Great fun and pretty much forgotten.

 

Bought this new 4 years ago to replace it

 

[cort16]

I really like those Abarth Puntos they're a great looking car. Can still you buy them with the facelift front end?

[fiatdaft]

Cheers yes called the Evo ,i had the esse esse kit fitted when new .

[pompei]

I suppose we are distinguishing the hot hatch from the slow hatch, used for going to the shops etc. Golf, 205, Escort, Uno etc. There are plenty other brilliant small fast cars which are also hatches - the CRX and Alfasud Sprint are perhaps my favourite cars, having owned one of each. I had a Punto GT for a few months - remarkable acceleration provided you could control the torque steer but pretty hopeless in most other respects.

 

The Fiat Cinquecento Sporting was a wonderful tepid hatch - only 54 bhp but fantastic fun to drive.

[face]

I imagine these are not particularly hot at all, but they look great.

 

 

I had a Sport.

 

Juicy, noisy, shit gear-change and never in tune for more than about 300 miles.

 

But went like stink, handled great and sounded brilliant.

[philibusmo]

Can I also nominate this:

 

I've never driven one, neither have I ever met anyone who has, but they look great and do I ever want one.