Don't forget the Clio Williams, 182 etc, Peugeot 106GTi, 205 GTi, 306 GTi-6s!! The French imo had he Hot hatch market absolutely nailed for such a large chunk of the 80s/90s/00s! Absolute HOOTs to drive, and actually sensible to run/practical as well. As I say, I still miss my old 306 GTi-6
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- Ed Doe
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Carbon Black '07 M Coupe: Intrax 1k2 Coilovers, AP-Racing, Raybestos ST45s, Tillets, Schroth, Vibratechnic, Apex EC7, Strongstrut, Eventuri, Supersprint, RTD, 4.1FD
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- pvr
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And in those days there were no speed cameras, so I was absolutely loving the 16V Golf GTI I had in 1990 (well, it was my wife's ).
Also, there was also none of this woke stuff regarding driving.
Also, there was also none of this woke stuff regarding driving.
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- BMWZ4MC
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I absolutely agree…except mine was a 306 XSi.Ed Doe wrote: ↑Mon Feb 26, 2024 9:03 am yeah but let's be honest, the traditional hot hatch has been dead years....
YES the Honda Civic Type R was on ECOTY this year, but when a hot hatch is £50k to buy new, is is not just missing the point (Simple decent chassis, big engine, cheap fun)?
I dunno, call me old and grumpy, but the Hot hatch died a long time ago - a casualty of the human necessity for 'more'; more power, more speed, better laptimes. The fun of spanking a relatively light, relatively soft NA hot hatch down the backroads has been drowned out in the marketing department demands for 'ring laptimes.
I miss my old Peugeot 306 GTi-6
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Not really a hot hatch as such, though. Since BMW started meaning "Bloody Massive Weight" a good few years ago they were never in the running IMO.
1983 XR3i was my favourite! I had a Mk3 RS Turbo Escort aswell but the XR was more fun TBH.
All good things come to those who wait. I'm really impatient which explains a lot.
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F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
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- 1536Z4
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A mate of mine had a Clio Williams which as far as I remember had a build number plate . He was into his rallying and had owned a Talbot Sunbeam previously which was a laugh and after the Clio a Subaru WRX Sti . I didn`t know what all the fuss was about with the Clio until he took me out for a spin
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I worked for a while on the same industrial estate in Didcot where Williams "made" the Clio. I used to walk round there often and have a peer into the workshops. Cleanest and tidiest workshops I've ever seen!1536Z4 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 26, 2024 7:22 pm A mate of mine had a Clio Williams which as far as I remember had a build number plate . He was into his rallying and had owned a Talbot Sunbeam previously which was a laugh and after the Clio a Subaru WRX Sti . I didn`t know what all the fuss was about with the Clio until he took me out for a spin
My next door neighbour in 1993 bought a new Williams Clio (he was a BA pilot). It didn't look much IMO but was very fun to drive.
All good things come to those who wait. I'm really impatient which explains a lot.
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
- MikeyH
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No, just nobuzyg wrote: ↑Mon Feb 26, 2024 11:58 amThey are just so fast and fun, in the real world, for the money. The Fiat Coupe 20vt, was basically a hot hatch, with no hatch. I think it started as a Tipo in a dress. It could live with TVRs and embarrass E36 M3 Evo's. (When it was working) You have missed out Mike.
Now, Sterling grey Z4 2.2 with cup holders, stubby aerial and sport seats. Roadsters ‘cause they’re great with the roof down.
Ford Anglia, Red Sprite, a few MG midgets, MGB Roadster and yellow Ford Capri, all gone many years now.
Ford Anglia, Red Sprite, a few MG midgets, MGB Roadster and yellow Ford Capri, all gone many years now.
- 1536Z4
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I agree it didn`t look like how it drove . I think it had bronze coloured wheels but that was about it . Probably had other bits that I didn`t notice .I was more into motor bikes at the time .
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- BMWZ4MC
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As a poor student, I had an Orion 1.6i Ghia - the thinking man’s XR3i (or rather the version insurable for a student living in London). It was fun at the time, but wasn’t as fast as I’d expected and the brakes were hopeless!
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- buzyg
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Just after a cheap bite. No they are not in the same league as genuine old school hot hatches.
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My sister had one as a company car in 1988. I really liked it. Plush interior (for an Escort)!
I did manage to fry the front brakes on my XR3 during a drive through the Welsh mountains one day. All was well after a few minutes of cooling down (the car and me).
All good things come to those who wait. I'm really impatient which explains a lot.
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
F31 320i. Good car.
E89 20i Now fully dried
Z3 'free litre'. Project and a half. Complicated!
Mazda3 sold
Tatty old R56 Mini Cooper. Money pit!
- BMWZ4MC
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Mine was a 1988-89 F-reg in metallic Champagne Gold (polished turd with a dash of glistening pink in direct sunlight - the perfect colour choice for a Pondrew, I would imagine) over matt grey with clear indicators and XR3i spotlights. It was definitely the fastest thing in Saaaf Lundin.Pondrew wrote: ↑Mon Feb 26, 2024 8:46 pmMy sister had one as a company car in 1988. I really liked it. Plush interior (for an Escort)!
I did manage to fry the front brakes on my XR3 during a drive through the Welsh mountains one day. All was well after a few minutes of cooling down (the car and me).
It was old and knackered before I got hold of it and life became much harder for it thereafter. In retrospect, the interior was much nicer than my other student cars, but I didn’t really appreciate that at the time (not that I’ve had call to get to know many escorts in my time).
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- pvr
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BMWZ4MC, did you dating life improve later on so you could drop the escorts?
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911-50 Black - unique spec
X5M - 575 hp of fun in a V8
Abarth 595 Comp.
Golf Clipper - collectors item
Z4 3.0si Black Sapphire
VW ID.3
Previous:
Z4M Silver Grey - non flimper spec (gone to Bing)
Z4 3.0 Toledo