Sad Times

[1536Z4]

Don't forget the Clio Williams

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 :evil:

 

[Pondy]

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

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!
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.

 

[MikeyH]

I must be on my own here, I’ve never been a fan of the shopping trolleys with big engine era.

:? They 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. :wink:

No, just no :thumbsdown:

 

[1536Z4]

It didn't look much IMO but was very fun to drive.

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 .

 

[BMWZ4MC]

1983 XR3i was my favourite! I had a Mk3 RS Turbo Escort aswell but the XR was more fun TBH.

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!

 

[buzyg]

And don't forget we still have the E86.

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.

Just after a cheap bite. No they are not in the same league as genuine old school hot hatches. :wink:

 

[Pondy]

As a poor student, I had an Orion 1.6i Ghia

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).

 

[BMWZ4MC]

As a poor student, I had an Orion 1.6i Ghia

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).

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.
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).

 

[pvr]

[ref]BMWZ4MC[/ref], did you dating life improve later on so you could drop the escorts?

 

[buzyg]

[ref]BMWZ4MC[/ref], did you dating life improve later on so you could drop the escorts?

Not until he stopped going Dutch. :wink:

 

[BMWZ4MC]

[ref]BMWZ4MC[/ref], did you dating life improve later on so you could drop the escorts?

Once you’ve sampled the plush interior of a tired, old escort it’s hard to find a comparable replacement…

 

[pvr]

At least you are in a position that if you tear the interior, you can stich it back up

 

[Hilly30si]

https://www.evo.co.uk/hyundai/206546/hyundai-i30-n-and-i20-n-axed?fbclid=IwAR1NvzLyFC9rZteqGRvZNa-Tftq9OuFNX-8gA7zKlVSlha6MyWbVzSNAEe4

Depending on which side of the fence you sit but another nail in the coffin for the traditional hot hatch

Tim.

Notice it says for 'Europe'. So many parts of the world will still get decent ICE cars and pollute as much as they like, but we are being forced more into EV shiteboxes because clueless politicians think it's a good idea? :x

That’s why I cherish my TR6, least I can still have fun for the foreseeable