Small hot hatch

R

Robb

Member
Say a certain someone was becoming a bit stale with his z4 coupe and has a strange urge to get the smallest and fastest hatch back he can find, which one would you think he should go for a drive in?

I cant explain myself and im sure a test drive will set me straight again but i'v been giving an un-healthy amount of thought and admiring glances towards cars such as the alfa mito( yes i know & it gets worse), fiat 500 abarth, corsa vxr, clio 197, citroen Ds3 and the like.

Basically anything tiny with around 200bhp is drawing my gaze, are there any iv missed? i know there is a fiesta ST out next year and oddly im excited by it.

I think I need a weekend of test drives to talk myself (hopefully) out of it.

Basically I am shallow, have no sentimental attachment to material possesions and get bored really easily, Iv now had my coupe longer than any other car iv owned at coming up 2 years and im getting ichy feet.
:driving:
 
I love those little abarth's too :D

doesnt float my boat but not on your list - Mini Cooper S Works..

Love those DS3's as well, sounds like the Racing version is the one to wait for though...

Id never have another Alfa even though they look nice..
 
I'd certainly add the Mini Cooper S onto any such list, but no idea why that certain someone would be headed down the route of finding the 'smallest and fastest hatch'
 
I dont like the mini's, never have really.

If they did the Mito GTA like they promised i think i would be skipping to the dealer ship now but as it is they are 170bhp standard with a 206bhp tune up kit available.

The fiat 500 has a 197bhp version that i bet would be a riot to hoon about with but the price they are asking seems a bit rich, still want a look tho.

DS3 racing is out in Jan I think and that is 200+bhp too?

"but no idea why that certain someone would be headed down the route of finding the 'smallest and fastest hatch'" - wel a change is as good as a break so they say.

There seems to be loads of these tiny turbo charged pocket rockets appearing and I want to go and play in them (all).
 
Sorry if I offend anyone here, but I still keep an interest in hot hatches and these are my thoughts:

Corsa VXR - terrible image, just don't do it!
Arbarth 500 - girly, looks ridiculous IMO
MINI Cooper S - common but for a damn good reason (one of the best hot hatches available), OTT interior b ut otherwise thumbs up
Citroen DS3 - unsure on that one, looks great but not one I'd risk
Polo GTI / Ibiza Cupra / Fabia vRS (all essentially the same car) - boring, damn DSG gearbox
Fiesta ST - well, the old one was a great drive but under-powered at 150bhp compared to the competition
Clio Renaultsport 200 - oh yes, great car if you get a properly built one, best of the lot

Occasionally I get itchy feet for another small hot hatch (I loved my Clio 172) as nothing beats kicking the sh*t out of something like that down a B-road - the Z4 just can't compete on the bumpy roads I frequent. But then I remember that I moved away from hot hatches to save my license and make me safer! I get more fun from the Z4 but at saner/legal speeds compared to any hot hatch.
 
a11y said:
.. But then I remember that I moved away from hot hatches to save my license and make me safer! I get more fun from the Z4 but at saner/legal speeds compared to any hot hatch.
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Haha, that's probably the first time i read of someone saying a 3lt sports car is more fun at lower speeds than a hatch. Usually they say it the other way round! :rofl: :thumbsup:

Personally i love hot hatches! I love the idea of a hot hatch, something small that you can rag its ass off and it'll beg you for more. I was looking at hot hatches before settling on a Z4M but i really wanted something RWD.

If i'd buy one right now i'd probably get a Clio 200 Cup as it's the last naturally aspirated hot hatch left. In lime green or yellow or something equally as loud. :D If i would be forced to buy something else i could be swayed by a 500 Abarth SS and fit it with a rorty exhaust and maybe a wastegate or something for even more hooligan factor. The only trouble with the Abarth is that you cant turn the stability control off. Could be an issue if you're considering tracking it.

Or how about something even smaller? A Renault Twingo Renaultsport! It's not particularly fast, only 133hp but apparently it's a blast to rag around town and in the twisties. :driving:
 
ga41 said:
a11y said:
.. But then I remember that I moved away from hot hatches to save my license and make me safer! I get more fun from the Z4 but at saner/legal speeds compared to any hot hatch.
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Haha, that's probably the first time i read of someone saying a 3lt sports car is more fun at lower speeds than a hatch. Usually they say it the other way round! :rofl: :thumbsup:
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Haha, yes perhaps it sounds a bit illogical but it's the overall "experience" and not just the speed I'm talking about - I think i'm getting old (despite being only 31). My old Punto Sporting was great fun despite only 85bhp because you could drive it flat out everywhere and not get into trouble!

Good call on the Twingo 133. The only thing that puts me off that is that it's effectively a Clio 182 with less power (same chassis basically), and since I owned a 172 for a few years I think I'd get frustrated at the comparative lack of power in the Twingo. Great chassis though and despite my own ownership issues I'd be hard pushed not to buy a Clio 200 or Twingo 133 if I was shopping for a hot hatch. Can't beat a revvy naturally aspirated engine in a small hatch.
 
I feel some sales man worrying test drives are in order over the next few weeks, first stop clio town, although im not buying anything till iv had a go in the new fiesta ST.
 
Robb said:
I feel some sales man worrying test drives are in order over the next few weeks, first stop clio town, although im not buying anything till iv had a go in the new fiesta ST.
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You need another forum run mate - that'll bring you round :driving:

p.s. Hope the fillies in York treated you well (both the four leggied and two leggied varieties!)
 
hehe, probably will.

The races was immense fun but i basically suck at gambling so managed to loose a substantial amount on the 4 legged variety, that left little cash to hand over to the 2 legged variety and we ended up in the seedy gentlemans club instead of the nice one we were originally aiming for.

Many many girls of dubious reputation roamed freely in there, i was fearful but brave and took one for the team, overall was a cracking weekend.

I would deffo go to york for a night out again, a few of my mates decided that it would be appropriate to wear full farmer grade tweed suits with cravattes(sp), looked awesome and fitted nicely with the landed gentry.

erm, cough etc....

74366_739413762343_61213467_45081411_4732165_n.jpg


whens the next meet then?
 
ga41 said:
How about a Ford Racing Puma? 1.7lt, 155hp, 1174kg?
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I used to have one of these and can't recomend it enough! Still gutted I sold mine but needed something 'sensible'. Don't be put off by the 155bhp, 182's never gained an inch and when it comes to the corners NOTHING could stick with it (apart from once in 4 years of ownership but that was an arial attom!) As far as thrashing it down country roads, again it was amazing! Very stiff setup and used to take off twice on my favourite road!.

Also, they sound amazing, they pop and bang on overun. Only problem is there aren't many around anymore but you will be able to get a good one and save money over a lot of other cars you have listed!
 
I just ragged around in a mates Smart 4/4 Brabus recently. Very good fun, excellent streering wheel, plenty of poke and nice to be in something different to all the other hatches :)
 
I went in my mates new pug rcz... looks dead cool.. very TT.. but imo the interior was rubbish and didnt feel particularly fast; a bigger heavier cooper S.

Personally i'd say a cooper S or fiesta ST would be top of my list; however i do secretly admire a focus RS (not so small... but in lime green - ever so fast and furious!)

I have a friend with a Polo GTi's and another with the Seat version (is it the Ibiza?) straight line speed are pretty impressive.. can certainly keep up with me.
 
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