I am officially in love with hot hatches

XRL · 03-30-09, 01:26

I admit it, I love hot hatches. But they're almost exclusively FWD

And i do NOT love FWD. I can't explain it, but it upsets me that we don't get most of the REALLY cool ones.

How can you not love this? It's got 300hp too! And lots of torque! But sadly, Ford won't bring it over here (unless we all nag them a lot!)

YouTube - New Focus RS 2009 on 5th Gear!! <- It sounds nice too

The best hot hatch we get here is this:

Not the peacock, the R32 next to it. I know, I was confused at first too. 250hp and AWD, not as over the top as some others, and a bit more luxurious than most other hot hatches.

What are your favorites? Post pics too of course

That way I don't feel like I'm the only person with an odd love for these practical, yet sporty contraptions.

Here's a few more:

shine · 03-30-09, 01:45

I agree...the Focus looks really good...but not in the U.S. They need to bring it here!

RaskyR1 · 03-30-09, 02:14

I never thought I'd ever say I liked a Volvo but that hatch is pretty nice.

HappyWax · 03-30-09, 02:15

GTI = the original hot hatch.
But give it up to the BMW M coupe of the 90s...it's 13 years old and still catches my eye.

By the way, I think the WRX counts as a hot hatch now that the "5 door" is no longer classified as wagon. vroooom !

ps. If ford actually brought that car to the states I would actually consider buying one. The big three seem to think that only muscle cars will sell, but I think they have underrated the market.

barrym · 03-30-09, 06:08

No love for the A3?

When I brought my car in to be serviced a few weeks ago the loaner I got was a loaded 3.2l A3 quattro. Really sweet. The dealership uses it as a loaner because they couldn't sell it - nobody in the US is paying $42k for a hatchback!

XRL · 03-30-09, 06:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by barrym

No love for the A3?

When I brought my car in to be serviced a few weeks ago the loaner I got was a loaded 3.2l A3 quattro. Really sweet. The dealership uses it as a loaner because they couldn't sell it - nobody in the US is paying $42k for a hatchback!

It's hard to find the A3 quattros! I would love if we got the S3, and/or the 3 door version. The forthcoming R20 seems like something I'd like, it's basically the S3. Sadly, it won't be coming for some time, if its real. An R36 GTI would be cool too.

dublifecrisis · 03-30-09, 06:33

MKV GTI owner here. I love it. yeah it's FWD but it's modded and I smoke some rear drive V8's around here and then I get dirty looks. It's worth it.

UpNorth · 03-30-09, 06:35

XRL, that loaded A3 may be calling to you. It's in Florida, AWD, and amazing. (Thanks Barry) But maybe it falls in wagon category, rather than a hatch. The lines are blurred at the edges.

Thanks for posting up the C30 picture. Picture it in black sapphire metallic paint and you have my new ride (ETA late may/early June). I never thought I'd like or get a Volvo either but this one speaks to me too.

I think hatches are a tough sell because people think of them as just cheap or toys. But there are a lot of truly nice choices out there. I'm dropping my CUV in favor of the C30 as I find I just don't need such a big car and will do fine with the utility the hatch offers, not to mention the fun factor.

barrym · 03-30-09, 06:56

I've always considered the A3 a hatchback. It was only after moving to the US that I heard it referred to as a wagon. I suspect that this is just a marketing ploy by Audi to make it sound larger (not that it is very small), because as you mentioned, people think of them as cheap little cars.

I guess I'll never understand the mentality of 'bigger is better'.

Lumadar · 03-30-09, 07:25

They are bringing that Focus platform over in mid 2010 as a 2011 model year. Sadly, no RS at least to start.

You have to consider the current economy... putting all the extra money into the RS wouldn't be a very prudent business decision.

rydawg · 03-30-09, 07:30

That RS would be a very cool car and I bet it would sell crazy over here in the states.

XRL · 03-30-09, 08:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by UpNorth

XRL, that loaded A3 may be calling to you. It's in Florida, AWD, and amazing. (Thanks Barry) But maybe it falls in wagon category, rather than a hatch. The lines are blurred at the edges.

Thanks for posting up the C30 picture. Picture it in black sapphire metallic paint and you have my new ride (ETA late may/early June). I never thought I'd like or get a Volvo either but this one speaks to me too.

I think hatches are a tough sell because people think of them as just cheap or toys. But there are a lot of truly nice choices out there. I'm dropping my CUV in favor of the C30 as I find I just don't need such a big car and will do fine with the utility the hatch offers, not to mention the fun factor.

I'm in the same boat. My CUV is nice and all, but it really doesn't have that much more room than a GTI would. The 3.2Q A3s are totally uncommon around here, there's like a handful, not that the 2.0t A3 is very common either. The 09s have the 2.0t Q model, but they're 35k, lol. Hence my moving towards an R32, the only thing it doesn't have is the panoramic moonroof, which would be missed, but not to the point that I'd lose sleep at night.

The RS is super hot. The really interesting part is that it shares a lot of platform with that C30 (including its engine, the RS is just an upgraded version of that 5 cylinder turbo). The C30 sounds pretty cool too, and it's pretty luxurious. I wish I could get some seat time in one, they sell for pretty decent pricing too. You've GOT to get it in black though, because the weird rear hatch opening is kinda odd otherwise. I also wish it didn't open just that small area, but such is life.

I'd give heavy thought to the RS if it came out over here and had a flappy paddle gearbox. But if you figure over in Britain it costs as much as the R32 (which was about $35k here) I dunno how many people could justify $35k for a Focus. Hence why I think they need to make a C30R, and have it be the RS with the near-lux of a Volvo. Then it could sell.