Whats the story with Hot Hatch's...

[HeadRusch]

..one area where the US seems to differ in terms of what cars people are buying seems to be the obsession with Hot Hatch's in the UK.

Whats the story? Why are they so popular? To my eyes, they all look hideously similar..and even with gobs of power, every one of them still looks like a box with an angled front on wheels.

Suffice to say, yeah, I hate the style of hatchbacks. Nor do they seem to be particuarly popular over here, at least not where I am. The only hatchbacks you see are the ones running on lawnmower engines with skinny little bicycle tires on them driven by grandmothers.

Back in the 1980's the US offered a couple of "Hot Hatchbacks"...the Dodge Omni GLH I think was one of them, and then there were a handfull of others, but that fad seemed to die quickly.

What is it about them that make them so desirable in the UK? Is it because they are small? Is it because they are the only type of performance car available to young people? Or is the hatchback style still the big thing over on that side of the pond...?

I must admit, if I had to buy a grocery-getter, those are pretty nice...but at 16 thousand pounds+.....thats what....like getting close to $30,000 US....my god you'd be crazy to pick up a car like that over on these shores for that $$$.

So, UKers.....whats the deal?

[Cobol74]

Fast fun at affordable prices, and practical to boot.

[teeb]

Hatchbacks are pretty much the most popular body shape of car.

As Cobol74 said, they're the best allrounders at the price range, and do as a family car.

Hot hatches give you all the advantages of a normal hatchback, but with bigger / faster / more powerful engine, more aggressive body styling, suspension updates and so forth.

Its an important part of the collective UK motoring psyche.

[ryosuke]

not everyone lives in the US of (fat) A(rse), where you can buy cheap yet monstruous gas guzzling barges with hideous interiors because every house in monotonuos suburbia has a garage suited for a game of football.

basically, when i look out of my window now, in the evening, there are no parking spaces left whatsoever which would suit an american car. hatches are small and practical, thats what counts here and the hot hatches are for those who want a bit more excitement without loosing all the practicality. and even with the power and fwd they still handle better than any american car and are still more economical, too.


well, guess i better get me flameproof suit on now and hide behind that focus st over there.

[HeadRusch]

Hey...everyones entitled to a sweeping generalization now and then.

One area of the absurd stereotyping is at least moderately correct, there's rarely a shortage of parking spaces or garage space unless you live in a city.

I hadn't thought of the space issues, honestly. I can see where something like that comes into play.

As for the rest of the Anti-USA Automobile spew, American Cars are mostly crap.
Everyone knows that, we know it here. Heres the American way of buying cars.

Most Americans these days if they have a few dollars do not buy an American car. We buy American trucks and SUV's. There are some nice American cars..mostly the tuned up small cars (the SST Neon or whatever it is), or the new land-yachts like the Chrystler 300, and Cadillac is trying to make a play to compete with BMW and Audi....but for the money, why would you bother when you could have...a BMW or an AUDI. <shrug>

But if you have the $$$, you buy a German car.....or you buy a luxury Japanese car. Or you be the weirdo on your block and buy a Saab or a high end Volvo. Not alot of Mercs around here...I think their styling is too sedate compared to what you have to pay to get into one.

If you're middle class, and DONT own an SUV, you'd choke yourself on the number of Nissan Altima's and Volkswagon Jettas we have here.

So its a space thing...the reason why a hatchback (GOLF) is purchased more often when compared to the Saloon (JETTA)?? Around here its the opposite...space would seem to make sense in this regard.

[Redliner]

I don´t live in the UK or in the USA, but personally I would say that taste plays a role too. If given a choice between a large sedan and a hatchback, I would prefer the hatchback, for all the reasons people stated before.
Price probably has something to do also. I don´t know about USA or UK, but here in Brazil I believe 80-90% of cars must be hatchbacks, most of them the cheapest model.

[Steve Levin]

"Hot Hatches" are largely a European invention to excuse the fact that they've allowed themselves to become walled into a viciously anti-car society that not only limits your automotive enjoyment, but actively seeks to punish you for it.

I consider little front drivers to be only slightly more interesting that the vastly overbuilt and useless drift cars people build up in Asia. Both are really answers to questions that haven't been asked.

Signed,

A proud owner of a Chrysler 300 SRT-8 who's more than willing to poke back at the Europeans.

[BlaRo]

^ Yikes, you've just thrown this thread into the flames. Expect the British to turn up with pitchforks and torches any moment now.

By the way, feel free to post some pictures of your car in the "What's your car?" thread here.

[Redliner]

Originally Posted by Steve Levin

"Hot Hatches" are largely a European invention to excuse the fact that they've allowed themselves to become walled into a viciously anti-car society that not only limits your automotive enjoyment, but actively seeks to punish you for it.

I consider little front drivers to be only slightly more interesting that the vastly overbuilt and useless drift cars people build up in Asia. Both are really answers to questions that haven't been asked.

Signed,

A proud owner of a Chrysler 300 SRT-8 who's more than willing to poke back at the Europeans.

Wow. What an entrance. Should I take it seriously or is it just a desperate measure to get attention?

[Steve Levin]

You don't need attention when you have horsepower

http://www.interceptor.com/~thumper/the_king.jpg

I figure that someone should stand up for the real car enthusiasts

Steve

[Cobol74]

^ Possibly we are talking about two different things. Hot hatches are popular because they are affordable to buy and run, suit our less large roads (with"Corners") and are real world buying decisions. If in other countries like Australia, USA and Canada there are different conditions where by large cars with big power suit the prevailing conditions then hot hatches will not be a top choice. In a real world situation where petrol costs nearly 1 GBP per Litre a Chrysler 300 SRT-8 is not a viable option for most Europeans/Brits in a real world situation.

[fbc]

Originally Posted by Steve Levin

I figure that someone should stand up for the real car enthusiasts

I'll ignore the troll factor in your posts for now on the basis you're still new around these parts...

Real car enthusiasts know it's not all about power, not at all. It's about balance, poise, handling, response, the ability of a car to make you smile like a loon etc - all things that hot hatches can excel at.

Just because you have big boofy high hp RWD car don't blind yourself to the talents of other vehicles - hey my car's got a ground-shaking, earth-rotating 88kw (phwoar I hear you all say), but I have much more fun driving it than I would in something weighing 700kg's more even if it does have a nuclear reactor under the bonnet.

[Orange1984]

Even know i love my american cars and the V8 engine. Chrysler 300 SRT-8 is just to big to go around corners at very high speeds. Hatchback would be able to take a corner at fast speeds.

Anyways you wouldn't get hatchback unless you live in the UK or in europe.

[Peter3hg]

Power is nothing. The must fun car to drive ever was the original Mini with a mighty 45bhp.

[SL65]

Originally Posted by fbc

I'll ignore the troll factor in your posts for now on the basis you're still new around these parts...

Real car enthusiasts know it's not all about power, not at all. It's about balance, poise, handling, response, the ability of a car to make you smile like a loon etc - all things that hot hatches can excel at.

Exactly.

A real car enthusiast technically wouldn't be driving something with the base platform from a W210 Mercedes E-Class (old model) mated to a 5-speed auto.

Sorry to jump on you like that But pick your words wisely


But please post more pics of your car man Don't get me wrong - I do LOVE it

[watto]

Originally Posted by Horny_Load

Anyways you wouldn't get hatchback unless you live in the UK or in europe.

You'd be surprised! hot hatches (well, hatches full stop) are becoming more and more popular in Australia with the rise in fuel prices.

The Holden Astra, Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla, VW Golf, Audi A3 etc etc are hugely popular Down Under. Ford has just released the local version of the Focus ST, Holden is soon releasing the Astra VXR, the Golf GTI has a waiting list almost 12 months long and you see Renault hot hatches every now and then too.

Aussie car companies are realising that they can no longer rest their laurels on the big 6 sedan.

[BlitzR]

The 2 door Golf GTI is coming too Australia . I think the Polo GTI came to Australia before being sold in the UK.

[watto]

Originally Posted by BlitzR

The 2 door Golf GTI is coming too Australia .

*ahem* 3 door *ahem* but which way you call it, it doesn't matter. Bout time we had the 3 door come here!

I think the Polo GTI came to Australia before being sold in the UK.

Correct you are. We had it before any other market in the world!!!!!except Germany I think

[BlitzR]

Oh yeah 3 door. Still don't get why the hatch is considered a door but oh well.
You also forgot about the upcoming Mazda3 MPS, one of the most powerful Hatches thats going to be.

[watto]

^Oh yes, the 6 MPS has has some quite good reviews, I'm sure the 3 MPS will do a good job