Hot Hatch article on PH; RS Clio content

[celicaturbolly]

As title, if you haven't read it already:

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=30602

 

[Diagro]

Hmm.
I think he is wrong.

its just new ones are too expensive.

 

[Goodj]

opinions are like assholes

 

[Timmsy]

Hmm.
I think he is wrong.

its just new ones are too expensive.

Quick question and dont mean to sound like a d**k but have you ever driven any of the older hot hatches in comparison? i have and i almost completely agree with The article (one of the reasons i got a 172 tbh)
Yes the new 'hot hatches' are expensive but its all relative. The new ones are too saftey conscious and not fun anymore, you have to really be driving on the edge for them to be fun. older ones used to feel fun going round a corner at the speed limit and actually it actually feeling like you doing that speed. Newer ones do it effortlessly, hardly any feedback.
While for the younger people out there this might be all well and good but its far from what a hot hatch used to be.

For instance.. my 172, i know when im doing 30 as it feels it, the equivilent say civic type r, albeit fast it just feels to relaxed if that makes sense.
Was the same with my old 205 Mi16, was very raw and loved every minute of driving it. Moving to the Clio wasnt much different.

 

[Diagro]

Quick question and dont mean to sound like a d**k but have you ever driven any of the older hot hatches in comparison? i have and i almost completely agree with The article (one of the reasons i got a 172 tbh)
Yes the new 'hot hatches' are expensive but its all relative. The new ones are too saftey conscious and not fun anymore, you have to really be driving on the edge for them to be fun. older ones used to feel fun going round a corner at the speed limit and actually it actually feelign like you doing that speed.

For instance.. my 172, i know when im doing 30 as it feels it, the equivilent say civic type r, albeit fast it just feels to relaxed if that makes sense.

Yea driven a few mate, And not to forget my 172.

I have also test driven the newer Honda and yes it does feel tame in comparison (even when going faster) but i enjoy all the mod cons too.

 

[Timmsy]

Yea driven a few mate, And not to forget my 172.

I have also test driven the newer Honda and yes it does feel tame in comparison (even when going faster) but i enjoy all the mod cons too.

Cool, just that so many people make an assumption before actually driving any old hot hatches (had a friend with a corsa VXR who used to hate on my 205 untill i let him drive it round some B roads one day, never heard a such an opinion change so much lol)

 

[Sideways182]

Biggest problem with today's hot hatches are that they are bloated by all the weight they have to carry and are stupidly overpowered.

I want to rag the tits off a car on occasion and not be in license-loosing territory.

How much of the megane's performance will you really exploit? Just willy-waving.

 

[Timmsy]

Exactly, i think this part sums it up for new hot hatches

What I want from a hot hatch is a car that moves around underneath me at more socially acceptable speeds, relying more on chassis balance than outright grip. I want it to cheekily **** a rear wheel as I pitch into a roundabout and I want to experience the thrill of having just enough grip to allow the rear end to be trustworthy but mobile. Simple pleasures from simple machines

I mean give me something thats fun to chuck around b-roads within the speed limit and i'll be all smiles and have hours of fun. Give me something that is over capable and im pretty sure i'll get bored.

 

[celicaturbolly]

I still don't know why the car manufacturers have a fascination with making each successive model larger than the previous

 

[Ph1 Tom]

I agree with it. My old Mk2 Fiesta felt amazing, my ph1 is not that road friendly but it's so much easier to push on in than the Fiesta was.

If I went too fast it would try to kill me, if I lifted off it would try to kill me, if I braked too hard/late it would try to kill me. But get it right on the limit and it was very rewarding.

My Ph1 feels quite tame in comparison, it's quicker but it doesn't try to kill you as much. It's still very rewarding to drive. Something I don't feel driving the latest crop of hatches.

 

[STEVE.M]

opinions are like assholes

They stink.

 

[The Psychedelic Socialist]

I still don't know why the car manufacturers have a fascination with making each successive model larger than the previous

Because ultimately that's what sells. Hot hatches are based on small family cars and people buying small family cars want climate control, DAB, airbags, side impact protection, sound deadening etc. Each generation introduces something else people want, and car manufacturers like to be able to sell you your old car but a bit 'better' i.e. a bit bigger, faster, more economical etc.

If the mkVIII Golf was lighter than the mkVII at the cost of legroom and boot-space it just wouldn't sell.

 

[celicaturbolly]

I agree with you apart from the bigger aspect, why does it have to be? If you want a larger model in the newer shape, buy the larger alternative model in the same brand for the extra room.. Clio > Megane etc

 

[Fudge]

I guess to fit all that extra stuff. If you need to put in a better dab sat nav radio and air bags then you need more wiring and to have more wiring you need bigger door cards and dash. So to stop that from making the luggage and passenger space smaller the car has to be be bigger.

 

[The Psychedelic Socialist]

I agree with you apart from the bigger aspect, why does it have to be? If you want a larger model in the newer shape, buy the larger alternative model in the same brand for the extra room.. Clio > Megane etc

I'm no marketing expert, but I'm sure I read something about manufacturers wanting to keep you within a brand.

If you buy a Golf you're likely to be in a certain budget range and might not be able to stretch to the Passat, but might be able to afford to move to a Mondeo (for example). If they make the next Golf a little larger and better equipped you'll stay with VW but if they kept it the same they're more likely to lose you to Ford than get you to step up to the Passat.

 

[Matt e]

And also I think it has a lot to do with safety of the occupants and pedestrians. Structure of the car and the safety systems and they all want 5* n cap ratings

 

[Chip-mk1]

I agree with him totally, in fact so much so that if someone told me that was a piece I had written and then forgotten I had written I would probably believe them.
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