Hot hatches

**scracha** · 3rd March 2007, 03:04

http://www.topgear.com/content/timet...tch_debate/30/

Why don't more kiwi's drive hatchbacks? Discuss......

**McJim** · 3rd March 2007, 07:18

Back in the UK there's the BCSD syndrome to keep small car sales buoyant.

Kiwi blokes are actually comfortable to advertise their lack of penile development by driving large cars - good on 'em. Well done. Helps their women identify the European blokes that can really satisfy.

Seriously though it might have something to do with petrol being one third of the price it is in the UK.....and STILL they complain - who's whingeing now? Oh yeah...and Boomer drives a big car too......

**Karma** · 3rd March 2007, 08:12

Yeh, I love the hot hatches.

At the moment we've got a Golf Mk 4, that's fairly flickable, but built like a tank, it'll survive a fairly large crash well.

Personally I'm a retro 80s fan, I'd be well happy with any of the below models, but running one would cost a fortune over here

**McJim** · 3rd March 2007, 08:18

The guy in the next parking space at work has a corrado - apparently there are only a handful of them in NZ - lovely car - esp the V6 version.

And as for the Capri - there's some tiny drop top thing over here that they call a capri - looks japanese - I remember lusting after the 2 tone 2.8i Capri in the UK.

**Deviant Esq** · 3rd March 2007, 08:24

Hot hatches are fun to drive. I've got one of Honda's original hot hatches myself, an EF9 1990 Civic SiR - the first of Honda's DOHC VTEC engines. Never thought I'd end up getting one as they're pretty rare these days - most have been put into rally or have been absolutely caned. I was lucky to get mine in stock original condition.
I notice that Top Gear rate the new Civic Type R as top... Go the hot Civics!

Been going since the original 1984 Civic Si and still going strong. Shame we don't get the hatch in New Zealand and even if we did, we wouldn't get the Type R since Honda Cars NZ are a bunch of old ladies...

You're probably not interested, but here's a pic of my Civic (click to see larger):

**Karma** · 3rd March 2007, 08:26

Meh, the 2.8 was ok... I was after the 3.0 XType I think it was called.

There's a fair few golfs around, but it's the trouble with getting any parts for them, I saw a Pug 205 1.9 GTi on trademe that I was gonna pick up, not much interest in it cos kiwis wouldn't know a pocket rocket if it kicked em in the crotch.

Trouble was that it had a busted headlight, now I'm not joking, but this part is imported by only one person in NZ apparently, and he wanted somewhere around $250 for it, one headlight! Could have got it in a scrappers in the midlands for 10pound tops.

So yeh, euro hot hatches, fucken sweet till you've gotta fix something

**avgas** · 3rd March 2007, 08:46

Front wheel drive....its just wrong ok

**The Pastor** · 3rd March 2007, 09:23

Civics are grandma cars.

**scracha** · 3rd March 2007, 11:16

Originally Posted by Weasel

At the moment we've got a Golf Mk 4, that's fairly flickable, but built like a tank, it'll survive a fairly large crash well.

Survive a crash well. According to the euro crash thingimibobbery it'll survive better than most of the huge SUV's.

Shame they're so bloody heavy. Blagged a company Mk4 a couple of years ago and it was a real disappointment compared to my old Mk2. Felt about twice the weight and the room inside was actually less. Must be due to all the safety stuff and electronic gizmos. Build quality was fantastic though. Similar aged ford focus zetec was miles better in every aspect.

**scracha** · 3rd March 2007, 11:17

Originally Posted by avgas

Front wheel drive....its just wrong ok

I'd take a well sorted front wheel drive 1.4 turbo fiat punto over a rear wheel drive holden/ford $hitbox every time.

**scracha** · 3rd March 2007, 11:21

Originally Posted by McJim

I remember lusting after the 2 tone 2.8i Capri in the UK.

Bwhahahaha...showing your age. Probably about the same time you wore skinny jeans and had a moustache. Escort cosworths were the lust items of my yoof. Nobody could afford them nor the insurance though so most bought $hitty Vauxhall 1.2 novas and stuffed the 1.8/2.0 Astra SRI motors in them.

**Karma** · 3rd March 2007, 11:26

Originally Posted by scracha

Survive a crash well. According to the euro crash thingimibobbery it'll survive better than most of the huge SUV's.

Yeh they're fairly heavy in relation to others, but can't fault the safety.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2544675 (links to a car forum)

Truck hit the car doing 45-50mph, which equates to around 80kph ish, and to walk away with barely a scratch is fairly impressive I'd say.

**McJim** · 3rd March 2007, 11:35

Originally Posted by scracha

Bwhahahaha...showing your age. Probably about the same time you wore skinny jeans and had a moustache. Escort cosworths were the lust items of my yoof. Nobody could afford them nor the insurance though so most bought $hitty Vauxhall 1.2 novas and stuffed the 1.8/2.0 Astra SRI motors in them.

Aye - I'm an auld fart eh? I remember Strathclyde Police took possession of 4 RS Cosworth Sierras for unmarked M8 work. Great piece of hoon machinery, flooring it, up through the gears, screaming along the M8, then try and change down.....uh oh...gearbox is died jimmy. Ford didn't let the Cosworth boys replace the gearbox in the first consignment - couldn't handle the output apparently!

**avgas** · 3rd March 2007, 11:54

Originally Posted by scracha

I'd take a well sorted front wheel drive 1.4 turbo fiat punto over a rear wheel drive holden/ford $hitbox every time.

fair enough, but the fact of the matter exists that would you rather have a fwd 1.4 turbo fiat or a rwd version if you had the choice?
Fwd is just a cost cutting exercise by the car companies. That why fuck all expensive cars use it. Saab 9000 is a joke next to a cheap porsche