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Hot hatches that failed
10 hot hatchbacks that failed
1 of 11
The hot hatch is back! This week alone we've driven two big name new arrivals into the world of family cars that can give Ferraris and Porsches a run for their money. Vauxhall's Astra VXR and Ford's Focus ST have put the cat well and trully among the pigeons in this much-hyped sector of the car market and boy and girl racers everywhere are frothing at the mouth with excitment.
At a time like this though, it's worth sounding a note of caution and pointing out that not all hot hatchbacks have set the world alight. Lots of manufacturers have tried to recreate the affordable performance magic of classics such as the Peugeot 205 GTi and the original VW Golf GTi and lots have failed. Here we remember some of the hot hatches that are probably better forgotten.
The craziest hot hatchbacks
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18Comments
15/06/2012 16:02
Sorry but Maestro Turbo was a bloody good hot hatch, better handling and going than many of the rivals at the time. It was the lack of looks and marketing why it failed.
The ZR was also not a failed hot hatch. I can remember many car mags at the time praising it against younger opposition. And by the number on the roads in Essex, I say they did sell so it can't have failed.
What should have been on the list was Rover 200 BRM, Toyota Corolla and 3 Series Compact.
16/06/2012 10:02
14/06/2012 13:29
I BOUGHT A MGzr 1.4 ON A 04 PLATE ABOUT 6 YEARS AGO AND I AM FED UP WITH THE IDIOTS WHO KEEP RUNNING THE MODEL DOWN - I THINK THE EARLY MODELS WERE RATHER POOR, BUT FROM AROUND 2004, JUST BEFORE THOSE BASTARDS WALKED OUT ON 5000 WORKERS, AND SCARPERED ABROAD WITH THE MONEY - I THINK THE CAR WAS VASTLY IMPROVED - WHICH IS NEVER TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. I HAVE OWNED ABOUT 20 CARS IN MY LIFE AND THIS ONE IS HAS GOOD IF NOT BETTER THAN ANY OF THEM. IT WILL OUT PERFORM MOST 1-4 HATCHBACKS ( 0 - 60 IN 9.9 SECS ) AND AS FAR AS PROBLEMS ? I HAVE ONLY HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR /BATTERY/ 4 TYRES AND HAVE A WATER LEAK INTO THE BOOT PUT RIGHT. I WOULD BUY A NEW ONE TOMORROW IF MG ROVER WAS STILL IN BUSINESS ( NO I AM NOT MAD ) COOP
14/06/2012 19:46
Dimly remembered something about the Maestro Turbo briefly being the world's fastest four-door saloon, so I Googled it. No confirmation of that claim but it certainly was U.K.'s fastest front-drive car, fastest MG to-date, accelerated faster than a Ferrari Mondial (6.7 / 7.0), and was kept on ice for a couple of years before production because it was considered too fast. Probably because of insurance costs, which might explain only building 505 of them.
I'm neither an owner, nor even a fan, but any of the above would have been more interesting. Though not relevant: since it was only a limited-edition job costing peanuts to develop, but did wonders for the manufacturer's image, it can hardly be said to have failed.
I'm neither an owner, nor even a fan, but any of the above would have been more interesting. Though not relevant: since it was only a limited-edition job costing peanuts to develop, but did wonders for the manufacturer's image, it can hardly be said to have failed.
14/06/2012 15:09
The MG ZR was not a failure. I am a Rover fan and can say the 1.8vvc 160bhp ZR was, and is, a great hot hatch.
They also benefit from having the same front end as the Rover Coupes, so the 2.0Turbo engine fits straight in, making it a 0-60 in 6 seconds hatch. Not even the Corsa VXR does that.
14/06/2012 14:19
20/10/2012 22:56
skim read the replies and it's all about MG's? lol
MK4??? Who wrote this crap? RS2000 great cars, 4x4 not as good as the 2WD, but they stud there ground well for there day.
Weight of drive train? 4x4 Escort weighs not a fat lot more than the 2WD, think whoever wrote this needs to go and get some education on RS's.
14/06/2012 15:38
14/06/2012 17:44
21/10/2012 09:56
14/06/2012 22:21
Sorry Jack but it was in fact the MG MONTEGO Turbo which was the fastest production four-door saloon at the time - The Maestro is a hatch. Although they are pretty much the same car minus a saloon boot.
Plus there have been faster MG's since.
ZS & ZT 1.8T & 2.5 KV6's are quicker, not to mention the 260hp MG ZT V8 or even the MG SV at 320hp standard with 0-60 in 5.4 seconds.
But totally agree, I don't believe the ZR or Maestro was a failure. The ZR was a good selling motor for the brand.
17/06/2012 11:42
Being a grumpy old git 2 yrs ago I bought a new VW Golf GTD, it cured my constipation overnight and ever since, having had loads of cars in the past to me this is the finest car on the market, its like driving on rails, bends mean nothing and even at 120mph its pulling like a racehorse,
Terry Bird, an elated customer.
17/06/2012 07:49
16/06/2012 02:16
17/06/2012 22:19
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