1980s US-market Hot Hatch Showdown!

[Madman]

Hot hatchbacks have never been as popular in America as they are in Europe.  However, we've seen quite a few examples of hot hatchery on these shores over the years.  The 1980s were something of a Golden Era for hot hatches and I've compiled a complete (I think?) list of the all the hot hatches sold in the US during that decade.

Which would you choose, and why?  Let the debate begin!



1981-85 Chevrolet Citation X-11




1987-88 Chevrolet Sprint Turbo




1984 Dodge/Plymouth Colt GTS Turbo




1985-86 Dodge Omni GLH




1982-90 Ford Escort GT




1986-87 Honda Civic Si




1988-89 Mazda 323 GTX




1982-87 Mercury Lynx XR3




1985-89 Merkur XR4Ti




1984-88 Mitsubishi Cordia Turbo




1985-88 Mitsubishi Mirage Turbo




1979-93 Saab 900 Turbo




1986-97 Saab 9000 Turbo




1989 Suzuki Swift Gti




1987-88 Toyota Corolla FX16




1983-84 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI (MK I)




1985-92 Volkswagen Golf GTI (MK II)

[Cookie Monster]

323

[S204STi]

99 Turbo

Top Gear Series 18 - Saab Tribute

[Colin]

Looking at that lot, I have to feel really sorry for the US buyer of the era............ America really missed out on the likes of the 205 GTi, 309 GTi, R5 GT Turbo, XR Fords, Nova and Astra GTE, Strada 130TC, R9/11 Turbo, MG Metro Turbo, Maestro Turbo, even the Nissan Cherry Gti, and you got a load of porridge adorned with spoilers and tat designed to make you think you were getting the same sort of experience. Even the Golf/Rabbit GTi in those pics look awful compared to the clean lines of the European versions of what was basically the same car. 

[93JC]

You forgot the one that would blow the doors off all the others:



And no, it is not the same thing as an Omni GLH.

[Rupert]

Quite a few good cars in that list, many non-jalopies.

If the 99 Turbo or EMS were sold here in the '80s, then that's my choice. Otherwise, it's a tossup between the Mk I GTI, the 323, the 900 Turbo, the Merkur, and the above mentioned Shelby Omni.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Omni.........

[cawimmer430]

Based on styling, the 1984-88 Mitsubishi Cordia Turbo. Looks good in green.

[Colin]

Did the US spec Cordia have the same odd "double gearbox" as the European ones......... effectively 2 sets of 4 forward gears with different sets of ratios. It featured in the Colt/Mirage hatchback as well.

The Cordia looked neat, but never sold in anything more than penny numbers in Europe.......... and there was a saloon version, the Tredia, which did even worse.

No definition I have previously seen would have those SAAB's as "hot hatches"........ they were brisk for sure, but did not fit the genre. Debatable whether the Sierra XR4i (Merkur) qualified, either. 

[68_427]

323.

[MX793]

In light of the fact that I don't consider the Saabs to be "hot hatches" (or even proper sport compacts, too expensive), and the Merkur's place here is debatable (again, way too expensive), probably the GLH.

GLH = Goes Like Hell.  I'll take mine in Shelby form.

[Payman]

You forgot the one that would blow the doors off all the others:



And no, it is not the same thing as an Omni GLH.

This is the car I bought from my brother back in '87. I got one year out of it before it went to the scrapyard. It was a fast little car and sounded great, but it was still a POS. To be fair, I did thrash the bajeezus out of it.

[Payman]

Mkll GTi, followed closely by 323 GTX.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I have a soft spot for the Corolla FX-16 because I wanted one for my first car, but my dad wouldn't let me get it. It was super fun to drive, though.

[MX793]

I have a soft spot for the Corolla FX-16 because I wanted one for my first car, but my dad wouldn't let me get it. It was super fun to drive, though.

You may only select Swift.

[Eye of the Tiger]

You may only select Swift.

But I want an '85 Isuzu Impulse Turbo

[Onslaught]

323 GTX

My good friend had one and we would blast that thing around a  deserted logging road up in the mountains. That car was kind of ugly but so much fun.

[Raza]

Oh, there are a few good ones there.  The GTIs, the Saab, the Honda Civic Si. 

But yeah, I think I'm going with the Saab 900 Turbo.  That ridiculous upright windshield, the jutting front end, the unconventional rear.  It speaks to me. 

[Madman]

Did the US spec Cordia have the same odd "double gearbox" as the European ones......... effectively 2 sets of 4 forward gears with different sets of ratios. It featured in the Colt/Mirage hatchback as well.

The Cordia looked neat, but never sold in anything more than penny numbers in Europe.......... and there was a saloon version, the Tredia, which did even worse.

No definition I have previously seen would have those SAAB's as "hot hatches"........ they were brisk for sure, but did not fit the genre. Debatable whether the Sierra XR4i (Merkur) qualified, either. 

My dad once had a 1982 Dodge Colt 5-door as winter beater with that weird four speed plus high/low range gearbox.  It was pretty cool driving a car with eight forward and two reverse gear ratios!

I had a difficult time deciding wether I should include the Saabs on this list or not.  Whilst they aren't really considered to be "Hot Hatches" in the conventional sense, I ultimately decided to include them because the Turbos were pretty hot and the 900 and 9000 were hatchbacks.

There were also some 3-door versions of the GM J-Cars that could be considered either hot hatches or sports coupes, depending on your point of view.  Chevrolet Cavalier Z-24 and Type 10, Pontiac Sunbird GT and S/E Turbo, Oldsmobile Firenza GT and Buick Skyhawk T-Type could possible qualify.

What do you guys think?  Hot hatch or sporty coupe?


Chevrolet Cavalier Z-24 & Type 10




Pontiac J2000/Sunbird GT Turbo, S/E Turbo




Oldsmobile Firenza GT




Buick Skyhawk T-Type

[Vinsanity]

I hate to be "that guy", but...

[sportyaccordy]

O definitely the Swift. Suzuki was on a roll in the 80s with their motorcycles and I think the Swift GTi caught a contact.

[hotrodalex]

GTI, I guess. Saab is cool too, but I don't know if I like the looks enough.

[AutobahnSHO]

First car I owned= 1983 Hatchback. This color. With the optional upgrade 1.5L motor.

[cawimmer430]

If the Saab 9000 was included here, shouldn't the Alfa Romeo 164 be as well? Same platform. Also sold in the US.

[Onslaught]

Damn that's ugly.

[Madman]

If the Saab 9000 was included here, shouldn't the Alfa Romeo 164 be as well? Same platform. Also sold in the US.

The Saab 9000 had a hatch.  The Alfa 164 didn't.  You did read the title of this thread, right?

[Cookie Monster]

I hate to be "that guy", but...

Giant plus 1.

[cawimmer430]

The Saab 9000 had a hatch.  The Alfa 164 didn't.  You did read the title of this thread, right?

Reading? Huh? What?

[280Z Turbo]

God I miss my 9000 Turbo Airflow. It was huge and luxurious inside, but drove like a small car. The acceleration was great too. Way more fun to drive than the Fuckus.

[Rupert]

And worked for all of, what, three days?