What do you like about hatchbacks?

pachecodpachecod Member Posts: 6
edited March 2014 in Ford
Is it their (sometimes) compact and parkable size, ability to port
both people and equipment, or something else that attracts you to
Hatchbacks? We'd like to know. -Dan
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Comments

  • jilldjilld Member Posts: 5
    for me, it's the combination of size (small is great in the city) and ability to drag around a whole lot of stuff

    I miss my VW Golf for those reasons, even though it was a mechanical disaster from the very start.
  • cwardlawcwardlaw Member Posts: 3
    Not all hatchbacks are small. In Europe, there are plenty of mid- and full-sized HBKS running around. Notice that they're disappearing fast in the U.S. Too bad. I had an Escort GT, and one of the reasons I bought it was because it had a hatch, through which I could load my mountain bike, skis, and a variety of personal belongings. Problems with hatchbacks are loose body structure and squeaks/rattles.
  • cwardlawcwardlaw Member Posts: 3
    Hey, are there any other people out there with a perverse affection for the 1978-1980 Ford Fiesta? I had two of them in college, and couldn't drive them enough! Fun, fuel efficient, and funky -- cool little cars. Ford blew it when the overweight, understyled, and unreliable 1981 Ford Escort debuted.
  • guitarzanguitarzan Member Posts: 868
    I can put my Fender Super Reverb amp (4x10 in. speakers) in my Integra, along with a guitar or two. Also, I rarely have to back up to pull in a parking space (compared to my old Delta 88 which couldn't fit in 1/2 the available spaces). Thirty four miles per gallon helps also. I guess it's everything!
  • pachecodpachecod Member Posts: 6
    Welcome, Cwardlaw and Guitarzan. I agree wholeheartedly with you both about hatchbacks' ability to lug. I and my wife both individually moved about 3/4 of our belonging across the country in hatchbacks. It was tight, but very efficient. We have funny pictures of all sorts of stuff squeezed up against the windows at gas stations and truck stops across the U.S.
  • guitarzan1guitarzan1 Member Posts: 13
    That is definitely funny!
  • BeamerManBeamerMan Member Posts: 64
    Hello all how is it goin'?
  • BeamerManBeamerMan Member Posts: 64
    Anybody like Bmw's?
  • NancieNancie Member Posts: 13
    Chris, I had a little red 1979 fiesta. I loved that car for just the reasons you listed.

    My daughter is getting her learner's permit on Tuesday (so she says this week ... I think we have license angst here) and I've been thinking that something "fiesta like" might be a neat little car to get her. What do you think?
  • mznmzn Member Posts: 727
    Uh oh, learner's permits equal higher insurance! Ouch! :-)

    I love my hatchback and doubt I'll ever get a car without one. How else would I transport my Christmas tree?
  • guitarzan1guitarzan1 Member Posts: 13
    I love BMW's, especially the fact that their weight distribution front/rear is nearly 50/50. They have a distinct handling advantage over most other cars for that reason.

    I had considered a 318ti for my next car. Also on the list is Acura CL and Mitsubishi Eclipse. But, the BMW offers very little punch and almost no features for the money. I have an Integra RS that I paid $12,700 for 4 years ago, and the BMW hatchback would only provide marginally more fun for a much greater price. And their insurance costs make the hatchback, or any other BMW prohibitive for me, I am very very sorry to say.

    The ti has one great feature: The hatch liftover is the bumper height....how can you beat that for hauling around heavy stuff?
  • mznmzn Member Posts: 727
    Good point about the bumper level hatch liftover! I looked at several cars before I decided to buy another VW Golf. As a vertically challenged person, the height of the liftover is critical for me. :-)

    The other consideration for me is how high the hatch goes. I tried a SAAB and when the hatch was open, I couldn't reach it to pull it back down. The salesman said, "Here, let me help you with that." I said, "This isn't going to work unless you plan on living in my trunk!"
  • kd4trgkd4trg Member Posts: 2
    My son says theres plenty of room for after-market speakers. Pop's thinks the jury is still out on own many and what size will be authorized!
    There is a nice area behind the rear seat for
    that sort of thing on our little Swift!
    I've told him first a new clutch and then we'll talk about speakers!!!!
    Ideas?
  • zedorzedor Member Posts: 3
    Hatchbacks are cool but they are potentially dangerous. I am a safety inspector for the National Board of Automobile Safety. Hatchback are dangerous because in a bad accident, the hatch can become adjar and open up, sending you flying outside the car. Then you get run over by all kinds of cars and your arms and legs get all mangled up. You start to see things you never saw before, like rubber in your face! Soon all of the pain goes away and things seem to be more peaceful. You look down and see your body laying in the middle of the street, all bloody and chewed up. All could of been prevented if you didn't have a hatchback...
  • rmarinormarino Member Posts: 3
    To
    cwardlaw, I drove a 1979 Fiesta for 10 years. The last 5 were without a radio. Never did have a/c. The best thing were the colors. Mine was lime green! People would drive up beside me and say "HELLO, WE SEE YOU"! and laugh like hell. I'm color blind and my wife assured me that the color really wasn't loud. She laughed for 10 years. It was one of the best cars I ever owned, although I quess that's kinda sad! Got 80K and traded it in on a 1989 Volvo 240dl. Should have kept it for old times sake. Bob
  • mznmzn Member Posts: 727
    Thank you, zedor, for your official information. Since safety is a concern for all car owners, would it be possible for you to follow up with a link to your government site or other source so we can all review this public information?

    In the meantime, safety buffs (which should be all of us!) may want to take a look at Traffic Safety Facts 1996, an overview provided by the US Department of Transportation.
  • abbaabba Member Posts: 17
    What do I like about hatchbacks? Well, I mainly
    like that fact that you can load up the car with
    bikes, skis, camping gear, 40" TVs, pets and even a Christmas tree. Also, you don't have to deal with any racks, and your items are out of sight and reach of low-life crooks. Also, since they
    place function before form, they show the world
    you are not of the shallow, image/style oriented
    crowd. Drive safely.
  • carladycarlady Member Posts: 35
    IMHO, every family needs a hatchback. As you say, they are great for stashing bulky items and keeping them, mostly, out of sight. As a stature-impaired person ;-) I find it easier to add and subtract items from the hatch area then I do in most car trunks.

    As for form v. function, I quite agree. For me -- hope this isn't sacrilege on Edmund's :-) -- a car is to get me (and my family/stuff) from Point A to Point B.

    Now for my husband, a car is much, much more! But, I think we'll always keep a hatchback around, just for the ease of it.
  • leifleif Member Posts: 41
    Zedor, it's hard to read your message and think you really work for the feds---perhaps you need to take a "bedside manners" class. And did I mention I wear my seatbelt? Never saw the bottom of a tire yet.
  • alcustodioalcustodio Member Posts: 1
    Thanks ZEDOR for the grim info, but any accident that will throw an occupant out of a car is an accident waiting to happen to anybody who drives carelessly. No vehicle is safe to anybody who drives their vehicle to its limits. By the way, to be thrown out thru the hatchback - the driver must be driving backward very fast and not wearing a seatbelt.
  • tuckerbtuckerb Member Posts: 1
    Hatchbacks are, in addition to being extremely economical and convenient, just cute as can be. Why are fewer and fewer companies making them? Even the teeny wagons are getting impossible to find. For versatility and cuteness, nothing beats that Honda Civic 4-door hatch/wagon, but do they make it any more? Nope.

    Everything on the road these days looks exactly the same. Sedans make me vomit, and SUVs are just overpriced gas hogs. Can we ask for just one model year in which no sedans are produced? It is really the least auto manufacturers could do after subjecting us to the sedan mania of the mid-nineties.

    And don't even get me started on the minivan. Who the h*#! needs that much head room? Do these people need to practice their dance routines on the road? Driving behind them makes me queasy, especially since they usually contain an assortment of unruly children running around wildly and pressing their little noses up against the back window in an effort to better see little ol' me zipping along in my considerate, fuel-efficient, perky-mobile.
  • mznmzn Member Posts: 727
    There's no doubt about it! This is the home of the Hatchback Fan Club. Like you, I think it's the ideal car.

    Does anyone disagree??
  • udamanjudamanj Member Posts: 1
    Hatchbacks are awesome. They can house the best sounding stereo componants. I love my '84 Toyota Supra!!!!!!
  • mznmzn Member Posts: 727
    Hmmm., room for stereo components... Good idea, udamanj.

    Just one more good reason to go for the hatch!
  • drifterdrifter Member Posts: 4
    Hatchbacks are probably the best cars for the money. They have as much cargo volume as wagons without looking as ugly as one.
  • redoakranchredoakranch Member Posts: 8
    Hear hear! I think the thing I like best about hatchbacks after their hauling capacity is simply their shape. Even the doofiest looking hatchback still has a pleasing outline to my eye. And the well designed ones look REALLY sharp!

    -Peg
  • planetplanet Member Posts: 1
    what can anyone tell me about the saab 9000. I want one if the price is right but don't know much about them. Would their owners keep buy another one?
  • mznmzn Member Posts: 727
    I've hidden planet's question above because it is off-topic here. The question is a great one and I've created a new discussion for it. Saab fans, please join us at:

    Saab 900
  • mudbugmudbug Member Posts: 1
    Hmmm...hatchbacks - where to begin? I could go on and on about my '91 Festiva. Maybe I will...

    Huge cargo area with the rear seat folded up. We've moved recliners, tables, bookcases, and just about everything else in it. Two large U-Haul boxes fit perfectly, with plenty of room still left over. And once it's packed, I can still climb just about any hill in third gear. It may not be blindingly fast, but it'll get there.

    Totally reliable, and cheap to fix. In 190,000 miles of driving, we've had to replace the water pump, head gasket, and shifter gate (which plain flat wore out), a couple of wheel bearings (you gotta torque those bearing nuts to factory specs, which Pep Boys seems to NOT do), and a broken clutch fork (at 13k miles, covered under warranty). What other car can you buy four tires for, get them mounted and balanced, and still get change back for $100?? (Oil changes are cheap, too, when you only have to buy four quarts of oil.)

    The perfect urban vehicle. Can sit in traffic for hours without even thinking of overheating. Parking spots too small for most other cars to parallel-park in are yours for the taking. Nimble in tight traffic and small parking lots. And when traffic starts flowing again, you've got that 40+ MPG to accompany you home.

    Mildly theft-resistant. Who's going to mess with an old, faded hatchback when there's a nice new sedan parked next to it? (It's its own anti-theft device!)

    Besides, it can still outrun just about any Geo Metro or Daihatsu Charade ever made. Turboed Chevy Sprints are no problem, either.

    Okay, okay, so this was more of an ode to the subcompact, rather than the hatchback (I can't see my mother-in-law's '90 Mazda 626 GT hatchback, or even my wife's old '82 Citation, doing half of this stuff), but I think that as most subcompacts are hatchbacks, it's probably close enough. Besides, I don't have to tell you why you love your own car!!!
  • GuyPGuyP Member Posts: 50
    I just want to say that I own a VW Golf GTI and I love this hatchback!

    There are 2 questions that I want to discuss here.
    Responses are encouraged.

    1) What makes a hatchback better than a sedan?

    2) Why are hatchbacks associated with cheap, third-rate transport here on the U.S.?
  • mznmzn Member Posts: 727
    I'll take a stab at the first question and I have no doubt that many others will go for the second. :-) To me, hatchbacks are just so much more versatile than sedans that everybody can benefit from them -- especially if you are comparing them with similar sized sedans. There is more room for "stuff" and the stuff doesn't have to come in "trunk size" Think of all the money one can save on delivery! We recently crammed a treadmill in the back of our VW Golf -- umm, it didn't fit in our Honda CRX -- but that's another topic!!!
  • garthgarth Member Posts: 66
    In response to 2. - it's tough to find a hatchback in the States that isn't inexpensive. Also, because we have extremely cheap gasoline, much milder restrictions on engine size, etc., those that want utility just get an SUV. In much of Europe, for instance, those with larger engines are taxed more, so the market forces smaller cars to be multipurpose vehicles.
  • GuyPGuyP Member Posts: 50
    Thanks everyone!

    Those are pretty good responses.

    In response to you, Garth, there's is one hatchback that I would never buy and that is the BMW 318ti. I'm sure you can imagine why.

    Carlady, did you ever notice that the Golf's (A3) C-pillar is much wider than the GTI's C-pillar? I just noticed this b/c many reviewers were comlaining that the Golf's C-pillar was getting wider. I looked at my GTI's and said, "not really, what were they talking about?" Then I realized that it may be the case for the 4-door version, and sure enough, it is!

    I measured the GTI's C-pillar to be about 1.5 stretched hands wide and the Golf's C-pillar to be about 2.5 stretched hands wide! What a big difference wouldn't you say?
  • mznmzn Member Posts: 727
    Well, wonders never cease! You're right of course, and yes, they do make a difference. But I'll stick with my four-door and its large c-pillar. In addition to making it easier to load the back seats with groceries, etc., I personally have a thing about everybody having his own door and a window that rolls down. God forbid, but in case of an accident, I'd hate to think that my passengers route out of the car would be over my dead body (so to speak.) Anyway, that's my own horror. Not that we often have passengers in the back anyway.
  • paepae Member Posts: 3
    of course hatchbacks are more pactical cars. Between my Subaru Justy and my girlfriends fiat uno, we've hauled enough freight to fill a 40 foot conatiner. Now, that i've upgraded to a vw golf, i 'm pretty sure i wont have any moving problems. My girlfreind tho has bought a nissan sentra which may 10 time smore comfartable than the uno, but can't touch when it comes to a full load.
  • bchaubchau Member Posts: 8
    Say, no one responded to "why aren't they making hatch" anymore.

    I looove the Accord hatch, but why did they stop making it. It looked good and, as all hatch are, functional. What else can anyone ask for?
  • xtrooperxtrooper Member Posts: 1
    My wife have a Escot Hatchback, the nice thing is that it looks sporty then it haul more load than any other, easy to load and unload.
  • malaenamalaena Member Posts: 1
    Can anyone tell me about their experiences with the Toyota Celica hatch? I'm considering buying one soon. What do you think about Saturn SC1? Do you think they're worth the money? How about Eagle Talons?
  • garthgarth Member Posts: 66
    I dunno about the saturn, but I definitely don't think a Celica is worth the money...
  • ShadowhawkShadowhawk Member Posts: 2
    Talons rock, but the Plymouth Laser and Mitz Eclipse are the same cars with a less expensive name. I love my Laser but for someone who didn't it wouldn't be worth it.
  • ShadowhawkShadowhawk Member Posts: 2
    On any of the three DSMs get a 1st gen. After that, well...
  • KenyattaKenyatta Member Posts: 1
    I really like the hatchback because of the great mileage, space, look, and the cost. I would like to have more information about purchasing one. I love to drive my friends hatchback, so now I am interested in leasing one of my own.



    Thanks!
  • yanzyanz Member Posts: 1
    Hi,
    I love the hatchback so do my wife. And now we are going to buy a hatchback used car. who can give me some advices?
    Thanks!
  • CRXsRuleCRXsRule Member Posts: 1
    Hey. If anyone out there has any information on why I shouldn't buy a CRX, please write back. I am thinking about purchasing one, but I don't want something bad to happen to it. Please write back if you know anything that could go wrong with a CRX. Thanks
  • zhdzhd Member Posts: 18
    I am currently driving a '86 olds 98, and missing my first car so much. It was a '87 tercel. Plan to buy another realiable used hatchback (stick) with a student budget. Seems my choices are very limited. Appreciate any suggestions and comments.
  • mznmzn Member Posts: 727
    Of course, I'm a big hatchback fan myself! If I wasn't, reading this topic would convince that every family deserves one. :-)

    Just a reminder for folks with comments/questions about specific models. Please use the search feature on the menu bar below to find out if a discussion is already underway about the specific car or topic that interests you. If you don't see what you want, feel free to start a new discussion. Since this topic is a general one, it's not really the best place to find an answer to a specific question!

    carlady/host
  • civicmindedcivicminded Member Posts: 4
    I would recommend anyone who is considering a hatchback to look into a civic DX. I currently own a '97 with 51,000 miles on it. I have never had a problem with it and enjoy it as if it were still new. Good luck.
  • jdb1jdb1 Member Posts: 2
    Hi! I posted basically the same message on another conference, then found this one -- I am looking at buying a 2-3 yr old Subaru Impreza or maybe a Legacy (which know is a wagon and not a hatch) -- has anyone got any advice or input on them? The Impreza seems a bit spartan on the inside (except for the Outback which I doubt if I can afford). I have not taken one for a drive yet, so my knowledge is limited and would appreciate any advice.

    I LOVE hatchbacks -- had a 93 Golf which I thought was great until the paint started bubbling and peeling and I had to go through enormous hassles to get VW Canada to repaint (twice!!) the then 2 yr old car. It is amazing how one bad experience can colour one's impression of an entire make of car. Unfortunately I am now very VW-shy, which is too bad given the VERY limited number of hatchbacks available (especially 4-dr!!). Wouldn't a 4dr Civic be a great idea??!!
  • jdb1jdb1 Member Posts: 2
    Oh yeah - why I like hatchbacks - there is no format (not pickup or sedan which is better for carrying hockey gear.
  • mavehmaveh Member Posts: 1
    Hey guys, I have an Escort Htchbck and I love
    it!!! Okay, I don't love the escort, but it is
    great having that hatch!! I just recently moved,
    and I could fit 2 fabric covered parson chairs in
    it, and I still had space!! I want to sell
    it and get a BMW 318ti. I used to want a sedan,
    but after my move, I switched back to the hatchback. Does anyone know how much it costs to
    maintain and repair (give a range) a ti? Also,
    the TI doesn't seem to be very popular here. I
    test drove a 325 and if the TI handles like that,
    then I'm sold!!!

    Mave
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