Four Door Hatchbacks

heisnstein

how do we get manufacturers to offer more than one
or two four door hatchbacks to U.S. buyers?

mzn

Boy, if I knew I'd already be doing it. But hey, maybe if we get a groundswell going here we can invite auto manufacturers to see what they're missing!

carlady/host

occupant1

Well, right now your choices are limited to:

used Dodge Lancer/Chrysler LeBaron GTS
used Dodge Omni/Plymouth horizon
used 1982-1996 Ford Escort/Mercury Lynx & Tracer
used 1983-1988 Toyota Tercel
used 1983-1987 Toyota Camry and Mazda 626
used 1989-1992 Geo Prizm
used 1984-1987 Toyota Corolla/Chevy Nova
used 1989-1994 Geo Metro
used 1994-1997 Ford Aspire
new or used 1985-1999 VW Golf
new Daewoo Nubira

I have seen the $16K Ford Focus wagon and I am a believer but I am a poor believer so I will stick to used Metros for the time being.

ddaley

As an owner of a '00 VW Golf I know very well how limited the choice is for hatchbacks. Ford blew it when they chose not to bring the 4-door focus hatchback to the US. I waited then bought a VW. #-2 post is missing a few (Mazda 323 & 626 for a few years had 5-doors). Car makers don't really seem to care what we want. Why no 4 wheel drive wagons? Only after Subaru's been selling 'em like crazy do we hear Pontiac may comeout with one. Just be glad some true European makers still sell cars here.

mikeglynn

don't forget acura integra '86-?

rfellman

Best 4 dr hatchback is the SAAB 9-3.

occupant1

used...Dodge Shadow/Plymouth Sundance
used...Volkswagen Dasher
used...Datsun 510
used...Toyota Corona

I also noticed the new Daewoo Nubira is available as a 4-door hatchback. There is only one 5-speed available in Ohio, it is white, and it is in Cleveland. There is only one 5-speed wagon in the USA, in San Diego. All of them are sold already. I guess the Daewoo isn't so bad from some standpoints...the reverse ring on the shifter however is a throwback to the days of the Chevette. The 4-door hatchback has no trunk release however the 4-door sedan does. Go figure. The Nubira has a $1250 rebate on automatics and $1500 on 5-speeds. The Lanos has a rebate of $1000 and the Leganza is also discounted. $11,360 for a Lanos hatchback, with AC, with 5-speed, with all the standard equipment (PW, PDL, cass, delay wipers, rear wiper, power steering) is a good deal since a similarly equipped Chevy Metro LSi (without power steering, windows, or locks) is about $12,200. And the Lanos is $10,360 after the rebate.

I can't believe the dealer took it's Nubira CDX's and put Gold Grills on them for $379 each. Sick.

jefster

PR newswire had a release yesterday (12/20), Kia will unveil a 4-door hatchback next month, it's called the Spectra. Will go on sale as a 2000 model.

mzn

Great, another choice in the hatchback market!

carlady/host

kjtg

Are these 5 door we are talking about.

trsrjs

Yes, it is a 5 door hatchback based on the Sephia sedan and introduced at both the L.A. Auto Show and the North American Auto Show in Detroit and be avaiable in March 2000.

mzn

One will usually hear the terms 3-door and 5-door to refer to hatchbacks. 3-door means there are two passenger doors and the hatch. 5-door means 4 passenger doors and the hatch.

carlady/host

fervor1

I have to agree with ddaley in post#3. I just bought a VW Golf and I know that the 5-dr Focus could have changed my mind. The 3-dr was just too small, the wagon too big, and the sedan way too ugly. The 5-dr was just right, but I guess not right enough for the U.S.

02blueyes

I currently own a 1988 Honda Civic Hatchback. I would like to purchase another Honda Hatchback, but the 2000's have three cubic feet less cargo area.

I have read on the Internet, that Honda will not make Civic Hatchback's in 2001. Is this true? Also, does anyone know how to e-mail Honda. I want to suggest that they return to making station wagons instead of the more cumbersome CRV?

mzn

I'm fairly certain that our Town Hall Expert on Honda Sales, isellhondas, has confirmed that the Civic hatchback will not be continued. To contact Honda, check out their home page for more information.

If you get a response regarding the future of Honda hatchbacks, please let us know. Thanks!

carlady/host

yucel2

I just owned focus 1.6 HB, but suffering some annoying rattles coming from rear side and upper right corner. My dealer unable to fix the problem.
Checking the list showed me that some have the similar problems. Could anyone put remarks on this?

mzn

yucel2, please see our extensive Ford Focus ZX3 topic for more info.

carlady/host

tundradude

At one time, i had a 83 Camry 5-door or 4-door with a hatchback. It served both functions of a sedan and having easy accessibility to the cargo area. It is a shame that concept was abandoned.

mzn

I quite agree!

carlady/host

cyclerklm

About the same time the Camry hatchback existed, I had an 80's Nissan Stanza 4-door + hatch. Nissan of course dropped it for a 4-door sedan. When they did this, they lost me as a customer.

sach1

I read a blurb somewhere that a four-door hatchback version of the new elantra will be available sometime in 2002. Can anyone confirm this and provides any more details?