I looked at the Toyota Echo this weekend and these are my observations: Cute (in a real ugly sort of way)solid car. I'm surprised I'm not seeing it compared to the new VW Bugs, as that is what the styling seems to imitate. Much more practical cargo space in the echo though, and a much more inexpensive car, too.
The back seat bothered me a bit, it is narrow with not a lot of foot room, but worst of all, it seems to be pretty much unconstructed and of cheap foam. I can't see it enduring for long if anybody actually used it. Also, although the back seat folds down for trunk access, the seats fold several inches higher than trunk level; nothing near flat.
Here is my main complaint though, and the ONLY reason I will NOT buy one of these cars. WHERE'S THE HATCHBACKS? I read on town hall that they are offered in europe, why not here? A hatchback for this car would be a no-brainer, in my book. The "sedan styling" in this case is a joke anyway. Bring back the hatchbacks, car companies, and we will buy them!! We can't all afford SUV's!
Hyundia's Elantra wagon. It's small. It looks great. Drives great. Fast. Quite ride. It has 39 cubic feet of storage space (I'm 6 ft and can lay flat on my back with tail gate down). Seats 5 comfortably. Gas mileage good not great. Price $12200 with A/C, cruise, auto, luggage rack, Michelin tires, many Bosch parts, decent radio and 10 yr warranty. 5sp is $600 cheaper.
Such a shame - they *do* fill a need in the consumer market - but it seems that now all see 'bigger is better' - note this date: I foresee a gas shortage that the 'big bad uglies' can't avoid, but us 'hatchers' love! lol
I have a 200 GTI, previously had an '89 Civic, just wanted a little more car....as a drummer, the GTI is the closest I'm going to get to a sportscar and still be able to easily transport my vintage Ludwigs. It's fast, fun to drive, has all the toys, and my girlfriend loves the heated seats.
I love hatchbacks and am disappointed at the anemic selection in the United States. My first car out of college was a base Civic hatch and I loved it. It was by no means a high-performance vehicle in the sporting sense, but it was a great car for everyday living. I could fit 4 people plus luggage for a week vacation in the car and I was one of those people who moved themselves in it (Chicago to Boston and all I shipped was my clothes; everything else went in the hatch). Plus, even 7 years into owning it I was still getting around 40 mph.
So when it came time to be a car owner again I knew I wanted a hatch, but now that my income had increased, I wanted a car with a more sporting attitude and features, but still a hatch. Although I found what I was looking for in the GTI-GLX (so far a wonderful car with everything I could have wanted and more), I was disappointed at the lack of options. It was hard to find many cars that met three of my criteria: leather seats, moon roof, hatch back, or even two, moon roof and hatch. I couldn't believe Honda discontinued the SI series -- if they still had it I don't think I would have even looked at VW. While there are many coupes (I tested the Integra and found the drive hard and the car lacked head room -- I was touching the roof with my head, which never happened in my Civic) I don't consider those true hatchbacks like a Golf or a Civic because they simply aren't as practical, imho.
I suppose the lack of hatchback variety is one of those chicken/egg issues: do car manufacturers fail to make hatchbacks because there are no buyers or are buyers lacking because of the paucity of options in hatchbacks and the failure of automakers to promote them?
I had two hatchbacks: 1972 Vega and 1984 Dodge Omni GLH.
The vega was a fun to drive but junky traspo special - actually not that bad.
The GLH was a great car, I drove it very hard for 7 years with almost no problems. It was very solid, handled great (OK the ride was way too rough), and was very practical. Cool car, they don't make 'em like that any more, which is good and bad I guess.
I am saddened by the near demise of the hatchback. Car companines equip most small cars with tiny trunks, these cars would be much more useful with a hatch. I guess people equate hatches with poverty. A good example of a car that would be much better with a hatch is the Ford Escort ZX2.
My current car is a '99 contour, I would have gotten a hatch if it was offered!
i bought a daewoo lanos hatchback ( and i love it) not only can i race with it, i can also haul A LOT in it. it has a great cargo cover that hides whatsq in the back it also has folding rear seats - i can even fit excersise equipment in it. the only problem is that i have to get out turn off my car and then open it from the back -- i could really use a trunk opener button on my car dash!!!
I really like my new Civic hatchback, a bicycle (with front wheel removed ((in '87 Nissan pick-up front wheel removed also)) fits fine, can haul people and or cargo, inexpensive reliable transportation. Most people don't need a SUV (silly urban vehicle)
I curently have a sedan, which is great to have when driving alot of people around, but I am alone in my car 98% of the time, and have found that I would make much better use of a 3 door hatchback. I tend to move alot and have had problems trying to fit my stuff in a 4 door sedan. I am currently in the market for a hatchback and am looking at the Daewoo Lanos and the Ford Focus ZX3.
I have a '90 Integra Hatchback. I find it very practical and sporty. Back seats fold down for increased cargo space. 28 mi/ga average. Has 130 hp, moonroof, and even a hatch release lever next to the seat! I'm 6'2" and have absolutely no problem with headroom. My car was $4200 with 119k miles on it.
I bought the Focus ZX3 and I just love it, glad I didn't settle for the Lanos. Its the coolest hatchback on the market today, and has been getting great reviews.
What can I say? I love Hondas, and I love the hatchback. As long as Honda produces one, I'll be owning one. This is my second hatch - my first was a 90. Fits a bunch of musical equipment......and the band! This time around, my left leg is grateful that I went with an Automatic. The manual is fun, but BLOWS in city driving.
I had an '89 subaru legacy wagon and a '96 honda civic hatchback. I thought my job required a truck. Silly me. Now I'm selling my 2000 F 150 and looking for a hatchback or baby wagon. Where did they all go? I went back to honda and they changed the wheel base making it not so comfy for a 6'something" person to drive. The dealer said he never had anyone actually notice that. Also they sloped the rear window, seriously impairing it's loadability. What were they thinking? Now I'm looking at the Saturn SW2 wagon, Hyundai Accent hatchback, Hyundai Elantra wagon, Daewoo Lanos hatch, Suzuki Esteem, Volkswagon Passat, and Volvo wagon. Can anyone help me narrow this list down a bit. The problem areas seem to be my 6'something" height, and that I want cruise control on a 5speed. The Honda dealer told me that even if I added it later it probably wouldn't work and would mess up the electrical system. What's up with that?
This probably isn't the best topic for making a car choice; I'd visit one of the specific Honda topics or create a new topic for a specific comparison if one does not already exist. You have quite a list of cars with widely varying prices, features, and bodystyles.
This topic is for discussing hatchbacks in general, what we like about them and what we don't.
I've had hatchbacks for some time now. Although styling is somewhat limited, the versatility of having an "all around" car is wonderful! It's like a coupe and a mini wagon in one. For example, if you're going to take a set of dining room chairs, flip down the rear seat and it becomes a little wagon. The big hatch accommodates the awkward size of the chairs that a trunk would have trouble with. Afterwards, if you're taking a total of 4 people (driver included), "flip" and the seat is back up again. With the rear parcel shelf (when the seats are in the upright position included with most hatchbacks), the back storage works like a regular trunk and nobody can see what's back there. I for one, love it! I just bough my third Metro and with rising gas prices, I couldn't be happier. Tom
I own a 1990 integra gs hatchback, which i purchased new in 1990. Before that i owned a 1987 nissan stanza xe hatchback(the only year they were made), also brand new. I enjoy the versatility of a hatchback. I have carried 27 inch tv's(new in box), 5 cu ft freezers, and a variety of other things(rolls of carpet), etc. with no problems. I am looking to buy the acura tl, but I am tempted to keep the integra just for the versatility.
I just came back from Paris, France. I was amazed to see so many hatchback cars ranging from economy to luxury. The hatchback might be almost "dead" in the U.S. but it is still alive and well in Europe. In paris I saw the Ford Focus 5-door hatchback that looks 1000 times better than the U.S. Focus sedan counterpart. Also, I saw the impressive Mercedes A-Class, the Renault Saffrane, the Citroen XM, Citroen Xantia, Ford Mondeo, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Avalon, etc all offered as 5-door hatchbacks. The cars looked great and seem to offer the space and practicality superior to that of classic sedans. Another interesting fact NO SUVS in Paris, well saw a few Range Rovers, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and some Nissan Patrols. Its a shame that the U.S. market prefers bulky SUVS to more practical and swift hatchbacks and station wagons. The French have very beatiful new cars...hope to see Peugeout, Citroen and Renault make a big comeback to this country some day...
Maybe the gas price "crisis" will be just the thing to allow Americans to experience the European hatchbacks in all their glory! In that case, at least some good will have come from paying $1.89 for gas.
Boy, wouldn't that be the day. The rebirth of hatchback popularity and the death of those monstruous SUVs and two billion ton trucks. Aaah, I can see the joy spreading across the world...
I can't believe I've only seen one post about the Ford Focus ZX3, it seems to me that this hatchling is the future of hatchbacks! I've had mine for about 2 weeks and I love it!
This is also my first hatchback and I gotta say, I'm staying with hatchbacks from now on! I love the gas mileage (I get 30-35 mpg), I love the roomy trunk, as well as the fact that the rear seats fold forward (me and my girlfriend had a lot of fun in the rear with the seats down, of which I won't mention anything else about here). Plus, the hatchbacks are the coolest-looking of all the cars! I'm a hatchback fan, now and forever!
I used to own a hatchback - and I forgot how much I hated it. I think, personally it makes a sports car, such as the new Celica look like a station wagon!
carlady, Are you thinking about buying a Ford Focus....have you seen the new Honda Insight? I am not quite sure if its available yet. If you like the Focus look, check out the new Honda.
I'm not in the market for a new car right now. My 96 VW Golf is going strong and we've just acquired a 1985 Porsche 911 so my desire for a new car is currently satisfied. The Focus certainly has a strong following and since I'm an urban driver, I would also consider the Insight.
That is the good news in Hatchbacks these days; we're getting more choices! And (back to our topic) that's just one more reason to love them!
I realize my friend Eli's aspiration to situate the proper body material into the appropriate cloth passenger seats of my new Civic. You see, I am a self-made man. As a self-taught "systems-guru" for a leading Fortune 500 company in this unparalleled land of ours - I must report to you that not all Civic owners have access to and/or the requisite erudition of the multitude of supplementary "cleaning materials" offered commercially. I extol my fine friend Edmund for assembling this dignified electronic lattice for automotive doggerel; and I'm sure that countless others concur that Edumund has done a first-class job. However, when a gracious individual like Eli lets go [thus forcing me to beseech Edmund for aid], isn't it Edumund's responsibility to attend to this state of affairs - above and beyond the cosmetic impetus? Shan't Edmund assist me, lest he confuse this horrible incident further? Please be responsive to the natural order. Can't we mend the crisis to start with, prior to heaving me off into an alternative thread, and possibly an alternative board?
What do I use to REALLY clean a cloth car seat in a Civic?
I was never more excited about my little 1997 Golf than I was last year at a drive-in movie night with my friends. We were all piled into basic seating arrangements before we decided to reverse the car's direction, pop the hatch, push down the seats, and hang out "in the trunk" instead. The movie view and sound were greatly improved. It's now coming time to buy a new car....and I can't say that a sedan is in the running.:)
Hatchbacks - Hummm. I've never owned anything but. I think sedans are boring and basically impractical.
My first car was a 1976 AMC Pacer. The car was a piece of cheese - it was even yellow! But the design was way cool - wide and short. We once drove 10,000 miles in three weeks in it, visiting all the western states, and living out of the back. We had a cooler and gas stove and used the hatch area as a kitchen.
I moved from Chicago to NY state in the Pacer. We hauled a lot of stuff in that hatch. On the last trip we had two cats and their litter box back there. You've never lived till you've been in a closed car with a cat pooping late at night on a twisty mountain road.
My current car is an Escort GT. We recently remodeled our kitchen, and I was able to haul the materials, including the counter tops, in the car - with the hatch closed. There is still a bit of a ding in the dash where one of the tops rubbed.
And now I have a Focus ZX3 on order. I'm sure there will be a lot more stories in the future.
I lost my job and must give up my 2000 Daewoo Lanos S Hatchback. I love it but have no choice. 0 down and take over my 250 a month payments and it's yours. It can be shipped anywhere in the country for under 800 dollars. Or you can pay 10,000 cash and have it outright. I must sell. It is white, AUTO, AIR and has full warranty.
i noticed some other people mentioned this too. the other night i was out with my girlfriend, and we were in the parking lot of dunkin donuts. it was a nice night, but it was raining a little bit, so we were sitting in my car (a 1995 metro 3 door hatchback). I opened up the hatch to let some air in, and then I went and sat in the hatch on top of my tools and two speaker boxes. My girlfriend sat in the back seat, which with only one person becomes a comfy couch.
Although my current car is not a hatchback, I had 3 of them (all Toyotas) before this one. I loved the versatility of the cars. They weren't particularly "pretty", but they were perfect for what I needed. I wanted a small car that had room for the occasional large object I might have to carry. I like my Saturn but I sure do miss the hatch. The seats fold flat in the Saturn but the trunk just doesn't open wide the way a hatch does. Now that it's time to start thinking of another car, I'm pondering the few hatches that are out there. I certainly do not want some huge SUV!
I have had my Hyundai Accent GS hatch for 5 months now, and I can cram alot of stuff in the back. I measured 5 feet from the back of the passenger seat to the trunk sill. Plus I think hatchbacks are cool looking, different then the zillions of vanilla sedans. Also, a friend of mine who installs car stereos said the sloped glass of the hatch is ideal for reflecting sound toward the front of the car.
I've owned a '79 Celica, a '87 Daytona, a '85 Accord, and just bought a Daewoo Lanos. Hatchbacks are Great! There are wonderful for moving and hauling things, I play Bass Guitar so moving around my equipment is always been easy with a hatch! I just played a gig Tuesday and fit my amp in the back of my Lanos without the seats down. And i didn't get a hernia getting it in and out. Love the look and the storage!!
First they killed off the Accord hatch, now they are killing the Civic hatch (and Integra hatch shortly). What happened to the company that built practical cars for practical people? I don't want to pay the insurance of a pseudo-SUV like CRV; if insurance companies would classify CRV as a wagon or a micro-minivan, which it is, I might re-consider. Enough of this data mining BS; historically hatches did not sell well in America only because they were mostly marketted as strip-cars; Americans, being hedonistic jerks that we are, don't like strip-cars. Well-equipped hatches, like Integra, Corvette, various SAAB's and, need I say, Porsche 9xx all sold like hot cakes. Someone in marketting take another look at the data mining parameters please.
my 99 Civic Hatch with Automatic and A/C is almost the EXACT same car as the 99 Civic Sedan.... the only real difference is the hatch and the great space that provides.
Well I just took delivery of my Egg Yolk Yellow ZX3 and I love it. One thing I like about it, besides all the practicality issues discussed above, is that I got it without power windows or door locks (but with A/C, cruise, Tilt wheel, 16" rims...all the necessities).
Manual door locks in my opinion are more romanic, as in you can unlock and open the door for your girl rather than hit the button on the key fob (or on the door), grunt and point as one would do with keyless entry/power doorlocks. Oh and if she really thinks you are something special she will reach over and unlock the driver's door for you once she is inside (saving you from having to crawl over her to get in the driver's seat).
I drive a '92 Civic Si Hatchback which recently passed 100,000 miles; I really don't see anything on the market that could replace it. (the Focus ZX3 has gotten good reviews, I realize, but I've had really horrendous experiences with Ford in the past.)
I love my hatchback because it's so practical -- I can carry an astonishing amount of "stuff" when I need to -- just pop the hatch, drop the rear seats and GO. You might have a similar amount of space in a sedan - but try getting the stuff *IN* the car! I also love it because as it's more than a slow econobox, I get the joy of keeping self-important morons in expensive yuppiemobiles and SUVs from gutterballing me at stop lights.
Oh, and by the way -- the Integra hatchback (or "Sport Coupe" as they call it) isn't going away; in fact, they dropped the *sedan* version of the car. I've also seen articles saying various manufacturers are bringing us new hatchbacks, so we may well be seeing something of a renaissance in this area.
I'm 15 and I still haven't owned a car yet..but my parents used to have an '85 Mercury Capri. The main thing i hated about that car was the constant rattling and squeaks that came from the hatch. Every bump we hit *squeak*shudder*. It became very annoying. I'm guessing new hatches are built with more solid, rattle free construction. Am I right?
I drive a 1999 Daewoo Lanos Hatchback. I find it to be a fun and comfortable car. It is too bad that hatchbacks are dying in America.
My first car was a 1989 Geo Spectrum hatchback (an Isuzu I-Mark with a different nameplate). I beat the [non-permissible content removed] out of that car. I did the basic maintenance and nothing more. I had 5 accidents in it and it remained pretty solid after 4 years & 81,000 miles. I allowed Sears to do the brakes, back when they were caught screwing over customers, and had problems with the brakes after that. The only other part of the car that broke down was the suspension (struts & shocks went bad @ 75,000 miles)
Between these 2 cars I have driven a 1993 Pontiac Grand Am...what a piece of trash, a 1996 Pontiac Sunfire...very reliable (I should still have it, but I got "bored" and traded it), and a 1999 Ford Ranger...another piece of trash.
The current car I have is the 1999 Daewoo Lanos Hatchback. Like I stated, a good car overall. I put a pretty thorough review about it in topic 123, message 140, along with a few updates in the same topic.
I feel they are very practical and useful. I have already done 1 move from Tennessee to Maryland with it & I'm getting ready to go back to Tennessee with it. I keep my "personal stuff" with me when I move (clothes, personal records, tools, computer & peripherals, TV, VCR, etc.) while a moving company takes everything else.
The only thing I wish that I had in the Lanos was more room. It was filled to the capacity on the first trip and will be on this next one. I guess that's where creative packing comes into play.
If you want to be loaded to the gills, I think the hatchback is the best car to own. It is versatile and allows you be creative, as you say. Never say never, but I think I'd never go back to a sedan now. carlady Host News & Views and Hatchbacks Message Boards
I drive a 99 Mirage coupe LS (wonderful car). Why doesn't Mitsubishi sell the same model in a hatchback? (They sell plenty of them in Australia) Could it be a conspiracy that Honda, Mitsubushi, and maybe others are restricting us (in America) from driving the most efficient and useful cars available?
Even those that are for sale are not willing to offer speed control or engine upgrade (its not the money, we are more than willing to pay for this American need). Good for Ford that is breaking this sacred ground, but what about other manufacturers... what are they waiting for - except their desire to keep pushing us into the sedan/SUV lure!!!
Watch out, I may go to Australia and bring a Mirage hatchback with me!!
Comments
The back seat bothered me a bit, it is narrow with
not a lot of foot room, but worst of all, it seems
to be pretty much unconstructed and of cheap foam.
I can't see it enduring for long if anybody
actually used it. Also, although the back seat
folds down for trunk access, the seats fold several
inches higher than trunk level; nothing near flat.
Here is my main complaint though, and the ONLY
reason I will NOT buy one of these cars. WHERE'S
THE HATCHBACKS? I read on town hall that they are
offered in europe, why not here? A hatchback for
this car would be a no-brainer, in my book. The
"sedan styling" in this case is a joke anyway.
Bring back the hatchbacks, car companies, and we
will buy them!! We can't all afford SUV's!
5 door Focus, that would be the wagon w/4 doors and a Hatch right?
I do believe they are here in the US, was at the Dealer the other day.
So when it came time to be a car owner again I knew I wanted a hatch, but now that my income had increased, I wanted a car with a more sporting attitude and features, but still a hatch. Although I found what I was looking for in the GTI-GLX (so far a wonderful car with everything I could have wanted and more), I was disappointed at the lack of options. It was hard to find many cars that met three of my criteria: leather seats, moon roof, hatch back, or even two, moon roof and hatch. I couldn't believe Honda discontinued the SI series -- if they still had it I don't think I would have even looked at VW. While there are many coupes (I tested the Integra and found the drive hard and the car lacked head room -- I was touching the roof with my head, which never happened in my Civic) I don't consider those true hatchbacks like a Golf or a Civic because they simply aren't as practical, imho.
I suppose the lack of hatchback variety is one of those chicken/egg issues: do car manufacturers fail to make hatchbacks because there are no buyers or are buyers lacking because of the paucity of options in hatchbacks and the failure of automakers to promote them?
carlady/host
The vega was a fun to drive but junky traspo special - actually not that bad.
The GLH was a great car, I drove it very hard for 7 years with almost no problems. It was very solid, handled great (OK the ride was way too rough), and was very practical. Cool car, they don't make 'em like that any more, which is good and bad I guess.
I am saddened by the near demise of the hatchback. Car companines equip most small cars with tiny trunks, these cars would be much more useful with a hatch. I guess people equate hatches with poverty. A good example of a car that would be much better with a hatch is the Ford Escort ZX2.
My current car is a '99 contour, I would have gotten a hatch if it was offered!
Andrew
the only problem is that i have to get out turn off my car and then open it from the back -- i could really use a trunk opener button on my car dash!!!
-thedave2
carlady/host
Ben
This time around, my left leg is grateful that I went with an Automatic.
The manual is fun, but BLOWS in city driving.
This topic is for discussing hatchbacks in general, what we like about them and what we don't.
carlady/host
It's like a coupe and a mini wagon in one. For example, if you're going to take a set of dining room chairs, flip down the rear seat and it becomes a little wagon. The big hatch accommodates the awkward size of the chairs that a trunk would have trouble with. Afterwards, if you're taking a total of 4 people (driver included), "flip" and the seat is back up again. With the rear parcel shelf (when the seats are in the upright position included with most hatchbacks), the back storage works like a regular trunk and nobody can see what's back there.
I for one, love it!
I just bough my third Metro and with rising gas prices, I couldn't be happier.
Tom
carlady/host
ROAD HOGS!!!! TESTOSTERONE JUNKIES!!!!
GAS GUZZLING PIGS!!!!!
just kidding, sort of.
Remember: The Ford Expedition and the Honda Civic Hatchback both get you from point A to point B. Do you REALLY NEED all that muscle in a SUV?
This is also my first hatchback and I gotta say, I'm staying with hatchbacks from now on! I love the gas mileage (I get 30-35 mpg), I love the roomy trunk, as well as the fact that the rear seats fold forward (me and my girlfriend had a lot of fun in the rear with the seats down, of which I won't mention anything else about here). Plus, the hatchbacks are the coolest-looking of all the cars! I'm a hatchback fan, now and forever!
carlady/host
Are you thinking about buying a Ford Focus....have you seen the new Honda Insight? I am not quite sure if its available yet. If you like the Focus look, check out the new Honda.
That is the good news in Hatchbacks these days; we're getting more choices! And (back to our topic) that's just one more reason to love them!
carlady/host
the proper body material into the appropriate cloth
passenger seats of my new Civic. You see, I am a
self-made man. As a self-taught "systems-guru" for
a leading Fortune 500 company in this unparalleled
land of ours - I must report to you that not all
Civic owners have access to and/or the requisite
erudition of the multitude of supplementary
"cleaning materials" offered commercially. I extol
my fine friend Edmund for assembling this
dignified electronic lattice for automotive
doggerel; and I'm sure that countless others concur
that Edumund has done a first-class job.
However, when a gracious individual like Eli lets
go [thus forcing me to beseech Edmund for aid],
isn't it Edumund's responsibility to attend to this
state of affairs - above and beyond the cosmetic
impetus? Shan't Edmund assist me, lest he confuse
this horrible incident further? Please be
responsive to the natural order. Can't we mend the
crisis to start with, prior to heaving me off into
an alternative thread, and possibly an alternative
board?
What do I use to REALLY clean a cloth car seat in
a Civic?
It's now coming time to buy a new car....and I can't say that a sedan is in the running.:)
carlady/host
Will it be sold in US?
My first car was a 1976 AMC Pacer. The car was a piece of cheese - it was even yellow! But the design was way cool - wide and short. We once drove 10,000 miles in three weeks in it, visiting all the western states, and living out of the back. We had a cooler and gas stove and used the hatch area as a kitchen.
I moved from Chicago to NY state in the Pacer. We hauled a lot of stuff in that hatch. On the last trip we had two cats and their litter box back there. You've never lived till you've been in a closed car with a cat pooping late at night on a twisty mountain road.
My current car is an Escort GT. We recently remodeled our kitchen, and I was able to haul the materials, including the counter tops, in the car - with the hatch closed. There is still a bit of a ding in the dash where one of the tops rubbed.
And now I have a Focus ZX3 on order. I'm sure there will be a lot more stories in the future.
Please email at emperor@amabilis.net
It was nice. Can't do that in a sedan!
I like my Saturn but I sure do miss the hatch. The seats fold flat in the Saturn but the trunk just doesn't open wide the way a hatch does.
Now that it's time to start thinking of another car, I'm pondering the few hatches that are out there.
I certainly do not want some huge SUV!
kauffman@hslc.org
Plus I think hatchbacks are cool looking, different then the zillions of vanilla sedans.
Also, a friend of mine who installs car stereos said the sloped glass of the hatch is ideal for reflecting sound toward the front of the car.
the only real difference is the hatch and the great space that provides.
Manual door locks in my opinion are more romanic, as in you can unlock and open the door for your girl
I love my hatchback because it's so practical -- I can carry an astonishing amount of "stuff" when I need to -- just pop the hatch, drop the rear seats and GO. You might have a similar amount of space in a sedan - but try getting the stuff *IN* the car! I also love it because as it's more than a slow econobox, I get the joy of keeping self-important morons in expensive yuppiemobiles and SUVs from gutterballing me at stop lights.
Oh, and by the way -- the Integra hatchback (or "Sport Coupe" as they call it) isn't going away; in fact, they dropped the *sedan* version of the car. I've also seen articles saying various manufacturers are bringing us new hatchbacks, so we may well be seeing something of a renaissance in this area.
carlady/host
My first car was a 1989 Geo Spectrum hatchback (an Isuzu I-Mark with a different nameplate). I beat the [non-permissible content removed] out of that car. I did the basic maintenance and nothing more. I had 5 accidents in it and it remained pretty solid after 4 years & 81,000 miles. I allowed Sears to do the brakes, back when they were caught screwing over customers, and had problems with the brakes after that. The only other part of the car that broke down was the suspension (struts & shocks went bad @ 75,000 miles)
Between these 2 cars I have driven a 1993 Pontiac Grand Am...what a piece of trash, a 1996 Pontiac Sunfire...very reliable (I should still have it, but I got "bored" and traded it), and a 1999 Ford Ranger...another piece of trash.
The current car I have is the 1999 Daewoo Lanos Hatchback. Like I stated, a good car overall. I put a pretty thorough review about it in topic 123, message 140, along with a few updates in the same topic.
I feel they are very practical and useful. I have already done 1 move from Tennessee to Maryland with it & I'm getting ready to go back to Tennessee with it. I keep my "personal stuff" with me when I move (clothes, personal records, tools, computer & peripherals, TV, VCR, etc.) while a moving company takes everything else.
The only thing I wish that I had in the Lanos was more room. It was filled to the capacity on the first trip and will be on this next one. I guess that's where creative packing comes into play.
carlady
Host
News & Views and Hatchbacks Message Boards
Even those that are for sale are not willing to offer speed control or engine upgrade (its not the money, we are more than willing to pay for this American need). Good for Ford that is breaking this sacred ground, but what about other manufacturers... what are they waiting for - except their desire to keep pushing us into the sedan/SUV lure!!!
Watch out, I may go to Australia and bring a Mirage hatchback with me!!