I prefer a car with a boot rather than a hatchback. In my opinion they are quieter and should offer greater security for goodies in said boot.
In the USA the 5 door Focus was rare but there were many 4 door versions
In South Africa most Corollas were booted and there were lots of Jettas (Boras) around.
However it seems that we do not get the option of a boot from some makers.
e.g. I have seen the following in Aus and South Africa
Fiesta (Ikon) , Yaris (Echo), Corolla and Corsa and there may be others.
Years ago the Austin 1100 (Victoria) was also not seen in the UK
Ford learned the hard way with their - You will have a Granada with a hatch - and Vauxhall and Volvo to name but two loved it.
Some of the motoring press certainly comment on the Focus saloon and the Bora / Jetta as not the one to buy but there are many Boras in my area..
Is it something strange with the UK market that we are not supplied with booted versions of the above?
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> I prefer a car with a boot rather than a hatchback.
> In my opinion they are quieter and should offer greater
> security for goodies in said boot.
Hi Henry
You're right -- boots are much quieter!
When I was a wee kid (sometime after the flood and before Napoleon) I was sometimes transported in the boot of a car. Great fun: up to three of us stashed in there, and nobody could tell us to behave because they couldnt get near us while driving.
A hatchback would spoil all the fun, cos even if they put the cover over the luggage area the adults can hear everything you say -- its quieter in the boot.
These days of course, police would probably object to kids being stored in the luggage area -- but if its a proper boot, like a saloon car, they wouldn't know.
Bring back boots!
Claire
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Funny. I have the first hatch car I have had in my life right now. I have always had sedans with a trunk (boot) rather than a hatch. As for security I see no advantages as every trunk/boot car these days has fold down back seats and a trunk latch handle by the driver?s seat.
As for the Focus we have TONs of all types here. It?s a very successful car. But the only reason you might have seen more of the 4-door trunk models is because it is the cheapest focus. Both of the hatch models are thousands more than the trunk model.
I think part of the problem of the hatch in the UK is they are all little boxes, like the GTI. You need my car, the RSX and cars like it that have a low profile sporty hatch! ;)
www.acura.com/images/rsx/rsx_gallpop_img4_ext.jpg
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I prefer a car with a boot rather than a hatchback. e.g. I have seen the following in Aus and South Africa Fiesta (Ikon) , Yaris (Echo), Corolla and Corsa and there may be others.
The Corsa, IMHO, is damn ugly with a boot! In fact, I'd say 95% of those I see are hatches - purely cos of the ugliness factor, I'm sure!
Having said that, my astra is a booted version (the SA hatch was called a Kadett, for some reason..) and seems to be a popular model.
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Hope this isn't bad news Ian, but, during the 1980s at least, the booted Astra - called the Belmont - was considered something of a joke and just about the naffest car choice.
I personally couldn't understand this; my sister was provided with one by her company and it seemed a pretty nice car. Maybe that was the era when the Brit love of hatches peaked.
The first hatch I experienced was a taxi to the bus station, a Cavalier I think. It seemsd so unsuited to a taxi. You get in and experience that slightly cosseted escape from the madding crowd feeling, which is promptly ruined when the cabman opens the hatch to stow your luggage thereby cruelly exposing the back of your head.
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Hope this isn't bad news Ian, but, during the 1980s at least, the booted Astra - called the Belmont - was considered something of a joke and just about the naffest car choice. I personally couldn't understand this; my sister was provided with one by her company and it seemed a pretty nice car. Maybe that was the era when the Brit love of hatches peaked.
Mine looks identical to this one: (except mine is auto)
www.carbel.co.za/Astra180i.html
Now c'mon people, do YOU think it looks so bad? I promise I won't sulk ...
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Many cars are designed and built in both saloon and hatchback versions but manufacturers only sell what they perceive that customers want in a particular market. The UK market, apparently much prefers hatchbacks, but the same vehicles are sold in other markets as saloon only.
I personally prefer saloons, having deliberately ordered 4-door versions of Mk2 & Mk3 Cavaliers as well as my current Mk4 Astra. Saloon versions are generally quieter, stronger, more secure and more roomy for luggage.
Prestige brands produce saloons, with a solitary hatchback at the cheaper end of their range.
I think that as mini-MPVs become more popular, like Scenic, C-Max and Meriva, conventional small hatchbacks and estates will die out.
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Highly reasonable motah.
The reworking of the Opel lightning badge has got as far as Ireland and I wonder how long it will be before it replaces our Vauxhall griffin.
That paint job would look good under sunny skies, maybe not for London in november.
Does that mean you don't have that howling straight six any more?
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oH YES, IT DOES INDEED GET GRUBBY! The howling 6, available in a variety of sizes 2.8 and 4.1 most common, went out a while back, My old Commodore was a 3-spd auto with the 2.8. Good for 100mph all day, with the consumption to match!
As far as the lightning badge, you can BUY vauxhall badges here, for tarting up your corsa, astra etc. The question is: why would anybody wish to????
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"you can BUY vauxhall badges"
Is that because those that have them are anxious to off-load them? Funny thing, status...
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Illegitimi non carborundum!
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We are STILL not "Brits", but "BRITISH"!
Why work when you can sleep?
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