When I was young it seemed that life was so wonderful. Supertramp said that in 1979. As someone born then, I can tell you it was true. I lived through the hot hatch era. I was there for the original GTIs – Golf, 205, 309, etc. XR’s, GT’s and more. Back then 100bhp, reasonable handling, and stripes, was all it took to be the envy of your mates. Add a flip-front stereo and a Pioneer sticker in your back window and you levelled up. Godlike status beckoned, and all for a few hundred quid. A decent hot hatch was pennies in the Auto Trader (a magazine bought from a newsagent, rather than an app). You and your mates would put a couple of quid in the tank and go wherever…
