Trappe Chaude: 2003 Peugeot 206RC

You used to hear a lot of chatter from car guys over here in the New World about how the Europeans always keep the best stuff to themselves. Everything from higher horsepower M3s to special Evolution editions of Cossie powered Mercedes was the stuff of legend back in the day...but globalization changed much of that and we get most everything they get back home in Germany/UK...except we don't get much from France these days, which is a shame...but what you can't get here in the the USA you can get by heading due North.  You might have to move to Canada permanently, but a little snow never killed anybody. Find this 2003 Peugeot 206RC offered for $8900 CAD ($6688 USD) in Laval, Quebec, Canada via Kijiji.net. Tip from Erik202.

Future Classic? 1986 Shelby Dodge Charger

Time to highlight a limited production turbocharged hatchback '80s machine because they are cheap and fun!  The '80s Dodge Charger was a Dodge Omni masquerading as a Charger - an emasculated version of a once brutal tire burning muscle machine...until Carroll Shelby got his 10-gallon hat involved and made a hot version.  Anything with the legendary Texas chicken farmer's name on the side (and the seats, glove box door, belts..etc) is probably gonna be worth more than scrap value in the future, so get this one while it is cheap! Find this 1986 Shelby Dodge Charger offered for $1900 in Boise, ID via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Super Sonic: 2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ Turbo

For a budget of about $6k, you can get into all sorts of cars that you could daily drive, but most would be a few decades old with some wear 'n' tear.  Not that it's a bad thing, because I've daily driven everything from donated Porsche 928s to Saab 99s...but I'm really not that concerned about reaching my ultimate destination in a timely manner.  If you want a cheap car and want something that is very likely to get you there...consider a late model econobox with a manual gear changer. Like this 2012 Chevy Sonic LTZ Turbo offered for $6,200 in SF Bay Area, CA via craigslist.

Turbocharged 6-Speed: 2007 Mazda Mazdaspeed 3

Mazda is like the Dodge of Japan. Honda and Toyota fight like Ford and GM over bragging rights to the "best" volume sales cars and the "fastest" supercars, but Mazda just drops some crazy fun cars like the inexplicably named Mazdaspeed 3, which combined the best attributes of a small front drive family economy car with a turbocharged engine, limited slip diff, and a 6-speed manual box from 2007 through 2009 (second generation version with big smiley face was sold from 2010-2013).  Think of the Mazdaspeed 3 like a Mini Cooper S with an injection of muscle car grunt and size.  Find this 2007 Mazda Mazdaspeed 3 offered for $5950 in Hayward, CA via craigslist.

Hot Hatch: 2004 Ford Focus SVT

The term hot hatch is tossed about like gonorrhea in a college co-ed dorm building, but what does it really take to be a hot hatch.  First, you need a hatch.  And then you need powahhhhh....maybe!  What you need in a fast hatch is something that is equally at home in a parking lot dodging shopping carts or cones...and for that you need handling.   Find this 2004 Ford Focus SVT offered for $2,500 in Houston, TX via craigslist.

Hot Swede: 1991 Saab 900 SPG

Backing packing through Scandinavia is easy on the eyes.  Sweden in particular offers stunning scenery, architecture...and skönhet in the fairer sex.  It also produced some of the most reliable and practical cars on the planet.  What happens when you take one of these cars and transform it in to a hot hatch?  Find this 1991 Saab 900 SPG for sale in Minneapolis, MN for $5,500 via craigslist.

The Other, Forgotten GTI: 1988 Peugeot 205 GTI 1.6

During the hot hatch wars of the 80’s and early 90’s Volkswagen Golf GTIs squared off with Honda Civic SIs in the United States each with a dedicated following. It looks like with the Ford Focus ST now joining the two well-known models and what seems to be and arms race of horsepower in the hatchbacks there may be a resurgence in the market. But there are hatchback models that never were modified by flat brimmed teens with street glow and stanced to a level where they scrape their oil pan on the paint while changing lanes. Here is the chance to own an unmolested beauty that was imported recently and appears to be intact and correct. Advertised on the list that is Craig’s, located in Newport News, Virginia this 1988 Peugeot 205 GTI  is yours for the mere price of $7,500; beret and baguette not included.

6-Speed Turbo Hatch: 2011 Volvo C30

If you head out to your local used car lot looking for a late model front-drive hot hatch with a manual gearbox you'll probably expect to find something from Ford, Volkswagen, or Honda.  Add a turbocharger to the requirements list and Honda drops off the table, and if you want something that has more than 4 cylinders the list gets really small and something from a Scandanvian OE pops to the top.  Find this 2011 Volvo C30 here on eBay bidding for $5,000 reserve-not-met with 2 days to go, located in Maribel, WI.

5k: Turbo Hatch: 1988 Mazda 323 GTX

 This next hot hatch comes to us from Brian P, who writes: Hot hatches are awesome.  This one is ratty enough that it will be cheap but not so bad that you'll have to shower after every drive.  It could be the dog hair covering the seats or that this car is literally a hot hatch, but it does seem like a interesting ride.  The US badged Mazda 323 was based on 5th generation (internal designation BF) Mazda Familia - a basic economy car for the family, but the GTX version was a rally bred fun machine. Find this 1988 Mazda 323 GTX here on eBay currently bidding for $200 reserve-not-met with buy-it-now of $4,500 located in Mountain View, CA.

5k: Seller Submission: 1994 Suzuki Swift GT

The 1988-1999 Suzuki Swift/Geo Metro/Chevy Metro/Pontiac Firefly was a subcompact hatch family with chassis design from General Motors and a powertrain developed by Suzuki.  The Swifttrofly won't get you a front row parking at the next valet, but why would you want to let one of those car wreckers to drive your sweet hatchback anyway? Just park it yourself.  Find this 1994 Suzuki Swift GT offered for $5,000 near Seattle, WA. Seller submission from Jesse.

10k: Out of Focus: 2004 Ford Focus SVT

The Ford Focus was a big success when it replaced the aging Escort and was lauded as the arrival of European handing/flair to the American econo-hatch.  This was marketing nonsense and hyperbole dreamed up by press pundits, as the basic Focus was a plasticy piece of crap, but with the arrival of the SVT model, some of that much anticipated fun was finally delivered.  Find this 2004 Ford Focus SVT for sale in Milpitas, CA for $8,200 via craigslist.  Tip from...you guessed it...Kaibeezy.

5k: 1980 Subaru DL Hatchback 4WD

The Subaru Leone (Italian for Lion) was a compact sedan manufactured by Fuji Heavy Industries from 1971 to 1994 and marketed as the DL in the USA.  It was the predecessor to the extremely successful Subaru Impreza, available as a coupe, sedan, hatchback, truck and wagon, and all Leones were powered by boxer-4 cylinder engines.  This 1980 Subaru DL Hatchback is equipped with a manual transmission, 4WD and is offered for $4500 in Bellevue, NE via craigslist.  Thanks to reader Andy L for the tip!

5k: 1984 Dodge Colt GTS

The Dodge Colt was a USDM version of Mitsubishi Japanese market cars - originally the rear-wheel-drive Galant and later the front-wheel-drive Mirage.  The Colt was a subcompact with a cheap entry price and basic features that makes for an excellent winter beater or cheap car to thrash around.  This 1984 Dodge Colt GTS Turbo comes with the novel "Twin-Stick" manual transmission and is for sale on ebay currently bidding at $2,800 with 5 days left to go (thanks to tip from Andy L).