Which AWD hatchback - £7K budget.

[VladD]

HonestIago said:

Not a looker?

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...

Admittedly not exactly beautiful but certainly purposeful looking and not ugly. For all round ability at that price point it defecates on any VAG offering. Can't think of anything else

I love those, but it's definitely more estate than hatchback.

[VladD]

AndrewEH1 said:

An A3 quattro (or maybe even an S3) would fit the bill nicely if you get over the thought of owning an Audi (It's not that bad honest!)

There are always lots on sale for well within your budget.

Edit: Also, apparently the boot space in R32s are a little comprised due to the running gear. Might be worth considering if you have a larger dog.

Edited by AndrewEH1 on Tuesday 19th August 15:22

The dog is a golden retriever, so maybe I need to look in the back of an R32 then. He used to get in the back of a BMW 3 series compact, but it was a touch on the small side.

[HonestIago]

VladD said:

HonestIago said:

Not a looker?

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/s...

Admittedly not exactly beautiful but certainly purposeful looking and not ugly. For all round ability at that price point it defecates on any VAG offering. Can't think of anything else

I love those, but it's definitely more estate than hatchback.

Proportionately maybe, but they are still relatively small cars not hugely dissimilar to a Golf/A3.

[xRIEx]

Any good? Might be a bit short of space, how big is your dog?

[idibbers]

Stretch the budget a bit? http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C452622

[VladD]

xRIEx said:

Any good? Might be a bit short of space, how big is your dog?

Good shout. I know someone who's got one, so I'll have a look and see if the boot is dog compatible. It's a bit coupe like, so the height to get in might be an issue, but definitely worth a look.

[VladD]

idibbers said:

Stretch the budget a bit? http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C452622

Very tempting if it was RHD.

[Dave_]

I didnt know they existed but you get a 4x4 insignia that isnt a vxr.

Sri spec with a 2.0T or Elite spec with what looks like the VXR engine.

Who knew?

[Dave_]

Also im not in anyway suggesting an insignia is a genuine alternative to a mk4 R32 lol. Just genuinely shocked they exist.

[Lefty]

Just remember that there's 4wd and 4wd. Haldex isn't great (I had an r32 for 3 years) compared to fulltime 4x4 a'la subaru.

If the reason you need 4x4 is for winter it takes some pretty bad conditions to stop an fwd car on good winter tyres. Those same conditions could equally stop a haldex car in it's tracks.

I live in very rural NE Scotland, 3 miles from the nearest road that gets cleared. We regularly get 2-3 feet if snow and drifts of 8ft! The r32 on winters was fine until the snow got deeper than 4-5 inches. We've had a variety of fwd and rwd cars on winters that were also fine until the depth of snow started to ground the car out or pack the arches.

[Lefty]

P.s. Lancia Delta?

[scherzkeks]

Lefty said:

Just remember that there's 4wd and 4wd. Haldex isn't great (I had an r32 for 3 years) compared to fulltime 4x4 a'la subaru.

I.

Not true. Sport Auto in Germany has tested this several times, and Haldex cars usually do very well in mixed conditions.

Here"s two examples with the old Haldex II system (not the proactive Gen. 4/5) :

http://www.sportauto.de/vergleichstest/allradvergl...
http://www.sportauto.de/vergleichstest/sport-auto-...

The R and S3 took first in both tests on ice and snow.

Edited by scherzkeks on Tuesday 19th August 19:08

[aka_kerrly]

have Saab 93 xwd 2.8 v6 turbos down to £7k yet?

Although I'd find it hard not to buy a mk5 R32

[Leins]

Not sure how many unabused ones are left these days, but this could fit the bill with 3-doors (came with 5 too):

[aka_kerrly]

Audi S2 - GREAT IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Leins]

^^^ Ta very much - they're still wonderful looking cars to my humble eyes!

[aka_kerrly]

great to look at , well built, massive tuning potential , good examples won't depreciate any further , there really are lots of reasons to go for a S2.

Can't believe they slipped off my radar, especially when a few friends have had various 2.0 16v, 2.6 and 2.8 quattro models over the years.

[Lefty]

scherzkeks said:

Lefty said:

Just remember that there's 4wd and 4wd. Haldex isn't great (I had an r32 for 3 years) compared to fulltime 4x4 a'la subaru.

I.

Not true. Sport Auto in Germany has tested this several times, and Haldex cars usually do very well in mixed conditions.

Here"s two examples with the old Haldex II system (not the proactive Gen. 4/5) :

http://www.sportauto.de/vergleichstest/allradvergl...
http://www.sportauto.de/vergleichstest/sport-auto-...

The R and S3 took first in both tests on ice and snow.

Edited by scherzkeks on Tuesday 19th August 19:08

Well I'm basing my opinion on personal experience.

[recalluk]

Alfa 159 Q4 Sportwagon ?

[Poopipe]

Hawkeye or blobeye subaru wagon? If you dont like the newer shape hatch

I mean none of them are beautiful but you live with it cos rally car - i'd have a bugeye myself for the full ugly.

Theyre not big cars - im assuming youre after a hatch cos you want something smaller than an a4/3series.