Buying a hot hatch - buy private or buy from dealer?
Discussion
Id recommend RenaultSport (specifically a 250, 265 or 275) - brilliant fun to drive. If you buy one that's been thrashed..meh. It's what they were built for and actually seem to respond better.
My 265 Trophy was used as a track car only from when it left the dealer up until about 9k miles. Has been faultless. Turned out to be 285bhp standard (which was probably because of how it was used). After a remap it then sees: 314bhp / 350lb ft / 450nm.
My 265 Trophy was used as a track car only from when it left the dealer up until about 9k miles. Has been faultless. Turned out to be 285bhp standard (which was probably because of how it was used). After a remap it then sees: 314bhp / 350lb ft / 450nm.
Stevoox said:
Id recommend RenaultSport (specifically a 250, 265 or 275) - brilliant fun to drive. If you buy one that's been thrashed..meh. It's what they were built for and actually seem to respond better.
My 265 Trophy was used as a track car only from when it left the dealer up until about 9k miles. Has been faultless. Turned out to be 285bhp standard (which was probably because of how it was used). After a remap it then sees: 314bhp / 350lb ft / 450nm.
I'd recommend a R26 for OP with his 7k budget, highly recommend driving one before buying a vxr.My 265 Trophy was used as a track car only from when it left the dealer up until about 9k miles. Has been faultless. Turned out to be 285bhp standard (which was probably because of how it was used). After a remap it then sees: 314bhp / 350lb ft / 450nm.
I'd always recommend buying from owners clubs/forums. For a start you can be uber stalker-ery and look at there previous posts, which should give you some idea of the life the car has lived.
I'd avoid specialist dealers, such as RevItUpUK, Big Boys Toys and Cheshire Performance etc... They seem to hoover up the dross, give it a clean and charge a premium with no after sales car at all.
I'd avoid specialist dealers, such as RevItUpUK, Big Boys Toys and Cheshire Performance etc... They seem to hoover up the dross, give it a clean and charge a premium with no after sales car at all.
It depends, but I'd normally prefer to buy that sort of car privately. Hot hatches tend to be bought by two types of owner: someone mechanically unsympathetic who thrashes the life out of it or someone fastidious who loves their car. Sure, there are in-betweens, but everytime I've looked at a hot hatch for sale it seems to fall into one of these two camps. I like to view a private car so I can meet the previous owner, and then get him to drive me for at least ten minutes so I can see how he drives.
My wife bought a Honda Civic Type-R last year and we viewed a few thrashed ones in dealerships with poor service history and then a prep sheet as long as your arm - despite the attention they still drove poorly. We eventually found one up in Wales that had been doted over with all the regular servicing done plus interim oil changes by the owner. We were able to meet the owner and his wife, along with a quick impromptu chat with the neighbour when we arrived who said that the owner was always out cleaning the car and doing those interim oil changes etc. The car drove like new on the test drive and the difference from the thrashed cars was obvious.
I'd also recommend that the OP looks at a Honda Civic Type R before buying a Vauxhall VXR. £7k got us a mint lowish mileage '07 a year ago, so without looking I'd guess that '08/'09 cars were in that budget now - one of the last chances to own a fresh high revving n/a car.
My wife bought a Honda Civic Type-R last year and we viewed a few thrashed ones in dealerships with poor service history and then a prep sheet as long as your arm - despite the attention they still drove poorly. We eventually found one up in Wales that had been doted over with all the regular servicing done plus interim oil changes by the owner. We were able to meet the owner and his wife, along with a quick impromptu chat with the neighbour when we arrived who said that the owner was always out cleaning the car and doing those interim oil changes etc. The car drove like new on the test drive and the difference from the thrashed cars was obvious.
I'd also recommend that the OP looks at a Honda Civic Type R before buying a Vauxhall VXR. £7k got us a mint lowish mileage '07 a year ago, so without looking I'd guess that '08/'09 cars were in that budget now - one of the last chances to own a fresh high revving n/a car.
Edited by RobM77 on Thursday 18th December 09:54
HJMS123 said:
I'd recommend a R26 for OP with his 7k budget, highly recommend driving one before buying a vxr.
Ahhh the budget, good point 
But yeah, agree with you.
If your looking at hot hatches then certainly atleast try an RS before settling 100% on a VXR. Well...your choice ofcourse - I've not driven a VXR as i dont like them (see too many around. sound good but thats where it ends for me) but from what others have said to me in the past, they aren't the most exciting cars to drive
Stevoox said:
HJMS123 said:
I'd recommend a R26 for OP with his 7k budget, highly recommend driving one before buying a vxr.
Ahhh the budget, good point But yeah, agree with you.
If your looking at hot hatches then certainly atleast try an RS before settling 100% on a VXR. Well...your choice ofcourse - I've not driven a VXR as i dont like them (see too many around. sound good but thats where it ends for me) but from what others have said to me in the past, they aren't the most exciting cars to drive
Will have to blow me away dynamically though as I've always preffered I small pert ass than something that hangs out that far... (yes I'm talking vxr vs r26)
KarlMac said:
I'd always recommend buying from owners clubs/forums. For a start you can be uber stalker-ery and look at there previous posts, which should give you some idea of the life the car has lived.
I'd avoid specialist dealers, such as RevItUpUK, Big Boys Toys and Cheshire Performance etc... They seem to hoover up the dross, give it a clean and charge a premium with no after sales car at all.
Those three are all showing up in the classifieds with tempting cars so v handy to have this kind of feedback. Much better than travelling 100s of miles for a ropey collection, even if they do look goodI'd avoid specialist dealers, such as RevItUpUK, Big Boys Toys and Cheshire Performance etc... They seem to hoover up the dross, give it a clean and charge a premium with no after sales car at all.
RobM77 said:
It depends, but I'd normally prefer to buy that sort of car privately. Hot hatches tend to be bought by two types of owner: someone mechanically unsympathetic who thrashes the life out of it or someone fastidious who loves their car. Sure, there are in-betweens, but everytime I've looked at a hot hatch for sale it seems to fall into one of these two camps. I like to view a private car so I can meet the previous owner, and then get him to drive me for at least ten minutes so I can see how he drives.
My wife bought a Honda Civic Type-R last year and we viewed a few thrashed ones in dealerships with poor service history and then a prep sheet as long as your arm - despite the attention they still drove poorly. We eventually found one up in Wales that had been doted over with all the regular servicing done plus interim oil changes by the owner. We were able to meet the owner and his wife, along with a quick impromptu chat with the neighbour when we arrived who said that the owner was always out cleaning the car and doing those interim oil changes etc. The car drove like new on the test drive and the difference from the thrashed cars was obvious.
I'd also recommend that the OP looks at a Honda Civic Type R before buying a Vauxhall VXR. £7k got us a mint lowish mileage '07 a year ago, so without looking I'd guess that '08/'09 cars were in that budget now - one of the last chances to own a fresh high revving n/a car.
Since having owned the Forester I'm set on another turbo'd car. In truth, I enjoy the kick in the back of acceleration than pushing limits too close on b-road blasts where the Type R really come alive.My wife bought a Honda Civic Type-R last year and we viewed a few thrashed ones in dealerships with poor service history and then a prep sheet as long as your arm - despite the attention they still drove poorly. We eventually found one up in Wales that had been doted over with all the regular servicing done plus interim oil changes by the owner. We were able to meet the owner and his wife, along with a quick impromptu chat with the neighbour when we arrived who said that the owner was always out cleaning the car and doing those interim oil changes etc. The car drove like new on the test drive and the difference from the thrashed cars was obvious.
I'd also recommend that the OP looks at a Honda Civic Type R before buying a Vauxhall VXR. £7k got us a mint lowish mileage '07 a year ago, so without looking I'd guess that '08/'09 cars were in that budget now - one of the last chances to own a fresh high revving n/a car.
Edited by RobM77 on Thursday 18th December 09:54
I TOTALLY get your comments about 2 types of car nut though. I just have to look on youtube to see 'Vxr remus cold start reving' to know they love their car...but don't LOVE their car. Going private will give me that insight. 2nd best being scouring the forums for the seller to see what they've been up to!!
adingley84 said:
Those three are all showing up in the classifieds with tempting cars so v handy to have this kind of feedback. Much better than travelling 100s of miles for a ropey collection, even if they do look good
I bought a Golf GTI from RevItUp, when I got it home found out the alternatir was borked and the alloys where bolted on finger tight. A friend bought a Focus ST with the dump valve blanked off with a wood screw in the pipe and the dirtiest k&n filter you've ever seen (despite been 'freshly service'). They also had a massive falling out with Regal about the quality if cars. My 'immaculate' Subaru from Cheshire Performance had never been undersealed and had two 3" holes in the sills. Have look on Scoobynet for some other horror stories.
KarlMac said:
adingley84 said:
Those three are all showing up in the classifieds with tempting cars so v handy to have this kind of feedback. Much better than travelling 100s of miles for a ropey collection, even if they do look good
I bought a Golf GTI from RevItUp, when I got it home found out the alternatir was borked and the alloys where bolted on finger tight. A friend bought a Focus ST with the dump valve blanked off with a wood screw in the pipe and the dirtiest k&n filter you've ever seen (despite been 'freshly service'). They also had a massive falling out with Regal about the quality if cars. My 'immaculate' Subaru from Cheshire Performance had never been undersealed and had two 3" holes in the sills. Have look on Scoobynet for some other horror stories.
RobM77 said:
I'd also recommend that the OP looks at a Honda Civic Type R before buying a Vauxhall VXR. £7k got us a mint lowish mileage '07 a year ago, so without looking I'd guess that '08/'09 cars were in that budget now - one of the last chances to own a fresh high revving n/a car.
This comment's made me think twice over the last few days and got me looking at the hot hatch i used to want most...The Civic Type R Ep3! Edited by RobM77 on Thursday 18th December 09:54
4.5k should get me a nice '05 Premier Edition with Recaro's, momo steering wheel and tinted windows with FSH and 60-75k mlies.
Pretty much every hatch from now on will be turbo'd and looking at these has re-ignited my want for one again to get the N/a screaming!
Time to get myself a test drive to see if it stands up to my hopes!
(Should only be circa 1k cash input from proceeds of the Forester if all goes to plan)
Edited by adingley84 on Friday 26th December 11:50
adingley84 said:
This comment's made me think twice over the last few days and got me looking at the hot hatch i used to want most...The Civic Type R Ep3!
4.5k should get me a nice '05 Premier Edition with Recaro's, momo steering wheel and tinted windows with FSH and 60k
Prices on late model EP3 CTR with a/c and low miles (sub 80k) have strengthened your 4.5k won't go very far based on current values!4.5k should get me a nice '05 Premier Edition with Recaro's, momo steering wheel and tinted windows with FSH and 60k
Edited by adingley84 on Friday 26th December 11:50
rallycross said:
adingley84 said:
This comment's made me think twice over the last few days and got me looking at the hot hatch i used to want most...The Civic Type R Ep3!
4.5k should get me a nice '05 Premier Edition with Recaro's, momo steering wheel and tinted windows with FSH and 60k
Prices on late model EP3 CTR with a/c and low miles (sub 80k) have strengthened your 4.5k won't go very far based on current values!4.5k should get me a nice '05 Premier Edition with Recaro's, momo steering wheel and tinted windows with FSH and 60k
Edited by adingley84 on Friday 26th December 11:50
chrisxr2 said:
Privately from N owners forum is my preferred purchase method, as you get a very detailed history above the normal as a rule by checking the owners posts.
I can definitely see there's a lot of value in doing this kind of check. Just like people can do on PH for my Forester. Faultless over 100k miles with just droplinks done at 92k :-)
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