£8K on a Hot Hatch

Author
Discussion

KingNothing

3,159 posts

152 months

Friday 12th February 2016
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I loved my ST, but if you got one I wouldn't recommend using Mountune, only real bonus you got from them over others was not effecting the manufacturer warranty, on an old car, where you can get loads of parts cheaper and second hand I'd look at other tuners or DIY.

james_gt3rs

4,816 posts

190 months

Friday 12th February 2016
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Considered any of the rally reps? Impreza, GT4 etc

danp

1,603 posts

261 months

Friday 12th February 2016
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Born Too Slow said:
Hi all

As it always happens, my inner teenager is aching for a Hot Hatch, I previously owned an MG ZR which I loved, and it met an untimely death, now I have a new job and some more money to spend...

I've been looking into getting a decent hot hatch for my commute to work, weekend trips and occasional blast to Oxford, I do around 15-18 miles daily journey wise, I have a MK2 MX5 which I love, but will soon be too uneconomical to repair by its next MOT

..
(Hatches listed)
..

I've also considered cars such as 2009- RX8's, 2005 Nissan 350z's etc

Just wanted to see if people would share their thoughts

Thanks!
You mention the 350Z so you don't really need the 4 seats and practicality of a hatch?

And the mx5 has had it so don't you fancy more of a "sports car"?

SuperchargedVR6

3,138 posts

219 months

Friday 12th February 2016
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mattwhite709 said:
Great shout always fancied one of these. Edition 30 will always hold value more or appreciate too as its limited edition.

Or have you looked at a MK2 TT? Prices have dropped a lot now MK3 is out.

pinseeker said:
Golf gti edition 30. With the subtle body kit, pescara alloys and customary remap (300bhp), you have the car the mk5 gti should have been from the start.

More of a very good all rounder than a hot hatch focused on the driving experience, like the megane r26.
Stick some Ohlins Track & Road struts on it, up the rear ARB size a notch, S3 console bushes (or Whiteline ones), Pilot Super Sports and some geometry and it' will easily keep with the Renault.

macky17

2,210 posts

188 months

Friday 12th February 2016
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OK, it was unfair of me to say the Ed30 was boring. It handled well, looked smart, had lots of toys and had a nice little step up in power at around 4200 rpm which the standard GTi lacks. I guess if you fitted a decent exhaust (sounds so dull standard), Stage 1 map, uprated clutch and perhaps fitted some Eibachs (sits too high even with the 18s) and you'd have a very nice, fast hatchback. All of that is taking you well beyond £8k though - especially as a decent one will cost more than that to begin with. And it still wouldn't be as fun as the ST.

Born Too Slow

Original Poster:

10 posts

97 months

Friday 12th February 2016
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danp said:
You mention the 350Z so you don't really need the 4 seats and practicality of a hatch?

And the mx5 has had it so don't you fancy more of a "sports car"?
I could totally live with a two seater (No children, very few passengers runs, although I would like a bigger boot than the MX5 offers)

my concern with the 350z and RX8's were running costs, I also looked at a couple of Supercharged SLK's, as well as a considering a CLK 500

Both later variants of the 350Z and RX8 are in the £490 per year tax band, and the RX8 seems to require a lot of time and maintenance, I heard horror stories of servicing, one guy suggested a litre of Mineral Oil per 1K miles, every time you change the plugs, ignition coils need changing too as well as clutches only lasting between 20-30K

Just seemed to put me off an RX8, as well as low teens in MPG around town (which doesn't overly bother me)




Born Too Slow

Original Poster:

10 posts

97 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
james_gt3rs said:
Considered any of the rally reps? Impreza, GT4 etc
I quite fancy a WRX (many 2004-2008 STI's seem to hit the 10K+ mark)

GT4's are great, but its the same issue as a EP3, finding one that is fairly unmodified as well as being clean and well maintained haha

AH33

2,066 posts

134 months

Friday 12th February 2016
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The EP3 Type R wouldnt be my choice for £8k. Maybe £2-3k. Had one just over a year, It's harsh, noisy, has an interior from 1995 and doesn't feel fast at all unless you drive it at 10/10ths all the time - and if you do, you get V8 fuel consumption.

For my money, probably a Focus ST/Astra VXR.

danp

1,603 posts

261 months

Friday 12th February 2016
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Born Too Slow said:
danp said:
You mention the 350Z so you don't really need the 4 seats and practicality of a hatch?

And the mx5 has had it so don't you fancy more of a "sports car"?
I could totally live with a two seater (No children, very few passengers runs, although I would like a bigger boot than the MX5 offers)

my concern with the 350z and RX8's were running costs, I also looked at a couple of Supercharged SLK's, as well as a considering a CLK 500

Both later variants of the 350Z and RX8 are in the £490 per year tax band, and the RX8 seems to require a lot of time and maintenance, I heard horror stories of servicing, one guy suggested a litre of Mineral Oil per 1K miles, every time you change the plugs, ignition coils need changing too as well as clutches only lasting between 20-30K

Just seemed to put me off an RX8, as well as low teens in MPG around town (which doesn't overly bother me)
Does it need to be a coupe? Or perhaps a roadster with hard top?

How about facelift 3.0 Z4 coupe/roadster - low tax, efficient and pretty solid reliability wise.

Boxster possibly more of a gamble engine wise but a better steer by all accounts.

S2000?

I'd personally have any of those over a hot hatch if I didn't need the practicality.

Born Too Slow

Original Poster:

10 posts

97 months

Friday 12th February 2016
quotequote all
danp said:
Does it need to be a coupe? Or perhaps a roadster with hard top?

How about facelift 3.0 Z4 coupe/roadster - low tax, efficient and pretty solid reliability wise.

Boxster possibly more of a gamble engine wise but a better steer by all accounts.

S2000?

I'd personally have any of those over a hot hatch if I didn't need the practicality.
I'd probably give the Boxster a miss, I like a fairly sizable boot for trips

A Z4 Coupe or S2000 with a Hardtop are viable

I use a hardtop on the MX5 and it truly made driving it more enjoyable