Best Hot Hatch 1k?

[JT361]

So pretty much as the title says.

I need a daily after my last one broke horribly, would like something fun to drive (a diesel 306 made me want to die inside)

Truth be told I miss my hot hatches but only have a small budget.

What would people recommend?

Thanks in advance

[Vitorio]

Id look past the top spec models in that budget range, anything with the proper hot hatch badge is going to be either a complete wreck or more expensive, go for the slightly less powerful models (or ones that can be easily upgraded) or the more obscure choices.

Peugeot 106 Rallye/XSi might be doable?

[MOBB]

Ford Puma? Great to drive. Can rust a lot though.

[Rod200SX]

My brother picked up a MG ZR 160 as a donor car for his elise that has now turned in to his daily. Was about £600, immaculate, 26k on the clock and surprisingly fast. Took a thrashing round knockhill no problem at all.

If you can live with the image, they are good wee cars. Repair costs are minimal if anything goes wrong, too.

[rossmc88]

Hard to beat a Suzuki Ignis sport for that budget

[culpz]

Seen a few Clio 172's go for about 1k and they've not been as ropey as you might expect. May need a little work spending on them but one of the best value hot hatches out here!

[JT361]

I'd love a 106 rallye/XSi but they're all out of budget it seems

It's also difficult to find a non-rust bucket Puma local!

I'll start looking at MG's and Ignis Sport's now, can only seem to find ropey Clio's for under 1k unfortunately

[phil_cardiff]

A Yaris T-Sport would be a reliable choice. Others may steer better though.

[Vitorio]

JT361 said:

I'd love a 106 rallye/XSi but they're all out of budget it seems

It's also difficult to find a non-rust bucket Puma local!

I'll start looking at MG's and Ignis Sport's now, can only seem to find ropey Clio's for under 1k unfortunately

Maybe a non sport spec then? The 106 did come with a 88hp 1.6 or 75hp 1.4s, the fiat punto has a 86hp 1.2 16v sporting etc... not hot hatch territory, but should be fun to flog around.

Maybe an alfa 145 1.6 TS? 120 hp in a 1100kg car should be decent, even better if you can find a 1.8

[MorganP104]

The Focus ST170 is rapidly approaching shed money.

When new, it got a hard time from the motoring press and enthusiasts alike, but as a cheap, lively handling and fast runaround, the ST170 is a good bet.

[waynedear]

Alfa 145/146/147 all with 155bhp 2.0 maybe warm rather than hot but great fun, sound good as well.

[anonymous-user]

An early Leon 20VT? Fast, pretty well made, a nice interior (borrowed from the A3) and a six-speed box. They have known 'issues', but then so will anything at that price.

[cv01jw]

Proton Satria GTi?

If you can get past the pre-chavved looks, they are good cars underneath and can be picked up for next to nothing.

[Ilovejapcrap]

rossmc88 said:

Hard to beat a Suzuki Ignis sport for that budget

Ohhh good call can look Coll too

[The Surveyor]

I find these threads a little strange at times, at this price level there's no benefit in giving suggestions of what car may be decent as the difference between a good car and a bad one will be more down to the condition of the individual car, rather than what it was like when new.

Clio's for example were great when new, but a tired saggy one would be a dog. A Fiesta or Corsa SXi may have been a bit ordinary when new but a good one of those would be a much better buy at £1k than any rotten old Peugeot GTi.

The OP is going to have to look at actual cars rather than take any general advice on which is 'best' on here.

[M3Gar]

Clio 182 that will shortly need a cambelt?
I sold mine with about a year until it needed doing for £1k.
Everything on the car worked as it should, cruise, AC, auto wipers etc.
Had been machine polished so the body looked pretty good too.
When taking it steady you could see 45mpg so great on fuel as well for the commute.

[TameRacingDriver]

If you can drive one without a paper bag on your head, you might find a Micra 160SR.

Alternatively a Proton Satira GTI.

Almera GTI also if you can find one that hasn't turned to dust.

[pimpchez]

Corolla T sport including a set of lowering springs //thread

[cbmotorsport]

Clio is not a bad shout. Although for that money you'll probably be looking at one that needs a cambelt, and need to budget £4-500 for a belt and dephaser change as it's a specialist job.

As for them being tired, a full set of cup dampers and springs all round that you can fit yourself is a couple of hundred quid.

I think anything you try and buy for 1k is going to be a bit of a dog, and will need another few hundred spending on it.

[Vitorio]

waynedear said:

Alfa 145/146/147 all with 155bhp 2.0 maybe warm rather than hot but great fun, sound good as well.

Anything 2.0 will be a QV or Ti spec in case of the 145/146, and will either be st or expensive. Id suggest searching for a 1.8, they arent that special, but at 140hp not exactly slow either.