Ranking Hot Hatches / Small Coupes by Driving Fun

[jcelee]

I'm looking to buy something fun with the following conditions. [b] Please please only rank cars you've actually driven [b], not those you've just read reviews of.

1) Should cost not more than £5000, either outright or though PCH over 2 years. So cars like the new Fiesta ST are in scope. I would also consider cars up to £15,000 that are unlikely to lose more than £5000 over 2 years.

2) Should be able to carry 2 adults and 2 children (under 8 years) on an infrequent basis.

Do not worry about running costs or fuel consumption (20mpg+ is fine) but I'd prefer it was not a car that requires constant tinkering - reasonable day to day reliability.

The cars I've thought of but not driven are: 2013+ Ford Fiesta ST, Ford Puma 1.7, BMW 325ti Compact, Honda Integra Type R

[jcelee]

Driving is semi rural / urban, some NSL, small amount of dual carriageway but no motorways in general

[jcelee]

Thanks Kentao, some left field suggestions there, I've driven a Clio 200 and preferred the drive to a GT86, I suspect the 172/182 are more old skool (a preference) but maybe too fragile? Celica is probably a little older / too much of a tinkerers car but certainly something I'd not previously considered

[jcelee]

Thanks guys, I'd noticed the Brabus before and wondered quite what they were like. What is the steering / general handling like?

The R53 Cooper S is certainly intriguing but they seem to be going up in price?! (is £5k enough to get a good one anymore?) Is this because the engines are less chocolate than the later model? Maybe I should try to try an EP3 too, the commentary about numbness worry me but I absolutely loved my old 1989 CRX 1.6i-16 back in the day!

[jcelee]

Great feedback! thanks Billy especially. Really sounds like I need to check out a few Civics...
Not so many worries about carrying kids as we have at least one other car for that, just nice to have the option.
I have a Caterham for tinkering and really want a daily driver that just works - sounds like Renaults are out.

[jcelee]

Certainly sounds like I need to try one (Fiesta ST). I guess I have quite high standards (commuting on a motorbike right now but recently out of a Cayman, with a Caterham in the garage for high days and holidays)but do like a good hot hatch. The most recent one I had was a Mk5 Golf GTI which wasn't bad but just too grown up. I miss the combination of lightweight and modest/ok power of the 1980s hatches and sense that in everyday driving the reasonable weight, quick rack, good chassis and torque of the ST will take me a little closer to that feeling.

[jcelee]

Thanks very much guys for lots of real world experience. I am intrigued by the amount of love shown for the EP3 Type R. Also interested in the feedback on 172/182, too many of the owners reviews online are following very short periods of ownership - they do sound very old school responsive that I like!

I'll not rule out other 4 seaters (saloons etc) but have scratched lots of itches already and want something that works well as moderately low speeds.

[jcelee]

Thanks again guys, lots of things to ponder ahead of actually getting my work parking permit back - hopefully any day now. This will 99% be a commuting car after all.

Still trying to get a test drive in a Fiesta ST - my local dealer is still awaiting one of their manger's cars coming into stock. Then to try everything else back to back with this. I definitely need to try an EP3 Civic, 182 Clio-pref. Trophy (the other Frenchies may be dynamically brilliant but I just fear they will be too old to not be tinkerers cars at best) and possibly DC5, DC2 and 325ti. If any of you are East Dorset based and willing to show me around any of these cars (you driving obviously) then that would be great, I can even bring the Caterham along

[jcelee]

Thanks Ryan, interesting! I have test driven a previous model Clio 200 with Cup pack and found it a better drive than the GT86 I tested but still not quite up to the mark (admittedly I ended up buying a Cayman).

[jcelee]

In some ways head ruled heart but I'm extremely pleased with my newly purchased July 2013 Fiesta ST2 I love the fact that its a proper old skool hot hatch hooligan but with modern levels of performance, tech and build quality. I may well get it Mountuned at some stage but it's eagerness with all that torque (and extraordinarily uncorrupted steering with remarkable levels of feel for an e-pas system) mean I'm not entirely sure (yet!) that its necessary.

I've driven a lot of cars and maybe the RS Fiesta will surpass it but it seems to have all the makings of a future classic hot hatch. Ford have really created a gem in my opinion.