What £15-20k hot hatch-esque run around

[camp freddie]

Bit of background info. Due to getting married at the end of the year, I decided I was going to buy an X5 or ML to ferry my numerous sister in-laws and in-laws about in, in comfort. However, I have recently bought my fathers low mileage 2006 E55 estate off him for such duties, which is an amazing car I must add so my thoughts turn to getting a city round about

I'm now looking to replace my c-class coupe and spend around £15-20k on something small and nippy that I can use around town and is slightly easy to find on street parking for. My initial thoughts turned to an R56 Cooper S (as I most bought one before Christmas), an Abarth 500 or possibly a 2.0t TT?

Any suggestion greatly recieved.

Edited by camp freddie on Tuesday 25th May 14:34

[thebigmacmoomin]

Focus ST
Golf GTi
Leon Cupra

[EDLT]

Fiat Panda 100hp, you could get three of them for your budget. Or if you want something a bit quicker, what about a Renualt Clio 182?

[lord-of-creation]

You can have my grande punto t-jet for £7k. 150 bhp and a load of torque

I'd call it mildly warm

[The Wookie]

Cooper S is a solid choice.

Alternatively I've just picked up an 18 month old 123d for 18.5k, I'd imagine a 6 pot would be similar money and a nice hot-hatchesque run-around (unfortunately I do a lot of motorway miles so it didn't make sense for me)

[snoopstah]

Lupo GTI. Fantastic car for around town, rare, super-easy to park, very nippy, very economical. And you get a nice unmolested one for around £6k and spend the rest on beer and hookers.

[Steameh]

RS Foci appear to be dropping closer and closer to 20k. There is a couple just about skimming 20 on the classifieds now.

[Backtobasics]

Impreza STI

[Mansell90]

Focus ST and then Mountune kit it, right on the pace of the RS and much much less in your face.