Bigger NA engined warm hatches, a dead breed?

[heners54]

Been browsing the classifieds recently, looking for a small hatch with about 120-150bhp; most hot hatches blow my insurance through the roof being under 21 despite my ncb.

When I first passed my test I would have loved a corsa c 1.8 SRi; the only real equivalent I can see now that's in the nearly new category is the Yaris 1.8 SR which is very cheap on insurance (100 more than my 1.2!) and the Renault Clio GT also with a 1.8

As inefficient as they are it's the sort of thing I'd like to have as my next car, but small turbo units seem to be the status quo now. So have i missed the boat? Or are there models out there I havent thought of?

[StottyEvo]

Clio 197 is the very obvious option. Extremely low insurance for young people too, I found a friend of mine a quote for 1000 for 10months at 20yrs old 1yrs NCB on his 197.

[heners54]

Didn't imagine you could insure one for that! Looked at swift sports but they were quite high on insurance and our local dealership is crap.

[DB9]

Civic Type S 1.8 GT?

140bhp, low insurance, great spec and decent engine.

Might be a bit big for what your looking for though?

[okie592]

Swift sport? 136bhp and less than a tonne

Or going older focus st170 or fiat stilo abarth?

There's a reason new hatches are turbo charged

[heners54]

The focus and the stilo are a bit old now for what I'm after. The civic is of interest, though I'd love a type R and don't know if the type s would be a mental dissapointment. Being sensible smaller is better as my driving is small country lanes and city driving/parking, so it's easiest with a small car and I don't need anything bigger.

[heners54]

Call me a cynic but I'm waiting to seehow the 1.0 ecoboost, 1.2Tsi and similar will last in the long run, the engine in the yaris for example is bombproof from what I've seen.

[Ed.]

okie592 said:

Swift sport? 136bhp and less than a tonne

Or going older focus st170 or fiat stilo abarth?

There's a reason new hatches are turbo charged

Easy to manipulate economy figures?

[vrsmxtb]

Mk6 Fiesta ST? Probably pricey to insure though?

[Noesph]

RS Twingo?

[anonymous-user]

Panda 100hp

No it's not in the 120 - 150bhp bracket but it weighs less than a ton and is a riot to drive.

We've had one for years now as an occasional blast and by 'eck it's fun! We had to replace the front discs at 40k miles and a pair of mintex discs cost 35.00!

YOu can have some really good fun, pay little to insure it, kick its ass all day and struggle to get lower than 40mpg.

[cianha]

If not the Swift Sport, how about it's predecessor, the Ignis Sport?

[ajb85]

Why not skip the four-pots and try something like a 325ti compact?
not as 'racey' as the hot hatches so lower insurance, perhaps?

[Test driver]

Polo gti, fiesta st, focus st170, worth a look.

[Pebbles167]

306 gti6/rallye? Not modern by any , means, but they handle great and are very fun. 167bhp 2.0 is reliable too. Bought my first one when I was 19, and had it insured for less than 1000.

Edit: just noticed one of these will be too old for you

Get yourself the clio 197/200.

Edited by Pebbles167 on Monday 26th May 10:35

[Rich1973]

MG ZR / ZS?

[Leptons]

Fiesta ST. For some reason very reasonable to insure. My mate was paying sub 1000 for his at 20 years old

[vanordinaire]

Have you thought about a diesel? Plenty now about 170bhp and loads more torque than the equivalent petrol. I've been looking at a Civic type S GT, 130 MPH, 0-60 IN 8 SECONDS, 55 MPG, and short of looking at something out and out sporting or really expensive, I can't see better.

[Shurv]

The Yaris has the celica engine, a great little car, and cheap to buy and maintain. Not sure about the guy suggesting a diesel ffs. The OP wants a hot hatch, not a clattery diesel.

[vanordinaire]

Shurv said:

The Yaris has the celica engine, a great little car, and cheap to buy and maintain. Not sure about the guy suggesting a diesel ffs. The OP wants a hot hatch, not a clattery diesel.

I'd happily put my diesel Golf against the Yaris and beat it on almost every count, diesel no longer means stone-age