You have £7000, which hot hatch do you buy?
Discussion
edit: misread requirement about RHD as 'RWD' doh..
I recently purchased a 130i and it's a decent option, great all rounder. Personally I find it a bit modern / sanitised and wouldn't call it a true hot hatch.
I have experience of a couple of the other suggested options:
Alfa 147 - fantastic engine, sound, looks but terrible handling...
306 GTI-6 - a great old school hatch, nice engine and great handling, would recommend if you don't mind something older
I recently purchased a 130i and it's a decent option, great all rounder. Personally I find it a bit modern / sanitised and wouldn't call it a true hot hatch.
I have experience of a couple of the other suggested options:
Alfa 147 - fantastic engine, sound, looks but terrible handling...
306 GTI-6 - a great old school hatch, nice engine and great handling, would recommend if you don't mind something older
Edited by rotaryjam on Tuesday 4th April 20:55
rotaryjam said:
I have to say that your criteria is a bit strange, you specify it has to be a hatchback, RWD but not a 120d...
Well ironically your only choice is basically a one series as that's pretty much the only RWD hatchback under £7k.
I recently purchased a 130i and it's a decent option, great all rounder. Personally I find it a bit modern / sanitised and wouldn't call it a true hot hatch.
Others have suggested some gret options if you take out the RWD requirement.
I have experience of a couple:
Alfa 147 - fantastic engine, sound, looks but terrible handling...
306 GTI-6 - a great old school hatch, nice engine and great handling, would recommend if you don't mind something older
I don't see the RWD requirement...although I do see a RHD requirement.Well ironically your only choice is basically a one series as that's pretty much the only RWD hatchback under £7k.
I recently purchased a 130i and it's a decent option, great all rounder. Personally I find it a bit modern / sanitised and wouldn't call it a true hot hatch.
Others have suggested some gret options if you take out the RWD requirement.
I have experience of a couple:
Alfa 147 - fantastic engine, sound, looks but terrible handling...
306 GTI-6 - a great old school hatch, nice engine and great handling, would recommend if you don't mind something older
My last 3 dailies have been a Clio 200 Cup, a Megane RS250 Cup and now a stage 2 (240hp) 2015 Fiesta ST which I paid £6500 for.
The 200 Cup was really great, a pure driving car, best with Recaros which mine had, but not that quick, the extra weight and only slightly more power makes it feel slower than a 182 although in theory it is as quick and certainly better built. Bought for £6500 and sold for £6750 a year later in 2020
As others have said you really want a 250 Cup as it has the LSD which you can feel working on road and track but as they have also said you won't find a decent one for £7000, mine was decent, lots of history and leather Recaros, mapped to 300hp, I did struggle to sell it, ended up taking £9000 for it having paid £10500, I think the market for unnecessary cars is a bit flat at the moment so you might find a bargain and it is different level fast compared to the Clio.
Currently enjoying the Fiesta, it's quicker than the Clio but slower than the Megane, does feel usefully small and agile and if running costs are an issue I'm getting nearly 40 mpg out of it in daily use, in similar driving the Renaulsports struggled to low 30s. I hope it will also be cheaper to service and repair when needed as it's a bit less specialist.
Finally if you care about image I would go for a Renaultsport, seen as more of an enthusiast's car while there are too many badly modded popping and banging STs around which lower the tone!
The 200 Cup was really great, a pure driving car, best with Recaros which mine had, but not that quick, the extra weight and only slightly more power makes it feel slower than a 182 although in theory it is as quick and certainly better built. Bought for £6500 and sold for £6750 a year later in 2020
As others have said you really want a 250 Cup as it has the LSD which you can feel working on road and track but as they have also said you won't find a decent one for £7000, mine was decent, lots of history and leather Recaros, mapped to 300hp, I did struggle to sell it, ended up taking £9000 for it having paid £10500, I think the market for unnecessary cars is a bit flat at the moment so you might find a bargain and it is different level fast compared to the Clio.
Currently enjoying the Fiesta, it's quicker than the Clio but slower than the Megane, does feel usefully small and agile and if running costs are an issue I'm getting nearly 40 mpg out of it in daily use, in similar driving the Renaulsports struggled to low 30s. I hope it will also be cheaper to service and repair when needed as it's a bit less specialist.
Finally if you care about image I would go for a Renaultsport, seen as more of an enthusiast's car while there are too many badly modded popping and banging STs around which lower the tone!
Derek182 said:
My last 3 dailies have been a Clio 200 Cup, a Megane RS250 Cup and now a stage 2 (240hp) 2015 Fiesta ST which I paid £6500 for.
The 200 Cup was really great, a pure driving car, best with Recaros which mine had, but not that quick, the extra weight and only slightly more power makes it feel slower than a 182 although in theory it is as quick and certainly better built. Bought for £6500 and sold for £6750 a year later in 2020
As others have said you really want a 250 Cup as it has the LSD which you can feel working on road and track but as they have also said you won't find a decent one for £7000, mine was decent, lots of history and leather Recaros, mapped to 300hp, I did struggle to sell it, ended up taking £9000 for it having paid £10500, I think the market for unnecessary cars is a bit flat at the moment so you might find a bargain and it is different level fast compared to the Clio.
Currently enjoying the Fiesta, it's quicker than the Clio but slower than the Megane, does feel usefully small and agile and if running costs are an issue I'm getting nearly 40 mpg out of it in daily use, in similar driving the Renaulsports struggled to low 30s. I hope it will also be cheaper to service and repair when needed as it's a bit less specialist.
Finally if you care about image I would go for a Renaultsport, seen as more of an enthusiast's car while there are too many badly modded popping and banging STs around which lower the tone!
Succinct, thanks Derek!The 200 Cup was really great, a pure driving car, best with Recaros which mine had, but not that quick, the extra weight and only slightly more power makes it feel slower than a 182 although in theory it is as quick and certainly better built. Bought for £6500 and sold for £6750 a year later in 2020
As others have said you really want a 250 Cup as it has the LSD which you can feel working on road and track but as they have also said you won't find a decent one for £7000, mine was decent, lots of history and leather Recaros, mapped to 300hp, I did struggle to sell it, ended up taking £9000 for it having paid £10500, I think the market for unnecessary cars is a bit flat at the moment so you might find a bargain and it is different level fast compared to the Clio.
Currently enjoying the Fiesta, it's quicker than the Clio but slower than the Megane, does feel usefully small and agile and if running costs are an issue I'm getting nearly 40 mpg out of it in daily use, in similar driving the Renaulsports struggled to low 30s. I hope it will also be cheaper to service and repair when needed as it's a bit less specialist.
Finally if you care about image I would go for a Renaultsport, seen as more of an enthusiast's car while there are too many badly modded popping and banging STs around which lower the tone!
Derek182 said:
My last 3 dailies have been a Clio 200 Cup, a Megane RS250 Cup and now a stage 2 (240hp) 2015 Fiesta ST which I paid £6500 for.
The 200 Cup was really great, a pure driving car, best with Recaros which mine had, but not that quick, the extra weight and only slightly more power makes it feel slower than a 182 although in theory it is as quick and certainly better built. Bought for £6500 and sold for £6750 a year later in 2020
As others have said you really want a 250 Cup as it has the LSD which you can feel working on road and track but as they have also said you won't find a decent one for £7000, mine was decent, lots of history and leather Recaros, mapped to 300hp, I did struggle to sell it, ended up taking £9000 for it having paid £10500, I think the market for unnecessary cars is a bit flat at the moment so you might find a bargain and it is different level fast compared to the Clio.
Currently enjoying the Fiesta, it's quicker than the Clio but slower than the Megane, does feel usefully small and agile and if running costs are an issue I'm getting nearly 40 mpg out of it in daily use, in similar driving the Renaulsports struggled to low 30s. I hope it will also be cheaper to service and repair when needed as it's a bit less specialist.
Finally if you care about image I would go for a Renaultsport, seen as more of an enthusiast's car while there are too many badly modded popping and banging STs around which lower the tone!
Fiesta ST is great on running costs for what it is.The 200 Cup was really great, a pure driving car, best with Recaros which mine had, but not that quick, the extra weight and only slightly more power makes it feel slower than a 182 although in theory it is as quick and certainly better built. Bought for £6500 and sold for £6750 a year later in 2020
As others have said you really want a 250 Cup as it has the LSD which you can feel working on road and track but as they have also said you won't find a decent one for £7000, mine was decent, lots of history and leather Recaros, mapped to 300hp, I did struggle to sell it, ended up taking £9000 for it having paid £10500, I think the market for unnecessary cars is a bit flat at the moment so you might find a bargain and it is different level fast compared to the Clio.
Currently enjoying the Fiesta, it's quicker than the Clio but slower than the Megane, does feel usefully small and agile and if running costs are an issue I'm getting nearly 40 mpg out of it in daily use, in similar driving the Renaulsports struggled to low 30s. I hope it will also be cheaper to service and repair when needed as it's a bit less specialist.
Finally if you care about image I would go for a Renaultsport, seen as more of an enthusiast's car while there are too many badly modded popping and banging STs around which lower the tone!
£10 for an oil filter
£30 for a decent fully synthetic branded engine oil
£40-50 for a brake disc
£40-60 for front brake pads
£20 for spark plugs
Michelin Pilot sport 4 / 5 £120 ish a corner last time I bought some
So nothing massively expensive.
In the summer with Michelin PS4 or 5 tyres I can easily get mid 40 MPG if driven carefully winter when its colder with winter tyres 40MPG is still achievable and if you really try it is possible to eek out 50MPG average on a tank.
If you hammer it everywhere on the public road its still going to be more than 25MPG across an average tank full.
You can get mk7 ST for £7k but I think that's a starting price if you want a reasonable one. Early ones are 10 years old so facing the wet Cambelt change. Many have been modified and/or abused.
Mine is worth about 7k trade and maybe 8k private. It has been an extremely good car over the last 3 years and its a tough car to replace. Needed nothing but brakes and tyres which were cheap as chips. If you can find a good one I can't think of anything better for the money.
Mine is worth about 7k trade and maybe 8k private. It has been an extremely good car over the last 3 years and its a tough car to replace. Needed nothing but brakes and tyres which were cheap as chips. If you can find a good one I can't think of anything better for the money.
MK1RS Bruce said:
Xcore said:
The St does seem to get nicked a lot after some researching!
Probably looks worse due to the massive numbers of them made and sold. when they were new they were literally everywhere for a whileChris_91 said:
Surprised it's not been mentioned yet.
Audi TT Mk2/8J TFSI.
Same engine as the Mk5 GTI. £300 remap and you're at 250 bhp in an aluminium tin can.
I think that's a great shout, my gf had one and it really surprised me at how quick it was till I googled it. I think its out of bounds tho as a tt isn't a hatch?Audi TT Mk2/8J TFSI.
Same engine as the Mk5 GTI. £300 remap and you're at 250 bhp in an aluminium tin can.
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