Moving out of the shed!
Discussion
Hello assorted folk of Pistonheads! I'm a long-time lurker on these here forums but this is my first post and I'm after a nugget of your collective internet wisdom if possible?
In about six weeks time I will reach the grand old age of 25, hitherto I have owned a long succession (more than 10) of vehicles that would make SOTW's page look like the HR Owen website. But I now find myself in a position to be able to afford something a bit "nicer" for myself as a daily driver. The only issue is, I can't for the life of me make my mind up about what to get. I do approx 7k miles a year so I don't need a diesel for EPIC MPGZZZ. I'm a big hot hatch fan (have had many from GTI's to VTS's) but a nice saloon or coupe could tempt me away from the fold!
My current victim is a 2000 Golf GTi Turbo. I've had it a while now and its turned out to be a damn good car, with a few choice mods (Milltek, K03S, H&R Coilovers, Revo etc etc) it has become a cheap and reliable way of enjoying myself. But with nearly 160k on the clock the poor thing is starting to show her age now and it really is time to move a bit closer to the modern world. So with a budget of approx £6.5k I'm starting the search for a replacement and I'm asking for suggestions from you guys. So far I've looked (as in googled rather than driven) at the following;
VW Golf GTi Mk5: The obvious choice coming from the Mk4, I still think these look great and a decent example is well in budget but I have heard stories about the Mk5 car being a backwards step in quality compared to the Mk4 and that they're not as reliable although if anyone owns one/knows different please do correct me! I should also point out that my partner has a Mk7 Golf TDI and it'd be nice to have something different.
Ford Focus ST 2.5: I used to have an old ST170 and loved it but always felt it lacked a bit of oomph. Handled very nicely though and felt a cut above a normal Focus. So 225 BHP in the Mk2 car would be more than enough power to be going on with but I've only ever briefly been in one as a passenger so is the ST a good buy in its own right, or does it just bask in the reflected glory from the Focus RS?
Vauxhall Corsa VXR: Yeah, yeah, I know but I've always liked them. People have a downer on Vauxhalls but I'm yet to drive one that has been all that bad. My Vectra GSi was a genuinely swift machine from point-to-point. Obviously a slightly smaller car and doesn't have the power of the Focus or the quality of the VW but they do seem like a lot of fun for the money. My worry with these is getting one that hasn't been totally thrashed by some idiot. A colleague bought one with only 57k on that looked mint outside but the engine turned out to be goosed internally. That said they are cheaper to buy than the Golf or ST and I'd probably be looking at a newer car for the same money.
So these are my top three contenders so far. But I'm looking for more suggestions, the only car I've really discounted is the Civic Type R - I like a good Honda usually but these have never done it for me in EP3 or FN2 style. Other than that, all input is gratefully received!
Thank you.
In about six weeks time I will reach the grand old age of 25, hitherto I have owned a long succession (more than 10) of vehicles that would make SOTW's page look like the HR Owen website. But I now find myself in a position to be able to afford something a bit "nicer" for myself as a daily driver. The only issue is, I can't for the life of me make my mind up about what to get. I do approx 7k miles a year so I don't need a diesel for EPIC MPGZZZ. I'm a big hot hatch fan (have had many from GTI's to VTS's) but a nice saloon or coupe could tempt me away from the fold!
My current victim is a 2000 Golf GTi Turbo. I've had it a while now and its turned out to be a damn good car, with a few choice mods (Milltek, K03S, H&R Coilovers, Revo etc etc) it has become a cheap and reliable way of enjoying myself. But with nearly 160k on the clock the poor thing is starting to show her age now and it really is time to move a bit closer to the modern world. So with a budget of approx £6.5k I'm starting the search for a replacement and I'm asking for suggestions from you guys. So far I've looked (as in googled rather than driven) at the following;
VW Golf GTi Mk5: The obvious choice coming from the Mk4, I still think these look great and a decent example is well in budget but I have heard stories about the Mk5 car being a backwards step in quality compared to the Mk4 and that they're not as reliable although if anyone owns one/knows different please do correct me! I should also point out that my partner has a Mk7 Golf TDI and it'd be nice to have something different.
Ford Focus ST 2.5: I used to have an old ST170 and loved it but always felt it lacked a bit of oomph. Handled very nicely though and felt a cut above a normal Focus. So 225 BHP in the Mk2 car would be more than enough power to be going on with but I've only ever briefly been in one as a passenger so is the ST a good buy in its own right, or does it just bask in the reflected glory from the Focus RS?
Vauxhall Corsa VXR: Yeah, yeah, I know but I've always liked them. People have a downer on Vauxhalls but I'm yet to drive one that has been all that bad. My Vectra GSi was a genuinely swift machine from point-to-point. Obviously a slightly smaller car and doesn't have the power of the Focus or the quality of the VW but they do seem like a lot of fun for the money. My worry with these is getting one that hasn't been totally thrashed by some idiot. A colleague bought one with only 57k on that looked mint outside but the engine turned out to be goosed internally. That said they are cheaper to buy than the Golf or ST and I'd probably be looking at a newer car for the same money.
So these are my top three contenders so far. But I'm looking for more suggestions, the only car I've really discounted is the Civic Type R - I like a good Honda usually but these have never done it for me in EP3 or FN2 style. Other than that, all input is gratefully received!
Thank you.
PlayFair said:
Mini Cooper S R56?
can be had for as little as 3k - handle well and are great fun.
Can get them up to 250bhp with some add ons.
I never even thought to look at the R56! I'd sort of assumed they were still a £10k + car it's only now that I think about it they must be getting on for ten years old now.. time flies!can be had for as little as 3k - handle well and are great fun.
Can get them up to 250bhp with some add ons.
I can say that the ST will suit your needs it's a good car with a very good engine it's only downfall is that the Intercooler is to small so in warm weather it can get overwhelmed this is an easy fix & there are lots of options out there.
I used mine mainly on trackdays (you'll here stories about liners failing but you'll find those were running high boost) for daily use ST-3 is nice but ST-2 is fine.
The Mini boot is tiny, but it's a good car.
2007 Megane R26 F1 230bhp 41k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
2009 Mazda 3 2.3 MPS 53k FSH (these are a little fragile so the money saved should go towards maintenance)
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
2007 Focus ST-3 60k FSH
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
2008 Astra VXR (if you're looking at the Corsa these are worth a look) 59k 240bhp
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
2007 VXR 41k 240bhp FSH
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
2004 Audi A3 3.2 S Line (nicely modified) 90k FSH 250bhp
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
2007 Leon Cupra 60k 240bhp
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
2007 Golf GTI 58k FSH 200bhp
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
As you can see there's really not a lot in it in terms of year & mileage (despite some being initially more expensive) so the real answer is to get out there & test drive a few cars & see what suits you.
I used mine mainly on trackdays (you'll here stories about liners failing but you'll find those were running high boost) for daily use ST-3 is nice but ST-2 is fine.
The Mini boot is tiny, but it's a good car.
2007 Megane R26 F1 230bhp 41k
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
2009 Mazda 3 2.3 MPS 53k FSH (these are a little fragile so the money saved should go towards maintenance)
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
2007 Focus ST-3 60k FSH
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
2008 Astra VXR (if you're looking at the Corsa these are worth a look) 59k 240bhp
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
2007 VXR 41k 240bhp FSH
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
2004 Audi A3 3.2 S Line (nicely modified) 90k FSH 250bhp
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
2007 Leon Cupra 60k 240bhp
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
2007 Golf GTI 58k FSH 200bhp
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
As you can see there's really not a lot in it in terms of year & mileage (despite some being initially more expensive) so the real answer is to get out there & test drive a few cars & see what suits you.
Of the 3 you've suggested I'd go for a low miles Golf Gti in DSG with as many options as you can find. Reliability won't be an issue on a well maintained car with low miles and should stuff go wrong parts are easily and cheaply replaced. Easily the most practical and fuel efficient of the 3. It's the most proven package of the three and the interior specced right is miles apart from the other 2 suggestions. You could even squeeze to a edition 30 which have slightly more power and more scope for tuning and they hold values better than a regular Gti.
The only thing the focus has got going for it over the golf is the noise of the 5 cylinder and slightly more oomph. Although the corsa would be fun I think it would get quite irritating quickly because even In standard form they are quite loud.
That being said I'd say get as long a test drive as possible in all 3 to help you choose.
The only thing the focus has got going for it over the golf is the noise of the 5 cylinder and slightly more oomph. Although the corsa would be fun I think it would get quite irritating quickly because even In standard form they are quite loud.
That being said I'd say get as long a test drive as possible in all 3 to help you choose.
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