Hot Hatch for Under £1500
Discussion
Advice needed (helpful may I add), for what car to get next. I currently own a 1998 Golf GTI Mk3 (8V) but after numerous issues I have decided its not the car for me and I need something for the winter months as my Street Triple will be used when we eventually get some sun!
I have always had a hot hatch of some sort and now I am back on the hunt for one which needs to be reliable, fun, decent boot to fit golf clubs and MTN bike in and cheap. Obviously having such a small budget is really narrowing my options.
I have always had a hot hatch of some sort and now I am back on the hunt for one which needs to be reliable, fun, decent boot to fit golf clubs and MTN bike in and cheap. Obviously having such a small budget is really narrowing my options.
I'm in a similar position, wanting a petrol run about for town work.
Suzuki Swift Sport is just about within haggling distance of your budget.
Renault Clio RenaultSport are doable too.
SEAT Ibiza FR? Similar platform and kit to the Golf though.
Ford Fiesta ST worth a look too.
So much choice!
Suzuki Swift Sport is just about within haggling distance of your budget.
Renault Clio RenaultSport are doable too.
SEAT Ibiza FR? Similar platform and kit to the Golf though.
Ford Fiesta ST worth a look too.
So much choice!
I'll stick a vote in for a Clio 1*2, absolutely magnificent cars, I don't think I've found a more perfectly balanced car from the factory - the performance/noise/handling etc is all absolutely spot on. The damping in particular is lovely, very nicely judged and never crashy imo.
You should get a decent one for £1500, that's about what I'd consider selling mine for.
The only thing that might be a sticker is room for MTB - my bikes all fit, but I've had to take the saddle and rear wheel off bigger bikes before now. It still manages to be practical as a day-to-day car though.
You should get a decent one for £1500, that's about what I'd consider selling mine for.
The only thing that might be a sticker is room for MTB - my bikes all fit, but I've had to take the saddle and rear wheel off bigger bikes before now. It still manages to be practical as a day-to-day car though.
Mk1 Seat Leon Cupra 20vt, or similar.
Probably wont get a cupra R for that sort of money, but should easily get a 20vt for that.
I will soon be selling a grey mk1 cupra 20vt and they are lovely little cars. Very practical, loads of room, fairly quick as stock (180bhp) and can very easily and cheaply be increased. A ropey one would probably be £750-1000 with a mint one around £1500, but very unlikely they'll be much more than that.
Mine is cosmetically a bit bruised but ive replaced bloody loads of parts on it due to age and have removed much of the problematic stuff (n249, SAI etc) due to degraded hoses/parts through general wear and tear. Should go on for years without much in the way of big bills i would expect, and a basic remap for around 200-220bhp is circa £150 if you know where to go. They are comfortable, torquey when you need them to be, very easy to drive (light gear change, drive by wire throttle) and feel broadly similar inside to the mk4 golf/a3 cousins.
Also does 35mpg+ fairly easily when you're plodding around or commuting etc.
Probably wont get a cupra R for that sort of money, but should easily get a 20vt for that.
I will soon be selling a grey mk1 cupra 20vt and they are lovely little cars. Very practical, loads of room, fairly quick as stock (180bhp) and can very easily and cheaply be increased. A ropey one would probably be £750-1000 with a mint one around £1500, but very unlikely they'll be much more than that.
Mine is cosmetically a bit bruised but ive replaced bloody loads of parts on it due to age and have removed much of the problematic stuff (n249, SAI etc) due to degraded hoses/parts through general wear and tear. Should go on for years without much in the way of big bills i would expect, and a basic remap for around 200-220bhp is circa £150 if you know where to go. They are comfortable, torquey when you need them to be, very easy to drive (light gear change, drive by wire throttle) and feel broadly similar inside to the mk4 golf/a3 cousins.
Also does 35mpg+ fairly easily when you're plodding around or commuting etc.
where abouts in the world are you? I've got too many cars so if you were near essex you would be welcome to borrow my leon and see if you like it. i have a new cupra 300 being delivered in a month or two so wont need it much longer and have other cars to use if you wanted to take it for a few days.
How about a Toyota Corolla T Sport? Lets get the handling part out of the way first. Its a bit woolly, so if you are thinking about doing some track days I would probably look else where. Although coming from a Mk3 golf it might even be an improvement.
But the woolly handling does mean on the road it pretty comfortable, it very well built, 190bhp means it fairly nippy in fact when the engine comes on cam its quite surprising, its not shouty and £1500 will get you a very good example.
But the woolly handling does mean on the road it pretty comfortable, it very well built, 190bhp means it fairly nippy in fact when the engine comes on cam its quite surprising, its not shouty and £1500 will get you a very good example.
kiethton said:
You may get a leggy EP3 civic in budget.
Make sure the clutch works, Vtec works, there is no rust and the oil level is good (with no advisories for low oil level) and you're good to go!
love ep3's but they do get quite tiring after a while. the torque you get from the VAG's of that era are just so much nicer on a daily basis. I had an ep3 for a year (following my ownership of an EK9) and whilst it was very good, and hilarious on track (cocking one wheel up everywhere), it was a bit of a chore day to day.Make sure the clutch works, Vtec works, there is no rust and the oil level is good (with no advisories for low oil level) and you're good to go!
RS Clio 172 (poss 182) for sure for that budget, sure the interiors aren't the best but they're far quicker than they have any right to be and handle as well as any front-driver I've experienced. Mine was totally reliable and as as long as you find somebody reasonable to do the belts they should be a sound bet financially.
Have a proper drive in one and I'd expect almost any other hatch for that budget will feel either slow, soft, or generally unexciting.
Have a proper drive in one and I'd expect almost any other hatch for that budget will feel either slow, soft, or generally unexciting.
ecksjay said:
where abouts in the world are you? I've got too many cars so if you were near essex you would be welcome to borrow my leon and see if you like it. i have a new cupra 300 being delivered in a month or two so wont need it much longer and have other cars to use if you wanted to take it for a few days.
Hi i am in Portsmouth so quite a way from you but I need to come up soon to see my family in Benfleet! Thank you for the kind offer!xstian said:
How about a Toyota Corolla T Sport? Lets get the handling part out of the way first. Its a bit woolly, so if you are thinking about doing some track days I would probably look else where. Although coming from a Mk3 golf it might even be an improvement.
But the woolly handling does mean on the road it pretty comfortable, it very well built, 190bhp means it fairly nippy in fact when the engine comes on cam its quite surprising, its not shouty and £1500 will get you a very good example.
Not a fan to be honest and are they not a coupe?But the woolly handling does mean on the road it pretty comfortable, it very well built, 190bhp means it fairly nippy in fact when the engine comes on cam its quite surprising, its not shouty and £1500 will get you a very good example.
kiethton said:
You may get a leggy EP3 civic in budget.
Make sure the clutch works, Vtec works, there is no rust and the oil level is good (with no advisories for low oil level) and you're good to go!
I have looked at a EP3 on eBay but most are very tatty. Milegae not a concern if its been looked after but I dont want a dog. I have an FN2 years ago and it was the worst car I ever purchased, however i have never heard of any complaints about these.Make sure the clutch works, Vtec works, there is no rust and the oil level is good (with no advisories for low oil level) and you're good to go!
Chuck21 said:
RS Clio 172 (poss 182) for sure for that budget, sure the interiors aren't the best but they're far quicker than they have any right to be and handle as well as any front-driver I've experienced. Mine was totally reliable and as as long as you find somebody reasonable to do the belts they should be a sound bet financially.
Have a proper drive in one and I'd expect almost any other hatch for that budget will feel either slow, soft, or generally unexciting.
Had a 182 for a track car and even though on track it was so much fun, the reliability and plastic trim was dreadful. I would not go back..... however a Megane 225 I could be interested in Have a proper drive in one and I'd expect almost any other hatch for that budget will feel either slow, soft, or generally unexciting.
TiminYorkshire said:
A Pug 306GTi?
This is a good suggestion however but there is an almost unknown hot hatch which is almost the same, but newer and tends to be somewhat cheaper (prices are going up on good Gti 6 and Rallye now).This car is a Citroen Xsara VTS, 2.0 16v.
Has same engine as the Gti-6, 168 bhp, and is a 5 speed.
These are a fair bit stiffer as standard than the 306 Rallye, and drive like a proper old school hot hatch.
These can be picked up from £1k like this one in the PH classified
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/motorsport...
Edited by rallycross on Tuesday 15th August 10:41
rallycross said:
This is a good suggestion however but there is an almost unknown hot hatch which is almost the same, but newer and tends to be somewhat cheaper (prices are going up on good Gti 6 and Rallye now).
This car is a Citroen Xsara VTS, 2.0 16v.
Has same engine as the Gti-6, 168 bhp, and is a 5 speed.
These are a fair bit stiffer as standard than the 306 Rallye, and drive like a proper old school hot hatch.
These can be picked up from £1k like this one in the PH classified
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/motorsport...
I've had two, they feel massively dated now.This car is a Citroen Xsara VTS, 2.0 16v.
Has same engine as the Gti-6, 168 bhp, and is a 5 speed.
These are a fair bit stiffer as standard than the 306 Rallye, and drive like a proper old school hot hatch.
These can be picked up from £1k like this one in the PH classified
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/motorsport...
Edited by rallycross on Tuesday 15th August 10:41
Panda 100hp? (feels like I keep repeating myself)
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