Hot Hatch Under £5k?? - Page 1 - Car Buying

Greeny1992

Original Poster

2 posts

119 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 12th July 2018

Hi guys im looking at getting a new car
In my previous years ive owned

Clio Renaultsport x 2
Megane Renaultsport

Looking for around the £4 - £4,5k mark

Im thinking maybe an A3 with DSG but are the early DSG boxes on 90kish miles reliable?
Also been looking at maybe an FN2 type R, is ther anything with these i should look out for?

any other suggestions?
Cheers

Shiv_P

2,981 posts

125 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 12th July 2018

FN2, Focus ST, Golf GTI, BMW 130i

Berkshire bred

985 posts

95 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 12th July 2018

Can't beat an r26 with your description, I've got one and it's brilliant. Even better as no one knows what it is.

DoubleD

22,154 posts

128 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 12th July 2018

Berkshire bred said:

Can't beat an r26 with your description, I've got one and it's brilliant. Even better as no one knows what it is.

Really? I thought that these were very well known? A mate has 1 and even non petrol heads know what it is.

Ahbefive

11,657 posts

192 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 12th July 2018

Focus ST or megane R26 are what I go for.

Then theres Audi S3, mazda 3 mps, Golf Gti, Astra VXR, 130i etc etc.

Berkshire bred

985 posts

95 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 12th July 2018

DoubleD said:

Berkshire bred said:

Can't beat an r26 with your description, I've got one and it's brilliant. Even better as no one knows what it is.

Really? I thought that these were very well known? A mate has 1 and even non petrol heads know what it is.

Maybe it's only my experience then but very few non enthusiasts have a clue what it is and a fair few self proclaimed car enthusiasts have had to ask what it is. I think it is because you very rarely see them in the wild. In the 2 ish years ive been interested and aware of them I've only ever seen 1 on the road that wasn't mine. A very big contributing factor to me choosing one.

ZX10R NIN

29,753 posts

145 months

[report]

[news]

Thursday 12th July 2018

Focus ST-3 is where I'd be looking.

The Voice

208 posts

169 months

[report]

[news]

Friday 13th July 2018

Another recent thread which asked the same question:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

The op of that thread ended up buying a Civic Type R.

ZX10R NIN

29,753 posts

145 months

[report]

[news]

Friday 13th July 2018

SaggyOstrich

392 posts

95 months

[report]

[news]

Friday 13th July 2018

I had this exact thing myself recently, it all depends on what you want and what you are going to use it for really.

Ended up buying an EP3 Type R but it was a tough call between that and the R26 - I think the Megane is the 'best' car you can buy for the money and I still want to get one at some point.

My reasons for choosing the Type R were reliability, the noise it makes (if that's important to you) and the more raw go-kart feel of it. Looked at FN2 as well but found them to be a little too soft for my liking and I much prefer the EP3 shape.

Focus ST is another good shout, my mate has one and they go pretty well...I'm not particularly keen on the looks or how they handle but everyone is different.

Berkshire bred

985 posts

95 months

[report]

[news]

Friday 13th July 2018

SaggyOstrich said:

I had this exact thing myself recently, it all depends on what you want and what you are going to use it for really.

Ended up buying an EP3 Type R but it was a tough call between that and the R26 - I think the Megane is the 'best' car you can buy for the money and I still want to get one at some point.

My reasons for choosing the Type R were reliability, the noise it makes (if that's important to you) and the more raw go-kart feel of it. Looked at FN2 as well but found them to be a little too soft for my liking and I much prefer the EP3 shape.

Focus ST is another good shout, my mate has one and they go pretty well...I'm not particularly keen on the looks or how they handle but everyone is different.

You make a great point, although I love my r26 one of my criticisms is that it is almost to easy to be driven fast. What I mean is the car is so capable you have to be very adventurous to test it. On a track this is great but on the road I find myself doing very silly speeds to feel like I'm using the potential of the car. Something to bare in mind as others like the renaultsport clios and ep3 can be easier to have fun in.

mazdajason

1,113 posts

192 months

[report]

[news]

Friday 13th July 2018

A bit left field but maybe a T-Sport Compressor? Supercharged 215bhp and not many made / left on the road. Tax is top bracket though.

SaggyOstrich

392 posts

95 months

[report]

[news]

Friday 13th July 2018

Berkshire bred said:

You make a great point, although I love my r26 one of my criticisms is that it is almost to easy to be driven fast. What I mean is the car is so capable you have to be very adventurous to test it. On a track this is great but on the road I find myself doing very silly speeds to feel like I'm using the potential of the car. Something to bare in mind as others like the renaultsport clios and ep3 can be easier to have fun in.

Yep exactly that, I came from an Impreza WRX which was running about 280bhp and was much quicker but no where near as fun as the Type R.
Sure the EP3 is no world beater but for smiles per gallon it's the best car I've ever owned.

Greeny1992

Original Poster

2 posts

119 months

[report]

[news]

Saturday 14th July 2018

Thanks everyone for your opinions!

I've literally just had an R26 that got written off while it was parked up at the side of the road
Only had it 2 months and spent loads on it so lets say im not the happiest of people right now

Even though they are great cars with all that has happened recently i dont want another one
Just plays on my mind a bit

I really want a DSG box! But ive read so many bad stories about their reliability in the early gti's, leons, a3's so im sort of torn between getting one of them and an reliable FN2.

IM STUCK

SaggyOstrich

392 posts

95 months

[report]

[news]

Monday 16th July 2018

I'd say of your choices that you've mentioned the FN2 would be the best bet.

Although don't be put off by getting another R26, if it was written off while parked up not a lot you can do about that and it's not the cars fault.

MK5DSG

32 posts

128 months

[report]

[news]

Monday 16th July 2018

Greeny1992 said:

Thanks everyone for your opinions!

I've literally just had an R26 that got written off while it was parked up at the side of the road
Only had it 2 months and spent loads on it so lets say im not the happiest of people right now

Even though they are great cars with all that has happened recently i dont want another one
Just plays on my mind a bit

I really want a DSG box! But ive read so many bad stories about their reliability in the early gti's, leons, a3's so im sort of torn between getting one of them and an reliable FN2.

IM STUCK

Don't be worried at all by the supposed DSG horror stories. Had 2 DSG's in the past, 06 A3 TDi and 05 MK5 GTI, never had an issue with the box and know lots who have also and again no issues. There are stories of failures but really its no difference to buying a manual car where you don't know what condition the manual gearbox is in or how long the clutch will last. Repairing a DSG box has become cheaper now too, with companies offering a lifetime warranty on the common solenoid repair for £250. Even more complex failures aren't an issue as there are replacement mechatronics boxes about too.

Once you get a DSG, there won't be any going back either. I'd definitely recommend in either the 3.2 v6 or 2.0tfsi form!

521EK9

56 posts

91 months

[report]

[news]

Monday 16th July 2018

My choice would be a Civic EP3 if you've never owned one.

I've had 2 Golf Edition 30 DSG's and they've been fine but both cars were low mileage examples and twice your budget unfortunately. The Refinement of the gearbox isnt as good as a new golf R for instance but still very good and can be mapped to suit your driving style.

Be warned that VAG cars of this generation arent renowned for the best handling in the world, they're more a middle of the road hot hatch that does everything at a respectable level but not as extreme as a renaultsport that you're used to in terms of an exciting drive.

ukbikerider

23 posts

131 months

[report]

[news]

Monday 16th July 2018

ZX10R NIN said: