another boring what car thread. (probably a hot hatch)

[TheConverted]

Morning PH

back story in short I've been made redundant, not as bad as it sounds as I have setup a new company with a mate. However this has all happened 6 months early I was planning to leave it march as my work is mostly summer based (events & leisure marine sectors).

I currently have a 63 plate Focus ST, which is great fits the family in and is a decent to drive. I have 4k in outstanding personal loans, that id like to get paid off.

the ST is worth 9-9.5k . a bit of classic man math's says I've got 6k to spend on a replacement. at the moment I'm favoring these 4 options but what have i missed?

Clubman S - I quite like the look of them just about big enough to get my kite surfing crap in the back and 2 year old in. should be a decent steer.

EP3 Type R - always wanted to try one, but is a 3 door. If I want an decent unmodified on there top of my budget.

FN2 Type R - 3 door again, but represent a bit of a bargain at the moment. test drove one in 2010 and loved it but ended up buying a dci175 megane sport

RS200 Clio - again 3 door and very small, going to struggle to get kite crap and daughter in at the same time!

what have I missed?

It needs to be fairly presentable as ill be using it for work. although running cost aren't to much of a worry as I will maintain it myself.

Thanks

[Blanchimont]

Getting an unmolested EP3 will be difficult. I managed to find one after a while looking. Paid £3,400 for it, but it has 130k on it. Just spend £1500 on it, so it owes me 5k so far. They're alos very raw cars to drive, with no fripperies

an unmolested FN2 will be the better option imo, more mod-cons, and more refined. Plus it'll be easier to get a unabused example.

[TheConverted]

Blanchimont said:

Getting an unmolested EP3 will be difficult. I managed to find one after a while looking. Paid £3,400 for it, but it has 130k on it. Just spend £1500 on it, so it owes me 5k so far. They're alos very raw cars to drive, with no fripperies

an unmolested FN2 will be the better option imo, more mod-cons, and more refined. Plus it'll be easier to get a unabused example.

I'm not too fussy on a raw car, I used to daily a Z cars mini and a Suzuki SJ. there are af ew dealers specializing in type R's and there are a few unmolested EP3's around. but they seem to be getting harder and more expensive to find.

I do like the FN2, the one a drove sounded great as well.

[ITP]

If you need space for stuff maybe an Octavia vrs
Bit less space but more style and 6-6.5k could get you a guilietta cloverleaf.

[TheConverted]

I was looking at the Mito CL so thats a good shout.

your right the VRS is the obvious car but i just cant get excited about the looks. and having tested a mk5 and mk6 GTI before the focus i was totally underwhelmed by them. basically a pokey version of my dads diesel golf, great car's but just so dull. unless i've missed something the VRS is based on the mk5 GTI right?

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say the MK2 Focus in ST-3 Spec more than fits the bill:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Or if you want something newer with a bit of go then the 170bhp 1.4T Giulietta in Veloce trim is a good choice:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...