Fast 4wd hatch for £12,000 maximum

[Grindle]

Can't really see past an S3. My nephew has asked me for suggestions. Anything else spring to mind? He lives in the centre of Brum and getting away smartly out of roundabouts and from a standstill is more important than top speed or handling. I think a low miles S3 would tick the boxes. Does anyone know what the Golf R from around 2011 is like? I've had a 2017 version but with only 35 bhp less maybe that's a consideration.

[clarki]

What about the impreza??
Did they not do a 330hp model with the nicer recaro seats. Everyone's got a golf/a3.

[Haltamer]

clarki said:

Everyone's got a golf/a3.

Until it gets stolen

There's a few 120d X-Drives in the price range if you don't mind diesel; There's a reasonable looking lancer here too: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[CJ1]

S3 seems the best bet to me.

If he’s looking for something a bit more sensible what about a 120d xDrive? 0-60 in 7 Seconds which is nothing on an S3 but will happily do 50+MPG and you’ll most likely get a much newer car for your money.

[KerwinRobertson]

If he doesn't need usable back seats, and wants something different from an S3, how about an Audi TTS.

[sheepman]

S3 in Birmingham? goodluck...

[S9JTO]

sheepman said:

S3 in Birmingham? goodluck...

My thoughts exactly - Not to mention the insurance as a result

[JonDerz]

Nanook said:

But quite often if someone wants an S3, it's because they're not interested in the drive.

Or because there’s little choice of 4wd performance hatch in that price range that is a good all rounder. The s3 is quick, easily tuneable, easy to drive as a daily, economical for what it is and the cabin is nice place to be. It’s like Buckingham palace next to an Impreza cabin. Yeah they’re not the last word in dynamics but they’re not anywhere near as bad as you’re suggesting for a keen driver.

[fredd1e]

Give it a year (or maybe less) and an early Audi S1 will probably be around 12K (if they aren't already). As an ex owner there seems to be minimal interest from the trade in these. I speak as an ex owner and got zero interest in mine at the end of its PCP as a trade in, except back to the suppling dealer as part of a deal for an new RS3 and the offer wasn't a good one.

[tdm34]

Going to get shot down in flames for this suggestion (it's not a hatch)

A bit left field...........

SAAB 9-3 Turbo X

280bhp (easily tweaked and looks rather spiffy, and makes a rather nice noise as well......)

[Pegscratch]

If you want a fast 4wd hatch in Birmingham, pick something you don't like and won't have any emotional attachment to, cos it's getting stolen.

[nunpuncher]

The mk6 golf R is better than the 8P S3 in my view. That model of A3 was about for absolutely ages (10 year production I think) and as a result they felt really old towards the end of the model life. So although you might get a 2010/12 car in reality it was a 7/9 year old platform at that point. I had a Sportback about 7 years ago and it felt old even then.

[mikeyr]

Just out of interest - why only 4wd? Seems to limit choice (although I have owned two Imprezas and liked driving them so not dissing the concept!).

[ZX10R NIN]

Alternatives:

STI the engine has a bit of a reputation so get it checked by a specialist.

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

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

Golf R

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

Golf R32

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

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

Insignia VXR

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

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

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Thursday 8th November 12:05

[nunpuncher]

mikeyr said:

Just out of interest - why only 4wd? Seems to limit choice (although I have owned two Imprezas and liked driving them so not dissing the concept!).

Good point. If he learns a bit of clutch control and how to feed the throttle in and maybe even invests in some good tyres any FWD or RWD shouldn't be an issue. Birmingham is hardly the frozen north.

[pimpchez]

ZX10R NIN said:

Alternatives:

STI the engine has a bit of a reputation so get it checked by a specialist.

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

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

Golf R

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

Golf R32

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

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

Insignia VXR

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

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

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Thursday 8th November 12:05

VXR

Chocolate paint , turbo , timing chain , and rear drive unit .

Brembos at 1k (atleast they was)
20" tyres to change
Not "fast"

I do like them , they are lookers and so much VFM

[ZX10R NIN]

pimpchez said:

VXR

Chocolate paint , turbo , timing chain , and rear drive unit .

Brembos at 1k (atleast they was)
20" tyres to change
Not "fast"

I do like them , they are lookers and so much VFM

Timing Chain issue was sorted post 2010 the turbos are no better or worse than any other manufacturer's the Haldex unit needs to be serviced to schedule which is where the rear end issues stem from.

Funnily enough I find the paint on all VAG bonnets really thin & they seem to suffer stone chips at a greater rate than most other cars.

They're fast they'll give an S4 trouble & that means it's fast, what these benefit from is a remap you'll only gain around 40bhp but the big gain is the restoration of the torque that Vauxhall took away to try & make it seem more like a N/A engine.

They don't all have 20's I think the ones I linked to had the smaller wheels.

I have four clients with them, the highest mileage is 110k, three I supplied with less than 5k on the clock none have proved unreliable so far.

The fourth was a 2009 model which has the highest mileage was purchased with 60k as yet he hasn't had an issue with the chain although his car should be one of those affected.

S3's run Brembos so the costs will be similar for brakes.

[Grindle]

Pegscratch said:

If you want a fast 4wd hatch in Birmingham, pick something you don't like and won't have any emotional attachment to, cos it's getting stolen.

Thankfully not where he lives and where he parks. He hasn't had a car stolen in 17 years of driving so far, but it could happen i agree, it's just much less likely where he is able to park for work and the set up where he lives is very safe.

[Grindle]

nunpuncher said:

mikeyr said:

Just out of interest - why only 4wd? Seems to limit choice (although I have owned two Imprezas and liked driving them so not dissing the concept!).

Good point. If he learns a bit of clutch control and how to feed the throttle in and maybe even invests in some good tyres any FWD or RWD shouldn't be an issue. Birmingham is hardly the frozen north.

He uses a Caterham for track days, i don't think he has too much in that area to ''learn''. He simply likes 4wd for smart get aways with city cut and thrust traffic which is often all about traction in all weathers and 0-40-10-30-0-20-0-50-0-40-0 rather than 0-100.