What Hot hatch, swaying towards VAG

[DUBS73P]

So I've only had my E46 M3 about a month, as much as I love the car, I definitely miss having more creature comforts from modern cars.

My mileage has been steadily increasing recently and while the E46 is substantially better than the E92 I previously had, it's still not the best thing to use when you just want to cruise economically. Add into that the fact i want to get as far away from Adrian Flux as possible, I think i need to bring the more sensible hot hatch back.

My choice would be a Megane of some sort but having just sold one I don't want to go back just yet, and there's no decently specce'd ones nearby.

Budget is upto 15k though would prefer less, any more and i would just buy the Golf R, which im trying to avoid for now.

What would be the best all round ownership proposition? I do very low miles day to day, just need something that's fun and keeps the other half happy when we're out in it.

Looked at;
Scirocco R (Best Looking, oldest underpinnings and belt driven, no diff)
Seat Cupra 280 (Badge issues, not as good looking as the Golfs IMO)
Golf GTI PP (230bhp relatively tame? Top end of budget)
Audi TTS (Had one before and was a pig, but was just bad luck, would want the revised Chain Engine)
Audi S3 (Not sold on the looks)
BMW M135i (Insurance is much worse than the M3, hard to get the spec I want)

[ZX10R NIN]

Non VAG options:

Focus ST-3 these are very good car & the handling is very good and as you feel you want something similar to the Megane you can visit Mountune.

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

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

Vauxhall Astra VXR these are on par with a GTI handling wise but they're also a surprisingly nice place to be.

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...

Civic Type R Mugen

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

Type R Saloon

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

Alfa Giulietta TBI Cloverleaf

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

Leftfield & not the Hottest of Hatches but loaded with kit & will not frustrate you because it's so far from the Megane you won't be comparing the Volvo to it.

T5 V40 R Design Lux

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

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


2.0T Infiniti Q30 Sport

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

A non hot hatch option that's properly quick with a cracking V6 engine that's fast with handling on par with an S4 then there's these two, the first one will see a real world 34mpg whilst giving you everything but the kitchen sink.

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

The second won't see near that 34mpg but it's properly quick & handles much better than it's given credit for:

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

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

[scoey1001]

Out of your list id go for the Golf GTI pp and get it remapped.

[culpz]

Golf GTI for me also. Scirocco R and Cupra 280 are great cars but I just wouldn't want that kind of power in FWD, personally. Otherwise, I'd just save a bit more and get a Golf R.

[jonwm]

ZX10R NIN said:

Type R Saloon

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

Really like this!!

Cupra for me.... I am biased though and a bit of a seat cupra fan boy