Hatchback 4k Budget

[Challo]

Chatting to the OH at the weekend and we agreed that we need to start on the look out for a new second car for me. Currently drive a S60 which will need the clutch doing soon, and I dont want to spend any money on it. Also the OH refuses to drive it, which limits her if I need to take the main family car.

She gets a company cars which we use for any long distances, but we need a second car for my commute to work and local trips round town.

Requirements:
Budget 4k (might stretch to 5k)
Hatchback / Rear seats for our 2 spaniel size pups.
Decent boot for my golf clubs
Annual mileage 6-7k so petrol needed
Not fussed on 3 or 5drs

Narrowed it down to:
Audi A3 1.8/2.0TFSI
Mini Cooper S (N18)
Honda Civic Type R (FN2)
VW Golf GTI

We both like the look of the Civic and our favorite so far. Never had a Honda before but driven the cooking model 1.8 and liked the interior and space it provided. Also heard good things about the reliability of these cars, and you seem to get good value for money. I did look at Leon FR, and BMW 130i but didn't like the Leon interior and the 130i is very rare so excluded these from my search.

All of these cars will be 80k+ in terms of mileage with the A3 & Golf tending to all be over 100k. I know that mileage is nothing really, and i only do low miles but are there big things to replace at this mileage? Clutches? Cam-belts?

Not in any rush to buy, but doing some research to help when we come to buy.

Thanks

[p4cks]

Abarth 500?

[vtecyo]

EP3 is better to drive than an FN2 FWIW.

FN2 is much better for daily use and probably the best all rounder from that list given your mileage / requirements. Motorways are where it falls down so if you have something else for that sort of driving then go for it.

Reliability wise I've had an EP3 daily driver for the last 5 years / 40k miles. It gets abuse every day and has cost me next to nothing outside regular servicing.

Calipers stick though so hover your hand over them all post test drive to make sure they're not hotter than they should be.

Also on the owners FB groups they come up around the 60k mileage mark for 5k fairly often so could be worth checking out.

[kieranblenk]

Of those 4 I'd choose the Honda, but don't discount the Volvo C30 as they're solid and great value. The Mercedes CLC is also a decent car despite slightly lacklustre reviews when it was new.

[Challo]

I didn't think of the Abarth, but a quick look on autotrader they command strong money and we need to be looking at 5k rather than 4k. If we went for a N18 Cooper S we would need to up the budget as well.

[ZX10R NIN]

From your list my pick would be the Civic Type R

Other alternatives:

3.2 A3 Sport

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

2.0T S Line

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

Alfa Giulietta Veloce

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

ST-3

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

ST-2

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

C30 T5 SE Lux

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

Mazda3 MPS

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

Astra VXR

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

[Challo]

ZX10R NIN said:

From your list my pick would be the Civic Type R

Thanks ZX. I hadn't thought of the Alfa so will take a look at those. Im also leaning towards the Type R, just need to get out in one and see how it drives.

kieranblenk said:

Of those 4 I'd choose the Honda, but don't discount the Volvo C30 as they're solid and great value. The Mercedes CLC is also a decent car despite slightly lacklustre reviews when it was new.

The Volvo's are on my radar, but only one T5 near me at 5k. The other petrol's dont really seem that interesting and if we went diesel would need to be the 5 pot versions and these are rare. Will keep looking though and see what pops up.

vtecyo said:

EP3 is better to drive than an FN2 FWIW.

FN2 is much better for daily use and probably the best all rounder from that list given your mileage / requirements. Motorways are where it falls down so if you have something else for that sort of driving then go for it.

Reliability wise I've had an EP3 daily driver for the last 5 years / 40k miles. It gets abuse every day and has cost me next to nothing outside regular servicing.

Calipers stick though so hover your hand over them all post test drive to make sure they're not hotter than they should be.

Also on the owners FB groups they come up around the 60k mileage mark for 5k fairly often so could be worth checking out.

Thanks. Joined the owners group on FB so look out for anything that comes up locally. Good to hear on the reliability front.

p4cks said:

Abarth 500?

These do interest me. Need to check on the usability front of the rear seats and boot.

I have joined FB groups on the Type R, Abarth, C30 and Mini R56 / Clubman and seeing any owners cars that come up.