Family friendly 5 door hot hatch - £8k - Page 1 - Car Buying

Garett

Original Poster

1,679 posts

221 months

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Monday 27th January 2020

In the coming months I will be looking to get rid of my Mk2 MX5 that i have owned for a good 6 years and replacing it with a hot hatch of some description. We had a baby last year so the writing is already on the wall, I have resisted thus far but now my office is relocating so the train is no longer an option. I'll be covering around 8-10k miles a year so diesel isn't really necessary and we have a Volvo V70 as the main family car for longer journeys and trips away. It does need to be a 5 door for the practicality, getting baby out of a rear facing car seat in a 3 door would be difficult, but boot size isn't critical.

My requirements are:
- 5 doors
- Upto £8k budget
- Reliable (age isn't a huge problem for me)
- Can do around 30mpg
- Isn't £500+ a year to tax
- Ability to make me smile when required, and even use on the odd track day

So far I have considered the following:

- Suzuki Swift Sport ~2015 - Currently top of my list, I need to take one for a test drive but this seems to tick a lot of boxes. Potentially a bit slow on paper but gets praised for its abilty to make you smile.
- Golf GTI Mk5/6 - A strong contender, a good all-rounder but possibly a bit on the boring side. Also potential issue with the cam chain but maybe this is more of a problem with the MK6?
- BMW 1 Series F20 (pre-facelift) 118i - Looked like a strong contender until read about the PSA derived N13 engine.
- Ford Focus ST Mk3 - Prices for these start at the top of my budget so potentially I wouldn't get a good one for my money.

I am open to having my mind changed on the above if someone has a strong enough case or can call on their own personal experience. What other options are there that I may not have thought about, or maybe something that isn't a hatch but still has 4/5 doors?

Thanks.

ZX10R NIN

30,521 posts

154 months

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Monday 27th January 2020

Olas

911 posts

86 months

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Monday 27th January 2020

Golf

ChrisH72

3,075 posts

81 months

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Monday 27th January 2020

Sorry I had to laugh that ZX10 gave his usual comprehensive list of about every possibility with links to actual cars then Olas comes along with.....Golf!

Anyway, I'm not too sure about the swift. They are very small and with a little boy myself I know how big car seats and buggies are. I think I'd go with something a bit bigger.

I've been looking at the Focus ST 2.0 but they seem to start nearer 9k for nice ones. Look like great card though so could be worth stretching?

Shame about the auto box in the Clio, other than that they do look good. But if you don't mind auto then worth a look definitely.

Giulietta is nice, I think the 1.4tb would be fun.

VR99

1,391 posts

92 months

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Monday 27th January 2020

Just a thought but...would it not make sense to use the V70 for the commuting and the new car for the weekends blasts?(less the little one of course!)

si_xsi

1,316 posts

224 months

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Monday 27th January 2020

Should get a nice mk 5 golf gti edition 30 for the money or BMW 130i.

Garett

Original Poster

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221 months

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Monday 27th January 2020

Thank you for that comprehensive reply ZX10, certainly some food for thought there. I would have to dismiss the 5 pot Focus I just don't like that interior although the engine is a peach it is a bit juicy.
Out of your alternates the 2 that have piqued my interest are the BMW 330i, which is probably just as bad on fuel as the Focus, but also the Clio RS, although as Chris says it is auto only I will have to do some research on them but from a quick search it just seems to get compared to the previous Clio RS which is probably a bit unfair, what is your justification for it being your pick?

Olas is to the point, but he might be right. Care to elaborate at all?

Garett

Original Poster

1,679 posts

221 months

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Monday 27th January 2020

VR99 said:

Just a thought but...would it not make sense to use the V70 for the commuting and the new car for the weekends blasts?(less the little one of course!)

It would but the wife will be doing the majority of the nursery runs as it is in her direction, so she gets the family car, and there will be days where she does a drop and I collect etc.

si_xsi said:

Should get a nice mk 5 golf gti edition 30 for the money or BMW 130i.

Both good shouts, I think I need to take another look at the Golfs.

trickywoo

14,126 posts

259 months

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Monday 27th January 2020

I’ve got a Swift sport and a 15 month old little man.

I can still fit in the front passenger seat with a joie 360 fitted behind.

I like it from an all round cost / fun / practical pov.

You can list a lot of cars which will be faster and more practical but they will also cost more overall and arguably not be as fun. I think the Swift is a good step on from a mx5 given the practical requirements.

DoubleD

22,154 posts

137 months

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Monday 27th January 2020

3 door cars are possible with young children, but a 5 door is easier.

Garett

Original Poster

1,679 posts

221 months

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Monday 27th January 2020

trickywoo said:

I’ve got a Swift sport and a 15 month old little man.

I can still fit in the front passenger seat with a joie 360 fitted behind.

I like it from an all round cost / fun / practical pov.

You can list a lot of cars which will be faster and more practical but they will also cost more overall and arguably not be as fun. I think the Swift is a good step on from a mx5 given the practical requirements.

They do seem incredible value, and the simplicity of them - much like an MX5 is attractive to me. Good to know the car seat fits too, we'll be stepping up from the 0+ seat to a 1-2 in the coming months, how do you get on with the boot size?

trickywoo

14,126 posts

259 months

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Monday 27th January 2020

The boot is small. A full size pram fills it and we had to test fit a few models to make sure that we got one that went in ok.

We do end up carrying shopping etc. In the cabin.

ZX10R NIN

30,521 posts

154 months

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Monday 27th January 2020

Garett said:

Thank you for that comprehensive reply ZX10, certainly some food for thought there. I would have to dismiss the 5 pot Focus I just don't like that interior although the engine is a peach it is a bit juicy.
Out of your alternates the 2 that have piqued my interest are the BMW 330i, which is probably just as bad on fuel as the Focus, but also the Clio RS, although as Chris says it is auto only I will have to do some research on them but from a quick search it just seems to get compared to the previous Clio RS which is probably a bit unfair, what is your justification for it being your pick?

Olas is to the point, but he might be right. Care to elaborate at all?

The Clio RS is a good car in it's own right now it's not the riot that the previous incarnations were but it's still a sharp handling car.

The EDC box has proved robust & reliable but it does rob the car of a small amount of the fun factor but if you press on it still has a good chassis & if you're looking at a Swift Sport then I'd be hard pressed to look past one of these because the RS chassis is another step on.

These two are my picks of the 1.6T RS's

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

Haggle hard & this Cup Chassis model should be yours for about 8.3k

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Maintenance wise make sure the gearbox fluids & filter have been changed as per the schedule & if it's due get some money off.

As for the Golf they aren't the greatest steer & equipment wise finding a spec'd one is hard & for me if you're going to go for something that's a bit less hot hatch & you want a VAG product then I'd be buying that 2.0T CC GT with the nicer interior & similar driving experience:

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

The 330i will be juicy but hey what do you expect from a 3.0 N/A engine.

ZX10R NIN

30,521 posts

154 months

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Monday 27th January 2020

I forgot to say make sure you bring your seat & buggy when going to look at any perspective purchase.

ChrisH72

3,075 posts

81 months

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Tuesday 28th January 2020

You do sound pretty set on 5 doors.

But...

If you consider the 3dr option it opens up the possibility of cars like the excellent fiesta ST or Mégane 250. Or even a coupe.

When our son was 15 months old I moved from a 5dr hatch to a 3dr coupe. At 15 months they can go forward facing which makes all the difference. I know everyone says keep them rear facing until they're 4 and that's up to you. However he traveled far better when facing forward because he could see where we were going and we could talk to him so he felt much more like he was involved in the journey. It also means that with a 3dr you can slide the passenger seat forward and there's enough room to climb in and put them in the seat face to face. And when they are 2 they'll be able to climb in themselves. Although mine is not our main family car I've always found it easier to get him in and out than in the 5dr.

It's worth considering.

Torquey

1,956 posts

257 months

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Tuesday 28th January 2020

The Swift would be very difficult although not impossible. I'd rather live with a 3 door with more space than a 5 door swift. Therefore my vote is a 2010-2011 Civic type R - one of the last ones.

I absolutely love swift sports too.

Garett

Original Poster

1,679 posts

221 months

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Tuesday 28th January 2020

ChrisH72 said:

You do sound pretty set on 5 doors.

But...

If you consider the 3dr option it opens up the possibility of cars like the excellent fiesta ST or Mégane 250. Or even a coupe.

When our son was 15 months old I moved from a 5dr hatch to a 3dr coupe. At 15 months they can go forward facing which makes all the difference. I know everyone says keep them rear facing until they're 4 and that's up to you. However he traveled far better when facing forward because he could see where we were going and we could talk to him so he felt much more like he was involved in the journey. It also means that with a 3dr you can slide the passenger seat forward and there's enough room to climb in and put them in the seat face to face. And when they are 2 they'll be able to climb in themselves. Although mine is not our main family car I've always found it easier to get him in and out than in the 5dr.

It's worth considering.

It is something I have thought long and hard about, I would happily have a Fiesta ST and actually they do a 5 door version which I didn't realise but only from 2017 on and not many around so they seem to command a premium.

The wife is sure she wants rear facing but you make some valid points, I will gently bring them up in conversation with her. argue

Torquey said:

The Swift would be very difficult although not impossible. I'd rather live with a 3 door with more space than a 5 door swift. Therefore my vote is a 2010-2011 Civic type R - one of the last ones.

I absolutely love swift sports too.

I'm sure the Type R is a great car, I'm a fan of the engines, but I just can't get inboard with how they look.

I guess I need to have a good look at a Swift, the pushchair probably won't travel in it so I'm not really factoring that in.

dontfollowme

1,186 posts

262 months

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Tuesday 28th January 2020

I am also car hunting and this is my budget too.

Not a hot hatch but I am considering a MK 7 Golf 1.4 ACT in GT trim - this is 148bhp and seems to be well thought of on here. Same engine is available in the Leon of course.

MK7 GTIs seem to start at £11K for the early cars.

PomBstard

7,857 posts

271 months

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Wednesday 29th January 2020

Mrs PB has had a 2011 Golf GTI for the past 3 years, since the youngest of our three kids was 2. It’s plenty big enough for all five of us to get in for short trips and has so far been reliable, although it’s nowhere near as well made as the Subaru it shares the drive with.

It’s due a timing chain later this year which might the point at which it goes. Though Mrs PB is somewhat enamoured.

It’s also probably the most boring 200bhp hatch I’ve ever driven. Competent, undoubtedly. But exciting? Nope. IME it’s not worth the extra over a lesser Golf for fun, or over anything else more exciting.

ChrisH72

3,075 posts

81 months

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Wednesday 29th January 2020

You can also get the seat Leon FR with a more potent 1.8 engine for £8k

Or how about the Focus zetec S which shares the 1.6 turbo with the fiesta ST?

But those swift sports are very good if you decide to go that way. It's a good time to buy as they are the last of the NA hot hatches and it'll be just as much fun as a quicker car I reckon.

If your wife is set on rear facing then that's okay. Get a 5dr and run it for 2-3 years. By then the little one will be moving to a high back booster seat anyway so you can get a 3dr next time.