Budget of 12K, 5 door, and quickish - Help!

[4BB7]

Hi all. I'm pretty new but have been reading plenty of new posts on here over the last few weeks. I could do with some advice though - I'll try and keep it coherent.

I've leased my last few cars through work but I'm now looking to buy. I'm going to be doing 10k ish business miles for work now hence the move away from leasing.

My last 2 cars have been a VW Polo BlueGT 1.4 150 ps 2015 and Seat Leon FR 2017 (same engine as polo). Loved both and they've felt pretty nippy. However, I've never had anything with more BHP and I want to try something with more for my next car.

If I plan to keep the car 5 years-ish, is a diesel going to be sensible nowadays? I've never had a diesel and with the gov reg. changes I wasn't sure whether people are keeping clear of them?

My next car must be:

5 door & practical
above 150 BHP
ideally LED or bi-xenon lights (Leon ones are great and can't imagine going back to halogen now!)
I prefer the size of Leon to the polo so family hatchback territory
Not the pre-facelift Leon (can't go backwards)
Not anything pre-2010

I've looked at some cars online and I like:

Peugeot 308 GT (I'd love the GTI but it's a bit out of budget)
Audi A3 S-Line
Alfa Romeo Giulietta - Cloverfield or QV seem good and quick
Vauxhall Astra Elite Nav 200 PS

I want something comfy and that isn't too sporty looking (I don't like a Focus ST, for example, I just couldn't drive one). Are there any cars I should be looking at? Any to avoid? Diesel or petrol? Anything I should be aware of buying my first car in a while?

I'm very open to recommendations so please feel free to help me out with any. Any advice is much appreciated!

Cheers.

[davidkellighan]

This is where I'd be going:

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

Comfy leather seats and 0-60 in 7 seconds

[4BB7]

That is lovely! Thank you. Hadn't even thought of anything like that. I'll look into them!

[ilikejam]

I know it's a bit bigger than the cars you listed, but just mentioning it as I got one of these in October for under £12k.

Still (just) under warranty, Sport Nav trim includes LED lights, heated seats, heated steering wheel, sensors all round, reverse cam, HUD, Bose stereo, etc, etc. £300 on a moderate remap and air filter and it's over 220bhp. Not a sports car but plenty shove if needed in normal driving.

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

[4BB7]

That's really nice too, thanks! I'm glad I posted cause I'd have never though of the Mazda or volvo thanks!

I'm happy to go bigger on size, I just want it to be atleast as big as the Leon. I carry a lot of work kit anyway so an estate/saloon might even be better than a hatchback.

[AshVX220]

I have a C320 and it flies,

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

[ilikejam]

4BB7 said:

That's really nice too, thanks! I'm glad I posted cause I'd have never though of the Mazda or volvo thanks!

I'm happy to go bigger on size, I just want it to be atleast as big as the Leon. I carry a lot of work kit anyway so an estate/saloon might even be better than a hatchback.

I have 2 young kids so I like estates as I can just chuck bikes etc. in the back without any worries. I prefer the look of the Mazda 6 saloon and they do a light leather interior that's really nice - but both were ruled out pretty quickly!

If you do consider one just be wary that the 2.2d engine comes in 148bhp and 172bhp variants.

Out of your initial list I'd go for the Giulietta Cloverleaf, but with a criteria of 2010+, practical, £12k and +150bhp you've got a world of cars to choose from!

Edited by ilikejam on Wednesday 5th February 14:46

[Zetec-S]

Kia Ceed GT?

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

[4BB7]

Zetec-S said:

Kia Ceed GT?

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

I forgot to mention these in my post. I really like that, it's definitely one I'm considering!

[4BB7]

AshVX220 said:

I have a C320 and it flies,

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

Nice. Bit different to what I'd thought of too! Can't even imagine the pull on that thing

[cerb4.5lee]

4BB7 said:

AshVX220 said:

I have a C320 and it flies,

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

Nice. Bit different to what I'd thought of too! Can't even imagine the pull on that thing

It is a lovely torquey engine for sure. It is a pretty bulletproof engine too.

[4BB7]

ilikejam said:

4BB7 said:

That's really nice too, thanks! I'm glad I posted cause I'd have never though of the Mazda or volvo thanks!

I'm happy to go bigger on size, I just want it to be atleast as big as the Leon. I carry a lot of work kit anyway so an estate/saloon might even be better than a hatchback.

I have 2 young kids so I like estates as I can just chuck bikes etc. in the back without any worries. I prefer the look of the Mazda 6 saloon and they do a light leather interior that's really nice - but both were ruled out pretty quickly!

If you do consider one just be wary that the 2.2d engine comes in 148bhp and 172bhp variants.

Out of your initial list I'd go for the Giulietta Cloverleaf, but with a criteria of 2010+, practical, £12k and +150bhp you've got a world of cars to choose from!

Edited by ilikejam on Wednesday 5th February 14:46

Thanks that's really useful!

I do really like the Alfa Romeo, it's a bit different. There seems to have been a faclift in 2014\2015 and my budget struggles to afford the face-lift which has more power, but more importantly, a touch screen.

I'm a few months out buying yet so they could come down in price a tiny bit perhaps, have to see.

[4BB7]

cerb4.5lee said:

4BB7 said:

AshVX220 said:

I have a C320 and it flies,

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

Nice. Bit different to what I'd thought of too! Can't even imagine the pull on that thing

It is a lovely torquey engine for sure. It is a pretty bulletproof engine too.

Sounds great. No reason to be put off by a diesel then? I have no issues with them, just don't want to get shafted in the near future

[cerb4.5lee]

4BB7 said:

Sounds great. No reason to be put off by a diesel then? I have no issues with them, just don't want to get shafted in the near future

Just noticed that you are only doing 10k miles a year. So maybe a petrol would work better for you, and it minimises getting hammered with a diesel if that actually was to happen.

I do like the Merc 3 litre V6 diesel engine though and it is effortless to use. I think Merc do a punchy V6 petrol engine so that could be worth a look in the C-Class.

[4BB7]

cerb4.5lee said:

4BB7 said:

Sounds great. No reason to be put off by a diesel then? I have no issues with them, just don't want to get shafted in the near future

Just noticed that you are only doing 10k miles a year. So maybe a petrol would work better for you, and it minimises getting hammered with a diesel if that actually was to happen.

I do like the Merc 3 litre V6 diesel engine though and it is effortless to use. I think Merc do a punchy V6 petrol engine so that could be worth a look in the C-Class.

Sorry, I could have eprobabky made it a bit clearer. I'll be doing 10k business miles but about then personal on top of that. So anywhere from 15 to 20k a year. Is a petrol still the preferred? What mileage is best diesel territory? Genuinely, don't know. Cheers!

And thank you, I'll have a look at that petrol engine.

[cerb4.5lee]

4BB7 said:

Sorry, I could have eprobabky made it a bit clearer. I'll be doing 10k business miles but about then personal on top of that. So anywhere from 15 to 20k a year. Is a petrol still the preferred? What mileage is best diesel territory? Genuinely, don't know. Cheers!

And thank you, I'll have a look at that petrol engine.

If you are doing 15 to 20k a year then personally I'd go with a diesel. Nothing wrong at all with going petrol for those miles either but I've always gone diesel for doing 15K plus miles.

[ZX10R NIN]

There are some great warm hatches out there & there are some good hot hatches you can get at this price point too.

Peugeot Sport 308 GTI 270/250 very underrated but a very good drivers car

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

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

Focus ST-3 250

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

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

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

Estate

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

1.6T Megane GT Nav 205 a good warm hatch but they're hard to find & come packed with kit this along with the Kia Ceed GT are amongst the picks of the warm hatches

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

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

Kia Ceed GT Tech a good warm hatch but it'd be hard for me to pick one over the 308/Focus apart from the security blanket of the warranty.

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

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

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

Astra Elite Nav 200 warm well equipped hatch

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

Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde 240 good steer with a characterful engine

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

Cloverleaf 235 manual version of the above

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

Mazda3 MPS 256 a good steer not as sweet as the Focus it's based on but good none the less

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

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

Leon Cupra 280 capable hot hatch but not as involving as some others here

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

FR Technology 180 same as the above there are a some better warm hatches

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

Volvo V40 T5 R Design Lux Nav 255 a good steer with some serious go wrapped in a sleeper shell

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

308 GT 205 a very smart warm hatch but I'd always want the GTI:

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

Don't close your mind off to the next segment up, here are my Leftfield picks:

IS250 F Sport 205 (IS300 shape) these are a reliable swift good looking (imo) set of wheels

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

A5 210 S Line

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

Q50 Sport Tech 210

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

328i M Sport 245

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

Insignia VXR 321 these are a properly quick underrated car that's also a good steer

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

SRI 250 well under budget but a decent steer on par with the warm hatches

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

As you can see there are lots of options for a good swift set of family wheels go to a car supermarket & look as many as possible in the flesh & then narrow it down.

[4BB7]

cerb4.5lee said:

4BB7 said:

Sorry, I could have eprobabky made it a bit clearer. I'll be doing 10k business miles but about then personal on top of that. So anywhere from 15 to 20k a year. Is a petrol still the preferred? What mileage is best diesel territory? Genuinely, don't know. Cheers!

And thank you, I'll have a look at that petrol engine.

If you are doing 15 to 20k a year then personally I'd go with a diesel. Nothing wrong at all with going petrol for those miles either but I've always gone diesel for doing 15K plus miles.

Great, thank you!

[4BB7]

ZX10R NIN said:

There are some great warm hatches out there & there are some good hot hatches you can get at this price point too.

Peugeot Sport 308 GTI 270/250 very underrated but a very good drivers car

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

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

Focus ST-3 250

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

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

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

Estate

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

1.6T Megane GT Nav 205 a good warm hatch but they're hard to find & come packed with kit this along with the Kia Ceed GT are amongst the picks of the warm hatches

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

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

Kia Ceed GT Tech a good warm hatch but it'd be hard for me to pick one over the 308/Focus apart from the security blanket of the warranty.

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

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

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

Astra Elite Nav 200 warm well equipped hatch

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

Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde 240 good steer with a characterful engine

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

Cloverleaf 235 manual version of the above

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

Mazda3 MPS 256 a good steer not as sweet as the Focus it's based on but good none the less

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

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

Leon Cupra 280 capable hot hatch but not as involving as some others here

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

FR Technology 180 same as the above there are a some better warm hatches

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

Volvo V40 T5 R Design Lux Nav 255 a good steer with some serious go wrapped in a sleeper shell

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

308 GT 205 a very smart warm hatch but I'd always want the GTI:

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

Don't close your mind off to the next segment up, here are my Leftfield picks:

IS250 F Sport 205 (IS300 shape) these are a reliable swift good looking (imo) set of wheels

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

A5 210 S Line

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

Q50 Sport Tech 210

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

328i M Sport 245

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

Insignia VXR 321 these are a properly quick underrated car that's also a good steer

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

SRI 250 well under budget but a decent steer on par with the warm hatches

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

As you can see there are lots of options for a good swift set of family wheels go to a car supermarket & look as many as possible in the flesh & then narrow it down.

Amazing! Thank you so much. This is really useful. I'm going to save these to my shortlist and do some research. Like you said I think I need to see them jn the flesh, narrow it down, then start test driving some.

[ZX10R NIN]

Out of the Warm hatches it would be:

1) Megane GT
2 V40 T5
3) Kia Ceed GT Tech

Hot Hatches

1) 308 GTI
2) Focus ST-3
3) Giulietta Quadrifoglio/Cloverleaf

Leftfield:

1) Insignia VXR
2) 328i M Sport
Joint 3rd) Q50 Sport Tech/IS250