The Do it All on a budget car - The £6k Hot Hatch??
Discussion
Been thinking about my requirements over the last few days.
Much advice and options are given in my preview thread and i think given my requirements the best type of car that matches my requirements would be a "hot" hatch.
Now this could be a super mini or a hatch (3/5door).
I have had to slightly downsize my budget to £6k.
I've so far been looking at the following
Megane r26
Focus St
Astra VXR
Clio Rs200
Golf r32
Whilst i know the breed of car has a particular image - youth /chav/hooligan. I'm after one that a 40year old can drive and be more of a petroheads choice. The car is for commuting to the schoo for my tweens and to work. As well as for weekend drives across country to deepest Wales to my parents. Many many mountain/valley b-roads.
As previously stated a really enjoy driving and being involved with the car.
Pace is going to be a downer coming from what i had previously but something that feels brisk and agile should hopefully more than make up for that.
I have sadly discounted the golf gti as where i live (central Birmingham) its a breeding ground for young chavs with their seats slung back to almost lying position and stink of weed as they drive past. Sad thing to say is the Focus ST is much the same around here and for that reason both seem far to likely to attract the wrong attention and attitudes. So im discounting them both i think.
The Astra I've seen has a similar reputation but honestly I've only seen one other around here and it was very tired looking but ive seen some nice examples for sale and admit to liking the styling. Interior is awful but you can say that of almost most hot hatches i guess?? But are they truly as bad as the reviews state?
The R32 seems the sensible choice. I know its a big engine in essentially a fwd chassis and its been criticised for its poor handling and pace. As a petrohead who loves agile fun roads in a car it seems worry some. Again is this true? Are they that bad? Of all the cars i have listed, i never see one. And they seem the more "grown up" choice but the worst "hot hatch" of the lot.
The clio in cup form looks a fine thing in liquid yellow (as does the r26) but are they suitable for a car with two tweens for trips to the grandparents? As a drivers car with the cup chassis i think it could be excellent to drive but does it really offer anything else beyond that? A hot hatch is about doing it all right?
So. There i am. Have i missed anything off? Anyone have experience of these cars and can comment?
The hot hatch is the only real do it all single car - that is its essence really.
So for £6k what would you choose?
Much advice and options are given in my preview thread and i think given my requirements the best type of car that matches my requirements would be a "hot" hatch.
Now this could be a super mini or a hatch (3/5door).
I have had to slightly downsize my budget to £6k.
I've so far been looking at the following
Megane r26
Focus St
Astra VXR
Clio Rs200
Golf r32
Whilst i know the breed of car has a particular image - youth /chav/hooligan. I'm after one that a 40year old can drive and be more of a petroheads choice. The car is for commuting to the schoo for my tweens and to work. As well as for weekend drives across country to deepest Wales to my parents. Many many mountain/valley b-roads.
As previously stated a really enjoy driving and being involved with the car.
Pace is going to be a downer coming from what i had previously but something that feels brisk and agile should hopefully more than make up for that.
I have sadly discounted the golf gti as where i live (central Birmingham) its a breeding ground for young chavs with their seats slung back to almost lying position and stink of weed as they drive past. Sad thing to say is the Focus ST is much the same around here and for that reason both seem far to likely to attract the wrong attention and attitudes. So im discounting them both i think.
The Astra I've seen has a similar reputation but honestly I've only seen one other around here and it was very tired looking but ive seen some nice examples for sale and admit to liking the styling. Interior is awful but you can say that of almost most hot hatches i guess?? But are they truly as bad as the reviews state?
The R32 seems the sensible choice. I know its a big engine in essentially a fwd chassis and its been criticised for its poor handling and pace. As a petrohead who loves agile fun roads in a car it seems worry some. Again is this true? Are they that bad? Of all the cars i have listed, i never see one. And they seem the more "grown up" choice but the worst "hot hatch" of the lot.
The clio in cup form looks a fine thing in liquid yellow (as does the r26) but are they suitable for a car with two tweens for trips to the grandparents? As a drivers car with the cup chassis i think it could be excellent to drive but does it really offer anything else beyond that? A hot hatch is about doing it all right?
So. There i am. Have i missed anything off? Anyone have experience of these cars and can comment?
The hot hatch is the only real do it all single car - that is its essence really.
So for £6k what would you choose?
These all look like good options and I think the only way you’ll be able to make a decision is to do some test drives when you can and see which car you like the feel of most.
For example, over 4 years and 60k miles I’ve found my Focus ST225 to be fantastic for the money I paid for it, but the driving position is irritatingly high and this can be a deal breaker to some.
I wouldn’t worry too much about the image you feel is associated with people who own the model of car - if other people want to prejudge things, then let them. Pretty much any hot hatch can be labelled “chav” by a certain kind of snob. Just pick what you like and enjoy!
For example, over 4 years and 60k miles I’ve found my Focus ST225 to be fantastic for the money I paid for it, but the driving position is irritatingly high and this can be a deal breaker to some.
I wouldn’t worry too much about the image you feel is associated with people who own the model of car - if other people want to prejudge things, then let them. Pretty much any hot hatch can be labelled “chav” by a certain kind of snob. Just pick what you like and enjoy!
R26r won’t be too practical dropping kids off.
Anything sporty VW/Ford could be a pain you don’t need in Birmingham as you say.
What you need is a guilietta cloverleaf. Unknown to the chavs, 5dr, reliable, 235bhp. Drive very well, much better than most on here think who’ve never driven one.
Anything sporty VW/Ford could be a pain you don’t need in Birmingham as you say.
What you need is a guilietta cloverleaf. Unknown to the chavs, 5dr, reliable, 235bhp. Drive very well, much better than most on here think who’ve never driven one.
ITP said:
R26r won’t be too practical dropping kids off.
Anything sporty VW/Ford could be a pain you don’t need in Birmingham as you say.
What you need is a guilietta cloverleaf. Unknown to the chavs, 5dr, reliable, 235bhp. Drive very well, much better than most on here think who’ve never driven one.
Infinitely prettier than any of the Golf variants, and as you quite rightly say the scratters have no idea what it is. Plus, if our 10 year old 1.4 Veloce is anything to go by, they really are far less troublesome than the clichés would suggest.Anything sporty VW/Ford could be a pain you don’t need in Birmingham as you say.
What you need is a guilietta cloverleaf. Unknown to the chavs, 5dr, reliable, 235bhp. Drive very well, much better than most on here think who’ve never driven one.
Budget is subjective. I don't think £6k is a little amount don't get me wrong. But. For a single car that has to do everything from ferry kids, to do the shopping to then drive across country, put a smile on your face everytime and also be something you and other Petrolheads can admire and talk about. Then there aren't many cars that can do that. Especially at my price point. Yes. Any car subjectively can be good at any one of those things but to be good at all of them. Hard work for any money. But i think it gets easier the more you can spend.
Ultimately at 6k i could get a low miles relatively new grey box with four wheels. Low miles. Unabused. No stigma and it would be just like every other s
t box in the road and i hate that. But it's only my personal opinion. In my eyes at my budget I'm borderline in worry territory when buying a used 2nd / 3rd / 4th / 5th hand hot hatch. But it's a gamble i will openly take on the chin.
To answer other posts
CTR - owned. Ultimately it was ok. Never really got under my skin. Just didn't feel that joined up to the road.
Bmw 130i - owned a pre face-lift version without the electric steering. It was a good little thing. I'm not sure i would go back and I'm not sure you could find a really good manual version in my price range. But I'm looking at those too. 👍
Ultimately at 6k i could get a low miles relatively new grey box with four wheels. Low miles. Unabused. No stigma and it would be just like every other s
t box in the road and i hate that. But it's only my personal opinion. In my eyes at my budget I'm borderline in worry territory when buying a used 2nd / 3rd / 4th / 5th hand hot hatch. But it's a gamble i will openly take on the chin.To answer other posts
CTR - owned. Ultimately it was ok. Never really got under my skin. Just didn't feel that joined up to the road.
Bmw 130i - owned a pre face-lift version without the electric steering. It was a good little thing. I'm not sure i would go back and I'm not sure you could find a really good manual version in my price range. But I'm looking at those too. 👍
stevekoz said:
Bmw 130i - owned a pre face-lift version without the electric steering. It was a good little thing. I'm not sure i would go back and I'm not sure you could find a really good manual version in my price range. But I'm looking at those too. ??
You might, but good ones seem to be holding their value. Which is why I ended up with an early E90 330i as my daily! (But I'd love to find a 130i).
DoubleD said:
Chris32345 said:
£6kisnt a budget car
It is for some.Money is so subjective. Im scarping the barrel for every penny of my budget and i still think you take a gamble at this price as much as any other. Just my opinion.
Still no joy finding a car. Most I've looked at have been tired. Expected i guess. Maybe i have to widen the search.
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