Mild hot hatch needed

[benbuhagiar]

My partner is in need of a new car and I'm struggling to find something that meets her criteria, which in theory isn't that restrictive. Help please!

- at least circa 150 BHP
- 0-60 - less than 8 seconds
- Automatic
- 5 doors
- cloth interior
- front and rear parking sensors
- No older than 5 years old
- No bigger than a Golf or similar

Budget is up to circa £15k. Daily commute is 4 miles each way, so a diesel isn't advisable. What would you suggest?

1) VW Golf GTI fits the bill but she hates the checkered interior
2) Audi A3 1.8T - Ruled out as she it apparently looks like an estate
3) BMW 1 Series - Ruled out as it's apparently ugly
4) Could stretch to a Golf R but 300bhp and £20k isn't necessary for a 4 mile each way commute
5) Mercedes A-class, not a great car in my opinion
6) Seat Leon FR, 1.8 engine, 180bhp

The Seat seems to make the most sense but struggling to find one with front parking sensors.

Any other suggestions or ideas please?

Thanks

[Latters]

I haven’t driven one but the only other thing I can think of that fits the bill is an Alfa Giulietta. They seem to have half leather seats though, so it depends if that’s a deal breaker.

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

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

[Ecosseven]

I own a SEAT Leon 1.8FR but with the manual gearbox. I've owned the car since 2015 and can't really fault it. Fast enough on the road, looks good, 40MPG average, relatively cheap servicing. Only slight niggle is the ride comfort is quite firm.

[Ecosseven]

Just to add the the Leon has front and rear parking sensors.

[irocfan]

A Mini of some flavour?

[scoey1001]

Golf gti performance pack with the leather interior? Fair few about.

Edit: Sorry missed the cloth interior requirement!

[jwilco]

The Leon is a good shout, but to add a new option into the mix - you'd get a relatively new Volvo V40 T3 auto for that. They look pretty smart and are generally quite well specced. The R design is often with leather seats though, and I think even the basic seats are alcantara rather than cloth.

[ChrisH72]

I'm going to guess that it has to be a premium badge or most probably VAG? In which case the Leon is likely to be the best option and ticks all your boxes.

For 15k you can actually get into the latest shape Focus Titanium X with the 1.5 turbo. It has 150bhp so might not be quick enough but it would drive well and has all the toys.

There's also the Volvo V40 which fits the criteria on paper in T3 form. But you can get a T5 if you need more poke.

If she wanted a smaller hot hatch then either a Cooper S or a Clio trophy might work.

Personally I don't get the front parking sensors thing. With the shape of modern cars where the bonnet slopes away you are always much further away from anything than it looks from the driver's seat. At least that's my experience.

Edited by ChrisH72 on Tuesday 17th November 20:46

[ZX10R NIN]

Infiniti Q30 Sport this really ticks all the boxes

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011146...

1.6T Luxe

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011065...

Megane 1.6T GT Nav as does this one



V40 T5 R Design Pro

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011015...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010175...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010094...

[benbuhagiar]

Thanks for the suggestions.

Alcantara seats are okay, I should have said non-leather.

Volvo and Infinity are interesting shouts, hadn't thought of those.

Seat still seems the best option I think. I'm a fan of VAG for build quality and reliability.

Not a fan of the Focus. We do like the Fiesta ST though! 5 doors are rare and no front parking sensors.

[ChrisH72]

I have a Fiesta ST and it's great.

No auto though as far as I'm aware. That's why I mentioned the RS Clio which is 5 door and auto only. But I don't think that would have front sensors.

[Zetec-S]

5 door MINI?

Cooper - Power a little lower but for the budget you can probably get more toys:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010185...

Or a Cooper S for more power:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010275...

[GTEYE]

The criteria seem a bit OTT for doing a commute of 4 miles each way.

For the driving actually being done, a nippy runabout fits the bill, some of the suggestions made are more than slight overkill.

A tidy Fiat 500 at half the budget would be more than adequate.

If you're looking to impress the neighbours/friends/colleagues, that's a whole different argument.

[culpz]

If you like the idea of a Golf GTI but it's just the seats putting your OH off, then I'd look at a MK3 Leon Cupra. Ok, so it's got over 280 BHP, but it's not like it needs to be used all the time and it will give the same MPG as the Golf anyway, but with more power when you want/need it. They also have much more standard equipment than the VW's too.

For reference, my previous 2.0 TSI Scirocco with 180 BHP was genuinely worse on fuel than my current Cupra with 290 BHP. Also, they're pretty damn good on fuel when not hooning about too. Win-win really, if you ask me.

[MrGTI6]

Astra 1.4T 150. I know it's a Vauxhall, but the new one is bloody brilliant. An Elite Nav would have all the spec you want and more, but to avoid leather your best bet is an SRI. There's a 200bhp 1.6T as well, but I think that's manual-only.

For £15k you could get an as-new, year-old example. Or just get a three-year-old one with a third of your budget to spare.

Edited by MrGTI6 on Wednesday 18th November 13:35

[Volvolover]

Focus ST Line with 150/180bhp petrol

[Richard-390a0]

GTEYE said:

The criteria seem a bit OTT for doing a commute of 4 miles each way.

Glad it's not just me that thought that!

[jwilco]

GTEYE said:

The criteria seem a bit OTT for doing a commute of 4 miles each way.

For the driving actually being done, a nippy runabout fits the bill, some of the suggestions made are more than slight overkill.

A tidy Fiat 500 at half the budget would be more than adequate.

If you're looking to impress the neighbours/friends/colleagues, that's a whole different argument.

I'm not quite sure I get this statement. A car is a luxury item so what's on your list of wants is totally personal. I imagine everyone on Piston Heads has wants that an average person would say are "OTT".

[benbuhagiar]

Richard-390a0 said:

Glad it's not just me that thought that!

I can see your point of view but we want a nice car.

It will also get used on the weekends for trips longer than 4 miles. We currently have a Polo and a bit more space is often handy, hence the search criteria.

I currently work from home but have a Mercedes with over 300bhp, is that also overkill?

[Haltamer]

You can get a Civic 1.5 Auto at that price; Ticks the boxes too.

180BHP / 240NM Torque; ~8 Sec 0-60. The box is a CVT, which might be a turn off, but the spec is massive:- Parking sensors, reversing camera, LKAS / ACC all standard in Sport trims.

Massive space inside too.