123d or FN2? Alternative? £5k

[Dixxy95]

Thinking forward to the next car currently own a stage 1 118d. 2 main cars im looking at is the 123d, be one with around 100k miles, stage 1 they’re around 260bhp? I like the FN2’s, drove one for the first time the other day and was really impressed with the interior, much nicer place to be sat than my 118d but I honestly just didn’t think all that much to the performance, did sound incredible though. Any other alternatives for around £5k? Maybe a GTI or r32?

[aaron_2000]

335d/335i/535d?

[wizzard450]

What are you looking for in a car? 2 totallly different cars here. I
Own a fn2, great fun but bad at everything about from B road blasts. The bm will be comfy, better daily driver, faster but not as fun than screaming vtec or chucking it in the bends. If it’s a daily I’d go with the bm. Other options, focus st 2.5

[joropug]

N47 engine of the 123d era is known for chain issues

[Heathwood]

Surely the answer is 130i

[Mr Tidy]

Heathwood said:

Surely the answer is 130i

What he said!

With a 130i you get 265PS as standard so probably easier to insure than a modified 123d.

I bought a pre-registered 123d in Jan 2008 as I was doing business miles so it seemed to make sense based on the HMRC fuel mileage allowance, but I bailed out of the cam-chain roulette after 6 years and 80K miles.

I've got a 330i with the same N52 engine now and just wish I had bought a 130i instead of the 123d.

[willmagrath]

A mk5 GTI could be a good idea. I think their values are solid too so you won't loose much money.

Or maybe the other 2 based on it. The Seat Leon FR or the Octavia vRS.

[ZX10R NIN]

If you want a diesel then start with a 3.0d.

330d

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012026...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012076...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008273...

CLK320cdi Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010245...

Go for the 330i rather than the 130i no matter what anyone says it's not a hot hatch so get it's nicer cousin:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010104...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012217...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012237...

335i

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012076...

Now if you want a sweet steering hot hatch then the Civic is a good choice or go for the Focus ST-3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202003238...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012137...

[Matt Clay]

Unfortunately £5k can't get you into a shagged s2k now. I'd say get the CTR unless you value comfort.

[stevekoz]

ZX10R NIN said:

1500&page=1

Go for the 330i rather than the 130i no matter what anyone says it's not a hot hatch so get it's nicer cousin:

Great list of cars, but i would disagree with the comment that the 130i is not a "hot hatch". Offering a slightly different viewpoint.

For sure. It isn't the finest car in that pocket book, but, it certainly qualifies. Manual gearbox, rwd, 265bhp. The recipe is all there. Yes, the looks are divisive. The handling isn't as pinpoint as some of its contemporaries. But. When all said and done i've owned a fair few good hatches over the years and the 130i is up there.

The handling is something that can be tweaked as easily as ditching oem tyres. Better so for some slight suspension and geometry tweaks. But even out the book its a zingy little thing, it makes good quick progess. Steering feel from the phase 1 models was really nice, the later cars it was somewhat hampered by assisted steering of sorts, but its not real world noticeable. It loved to be rev'd high and felt great singing at the top of that rev clock, much like its bigger cousin the e46 m3 - and i can be quoted many times saying it feels very much akin to that very car. Albeit, its cousin. Which in the hot house stakes is no bad thing IMHO.

I've also owned the FN2 that has been mentioned and it again, is not the finest marque in that bracket. However, it is as nowhere near as gloomy as some may make out. It is uncomfortable at times - it gets thrown by pot hole'd A-roads, loses its composure at slower speeds, but, as soon as you start to wind it out and get it on a good set of country roads its nowhere near as bad as what i've read people make out. A little hard but i still believe its a good steer. Just have to drive it hard to get the best of it and its not as different to the EP3 as you may make out. On track i've seen them both lap the same times with nothing in-between. I just like the design of the FN2 more, i think its aged well. The ep3 hasn't in my opinion.

I would recommend testing a 130i if you can find one in budget - its there i think that you might struggle. A good 130i is usually more than the £5k you have budgeted.

If you decide FN2, make sure you get a later car with LSD, you'll pay a premium (again perhaps more than your budget allows) but its night and day difference (test drive both to see what i mean). The LSD is what the FN2 should have always had and Honda knew it - hence its eventual integration later on in production.

Else as always totally agree with ZX10R's list.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'm not saying the 130i is a bad car & you can't have fun with it because you can it's just a bit compromised when it comes to getting truly on it which is why I said I'd go for the 330i as it's just as much fun (both benefit from the same upgrades) as the 130i but you're in a nicer place having that fun.

One of my favorite hatches is an R32 (yes an Edition 30 is better) BUT that engine & exhaust note would be enough for me to live with the compromise.

[AnneTeak]

Another shout out for the 130i, for 5k it'll be a higher mileage one but they are about if you're patient. Prices are on the up so if you look after it you won't loose much.

With the recommendation on the 335i above.. Personally I'd avoid those at that kind of price. Lots of niggly reliability issues and potential for big bills (fuel pumps, turbo, injectors). Stick with the N52 (330i before 2007, any 130i, Z4).

[stevekoz]

ZX10R NIN said:

I'm not saying the 130i is a bad car & you can't have fun with it because you can it's just a bit compromised when it comes to getting truly on it which is why I said I'd go for the 330i as it's just as much fun (both benefit from the same upgrades) as the 130i but you're in a nicer place having that fun.

One of my favorite hatches is an R32 (yes an Edition 30 is better) BUT that engine & exhaust note would be enough for me to live with the compromise.

Yeah i agree with the compromised point of view. I wasn't trying to come across like saying you were wrong - apologies if that was the case. I like to think i was just offering an alternative view.

The r32 has a sublime exhaust note, my friend had a Miltek exhuast after going from Neuspeed - best combination overall he felt. It sounded so good on launch and full chat. Bang on.