Downsizing to a small warm hatch for commuting

[MeatHelmet1981]

Evening all.

Long time lurker as is the norm!

I'm wanting to get back into a car for the winter after selling my bike, fallen out of love with bikes recently so fancy a change.

Shortlist so far seems to be a Twingo 133, Swift Sport, Corsa SRI 1.6, or as a curve ball, MK3/4 Golf GTi!

Anyone got any other suggestions? Budget will be about £3k

Criteria is basically, reasonably cheap to run/tax and maintain, back seats for the little one ok the nursery run, and good fun on decent roads. Not bothered by outright speed, more interested in how it goes round a corner.

Had fast Clio's, Golf GTIs, Civic Type r, all the usual hot hatch suspects before, bit want something a bit more wallet friendly this time.

Cheers all.

Edited by MeatHelmet1981 on Thursday 18th November 22:05

[Deerfoot]

I’ve been running a 2016 Swift Sport since March, I absolutely love it.

It’s plenty nippy enough, returns around 40mpg and feels nice and tight without feeling too harsh.

[anonymous-user]

When I was looking for something a few years ago I bought a Mito, not a car that I would have bought brand new but was an amazing second hand buy, one of the most enjoyable cars I've owned

[ZX10R NIN]

The Twingo RS Cup is a cracking steer but there are some decent alternatives.

Mito Cloverleaf 170

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109167...

Veloce 155

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111069...

140

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111179...

DS3 D Sport 150

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110268...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111019...

DStyle 120

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009023...

2.0T Megane Privilege 180

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110098...

Corsa VXR 190

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110248...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111159...

[georgeyboy12345]

I really like the Swift Sports and Twingo Renaultsports,

As for alternatives, not sure what your budget is, but here are a few cheaper options and some more expensive ones.

Citroen C2 VTS
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110258...


Fiat Panda 100HP
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109257...


Mini Cooper
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008032...


Vw Up! GTI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111019...


Edit: Up! GTI's are still a bit pricey - what about a Lupo GTI?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111119...

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Thursday 18th November 23:34

[edc]

Are the 140bhp 1.0T Fiesta Ecoboosts at this price yet? Had an ST Line one that was good.

[anonymous-user]

georgeyboy12345 said:

I really like the Swift Sports and Twingo Renaultsports,

As for alternatives, not sure what your budget is, but here are a few cheaper options and some more expensive ones.

Citroen C2 VTS
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110258...


Fiat Panda 100HP
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109257...


Mini Cooper
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008032...


Vw Up! GTI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111019...


Edit: Up! GTI's are still a bit pricey - what about a Lupo GTI?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111119...

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Thursday 18th November 23:34

I've had a C2 VTS, was rubbish, wish I'd bought a Panda at the time instead.

[georgeyboy12345]

MonkeyMatt said:

I've had a C2 VTS, was rubbish, wish I'd bought a Panda at the time instead.

Interesting. Reflected in second hand prices now perhaps?

[DaveyBoyWonder]

R53 Cooper S maybe (but are expensive to tax). Maybe a standard Cooper? Not slow, full of character and handle well. R56 (gen 2) cars are nicer/more well built in my experience but could potentially from valve stem seals going.

Definitely wouldn't consider a mk4 Golf (scene boyz are still inflating the prices of good 1.8Ts to way beyond £3k I think) and a mk3 for under £3k will most likely be a whole world of slow, dated, rusty pain.

[georgeyboy12345]

edc said:

Are the 140bhp 1.0T Fiesta Ecoboosts at this price yet? Had an ST Line one that was good.

You can get a 2015 100,000 mile one on autotrader for around £6k. Post 2015 means there shouldn’t be the problem they have with catching on fire. Still have other problems with carbon buildup leading to poor mpg, potential fuel pump failure and of course being theft targets.

[anonymous-user]

georgeyboy12345 said:

Interesting. Reflected in second hand prices now perhaps?

On paper it seemed the perfect car, especially considering how good its predecessor was. The C2 was reasonably quick but the steering lacked feel, the brakes weren't great and the gearbox was poor. Worse of a was the awful ride, it shook your fillings out and felt like it was dismantling itself.

[DaveyBoyWonder]

ZX10R NIN said:

Corsa VXR 190

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110248...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111159...

I don't know much about the Corsa VXR but didn't realise they were that cheap. For £3k I'd be taking a serious look at one...

[Canon_Fodder]

It's a 3k budget

[georgeyboy12345]

I really should read the OPs properly! I swear the budget wasn’t there the first time I read this thread!

[Canon_Fodder]

might have been a crafty edit by the OP

[Shrugging for victory]

Abarth 500? Make sure that it has cruise control though.

[ritch]

based on my experiences with Mk2/3/4&5 Golf GTis - I would avoid the Mk3/4 golfs if you are looking for a reliable low maintenance car for commuting.

old golfs are for people who like to have to work on their cars, constantly.

[Canon_Fodder]

This one goes round corners OP - I had one and still miss it (sometimes)

Fiesta Zetec S. I would prefer the stock wheels rather than these bigger ones though

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111099...

[MeatHelmet1981]

georgeyboy12345 said:

I really should read the OPs properly! I swear the budget wasn’t there the first time I read this thread!

It was a craft edit, apologies!

[MeatHelmet1981]

Some good shouts here guys, keep them coming.

Budget is defo max £3k. I edited the original post to include this, sorry if it caught anyone out!

Interesting points on the golfs. I've had 2 MK5 GTIs in the past, one regular standard GTI, one Edition 30 remapped to 300bhp. Never had a single problem with either, but get that the older ones might be a bit worse for wear now.

C2 was an interesting shout, but a friend had one and said the same sort of thing, utterly hateful is how he described it if I remember rightly! So I shall be avoiding those like the plague!

Wife had a Twingo 133 ages ago but I think I may be looking back on it with the old rose tinted peepers on. I remember it being a right laugh, but I mostly drove it on good roads in anger, she commuted in it and doesn't look back fondly on it!