Fast Hot Hatch, Saloon, Estate or Coupe between £6 - 10k

[AmirGSXR]

I am looking for your help guys. Criteria is as follows:
- Petrol
- Manual (but will consider the right auto)
- Not a BMW (as I already own a lovely N52 330i which the wife will have)
- Should have rear seats for child seat
- minimum 200bhp, but preferably more
- excellent handling
- reliable engine/drivetrain


I love the 208gti, but wife not keen on looks. I have already owned an FN2 Type R, so don't really want that. I will be interested to see your suggestions.

[Yorkshire_LY]

RS Megane R26 or 250.

[ZX10R NIN]

Astra GTC VXR:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211221...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208188...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211221...

Insignia VXR:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211161...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301183...

Estate:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212032...

[RoVoFob]

AmirGSXR said:

I am looking for your help guys. Criteria is as follows:
- Petrol
- Manual (but will consider the right auto)
- Not a BMW (as I already own a lovely N52 330i which the wife will have)
- Should have rear seats for child seat
- minimum 200bhp, but preferably more
- excellent handling
- reliable engine/drivetrain

To show the other side of a two-car garage with a BMW N52 in it (130i manual here), I have recently bought a 2007 Audi A6 4.2 V8 FSI, which goes nicely with the BMW as the practical family car. Also had a 2006 A6 Avant 4.2 V8 alongside the 130i previously.

I realise the A6 only half covers your brief, but how about a manual Audi S5 4.2 V8, as a left-field option? It’s one of the few cars that seems pretty good value these days and it’s very different to the four cylinder, front-wheel-drive hot hatch alternatives. It’s not the most agile but still pretty engaging I’d say. Reliability isn’t perfect, but I believe most big issues are relatively easy to spot.

Obviously, don’t consider one if low road tax or good fuel economy are high on your wishlist!

[AmirGSXR]

Thanks for the replies so far. I love the Astra GTC and the suggestion of the leftfield Audi.

How are the ST2 Focus's like this one: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212272...

[M.F.D]

Megane RS250 Cup.

Literally ticks all your boxes and more. Proper good things and pretty robust.

[ZX10R NIN]

AmirGSXR said:

Thanks for the replies so far. I love the Astra GTC and the suggestion of the leftfield Audi.

How are the ST2 Focus's like this one: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212272...

The ST's are good cars BUT the GTC VXR is a better car unless you need the extra doors.

[HiAsAKite]

In the same position as yourself, a bought a manual 2009 Audi b8 S4.

5 doors, 330hp, boot that is bigger than it first looks..
And quick enough..

[AmirGSXR]

HiAsAKite said:

In the same position as yourself, a bought a manual 2009 Audi b8 S4.

5 doors, 330hp, boot that is bigger than it first looks..
And quick enough..

Awesome cars. Is there anything to look out for reliability wise? I will start reading up about them and may consider it. AT has only auto's at the moment.

[ConnectionError]

ZX10R NIN said:

AmirGSXR said:

Thanks for the replies so far. I love the Astra GTC and the suggestion of the leftfield Audi.

How are the ST2 Focus's like this one: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212272...

The ST's are good cars BUT the GTC VXR is a better car unless you need the extra doors.

ST’s can have an issue with piston rings.

[anonymous-user]

ConnectionError said:

ST’s can have an issue with piston rings.

Did you mean the cracked cylinder walls?

[AmirGSXR]

ZX10R NIN said:

The ST's are good cars BUT the GTC VXR is a better car unless you need the extra doors.

Thanks. GTC VXR certainly looks better, and based on reviews drives better than the ST. I also love the Saloon Insigna VXR, but I have read elsewhere on pistonheads that they are an underwhelming driving experience. I am not sure how true that is. They do look the really nice and I think I could see myself looking back at it again more than once when parked up.

For some context, one of the nicest front wheel drive cars I owned was a Mondeo ST220 (3.0 V6). For me, it was the benchmark car with regards to grips, agility, stability and speed through corners. I compare newer cars I buy to that. If the Insignia is close to or exceeds the ST220 handling capabilities, it would be enough for me to seriously consider one, provided there are no major reliability issues.

[ZX10R NIN]

AmirGSXR said:

Thanks. GTC VXR certainly looks better, and based on reviews drives better than the ST. I also love the Saloon Insigna VXR, but I have read elsewhere on pistonheads that they are an underwhelming driving experience. I am not sure how true that is. They do look the really nice and I think I could see myself looking back at it again more than once when parked up.

For some context, one of the nicest front wheel drive cars I owned was a Mondeo ST220 (3.0 V6). For me, it was the benchmark car with regards to grips, agility, stability and speed through corners. I compare newer cars I buy to that. If the Insignia is close to or exceeds the ST220 handling capabilities, it would be enough for me to seriously consider one, provided there are no major reliability issues.

The ST220 is a peach of a steer, the Insignia was regarded as a good steer but because Vauxhall decoded they wanted the turbo drivetrain to be more like an N/A engine so it lacks a bit of midrange but a map brings them to (nothing drastic bhp wise but the midrange comes alive) life.

I'd say test drive one I rate them as I do the GTC VXR, they're very different in character with the Insignia being far closer to the 220, the GTC whilst being relaxed when in non sport/VXR modes it's still lively compared to the Insignia.

Whenever I drive either I always enjoy the experience.

[Hub]

ConnectionError said:

ZX10R NIN said:

AmirGSXR said:

Thanks for the replies so far. I love the Astra GTC and the suggestion of the leftfield Audi.

How are the ST2 Focus's like this one: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212272...

The ST's are good cars BUT the GTC VXR is a better car unless you need the extra doors.

ST’s can have an issue with piston rings.

Not really - only when misused, mostly modified or if flooring it in 6th from low revs. It is a reliable engine, and in fact a reliable car all round.

[anonymous-user]

Ive recently bought a GTC VXR and its an immensely good steer.

The noise, power and grip are utterly fantastic

A real firecracker

[anonymous-user]

Hub said:

ConnectionError said:

ZX10R NIN said:

AmirGSXR said:

Thanks for the replies so far. I love the Astra GTC and the suggestion of the leftfield Audi.

How are the ST2 Focus's like this one: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212272...

The ST's are good cars BUT the GTC VXR is a better car unless you need the extra doors.

ST’s can have an issue with piston rings.

Not really - only when misused, mostly modified or if flooring it in 6th from low revs. It is a reliable engine, and in fact a reliable car all round.

I agree. Mine ran 325bhp and 400lb/ft torque and all it ever wanted was just wear and tear parts.

[HiAsAKite]

AmirGSXR said:

HiAsAKite said:

In the same position as yourself, a bought a manual 2009 Audi b8 S4.

5 doors, 330hp, boot that is bigger than it first looks..
And quick enough..

Awesome cars. Is there anything to look out for reliability wise? I will start reading up about them and may consider it. AT has only auto's at the moment.

The B8 S4 thread is here which will give plenty of viewpoints.: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

They are just reaching the 10k mark, manual ones are rare (all pre 2012 i think- after which it was auto only.)

Reliability wise- gearboxes on the auto, but generally ok. Various odds such as waterpump, PCV valves, but many will be sorted now. Need to change the supercharger belts ever 80k or so. Allegedly very easily mapped to 400hp, and start changig supercharger pulleys will see 450 and more..


Edit: predictive text wrote waterproof instead of waterpump

Edited by HiAsAKite on Monday 30th January 20:16

[Shifter1]

ZX10R NIN said:

Astra GTC VXR:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211221...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208188...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211221...

Insignia VXR:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211161...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301183...

Estate:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212032...

The white and the silver Insignias are meh. But the blue one is a lovely colour. Then I see the horrible interior. Pity.

OP, since you didn't specify RWD, you have boat loads of options.

[ZX10R NIN]

Shifter1 said:

The white and the silver Insignias are meh. But the blue one is a lovely colour. Then I see the horrible interior. Pity.

OP, since you didn't specify RWD, you have boat loads of options.

You could always look for a blue one with the all black interior, there are a fair few that'll work for you.

[Shifter1]

ZX10R NIN said:

Shifter1 said:

The white and the silver Insignias are meh. But the blue one is a lovely colour. Then I see the horrible interior. Pity.

OP, since you didn't specify RWD, you have boat loads of options.

You could always look for a blue one with the all black interior, there are a fair few that'll work for you.

Thanks. But I'm not looking for a car at the moment. I was "choosing" for the OP.