Hot hatch time?

[LosingGrip]

I've currently got a 57 plate 5 series. It whafts sbout and is boring...

I finding myself looking at new cars again. Budget is £10,000 but ideally less.

I'm pretty much set on buying a Fiesta ST. I almost got one two years ago but didn't due to worries about fuel costs with a change to work...I regret that massively!

Is there anything else worth looking at? I'm tempted by a Focus ST as well but I can't get a decent one within my budget and the reviews I've seen I won't be disappointed with the Fiesta.

[revilo87]

I have a 2022 ST Edition, it’s great fun - I bought it new and honestly it’s hard to describe, if you push it hard it feels like the car is moulded around you - it’s obviously not the most comfortable thing but it wasn’t made to be, it’s more than fast enough for our roads and relatively economical honestly - I average 35mpg out of mine, but it’s a lot of urban driving, on a good run and liberal use of the loud pedal it’s close to 50.

It won’t be a long term car for me, as I’m not much of a driver - I feel like I’m getting old, an automatic is next in line for me I feel

But I digress, the Fiesta ST, especially second hand - if that’s what you’re after it’s an awesome car to own for £10k

[Nelka]

I bought mine for £7250 in Sept 2020. It’s a 2013 and had done 63k.

It’s now on 77k, passed its MOT yesterday with no advisories, and has needed nothing done in almost three years except scheduled servicing.

A riot to drive & I reckon has hardly lost any money. Sure the ride is pretty hard, but who cares? Great wee cars.

[Xcore]

Megane rs250 cup is probably the best of the sub 10k hatches, and won’t get stolen like a fiesta st

[CG2020UK]

Peugeot 208GTI is well worth a look.

Nicer place to be, far more comfortable, better spec, roomier and as standard is quicker and lighter. Big plus point is it’s more reliable (brother in laws and best mates STs have both went boom and scrapped) as well as not being a thief magnet.

I think the ST is easier to gel with than the 208GTI and the steering and gear shift is better giving more confidence. ST remaps better as well as a long term consideration.

Love both cars and think both are brilliant.

[LosingGrip]

Xcore said:

Megane rs250 cup is probably the best of the sub 10k hatches, and won’t get stolen like a fiesta st

Is there a lot of them stolen? I look at a list of stolen vehicles reported every day (police) and dont recall the last time I saw one stolen.

Looked at the Megane and not any within 100 miles on Auto Trader ar the moment but ill keep looking! I like the idea of a slighty bigger car.

CG2020UK said:

Peugeot 208GTI is well worth a look.

Nicer place to be, far more comfortable, better spec, roomier and as standard is quicker and lighter. Big plus point is it’s more reliable (brother in laws and best mates STs have both went boom and scrapped) as well as not being a thief magnet.

I think the ST is easier to gel with than the 208GTI and the steering and gear shift is better giving more confidence. ST remaps better as well as a long term consideration.

Love both cars and think both are brilliant.

There is something about the 208GTI that I just don't like but can't explain it! Maybe a test drive will be needed!

[ChrisH72]

I've had my mk7 ST3 for 3 years now and it's been fantastic. So much so that I'm having great difficulty deciding what to get next. Might even just keep it.

Mines on 79k now and I've had no problems at all. Can't help but think that they only become unreliable when people mess with them so my advice would be to find a standard, unmolested one and keep it that way.

When I was looking I tried the 208 Gti. It was okay but just lacked excitement for me. I knew I'd buy the Fiesta as soon as I sat in it.

They do have a reputation for being stolen unfortunately. There are a number of things you can do to reduce the risk but at the end of the day if someone wants to take it they will. You can't live in fear though.

[g40steve]

Xcore said:

Megane rs250 cup is probably the best of the sub 10k hatches, and won’t get stolen like a fiesta st

The Eco Boom was the earlier generations & usually neglected services, they changed the sump & quantity of oil increased on later ones.
A local Ford tech used to buy a new one every 2 years, rarely let it warm up & always nailed it including sprints & trackdays & never an issue.

My previous car to the new ST was RS280cup good car, infotainment had mind of its own, never saw a 3 on mpg & ride was way too hard on anything other than smooth tarmac.

Edited by g40steve on Sunday 11th June 21:49

[biggbn]

F56 mini cooper or cooper s, really well built, hugely characterful and reliable.

[MK1RS Bruce]

I have had my 2015 plate fiesta ST2 since 2017. its now on 111k miles and over than regular servicing all it has needed is a throttle control valve at about 50k other than that its been completely reliable.

They will easily do 40+ MPG. Parts are cheap too.

its an absolute hoot to drive and can be used and abused for all the daily stuff too!

Boot is big enough for a pram and I have had a washing machine in the back with the seats down.

[M.F.D]

Megane RS250 Cup is the answer at this money, unless you can find a leggy Cupra 280?

Megane is a proper hoot and my 3 were solid with no issues at all and I tracked them etc. Really capable cars. The Fiesta ST is a decent steer but as stated they are popular with a more undesirable crowd...

[MDUBZ]

OP what sort of driving do you do? a hot hatch is obviously good fun but at a compromise (currently with mini JCW r56 with stage 2 lohen tune). I originally bought it as a fun station / 2nd runabout car; but as trains can be unreliable, a bit st, expensive and don’t save me much time I tend to drive into London; don’t get me wrong my 60 miles each way can be a hoot, but the car isn’t really the best for the job if you want to get to work/home feeling relaxed, and it isn’t the most practical: boot barely fits a couple of carry on luggage sized bags, and forget about rear passengers; as a single car proposition I couldn’t possibly recommend (The fiesta, f56 or Megane might be far better); so something a bit more wafty is on the cards next; if I can keep it I will btw (nb the build quality is frightful on the r56 but it’s somehow forgivable as it is fun on the right roads).

[cerb4.5lee]

biggbn said:

F56 mini cooper or cooper s, really well built, hugely characterful and reliable.

I really enjoyed the 3.5 years(19k miles) that I had in my F56 Cooper S as well. I loved every drive I had in it, a great fun car I thought.

[ZX10R NIN]

LosingGrip said:

I've currently got a 57 plate 5 series. It whafts sbout and is boring...

I finding myself looking at new cars again. Budget is £10,000 but ideally less.

I'm pretty much set on buying a Fiesta ST. I almost got one two years ago but didn't due to worries about fuel costs with a change to work...I regret that massively!

Is there anything else worth looking at? I'm tempted by a Focus ST as well but I can't get a decent one within my budget and the reviews I've seen I won't be disappointed with the Fiesta.

Personally with your budget I'd be looking for the best Astra GTC I could find, as good as the Fiesta is the VXR is the next level om & imo it's only bested bu the RS Megane:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305107...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303105...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306098...

[tweenster]

I was in a very similar position last year. I wanted a Fiesta ST but was concerned that if I parked it in a public car park it was highly likely that it might not be there when I returned. Irrational I know, but there you go! In the end I bought a 2019 Suzuki Swift Sport, modified it with parts from CTC Performance so it is now running approx 180bhp in a car weighing 975kg. Quite simply, I love it, and even more so as most people don't know what it is.

The issue is that you will probably struggle to get one for £10k, but definitely worth a look.

[LosingGrip]

ZX10R NIN said:

Personally with your budget I'd be looking for the best Astra GTC I could find, as good as the Fiesta is the VXR is the next level om & imo it's only bested bu the RS Megane:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305107...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303105...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306098...

It's wrong of me to have this view never driven one, but we have Astras at work and I honestly can't see myself ever owning one evening if they are the above ones ha.

[classicfred]

Clio RS
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/15046181

Peugeot 208 GTI THP SS BY PEUGEOT SPORT
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/15158304

Megane RS
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14929689

Vauxhall Corsa 1.6T 16V VXR Nurburgring
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14095543

MINI Mini 1.6 John Cooper Works
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14685637

Ford Focus ST-3 5-Door
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14881032

Audi A1 2.0 S1 QUATTRO SPORTBACK 5d 228 BHP
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14808518

Volkswagen Polo GTI DSG 5-Door
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13718683

Subaru Impreza 2.5T WRX Hatchback
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/14968533

Honda Civic 2.0 I-VTEC TYPE-R GT 3d DOOR
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/15029549

[LightningBlue]

LosingGrip said:

It's wrong of me to have this view never driven one, but we have Astras at work and I honestly can't see myself ever owning one evening if they are the above ones ha.

I feel the same, also have an abused fleet at work and the interiors are so dated and have that Vauxhall smell I just couldn’t imagine owning one. It’s a shame as you could argue the GTC VXR has the best exterior design in its class and is great value - on paper it makes perfect sense!

[ZX10R NIN]

LosingGrip said:

It's wrong of me to have this view never driven one, but we have Astras at work and I honestly can't see myself ever owning one evening if they are the above ones ha.

No problem that's why there're so many options, but don't test drive one as you may well have to change your opinion especially if you really want a drivers hot hatch

[LosingGrip]

Thanks for the replies and the post a couple up with some other suggestions. Had a good think and still decided on the Fiesta ST. The reviews just look better.