£11k sporty, practical daily

[blueST]

I'm wanting to relive my youth a bit and get a car with some performance and handling and a bit street cred with car nerds! Still needs to be a bit practical, at least 4 seats, not a stupid road tax band and happy to be driven daily without ruinous maintenance. Say £11k max

I'm drawn to 2013-ish Megane RS265 Cups for handling prowess, but have they all been flogged to death on track?

Can't get excited by Golfs and it's relatives.

[ChrisH72]

Fiesta ST.

But judging by your username I'd guess you've already been there?

[blueST]

Fiesta is a bit small, same with Clio. I had a mk2 Focus ST, the 5 cylinder one, best car I ever owned.

[MC Bodge]

BMW 130i

[ZX10R NIN]

blueST said:

I'm wanting to relive my youth a bit and get a car with some performance and handling and a bit street cred with car nerds! Still needs to be a bit practical, at least 4 seats, not a stupid road tax band and happy to be driven daily without ruinous maintenance. Say £11k max

I'm drawn to 2013-ish Megane RS265 Cups for handling prowess, but have they all been flogged to death on track?

Can't get excited by Golfs and it's relatives.

Most Megane's have now been owned by enthusiasts so like all cars you need to buy on condition & receipts.
You'll want a Cup/Cup Chassis car which does narrow the market down quite a bit:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410165...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412046...

The other option for me would be the GTC VXR it's a smidge behind the Cup Meganes when really pressing on BUT they're a better daily & because they have the Vauxhall badge on they're a great buy:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410064...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501037...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412067...

[Jimjimhim]

Megane and Astra are both good options.

[Xcore]

Boxster s, chimaera 400, ropey e46 m3

[Jimjimhim]

Xcore said:

Boxster s, chimaera 400, ropey e46 m3

Might be worth reading the OP

[ChrisH72]

blueST said:

Fiesta is a bit small, same with Clio. I had a mk2 Focus ST, the 5 cylinder one, best car I ever owned.

Could always get a newer Focus?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024121873...

[ChrisH72]

Looking good value these days..

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024112767...

[blueST]

ZX10R NIN said:

Most Megane's have now been owned by enthusiasts so like all cars you need to buy on condition & receipts.
You'll want a Cup/Cup Chassis car which does narrow the market down quite a bit:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410165...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412046...

The other option for me would be the GTC VXR it's a smidge behind the Cup Meganes when really pressing on BUT they're a better daily & because they have the Vauxhall badge on they're a great buy:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410064...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501037...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412067...

I think I'll pass on the Astra, just not my thing. I've looked at those Meganes on AT already along with all the others. Starting to get a feel for what's what so I can work out what looks cared for and standard.

[blueST]

ChrisH72 said:

blueST said:

Fiesta is a bit small, same with Clio. I had a mk2 Focus ST, the 5 cylinder one, best car I ever owned.

Could always get a newer Focus?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024121873...

It's not a bad shout. A nice facelift estate in blue with silver or grey wheels would be very tempting.

[blueST]

ChrisH72 said:

Looking good value these days..

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024112767...

Completely under my radar these. Need to do some goggling to see what they are like.

[Jimjimhim]

blueST said:

ZX10R NIN said:

Most Megane's have now been owned by enthusiasts so like all cars you need to buy on condition & receipts.
You'll want a Cup/Cup Chassis car which does narrow the market down quite a bit:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410165...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412046...

The other option for me would be the GTC VXR it's a smidge behind the Cup Meganes when really pressing on BUT they're a better daily & because they have the Vauxhall badge on they're a great buy:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410064...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501037...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412067...

I think I'll pass on the Astra, just not my thing. I've looked at those Meganes on AT already along with all the others. Starting to get a feel for what's what so I can work out what looks cared for and standard.

I'm curious to know why the astras not your thing but a Megane might be?

[Ezra]

BMW M135? There's some half decent looking ones in AT within budget.

[blueST]

Jimjimhim said:

blueST said:

ZX10R NIN said:

Most Megane's have now been owned by enthusiasts so like all cars you need to buy on condition & receipts.
You'll want a Cup/Cup Chassis car which does narrow the market down quite a bit:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410165...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412046...

The other option for me would be the GTC VXR it's a smidge behind the Cup Meganes when really pressing on BUT they're a better daily & because they have the Vauxhall badge on they're a great buy:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410064...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501037...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412067...

I think I'll pass on the Astra, just not my thing. I've looked at those Meganes on AT already along with all the others. Starting to get a feel for what's what so I can work out what looks cared for and standard.

I'm curious to know why the astras not your thing but a Megane might be?

The Megane was lauded at the time as one of the great handling fwd cars of all time, a cut above pretty much everything else.

To me Vauxhall have always been good engines, but dynamically a step or 2 behind. I've driven a lot of (non-performance) Astras and not enjoyed them. Contrast that with the equivalent Ford's that just feel right.

[Jimjimhim]

blueST said:

Jimjimhim said:

blueST said:

ZX10R NIN said:

Most Megane's have now been owned by enthusiasts so like all cars you need to buy on condition & receipts.
You'll want a Cup/Cup Chassis car which does narrow the market down quite a bit:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410165...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412046...

The other option for me would be the GTC VXR it's a smidge behind the Cup Meganes when really pressing on BUT they're a better daily & because they have the Vauxhall badge on they're a great buy:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410064...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501037...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412067...

I think I'll pass on the Astra, just not my thing. I've looked at those Meganes on AT already along with all the others. Starting to get a feel for what's what so I can work out what looks cared for and standard.

I'm curious to know why the astras not your thing but a Megane might be?

The Megane was lauded at the time as one of the great handling fwd cars of all time, a cut above pretty much everything else.

To me Vauxhall have always been good engines, but dynamically a step or 2 behind. I've driven a lot of (non-performance) Astras and not enjoyed them. Contrast that with the equivalent Ford's that just feel right.

Check out YouTube for videos of 1 Vs the other, I think it was 5th gear or similar who tested the 2 and they were extremely close.

[roadie]

I had a Megane 265 Cup, which was an incredible car and nothing I have had since has handled like it. It was easily fast enough and felt special with the Recaro seats. With a res delete on the exhaust it sounded decent too. I would wholeheartedly recommend one and advise on buying based on condition and history.

[Misanthroper]

How about a Civic Type-R, depending on whether age or miles is more important to you, you could look at a coupe gen’s.

Or get an Integra Type-R, might hold its value better.

[GeniusOfLove]

Consider life beyond warmed up shopping cars? The default choice, and for good reason, is a BMW 335i / 340i and even available as a tourer if you must have a tailgate. Six pot diesels are also brilliant if it suits your usage patterns.