Hot hatch advice please

[90ajw]

Hi all,

I'd very much welcome your advice/opinion please.

I'm about to enter into the market for a used 'hot hatch'. When I say that, I mean early contenders include a Golf GTI, Golf R, Cupra 290/300 etc.

I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing out any other cars/brands to consider and naturally people's opinion on any of them.

For context, I've always driven Diesels (company car) and now that I've started my own business and I'm working from home alot, I don't do half the miles and also want to get the enjoyment back into Driving. Previous cars I've owned include a Leon FR, Volvo V40 D4 & currently I have a Golf GT TDI (Hence the natural look at the VAG offering)

Budget wise probably around £16k and I don't really want to go older than 2016.

Any advice/opinion would be most welcome!

Thanks in advance,
Andy

[Chris_91]

As an R owner, I'd vote for the R. It will hold it's value better than a Seat.

[anonymous-user]

M135i

[Gulf7]

You could get a nice Fiesta ST-3 for that money. At that budget you could get a low mileage Mk8 (pre-facelift). If you get one with the performance pack it'll have the LSD that's standard on the later model too.

Edited by Gulf7 on Sunday 9th February 20:57

[Hippea]

Cheese on Toast with Worcestershire Sauce said:

M135i

Could probably get a M140i with the budget

[White-Noise]

You need to tease out a little bit more about what you want. I've a gti and I often consider going to a gtd for the economy, I don't think I will though. Do you want a petrol specifically I presume? If you want something a bit more fun I wouldn't be looking at the cars you are looking at as they are too similar to what you have.

[RichFN2]

I have one of the last Leon Cupras, and a friend recently sold his R.

The Cupra is about 100kg lighter as it doesn't have 4WD, on the move it's slightly quicker. The R can just launch in any weather, the Cupra is still quick off the line thanks to the VAQ diff but it's advantage is 30-80 as opposed to 0-60.

I think the Golf looks nicer, has better seats and the dynaudio is better than seat sound. The Cupra is more of a q car and comes with work kit as standard, the digital dash is also more customisable. It feels like 75% of a Cupra is identical to the R.

I did consider the i30n but it was heavier, slower, more thirsty and felt more dated than the above 2. Shame as I think they look great.

[Cakey_]

I'd also put audi S3 on that list if you're looking at VAG offerings.

Bmw 135i/140i
Mercedes A45

Type R?

[ZX10R NIN]

90ajw said:

Hi all,

I'd very much welcome your advice/opinion please.

I'm about to enter into the market for a used 'hot hatch'. When I say that, I mean early contenders include a Golf GTI, Golf R, Cupra 290/300 etc.

I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing out any other cars/brands to consider and naturally people's opinion on any of them.

For context, I've always driven Diesels (company car) and now that I've started my own business and I'm working from home alot, I don't do half the miles and also want to get the enjoyment back into Driving. Previous cars I've owned include a Leon FR, Volvo V40 D4 & currently I have a Golf GT TDI (Hence the natural look at the VAG offering)

Budget wise probably around £16k and I don't really want to go older than 2016.

Any advice/opinion would be most welcome!

Thanks in advance,
Andy

308 GTI:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411055...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501258...

275 Cup S:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501137...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501158...

i30N:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501308...

GTC VXR:

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

ST-3 Focus:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410215...

[Patrick Bateman]

The other half recently got a Mk.7 Golf GTI and I'm impressed with it as an all rounder.

Timing and choice dictated we got a car with 19's but I'd be avoiding that if possible, it is a bit jiggly. Suspect the optional (but rare) dynamic chassis control would help quite a bit.

One thing I would say is the engine is objectively very good but not very interesting- but I think that might be the case with lots of modern 4 pot turbos. Does average around 35mpg without trying which is pretty good given 245bhp.

[Belle427]

Leon Cupra is probably the best value really, PP GTI also worth considering as you could get a reputable remap on it to wake it up if you didnt fancy the Seat badge.
The R is the pick though if you can live with the image.
Megane also worth a consideration, Type R probably just out of budget and difficult to get over the looks.
Im not sold on the i30N personally after watching a few reviews.
Lots to choose from and all very capable cars, some better value than others.

[mrbigshot]

I’ve just recently bought another golf gti mk7.5 PP to replace my old one that was written off at the back end of last year. I run this as my daily and following losing the first one I consequently looked at numerous cars (both performance and non-performance cars) , after looking at lots of vehicles I realised that I hadn’t done with the gts thing as yet.
My first one ran on 19’s and was “quite firm and jiggly” on the roads up north, my most recent replacement has 18’s on it and the ride quality is so much better, I didn’t think it would make a great deal of difference but it is a lot more pleasant to drive as a daily. I just find it an almost perfect all rounder.
Did look at a number of cars in the £18-20k bracket and saw lots of Badly cared for vehicles that had been cheaply presented for sale , both privately and at dealers.
Enjoy the decision making process and the hunt for the right car, it’s the most fun part