Hatchback Search - What to Test Drive? - Page 1 - Car Buying

hrc77

Original Poster

5 posts

2 months

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[news]

Saturday 7th March

Will soon trade in my 2012 2.0 TDI VW Golf to get something newer. Requirements/wish list:

- 2020-2023 ish

- Hatchback

- Manual

- Min ~120-130bhp (I’ve been used to 140, and wouldn’t like to drop much)

- Reliable (or at least not known for being unreliable)

- Comfortable to drive (and be a front passenger in), but not too dull

- Ideally under £20k

- Reasonable running costs - and average tax and insurance brackets

- Will be using it for roughly 10k miles a year. A real mix of town driving, motorway/dual carriageway, and small country lanes during an average week.

- Bonus points for heated seats; have had them in my Golf and will be sad to lose them.

I need to go and test drive a few - but what makes and models would be worth checking out that may fit the bill?

I’ve loved my Golf, though am now having fairly consistent niggly issues with water ingress and engine warning lights. It was great for a long time though.

Aesthetically, I like the slightly sportier packs on Golfs, Audi A1/A3, A class Mercedes, BMW 1 Series etc. But happy to be pointed towards anything really.

ZX10R NIN

30,178 posts

150 months

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Saturday 7th March

hrc77

Original Poster

5 posts

2 months

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Saturday 7th March

No, I don’t think it is. It’s my preference, but only because I’ve only ever had manuals - and my one experience driving an automatic was an ancient Peugeot 306 around 20 years ago, which I didn’t like at all. I realise automatic gearboxes have probably advanced since… smile

Thanks for your links - will have a browse!

ZX10R NIN

30,178 posts

150 months

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Saturday 7th March

Autos have moved on smile

hrc77

Original Poster

5 posts

2 months

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Saturday 7th March

Thanks so much - some makes and models here I wouldn’t have really looked at, so is super useful to have a proper browse. Cheers.

jam_up

176 posts

99 months

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Saturday 7th March

Corolla could be an option. Top spec Excel trim, facelift interior (‘23 onwards) can be had for £20k now. The 2.0l engine is quite brisk! Another 7-8 yr warranty if you have it serviced at Toyota too.

Rob 131 Sport

4,499 posts

77 months

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Sunday 8th March

I recently bought my wife a 3 year old 118i M Sport Auto. The manuals are quite a bit cheaper so they could be a good buy.

I’ve also previously driven my sons 21 Audi A3 2.0 TDI S Line that was also a good steer.

I would definitely go for a 1 Series or an A3 at this price point.

hrc77

Original Poster

5 posts

2 months

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Sunday 8th March

jam_up said:

Corolla could be an option. Top spec Excel trim, facelift interior ( 23 onwards) can be had for £20k now. The 2.0l engine is quite brisk! Another 7-8 yr warranty if you have it serviced at Toyota too.

Cheers - will have a look!

hrc77

Original Poster

5 posts

2 months

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[news]

Sunday 8th March

Rob 131 Sport said:

I recently bought my wife a 3 year old 118i M Sport Auto. The manuals are quite a bit cheaper so they could be a good buy.

I ve also previously driven my sons 21 Audi A3 2.0 TDI S Line that was also a good steer.

I would definitely go for a 1 Series or an A3 at this price point.

These have been my top two in initial searches. Thought of sticking with a Golf, but just fancy a change I think.

With your family experience of the A3 and 1 Series, do you know if the maintenance and repair costs on the BMW are/would be significantly higher on the BMW? I’ve heard they’re more expensive to fix, but not sure how significant that increase would be compared to the likes of the VW/Audi.

Belle427

11,516 posts

258 months

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Sunday 8th March

I like the look of the M135 but there are some nice cars available at tbis price point.
The I30N looks nice too, saw a fastback in grey yesterday and it looked great.

Pickle_Rick

748 posts

85 months

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Sunday 8th March

If you have off road parking, then a tesla model 3 LR or performance. No, its not manual, but it's leagues ahead of a golf to drive, both in performance and handling, and will be far more reliable than anything VAG.

Great to drive, cheaper than an Aygo to run, really comfy, best media system and app of any brand, and will make you laugh. Not many cars do that, certainly not ones that can seat 5, hit 60 in 3s and cheaper than a bus.

Or other end of the spectrum is a 1 series.

andy43

12,660 posts

279 months

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Sunday 8th March

I30N or a 128ti I reckon. Both good fun and afaik reliable. The 128ti is quite a rare car too, which I like.
Corolla would be even more reliablerer but they might all have the cvt gearbox.

Rob 131 Sport

4,499 posts

77 months

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Sunday 8th March

hrc77 said:

Rob 131 Sport said:

I recently bought my wife a 3 year old 118i M Sport Auto. The manuals are quite a bit cheaper so they could be a good buy.

I ve also previously driven my sons 21 Audi A3 2.0 TDI S Line that was also a good steer.

I would definitely go for a 1 Series or an A3 at this price point.

These have been my top two in initial searches. Thought of sticking with a Golf, but just fancy a change I think.

With your family experience of the A3 and 1 Series, do you know if the maintenance and repair costs on the BMW are/would be significantly higher on the BMW? I ve heard they re more expensive to fix, but not sure how significant that increase would be compared to the likes of the VW/Audi.

We’ve only had the 1 Series for 5 months with no problems and as I recall my son’s Audi A3 was problem free. With regards to the 1 Series my wife has a 118i M Sport Auto which performance wise as you’d expect is adequate rather than sparkling. I’d personally be looking for a 128i.

mcpoot

1,371 posts

132 months

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Sunday 8th March

Pickle_Rick said:

If you have off road parking, then a tesla model 3 LR or performance. No, its not manual, but it's leagues ahead of a golf to drive, both in performance and handling, and will be far more reliable than anything VAG.

Great to drive, cheaper than an Aygo to run, really comfy, best media system and app of any brand, and will make you laugh. Not many cars do that, certainly not ones that can seat 5, hit 60 in 3s and cheaper than a bus.

Or other end of the spectrum is a 1 series.

Going to notice one hell of a difference in quality coming from a Golf unless you buy one built in Shanghai.

Pickle_Rick

748 posts

85 months

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Sunday 8th March

2021 onwards are Chinese built and much better quality, all well in Ops budget

CaptainPedantic

51 posts

213 months

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Tuesday 31st March

Get a 2023 Fiesta ST. Massive amount of fun for the money. Very fast. The last batch were ST-3 so come all the toys (heated seats etc) and performance pack (LSD, launch control, which is a giggle).

andburg

8,621 posts

194 months

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Tuesday 31st March

ZX10R NIN said:

Is manual a deal breaker because at this price point it's more of a limitation as most options will be auto due to a lot being MHEV's.

Mazda3 MHEV GT Sport Tech

a Mazda 3 was going to be my suggestion, look great, premium feeling interior and one of the last bastions of revvy naturally aspirated engines. Okay the normal ones are only 120bhp? but the skyactiv-x are about 180 so old school warm hatch territory

blue_haddock

4,915 posts

92 months

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Tuesday 31st March

As your willing to go auto i'd be going for a toyota corolla hybrid

AddyT.

460 posts

118 months

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Tuesday 31st March

Pickle_Rick said:

If you have off road parking, then a tesla model 3 LR or performance. No, its not manual, but it's leagues ahead of a golf to drive, both in performance and handling, and will be far more reliable than anything VAG.

Great to drive, cheaper than an Aygo to run, really comfy, best media system and app of any brand, and will make you laugh. Not many cars do that, certainly not ones that can seat 5, hit 60 in 3s and cheaper than a bus.

Or other end of the spectrum is a 1 series.

Really? I've had several Golfs, totalling over 250k in mileage and have had just an alternator belt need changing across all of them. That's petrol and diesels.

AddyT.

460 posts

118 months

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Tuesday 31st March

For my money and as the Golf served you well, how about a Mk7.5 GTI? Does what you need and actually pretty good on fuel consumption. Have had several Golfs and not blinkered as have had plenty of other manufacturers, but as an all round do-it-all car they are pretty hard to beat. And you would have fun too in one. If so, would recommend a main dealer one if possible, purely for the 2 year warranty it will come with. Worth a look at even to discount it if you didn't like it? smile