Nearly new hot hatch - £15K..

[thenortherner]

Due to a change in job and no longer doing 110 miles round trip to work each day, I no longer need to drive a diesel!! I've had loads of hot hatches over the years, with the latest being a Fiesta ST Mountune. I'm not really interested in another - the dash layout and design is awful and the engine doesn't sound all that great at higher revs. But worst of all the seats gave me serious back ache. Shame because it ticks all the below boxes.

I'm looking to change to another hot hatch. Criteria is:

Max £15K
Ideally no more than 18 months old
40 MPG fairly easily when needed
Decent reliability
Won't fall apart in after 3 years
Will cope with the odd track day

I can get delivery miles 208 GTI Prestige with pretty much every bit of equipment you'd need for bang on budget. The only thing that puts me off is the resale values are pretty poor.

I could play it safe and get a 2016/1 Cooper S but it'd have covered more miles than I'd like.

Leftfield choice is a 595 Competition 180 bhp but again it'd be an older car

What do you reckon?

[Deep Thought]

2017 Cooper S seems in budget?

This one has just 5,000 miles...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[g7jhp]

I'm doing a 104 mile round trip and considering a Golf R or GTI.

Per year it may be more than a GTD, but offset v running costs and diesel depreciation will it differ?

[thenortherner]

Not much in the way of spec though unfortunately... I'd ideally like nav. This is a bit better but still not sure of the premium over the Peugeot..

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[thenortherner]

g7jhp said:

I'm doing a 104 mile round trip and considering a Golf R or GTI.

Per year it may be more than a GTD, but offset v running costs and diesel depreciation will it differ?

I'd say so, yes. Fuel bill will fairly easily be double that of the GTD compared to an R. So maybe an extra £200 a month. Really adds up over 3 years. GTD resales are rock steady too, so not sure the depreciation factors comes into it.

Fair play though! Just couldn't face emptying my wallet to the tune of £500 a month for petrol.

[MrGTI6]

Three years old but only 7,500 miles for £15k. Loads of spec and 270bhp.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[g7jhp]

thenortherner said:

I'd say so, yes. Fuel bill will fairly easily be double that of the GTD compared to an R. So maybe an extra £200 a month. Really adds up over 3 years. GTD resales are rock steady too, so not sure the depreciation factors comes into it.

Fair play though! Just couldn't face emptying my wallet to the tune of £500 a month for petrol.

Might offset by buying an earlier mk7!

Cheating, maybe but fun is important!

[thenortherner]

g7jhp said:

Might offset by buying an earlier mk7!

Cheating, maybe but fun is important!

Go for it. I agree. The diesel Mini Cooper D chucks out 60 MPG without any real effort but can't say it's too much fun. Relieved to be in the position where the commute's cut down to a round trip of 38 miles and can now entertain buying something more fun.

[thenortherner]

MrGTI6 said:

Three years old but only 7,500 miles for £15k. Loads of spec and 270bhp.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Looks really good but I'm really wanting something that's got at least half of the manufacture's warranty left. Shame as I do quite like those.

[Nick-ST]

Shame you are ruling at the Fiesta ST as it really does tick every single box but I do know where you are coming from with regards to the back ache. It was one of the contributing factors to me getting rid of mine as well.

Would a BMW M135i be within budget?

Or some kind of Megane RS 265/275? I currently have a Megane RS250 with cup chassis and it is light years ahead of the Fiesta ST in pretty much every single way bar fuel economy. 40MPG would be a tall ask! 35mpg on a run is comfortably achievable but I didn't buy it for the economy.

[steve-5snwi]

How about a 125i, plenty of poke comfortable and available as manual or auto.

[thenortherner]

Nick-ST said:

Shame you are ruling at the Fiesta ST as it really does tick every single box but I do know where you are coming from with regards to the back ache. It was one of the contributing factors to me getting rid of mine as well.

Would a BMW M135i be within budget?

Or some kind of Megane RS 265/275? I currently have a Megane RS250 with cup chassis and it is light years ahead of the Fiesta ST in pretty much every single way bar fuel economy. 40MPG would be a tall ask! 35mpg on a run is comfortably achievable but I didn't buy it for the economy.

The Fiesta was spot on other than the seats. Annoying as it's the sort of thing you don't pick up on a 30 minute test drive.

The Megane is a great car but just doesn't quite hit the balance between economy and age of car I'm looking for. Shame as the Clio 200 I had was absolutely brilliant - much better drivers car than the Fiesta - and can only imagine the Megane takes it to another level.

[Deep Thought]

thenortherner said:

Not much in the way of spec though unfortunately... I'd ideally like nav. This is a bit better but still not sure of the premium over the Peugeot..

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Yes, i just skimmed down through for the newest ones without going in to the detail.

Not sure if you're interested in tuning but the 2.0i Turbo in the MCS can go to 246BHP with a Racechips Tuning box or 292 BHP with an Evolve remap.

Makes a big difference to the car as you'd expect.

[ZX10R NIN]

thenortherner said:

Due to a change in job and no longer doing 110 miles round trip to work each day, I no longer need to drive a diesel!! I've had loads of hot hatches over the years, with the latest being a Fiesta ST Mountune. I'm not really interested in another - the dash layout and design is awful and the engine doesn't sound all that great at higher revs. But worst of all the seats gave me serious back ache. Shame because it ticks all the below boxes.

I'm looking to change to another hot hatch. Criteria is:

Max £15K
Ideally no more than 18 months old
40 MPG fairly easily when needed
Decent reliability
Won't fall apart in after 3 years
Will cope with the odd track day

I can get delivery miles 208 GTI Prestige with pretty much every bit of equipment you'd need for bang on budget. The only thing that puts me off is the resale values are pretty poor.

I could play it safe and get a 2016/1 Cooper S but it'd have covered more miles than I'd like.

Leftfield choice is a 595 Competition 180 bhp but again it'd be an older car

What do you reckon?

With regards to the resale on the 208 I think you're looking at the depreciation the wrong way, you're buying a delivery mileage fully loaded car for 15k. Now price up a delivery mileage version of the other cars with the same levels of kit that you're looking at & you normally find the depreciation is similar.

I'd say go for the 208 if not take a look at a Focus ST.

[CJ1]

Another vote for the Mini Cooper S here, love mine. Great cars!

[DoubleD]

thenortherner said:

The Fiesta was spot on other than the seats. Annoying as it's the sort of thing you don't pick up on a 30 minute test drive.

The Megane is a great car but just doesn't quite hit the balance between economy and age of car I'm looking for. Shame as the Clio 200 I had was absolutely brilliant - much better drivers car than the Fiesta - and can only imagine the Megane takes it to another level.

I would take a more fun car and suffer the 5mpg loss(the extra costs will be small). A younger car isnt necessarily more reliable.

[johnwilliams77]

CJ1 said:

Another vote for the Mini Cooper S here, love mine. Great cars!

If you like femenine things

[Deep Thought]

johnwilliams77 said:

CJ1 said:

Another vote for the Mini Cooper S here, love mine. Great cars!

If you like femenine things

Fortunately i'm confident enough in my own sexuality that driving a 250BHP Cooper S doesnt pose a masculinity risk for me.

If it would for you then its probably you best avoid it.

[Whatsmyname]

Deep Thought said:

Fortunately i'm confident enough in my own sexuality that driving a 250BHP Cooper S doesnt pose a masculinity risk for me.

If it would for you then its probably you best avoid it.

Why stress its got "250BHP" then?

[johnwilliams77]

Deep Thought said:

Fortunately i'm confident enough in my own sexuality that driving a 250BHP Cooper S doesnt pose a masculinity risk for me.

If it would for you then its probably you best avoid it.

Wow, 250bhp, you are all that is man.