Hot Hatch for £2000 - £3000

[Gutless vvti]

Hi all,

I am fed up with my 1.4 Corolla, and want more power.

Can anyone think of a reasonably fast car in this price bracket that will also return 35-40 mpg?

I was considering a Civic Type R (EP3), but with it struggling to achieve 30 mpg and the fact that I have a 300 mile weekly commute, I will require something more frugal..

[limjamrace]

A Ford Fiesta 1.4 Tdi Ghia did it for us!

[anonymous-user]

Not hot hatch, but a 406 hdi 2.2 coupe get to 180bhp and 300Ibs torque with little cost/mods and achieves 35 - 40 mpg with heavy foot action. They are comfy and would make the commute easy going.

The only hot hatch i can think of is maybe a ZR 160

[Gutless vvti]

The Spruce goose said:

Not hot hatch, but a 406 hdi 2.2 coupe get to 180bhp and 300Ibs torque with little cost/mods and achieves 35 - 40 mpg with heavy foot action. They are comfy and would make the commute easy going.

The only hot hatch i can think of is maybe a ZR 160

The 406 Coupe is a really good suggestion, also considering a 320d, but they're common as muck. I might just bite the bullet and get a Type R

[PaperCut]

I'm sure the Seat Leon Cupra 1.8T 180 will do 30+mpg

Will a Clio Sport 172 do that mileage too?

[172ff]

PaperCut said:

I'm sure the Seat Leon Cupra 1.8T 180 will do 30+mpg

Will a Clio Sport 172 do that mileage too?

I do 320 miles a week in mine. Circa 32 mpg.

[egomeister]

limjamrace said:

A Ford Fiesta 1.4 Tdi Ghia did it for us!

How is that a hot hatch?? Did it catch fire or something?

[carmonk]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3533663.htm

38mpg on motorways, 34 avg.

[Fordo]

carmonk said:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3533663.htm

38mpg on motorways, 34 avg.

That seems insanely good value for money.

Hot hatches arent my cup of tea, but that ticks so many boxes - decent price, decent mileage, fun, practical, good mpg, look fairly smart, cruise control, climate control etc

hmm, I think i need to start trying to like tea!

[Heathwood]

PaperCut said:

I'm sure the Seat Leon Cupra 1.8T 180 will do 30+mpg

This is where my money would be going. May just about get into a facelift (circa 2003) FR.

Alternatively, if you like your Corolla, other than the lack of power, how about the 1.8 T Sport version (although I'm guessing that mpg may not be a strong point).

[350Wedge]

Also look at the 206 GTi 180. I just got a nice one in black with full sp pack for a little over £2k! Really nice ones with low mileage can be had for £3k.

Fairly quick, nice comfy seats and also very economical, I get 40+ to a gallon crusing at around the legal national limit!

It has a few known weakpoints that are common to most 206's but they are all easy fixes and parts are not that pricy. You also get plenty of toys and kit for your money.

Here is mine:

[pimpchez]

i have a corolla tsport and iv never seen 30mpg stuck at 28mpg no matta what.
300milea to a tank of super at a stretch.

so i think you need something with a turbo OP

[nottyash]

pimpchez said:

i have a corolla tsport and iv never seen 30mpg stuck at 28mpg no matta what.
300milea to a tank of super at a stretch.

so i think you need something with a turbo OP

My Wife averages 34mpg in her 2005 T sport. I had it at 28mpg when I use it but thats driving like I stole it.
If you drive it at 6000-8000 revs all the time its noisy and sups fuel.
I would try a Fabia VRS, it will tick all the boxes but you may need to spend a little more for a nice one

[MG CHRIS]

MG ZR you can get the last ones for that budget with the 1.8 160 bhp vvt very quick car. Should see between 30-40 mpg.

[kazste]

Check out the ibiza cupra diesel, lots of straight line pace, especially with a remap, and plenty of mpg also.
Got to be creeping into the price point now.

[limjamrace]

egomeister said:

How is that a hot hatch?? Did it catch fire or something?

Have you owned or driven one?

I thought we were talking about 1.4 ish engine capacity and 45 mpg.
Hot hatch it is...Pulls like a train!

[andy-xr]

I was wondering how a 320D was a hot hatch as well!

I think the default here will be a 2.0 Clio. I'd think about a Fiesta ST but they are a bit down on power and fun for what they should be

[LiamM45]

kazste said:

Check out the ibiza cupra diesel, lots of straight line pace, especially with a remap, and plenty of mpg also.
Got to be creeping into the price point now.

erm nope still about double his budget

try whats on my profile mate, i average low 30's and have 240bhp under my right foot, great fun 0-100mph sub 14 seconds too, not too shabby!

[FloppyRaccoon]

limjamrace said:

egomeister said:

How is that a hot hatch?? Did it catch fire or something?

Have you owned or driven one?

I thought we were talking about 1.4 ish engine capacity and 45 mpg.
Hot hatch it is...Pulls like a train!

How can a car that gets to 60 in 15 seconds and barely makes it to 100 "pull like a train"? Sure it's a nice enough car, but it's not a hot hatch.

[Robb F]

limjamrace said:

egomeister said:

How is that a hot hatch?? Did it catch fire or something?

Have you owned or driven one?

I thought we were talking about 1.4 ish engine capacity and 45 mpg.
Hot hatch it is...Pulls like a train!

68bhp