Hot/warm hatch between 1k - 3k. Only doing 3,000 miles a yea
Discussion
Currently own a Skoda Citigo.
My work commute has changed from 70 miles down to 8 miles so i am now in a position to buy a bargain warm/hot hatch.
Some history that may help you when giving me some ideas.
Im Early 30s now and over the years ive owned...
205 gti (2 of them), Clio 172 cup,E46 330d and 330i.
Max budget is 3k and ill only be covering 3k miles a year. Ideally would like reliable as poss to. I want a clio 172/182 but concerned about reliability. Other options, Suzuki swift sport, peugeot 306 gti 6, Saxo Vtr/vts. Any of these are more fun than a Citigo but which one do you think offers best all round package for me?
Cheers
My work commute has changed from 70 miles down to 8 miles so i am now in a position to buy a bargain warm/hot hatch.
Some history that may help you when giving me some ideas.
Im Early 30s now and over the years ive owned...
205 gti (2 of them), Clio 172 cup,E46 330d and 330i.
Max budget is 3k and ill only be covering 3k miles a year. Ideally would like reliable as poss to. I want a clio 172/182 but concerned about reliability. Other options, Suzuki swift sport, peugeot 306 gti 6, Saxo Vtr/vts. Any of these are more fun than a Citigo but which one do you think offers best all round package for me?
Cheers
The mk6 fiesta st is often overlooked but at this price bracket you can afford a half decent one.
I've owned 1 and my mate has had 2, if you can get a facelift model (07+) they are more economical. They have tonnes of grip, handle pretty well with a decent set of tyres.
Not much goes wrong, although the clutches are prone to going so I'd look for one that's had a clutch. Any mountune goodies are always welcomed as they really do liven it up a bit.
There not the most 'fun' (I much preferred the technically worse mk5 zs). But as an all round package they are hard to beat when priced sensibly. Mate recently bought an 07 plate with low miles, clutch changed etc for 2500
I've owned 1 and my mate has had 2, if you can get a facelift model (07+) they are more economical. They have tonnes of grip, handle pretty well with a decent set of tyres.
Not much goes wrong, although the clutches are prone to going so I'd look for one that's had a clutch. Any mountune goodies are always welcomed as they really do liven it up a bit.
There not the most 'fun' (I much preferred the technically worse mk5 zs). But as an all round package they are hard to beat when priced sensibly. Mate recently bought an 07 plate with low miles, clutch changed etc for 2500
Clio 1*2.
The only really pricey thing on them is the cambelt but that's a 5 yearly thing. They don't rust too badly either compared to their brethren and are a real hoot to drive. I'd say they are the closest thing to a 205 GTi which like yourself I've also owned!
Celica T-Sport is also worth a consideration.
I had far more fun in my Clio 172 than I ever did in my E36 323i Coupe. With the expection of driving long distances I preferred the Clio everywhere else!
The only really pricey thing on them is the cambelt but that's a 5 yearly thing. They don't rust too badly either compared to their brethren and are a real hoot to drive. I'd say they are the closest thing to a 205 GTi which like yourself I've also owned!
Celica T-Sport is also worth a consideration.
I had far more fun in my Clio 172 than I ever did in my E36 323i Coupe. With the expection of driving long distances I preferred the Clio everywhere else!
Edited by SebringMan on Saturday 24th February 22:58
LordHaveMurci said:
Clio's are really not as fragile as people make out, not in my 8yrs experience anyway & that has included a fair few hillclimbs so it's not had an easy life!
Pretty much my experience. When I had mine the following went wrong since I owned it from 2015 to 2016.Dephaser went on the cambelt at 70k. It was due then. I wonder if a lack of use/doing oilchanges according to mileage caused that (I'll say more later)
Reversing light sensor : It was gone when I bought it
Cracked ABS ring on the OSF driveshaft ; that took some hunting
Discs and pads ; a previous idiot didn't clean under the sliders ; when the pads jammed into due to rust/dirt beneath the silder plates it ruined a new set of discs
NSF drop link ; a previous garage fitted a pattern part which barely lasted 2 years ; OSF was still original
Washer pump
That was about it. I kind of wish I hadn't sold it. It was a solid and dependable car for the time I owned it.
My friend had the following go/changed on his over 50k/6 years of ownership:
2 cambelts on the dot; At 100k he changed the dephaser as an insurance policy but it is was still quiet at 100k
Springs all round and dampers; It's on Cup dampers and Eibach springs now
Wheel refurb; he curbs them
A pair of wishbones ; One pair were pattern, the other items are now genuine and lasting well
Washer pump
Discs and pads all round : He's been to the Nurburgring twice in it and done a few trackdays in it.
3 x backboxes. 2 were pattern last barely made the warranty period. The genuine item lasted quite some time.
Many pairs of tyres!
Regas
ZX10R NIN said:
I was going to suggest them apart from a few reasons:-They drink fuel, badly! 30MPG tops isn't unheard of! The 6th in them is shorter than a stock 172! One guy I know has gone from a Clio 172 to a 197 and has noticed the drop in MPG
-Some bits are pricey and pricier to sort ; pins get stuck in the Brembos for example, but that can happen to any Brembo specced car
-Cambelts are £650+ if you include the dephaser. But you can leave them for another year ; they are due every 6 years or 72k, whichever comes first.
A leftfield option one that I'd class this as a warm hatch is the 3.2 A3 (it's a cut price R32) but it does have a great sounding engine & a bit of a wolf in sheep's clothing car.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Thanks all,
Another reason im considering1*2, especially a 172 cup, is because i think they could appreciate in value soon. I plan to keep this next purchase for 10 years regardless of any issues.
Tempted by a 197, but not sure they'll ever appreciate in value like a 1*2 will? Also do they cost more to repair than a 1*2 on average? I really do want something cheap to run!
Someone mentioned the ST, VERY tempting as there are sooo many to choose from, reckon i could view and purchase one within a week easy. My concern is that although a nice car id see a 1*2 and regret it.
Is an ST more reliable than a clio though? looks like a nice place to be as well. Not ruling it out.
I Also LOVE the megane 225 but repairs scare me off, any experience here?
325ti, nice im sure but not keen on the front end and the 330i i had left me broke, spent almost 2 grand in 20 months and it was an 04, fsh and 80k on the clock! Looked lovely but also had bad experience with an e36 in the past. I love old bmws dont get me wrong but they haven't been kind to me at all.
Keep the posts coming, right now a 1*2 is top of my list still but 90% of them have been modded so gotta be patient for standard example. 197 a close 2nd if someone can convince me running costs will be reasonable
if mint ST does show up for 2.5kish then i may just go for it, don't think they'll lose much value now.
Cheers
Another reason im considering1*2, especially a 172 cup, is because i think they could appreciate in value soon. I plan to keep this next purchase for 10 years regardless of any issues.
Tempted by a 197, but not sure they'll ever appreciate in value like a 1*2 will? Also do they cost more to repair than a 1*2 on average? I really do want something cheap to run!
Someone mentioned the ST, VERY tempting as there are sooo many to choose from, reckon i could view and purchase one within a week easy. My concern is that although a nice car id see a 1*2 and regret it.
Is an ST more reliable than a clio though? looks like a nice place to be as well. Not ruling it out.
I Also LOVE the megane 225 but repairs scare me off, any experience here?
325ti, nice im sure but not keen on the front end and the 330i i had left me broke, spent almost 2 grand in 20 months and it was an 04, fsh and 80k on the clock! Looked lovely but also had bad experience with an e36 in the past. I love old bmws dont get me wrong but they haven't been kind to me at all.
Keep the posts coming, right now a 1*2 is top of my list still but 90% of them have been modded so gotta be patient for standard example. 197 a close 2nd if someone can convince me running costs will be reasonable
if mint ST does show up for 2.5kish then i may just go for it, don't think they'll lose much value now.
Cheers
dieseluser07 said:
Swift sport
So much fun, i loved mine. Currently got a new fiesta st and kind of miss the swift as this car feels too competent and dull in comparison, despite it being able to go round corners faster.
How long did you own it for? Mileage? Was it reliable? So much fun, i loved mine. Currently got a new fiesta st and kind of miss the swift as this car feels too competent and dull in comparison, despite it being able to go round corners faster.
I've heard very good things with just a few people saying they feel a bit gutless.
Cheers
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