Which warm hatch £4-6k

[funt1m3]

Hi all

Selling up my good pal S4 Avant 4.2 soon and need something that is going to cost less to run and be a bit more fun in the dynamics department

So, must haves

5 door practicality (2 year old and 1 on the way. Can't be faffing)

Fun. Not fast fun as I've had that with the Audi. Now time to get back to 150bhp ish but with a great chassis and great steering feel

Reasonably cheap to run. Bored of 18mpg now
Relatively new.

Other than that open to options.

Best I have found that fits the bill is a leggy focus 1.6 zetec 2011 although quick review said hardly fun??

And before anyone say mk5 golf got. Had one and didn't get on with it. Maybe it was the dsg and maybe it was too 'good (not great) in so many ways that is was just to, er, boring

Appreciate any real world experiences that may fit the bill

[DoubleD]

Have a look through recent what cars on here, there have been loads recently asking the same thing.

[ZX10R NIN]

You've been looking in the wrong place around 170-180bhp is the norm & there are a few out there but you have hunt around, with nice specs too all will be reliable.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce

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

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

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

2.0T Renault Megane GT (haggle and you'll get close to your budget)

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

2.0T Dynamique

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

1.6T Astra SRI VX Line

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

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

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

Leon FR

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

Skoda VRS

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
2.0T Leon Cupra (get the dealer to remove those god awful graphics as part of the deal) 240bhp

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

Focus 1.6T Titanium X only the 150bhp

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

[warch]

ZX10R NIN said:

You've been looking in the wrong place around 170-180bhp is the norm & there are a few out there but you have hunt around, with nice specs too all will be reliable.

Cheers for posting them, ZX10R. I too will be in for this sort of car when my diesel Golf packs in, and a quickish, economical petrol is what I plan to get.

[funt1m3]

Thanks for posting. Anyone owned any if these and can vouch for them?

Is the Cupra basically the golf gti though?

The megane is a nice little option. Might look into that

[ZX10R NIN]

The Cupra is a more powerful version of the GTI the FR is a GTI with a slightly cheaper interior but essentially the same car underneath.

The Alfa's are proving very robust I've sourced over 30 & all are happy with the cars but in some cases less so with the main dealers, I always advise a good Indy but the cars themselves are well made.

It's the same with all the ones I listed they'll all be good reliable swift transport, the GT Megane is a good choice but they're hard to find the engine is a detuned RS lump so isn't stressed.

From the above it would be Giulietta Megane & Astra.

[Mr Tidy]

I'd be looking for a 130i!

[Obee72]

You'll be looking at 11-13 years old for a 130i for that price range and I think he's looking a bit newer. Also 80k miles +. Not sure of the OP's daily mileage but if just town driving then won't get much more than 22-25mpg.

Also not sure what the rear space is like for a couple of child seats but perhaps someone with experience can advise.

On the other hand its a great fun car with 265bhp and I love mine !!!

[ZX10R NIN]

Mr Tidy said:

I'd be looking for a 130i!

Can you buy a 130i with less than 60k on the clock for around 6k?

Also they're cramped in the back & the OP wants decent MPG which kind of rules the 130i out of the equation.

[Mr Tidy]

ZX10R NIN said:

Can you buy a 130i with less than 60k on the clock for around 6k?

Also they're cramped in the back & the OP wants decent MPG which kind of rules the 130i out of the equation.

There aren't any in that mileage/price category just now, but I have seen them do crop up now and again.

I'd happily admit a 1 Series is cramped in the back, but the OP has a 2 year-old and a 1 year-old so their legs won't be that long! Mind you it was a bit more tricky for my mother-in-law who was an 80+ year-old!

But in terms of economy what do you call "decent" mpg? My 325ti averaged 32.7 mpg over 3 years and 23K miles. (Although that had the earlier M54 engine).

My E91 325i with a 2.5 litre version of the N52 engine fitted to the 130i is showing 34.8 mpg on the OBC so far. My Z4 Coupe with the same 3.0 litre N52 as the 130i is showing 33.6 mpg.

Probably not much thirstier than a ZX10R!