What's The Closest Car To A 4WD Clio 172 Circa £2k

[V8RX7]

I fancy a fun, chuckable, 4WD hatchback - except I can't seem to find anything.

The closest seem to be the Ignis or SX4 4Grip which I suspect are too slow for me to enjoy
(the Panda / Terious are even slower).

I think a Golf 4motion / A3 quattro isn't a fun car and an impreza is too fast / big for what I want

I suspect the Rav4 3dr isn't that chuckable

Am I wrong on any of the above / what have I forgotten about ?

An older car would be fine but it seems they are way above budget - 323 4x4 etc

[V8RX7]

I've discovered a Sirion Rally 4 - however there were only 120 sold in the UK

[kieranblenk]

Audi TT Quattro? I know it's a coupe but it's got a hatchback boot.

[markrtw]

Lots more money, but audi S1 and did they make a polo with the same drive train?
Otherwise, original subaru impreza? Mk1 audi A3 quattro / S3.
Any querky jap imports of that spec?

[TheAlastair34]

Why do you want a 4wd?

There are very little to choose from as they are not really needed or wanted, you need a fair amount of power to make it remotely interesting where as a fwd car can be very fun with half the power

[pb8g09]

S1... chuckle. Don't think it will drop to that even at the bottom of it's depreciation curve!

[Jonny_gti]

Is there a specific reason it needs to be 4wd? if not just use your 2k on a decent clio 1*2

[V8RX7]

I considered the TT - it's a bit of a bargain really (as are the X type) but IMO they are too refined I was looking for a fun hatchback so lighter and smaller.

I want a 4WD as I HATE traction control and I HATE FWD scrabble if there was a RWD Clio (not the mid engined one) I'd have that.

I have considered a 318 compact and may still get one - the 325 has a less fun axle and arguably too much torque for B road fun

I was hoping someone would suggest some weird Jap import I've never heard of or an older car I've forgotten about

I have a proper 4WD for the snow and I have saloons etc

I just fancied something different for blatting around the greasy lanes.

[InitialDave]

Try a 90s kei car of some kind. Yes, they only have 64bhp, but they're such a laugh, and are tiny/light enough that they still shift ok. Some can have the wick turned up to a surprising degree, too.

The best budget option is probably a TT or A3 in 1.8T Quattro flavour, though.

Or eliminate FWD scrabble by going RWD with a 325ti Compact or something.

[GreatGranny]

V8RX7 said:

......... - the 325 has a less fun axle and arguably too much torque for B road fun

Not sure I understand this argument.

A 325ti would be ideal IMO.

They are quite rare in decent condition.

Only this one on Atrader

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

or you go for a Coupe

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

[300bhp/ton]

Nissan Pulsar.

[V8RX7]

GreatGranny said:

Not sure I understand this argument.

A 325ti would be ideal IMO.

They are quite rare in decent condition.

Only this one on Atrader

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

or you go for a Coupe

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

I find it fun thrashing a car to get the most out of it, a car with plenty or torque, reduces the need to thrash it, it is also going quite fast by the top end of 3rd let alone 4th.

The E46 is dull, dull, dull and is the opposite of what I'd want - it's the reason the AE86 costs a fortune and the BMW does not.

[InitialDave]

Well, that and the Initial D and drift tax on AE86s. The AE86 is probably closer to an E30 anyway.

[Google [bot]]

Left field, Subaru Brat with a turbo conversion ticks a lot of your boxes and bound to be a few around at good prices?

6MPS?

Ignoring hatch requirement but the Ute could fit your bill.

Edited by Google [bot] on Wednesday 12th December 11:31

[InitialDave]

I don't think I've seen a Subaru Brat for years that didn't have larger structural holes in it than the Titanic, never mind a cheap one!

[bangerhoarder]

Matches the TT really, but an 8L S3? These have bottomed out a bit, like the TT. All the same issues as the TT, but can be fun with a remap and a Haldex tweak. Lots of maintenance required. Won't feel refined if you buy one at this end of the market Fair bit faster than the mentioned A3 Quattro and Golf due to bigger turbo etc etc.

An Ignis 4Grip won't scratch this itch.

Edited by bangerhoarder on Wednesday 12th December 14:06

[Lazermilk]

Mazda 323 GTX Turbo 4x4

Look great fun in the snow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cERWBHSYk6g



ETA - Really should have read your last sentence properly...

[V8RX7]

Whilst I'd like a brat, my dad had one 20yrs ago and it was rotten back then !

I think a 323 turbo would be ideal but it seems decent ones fetch £5k

It seems there's no modern equivalents so l looked at 2wd, I wondered about older civics it seems I've missed the boat on them too all above £3k for very average cars.

So to reduce the FWD scrabble it seems the easy answer is less power ! The obvious choice being the Ignis Sport circa £1500 - off to search.

Edited by V8RX7 on Wednesday 12th December 14:51

[Herbs]

If it doesn't have to be a hatchback and ignoring the 4WD (yes, yes i know....) reading between the lines have a look at a CRX Del Sol DOHC.

One of the best small cars i've ever had for chucking around, costs pennies and loves being revved especially when then VTEC kicks it, I actually preferred it to the S2000 that followed it sometime later. You also get the benefit of being a hard top convertible and if you go for the electric roof and in green, it looks like Thunderbirds 2

[300bhp/ton]

V8RX7 said:

Whilst I'd like a brat, my dad had one 20yrs ago and it was rotten back then !

I think a 323 turbo would be ideal but it seems decent ones fetch £5k

It seems there's no modern equivalents so l looked at 2wd, I wondered about older civics it seems I've missed the boat on them too all above £3k for very average cars.

So to reduce the FWD scrabble it seems the easy answer is less power ! The obvious choice being the Ignis Sport circa £1500 - off to search.

Edited by V8RX7 on Wednesday 12th December 14:51

Subaru Justy. Haven't seen any in a while, but must still be some 4wd ones about.

Panda 4x4 might be another candidate. Also the 3 door Gen1 Rav4 is probably more fun than it should be, ok it'll roll more in the corners, but it's still pretty small and isn't really a 4x4.