£17kish on a Hot-Hatch (Focus ST-3 vs Golf GTi)

[BenSpringallCars]

Hi Guys,

I've had my first car (2006 Corsa) for coming up on two years now and have worked hard to build up a deposit for a new car.

I'm after a quick hatchback and after checking insurance prices etc (I'm only 19) I think I've narrowed it down to the '15 Focus ST-3 or '15 Golf GTi (/Performance). I'm after something pretty new, fast and with a nice quality interior inside. I've looked at a quick Megane but just couldn't live with the outdated interior. I'd consider a FK2 TypeR but they're a little bit more money and I think it might do my head in to use everyday (My dad drives an FN2 and that's bad enough lol)

What do you guys reckon I should go for for roughly 17k? Will be financed but kept at the end of the PCP so residuals do play a part, I think this will be a point in the Golf's Favour.

Cheers guys, fire away

• I should add, the 17k represents a 4/5k cash deposit and aiming for less than £250 a month on a PCP*

Edited by BenSpringallCars on Tuesday 19th June 23:12

[culpz]

For what you want, the Golf is hard to beat. I'll be honest and say that, for me, the Focus ST has lost a bit bit of appeal over the years. The engine in the GTI is a peach and it's a lovely place to spend time in. It's not as fun to drive as something like a Renault Sport Megane but it's a great, fast daily-driver.

Would you be going manual for the Golf or DSG? The manual is a good 'box but i find that engine matched with the dual-clutch is a great combo. Obviously, if you only like manuals and that is your preference, then the DSG will be no good. It's a worthy consideration though and maybe worth test-driving one.

[mackay45]

I don't know your financial situation but think carefully before you sign up to a PCP deal on a £17k car.

Personally I'd look at spending around £5k (maybe plus a small loan if you want, you could clear a £3k 1 year loan with payments of slightly over £250 a month which would take your budget to £8k) on a cash purchase and then you can enjoy the car without worrying about the monthly payments as much.

Financials aside, out of those 2 cars I'd go for the GTI - I bought a mk5 Golf GTI a couple of months ago and it's great, so can only imagine the newer ones are fantastic too.

[Zetec-S]

Putting my boring hat on and echoing the above post, think carefully before committing to any long term deal, especially when you're young.

Roughly speaking you're talking about a £4-5k deposit, then £250 a month for 3/4 years, then a final payment of perhaps £3-4k (which you'll also need to save for or borrow the money at the end). So you're 19 now, but potentially won't have paid for the car until you're in your mid-20's. A lot can happen in that time and your priorities may change.

I know it did for me - at 19 I was single, at university and living at home with my parents during the holidays. Finished uni and wanted to swap my old Metro for something nicer, so put £5k of savings and borrowed another £5k to get a newish Mk1 Focus. Great car for a 22 year old at the time, and fine when living (virtually) rent free at home, but looking back I sometimes wish I'd put it towards a deposit on a flat. Not long afterwards I met my future wife and because of my debt (plus her own) we had no chance of getting on the housing ladder so spent the next few years renting.

My advice is either (1) keep the Corsa and save for a deposit on a flat/house, then get a nice car... I know... yawn.... or (2) use your £5k deposit and get something like a Mk5 Golf GTI or Mk2 Focus ST - owning it outright will be far more satisfying, and you'll have a lot more disposable income at the end of each month to enjoy (or do something boring like save )

[DUBS73P]

I have to agree with the others here. I cant see the sense in signing up for PCP at your age. You can get slightly older models of all of the cars you have mentioned at a sumbstantially lower cost of entry and have 95% of the car for half the money.

Ive just turned 25. I have a very averagely paid job but i have had what i consider an awesome list of cars, never been in a pennys worth of debt and largely avoided any depreciation costs along the way while also making some money on some of the rarer examples. I built up my car fund slowly and worked my way through all of the cars i wanted to own. I have pretty much finished that list and have a lovely Megane 265 with every single option available and 25k+ in the bank for a deposit on a house. If i had made the decision you are considering, i would have only just moved on from that car and would have barely anything to show for the £17k+ investment.

My car list and age of purchase;
Fiesta 1.2 - 17
Clio 1.2 - 17
Clio 182 Cup - 18
Clio 200 Cup - 19
Megane R26 - 20
Clio 182 Cup - 21
Megane 250 Cup - 21
Honda S2000 - 22
Mini Cooper S R53 - 22
BMW Z4 Coupe - 22
Megane 250 Cup - 24
BMW M3 E92 - 24
Audi TTS - 24
Honda Integra DC5 - 24
Megane 265 Cup - 25

TLDR - Build up slowly and youll have more to show for it.

[KhabibSmesh]

If you want a nice interior then GTI wins easily.

[culpz]

DUBS73P said:

I have to agree with the others here. I cant see the sense in signing up for PCP at your age. You can get slightly older models of all of the cars you have mentioned at a sumbstantially lower cost of entry and have 95% of the car for half the money.

Ive just turned 25. I have a very averagely paid job but i have had what i consider an awesome list of cars, never been in a pennys worth of debt and largely avoided any depreciation costs along the way while also making some money on some of the rarer examples. I built up my car fund slowly and worked my way through all of the cars i wanted to own. I have pretty much finished that list and have a lovely Megane 265 with every single option available and 25k+ in the bank for a deposit on a house. If i had made the decision you are considering, i would have only just moved on from that car and would have barely anything to show for the £17k+ investment.

My car list and age of purchase;
Fiesta 1.2 - 17
Clio 1.2 - 17
Clio 182 Cup - 18
Clio 200 Cup - 19
Megane R26 - 20
Clio 182 Cup - 21
Megane 250 Cup - 21
Honda S2000 - 22
Mini Cooper S R53 - 22
BMW Z4 Coupe - 22
Megane 250 Cup - 24
BMW M3 E92 - 24
Audi TTS - 24
Honda Integra DC5 - 24
Megane 265 Cup - 25

TLDR - Build up slowly and youll have more to show for it.

Well that's not half made me feel st and a bit depressed about my life choices in regards to cars

[BenSpringallCars]

Cheers for advice guys, If I'm hinest I'll feel better not having monthly payments to meet.

On that note, what would you recommend for about 8k? I'd say FN2 but no point in having two of the same car in the house

[madmatteo]

BenSpringallCars said:

Cheers for advice guys, If I'm hinest I'll feel better not having monthly payments to meet.

On that note, what would you recommend for about 8k? I'd say FN2 but no point in having two of the same car in the house

I know that you were not overly taken by the Megane's interior but, honestly, if you go down the route of spending about £8k on a hot hatch I think you would be wise to at least look at Megane 250s. Personally, I don't think their interiors are any worse than the Civic Type Rs etc. Example below with full leather. I also believe the 250s are considered to be really reliable as well. Worth a drive perhaps?

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

[Zetec-S]

madmatteo said:

I know that you were not overly taken by the Megane's interior but, honestly, if you go down the route of spending about £8k on a hot hatch I think you would be wise to at least look at Megane 250s. Personally, I don't think their interiors are any worse than the Civic Type Rs etc. Example below with full leather. I also believe the 250s are considered to be really reliable as well. Worth a drive perhaps?

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

That's a great shout, definitely agree the OP should give it some thought. One of these or a Mk2 Focus ST and enjoy the extra cylinder while you still can.

And don't get too hung up on the interior, just try to look at it in relation to your current car as I imagine the interior in either of these would be a step up from a Corsa?

[madmatteo]

Zetec-S said:

madmatteo said:

I know that you were not overly taken by the Megane's interior but, honestly, if you go down the route of spending about £8k on a hot hatch I think you would be wise to at least look at Megane 250s. Personally, I don't think their interiors are any worse than the Civic Type Rs etc. Example below with full leather. I also believe the 250s are considered to be really reliable as well. Worth a drive perhaps?

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

That's a great shout, definitely agree the OP should give it some thought. One of these or a Mk2 Focus ST and enjoy the extra cylinder while you still can.

And don't get too hung up on the interior, just try to look at it in relation to your current car as I imagine the interior in either of these would be a step up from a Corsa?

The Focus is a good shout - not as sharp as the Megane but the noise it makes is lovely. Example at the £8k potential budget here - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[anonymous-user]

The Golf GTI is pretty much the best car in the sector. I had one for 2 years and it was totally great. Fast enough to have fun in, cheap (ish) to run, luxurious enough to make you feel good, and not too shouty. Great cars. Make sure you get a Performance Pack one, and I can recommend holding out for a DynAudio optioned one with the pro-nav.

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 21st June 13:08

[mikey P 500]

At 19, I assume you have no need for a back seat yet so, MX5 more fun than anything on the list and even your deposit budget would get you a great example.

[Mr Tom]

I would likely go for the golf. Have you looked at Seat Leon cupras? 280-290bhp for similar/less money. However, I came out of uni, leased a car for 2 years (£6.5k). Part of me wishes I bought something for about £6k and then owned it after 2 years. Something like a BMW 130i perhaps? Have a real think about the commitment as it is a lot of money. Personally getting a mortgage is more of a drive now. Renting becomes tiresome.