Which warm hatch for £1500
Discussion
I wouldn't say I'm bored with the CRV. It does a fantastic job at moving the family about, dogs included. I really like it, my partner really likes it, my daughter has no opinion as shes not even 2 year and the dogs make it really dirty in the boot, so they probably like it too.
My issue is fuel economy for performance given. It's a 150hp petrol 2.0l 16v. I average between 25-30mpg if I'm driving like a saint. That's not really a bad figure for a petrol 4x4 though really, however, when I compare it to other cars, it's pretty poor.
So, I want a warm hatch. Not a hot hatch, just something comfortably swift with good MPG and good insurance. I don't want a bog spec one as I will hate it. I need a hatch to get the dogs in the back. Boot size doesn't need to be massive, just adequate. I've got a roof box for everything else.
Bellow are a list of the cars I've been looking at but I want each of them for various reasons and know I will probably regret not getting one over the other so I need you to make me see sense on the crap ones...
Nissan Almera Sport (1.8 16v) - Bit bland looking but a nice place to be and the engine is reliable and quite pokey (117hp).
Mazda 323f sport (2.0 16v) - Love the front end, rear end looks a bit bland. Interior nice and should be reliable. Rust may be an issue? (130hp).
BMW E36 318ti Compact (1.9 16v). Used to have a 316 compact and loved it but felt it needed more power, hence the 318. Boot perfectly adequate for woofers. (140hp)
Fiat Stilo 1.8 16v - Nice looker, potentially rubbish electrics. Love the car otherwise. (130hp)
Alfa 147 1.6/1.8 - It's an alfa and looks lovely. Whats not to like, bar potentially wallet destroying reliability. Plus, maybe smaller inside than they look?
Seat Leon 1.8 20v non turbo - Has to be the 5 pot for me. Cupra too much to justify on insurance. Lovely exterior but interior looking a bit dated. 130hpish but maybe a bit thirsty?
To throw into the mix though, Hyundai Coupe Gen3 (2.0 16v) - Lovely looking car outside. Nice looking interior and is a hatch, but may not be a usable coupe hatch as it's quite shallow. Roof box fitting may be an issue? (140hp).
Anything else I havent thought of? And opinions of course
My issue is fuel economy for performance given. It's a 150hp petrol 2.0l 16v. I average between 25-30mpg if I'm driving like a saint. That's not really a bad figure for a petrol 4x4 though really, however, when I compare it to other cars, it's pretty poor.
So, I want a warm hatch. Not a hot hatch, just something comfortably swift with good MPG and good insurance. I don't want a bog spec one as I will hate it. I need a hatch to get the dogs in the back. Boot size doesn't need to be massive, just adequate. I've got a roof box for everything else.
Bellow are a list of the cars I've been looking at but I want each of them for various reasons and know I will probably regret not getting one over the other so I need you to make me see sense on the crap ones...
Nissan Almera Sport (1.8 16v) - Bit bland looking but a nice place to be and the engine is reliable and quite pokey (117hp).
Mazda 323f sport (2.0 16v) - Love the front end, rear end looks a bit bland. Interior nice and should be reliable. Rust may be an issue? (130hp).
BMW E36 318ti Compact (1.9 16v). Used to have a 316 compact and loved it but felt it needed more power, hence the 318. Boot perfectly adequate for woofers. (140hp)
Fiat Stilo 1.8 16v - Nice looker, potentially rubbish electrics. Love the car otherwise. (130hp)
Alfa 147 1.6/1.8 - It's an alfa and looks lovely. Whats not to like, bar potentially wallet destroying reliability. Plus, maybe smaller inside than they look?
Seat Leon 1.8 20v non turbo - Has to be the 5 pot for me. Cupra too much to justify on insurance. Lovely exterior but interior looking a bit dated. 130hpish but maybe a bit thirsty?
To throw into the mix though, Hyundai Coupe Gen3 (2.0 16v) - Lovely looking car outside. Nice looking interior and is a hatch, but may not be a usable coupe hatch as it's quite shallow. Roof box fitting may be an issue? (140hp).
Anything else I havent thought of? And opinions of course
Deluded said:
Seat Leon 1.8 20v non turbo - Has to be the 5 pot for me. Cupra too much to justify on insurance. Lovely exterior but interior looking a bit dated. 130hpish but maybe a bit thirsty?
Erm, it's got 5 valves per cyclinder, so is still a 4 pot. The nice sounding 5 pot is a 2.3 v5 (with 4 valves per cylinder). You can't get that engine in the Leon, but you can in the Golf and Toledo.For what it's worth, the Toledo is a pretty good cheap sports saloon in my (biased) opinion.
Codswallop said:
Erm, it's got 5 valves per cyclinder, so is still a 4 pot. The nice sounding 5 pot is a 2.3 v5 (with 4 valves per cylinder). You can't get that engine in the Leon, but you can in the Golf and Toledo.
For what it's worth, the Toledo is a pretty good cheap sports saloon in my (biased) opinion.
Oh. Over looked that. Just assumed 20v meant it was a 5 pot. Boooo. Ah well. Toledo is out though really as the boot is next to useless. Golf is an option but I'm not a fan in all honesty. MK2 GTI yes please. Big fat bloaty mk4, no ta.For what it's worth, the Toledo is a pretty good cheap sports saloon in my (biased) opinion.
SturdyJ said:
Wow. That makes me feel better. I averaged 27.9mpg driving up to Newcastle last weekend, average about 24mpg with 'varied' driving 
This is my issue. I can get a far better performing beast and still achieve similar/better MPG figures. The CRV is no slouch but when I'm getting the same MPG as something a good few seconds quicker, it makes me weep.Deluded said:
Oh. Over looked that. Just assumed 20v meant it was a 5 pot. Boooo. Ah well. Toledo is out though really as the boot is next to useless. Golf is an option but I'm not a fan in all honesty. MK2 GTI yes please. Big fat bloaty mk4, no ta.
Boot on the Toledo is bigger than any of your other choices. I can get two mountain bikes through the opening with the front wheels off.MG ZS 160 might be worth a look too.
Codswallop said:
Boot on the Toledo is bigger than any of your other choices. I can get two mountain bikes through the opening with the front wheels off.MG ZS 160 might be worth a look too.
A touch over budget, but have tyou seen what Toyota Celicas go for now?
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3639602.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3639602.htm
Podie said:
A touch over budget, but have tyou seen what Toyota Celicas go for now?
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3639602.htm
Hmm yeah I did consider those.. Same as the Hyundai really, but the boot on the celica looks pretty deep. Looks good for dog carrying.http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3639602.htm
Codswallop said:
Ah. Fair enough.
though you could always poke airholes in the parcel shelf
Could take the speakers out and let them poke their heads through though you could always poke airholes in the parcel shelf
Alfa 145... Seriously, a few years ago I probably would have had one.. Love them to bits but the reliability issue is what worries me. Rust too. Cloverleaf might be a bit of a stretch on insurance though. 1.6/1.8 might be a better bet, or even a 146 for rear doors and better doot. Majorly tempted by a Bravo HGT but for the same reasons, I wont get one. Plus finding a good one these days is next to impossible.
A few hot hatches will get the same MPG as the large-engine normal hatches you're looking at. So depending on insurance you might not be spending that much more overall. The Leon and Skoda Octavia are both available in budget with a 150hp 1.8 turbo engine that will get roughly the same MPG, be a bit quicker and won't be too crazy to insure.
Addymk2 said:
Alfa 145 Cloverleaf, fall well within budget and leave you cash for maintenance/petrol/insurance
How about a Citroen Xsara VTS? Dunno if that would provide enough room for the dogs, but they're hugely underestimated. Probably still relatively thirsty with what is - I believe - basically a GTi-6 engine in there.
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