Hot Hatch for 7k - Help Needed...

[MattMF1]

My mum wants to get a new car soon and likes the idea of a hot hatch. I've been looking at Focus ST's but there are not many and I thought this could be because any in this price range would be lemons.

Criteria is:

- 5 Doors
- No more than 7.5k
- Needs to be reliable as it will be used as a daily

That's about it.

[Sulli]

You should get a half decent ST2 for that - look at the ones up for £7.5 to £8k. There aren't too many in 5 door guise, but enough.

[billzeebub]

Golf Mk5 GTi

[MattMF1]

There are not that many mk5 Golf Gti's for sale in this price bracket surprisingly unless you go to the high milers at around 80k miles +, would the GTI be reliable at over 80k miles?

[Luke.]

MattMF1 said:

would the GTI be reliable at over 80k miles?

Yes.

[rallycross]

MattMF1 said:

would the GTI be reliable at over 80k miles?

Any mk5 Golf will carry on being reliable well past 150k provided its serviced properly.

[1up2down]

Seat Ibiza Cupra 1.9TDI(150)

[MattMF1]

Thank you for the good sugesstions

[hardcorehobbit]

Skoda Octavia vRS or Leon Cupra. Both plentiful in budget and as good as a Golf.

[andye30m3]

what about a megane R26 http://pistonheads.com/sales/3664067.htm

just read 5 doors, in that case the standard 225bhp renaultsport meganes look good value

[billzeebub]

rallycross said:

MattMF1 said:

would the GTI be reliable at over 80k miles?

Any mk5 Golf will carry on being reliable well past 150k provided its serviced properly.

Will be a superb car at that mileage provided it has been looked after by previous owner. The usual obvious things to look for-low number of total owners, evidence of routine servicing, mot with no advisories and check any advisories have been addressed, was it originaly a private owner or a lease/business car.

Also, it is a car which is more likely to be owned by a mature careful, sympathetic person than cars such as the Focus ST/Civic Type R etc..

If looking at these I am sure there was a Buyers Guide at around this price point in a recent edition of Evo or Autocar. I cannot remember which unfortunately, but easily found I am sure..

[ManOpener]

How hot are we talking? For that kind of budget, and across a range (from "warm" to "hot", I suppose)

> BMW 1-series (120i/d at least, though I've seen a 130i on the cusp of £7.5k)
> Mk5 GTi (perhaps a bit dull, but a great all-rounder)
> Mk5 R32 (seen a few under £7500 though can't comment on how borked they're likely to be at that price)
> Focus ST (not a car I've ever liked particularly, but some love 'em)
> Octavia vRS (same chassis as a Golf, not a hatchback in the conventional sense but a five-year-old one can be had for under £7k, which is seriously good value for money)
> Civic Type R (again not a car I've ever got on with, but well liked amongst many on here)

[300bhp/ton]

MattMF1 said:

My mum wants to get a new car soon and likes the idea of a hot hatch. I've been looking at Focus ST's but there are not many and I thought this could be because any in this price range would be lemons.

Criteria is:

- 5 Doors
- No more than 7.5k
- Needs to be reliable as it will be used as a daily

That's about it.

I know the Focus has a hatch, but it's the size of a Sierra (bigger in some dimensions).

So does she need a large family car or a more compact hatch?

That said I do have a personal fondness for the ST, but do remember it likes a drink. There are plenty of reports on PH (and other places) of a real world 20-24mpg. If you are putting 98 RON superunleaded in, that translates to a pence per mile cost of nearer to 18-22mpg. This is not far of big block V8 territory!


Some others I'd say are worth considering:

Smart ForFour BRABUS 177bhp (2006)
71,500 miles £4,250
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3712664.htm


Funky and fun looking, rare and interesting and go well. Also a lot lighter than a Focus ST so much better on fuel and more chuckable, despite being as quick. You can remap them to 210hp or so too.


Mini Cooper S 1.6 Chilli pack - only 1 previous owner (2002)
85,000 miles £4,650
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3725294.htm


Ok they are only 3 door, but this goes back to it will be used for. They still will seat 4 and have a usable boot if the car is only going to have 1 or 2 people in it 90% of the time. On the flip side they look flippin great!! Drive well and have very good residuals.

The earlier R53 ones use a supercharger and actually aren't as good on fuel as you'd think. 28-32mpg sort of range. The newer R56 shape isn't quite as pretty and the 1.6 turbo is arguably less fun, but they are a lot better on fuel.


MITSUBISHI COLT 1.5 T Ralliart 3dr (2010)
11,691 miles £7,476
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3469583.htm


This is 3dr version, but you can get them in 5 door too. These are pretty fast, but again its the lightweight, they weigh only 1000kg or so. So are nippy, good on fuel, good tax and very nimble. The interior isn't the greatest, but look at the trade off, you're budget will get you a low mileage couple of year old example with manufacturers warranty.


MAZDA MAZDA3 2.3T MPS 5DR [AERO SPORTS KIT] HUGE SPEC LOW MILES (2007)
62,000 miles £6,490
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3712981.htm


Understated, subtle and fast! Every bit of a match for a Ford Focus ST.


2008/08 MINI COOPER S CLUBMAN 6 SPEED MANUAL (2008)
£7,499
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3439725.htm


Well it does have five doors, 2 on one side, 1 on the other and 2 on the back

It however is a slightly more practical option to a regular Cooper S and lacking none of it's ability. The boxy looks might not be to everyone's tastes, although I have to concede they have rather grown on me over the past year or so.


MAZDA RX8 PZ 4DR 231 PS FULL LEATHER ONLY 35000 MILES (2007/56)
35,000 miles £6,995
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3429395.htm


Ok it's not a hot hatch! but it is what I'd personally consider over a hot hatch. And that's because it can do 90-95% the same things a hot hatch can in terms of usability, but wrapped up in a sports car body, rwd with a much better drive and much more sense of occasion.

MPG isn't great on them, but when you factor in the cost of super unleaded to 95 RON, then they might not actually cost anymore to fuel than a Focus ST, unless you are doing mega annual mileage (although would an ST then be suitable??).

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Friday 9th March 17:04

[Bitzer]

rallycross said:

MattMF1 said:

would the GTI be reliable at over 80k miles?

Any mk5 Golf will carry on being reliable well past 150k provided its serviced properly.

Mine's on 76k and looks and drives like something with 20K on. The interior wear is minimal.

Oil changes every 10K would be a bonus, and a recent cambelt change

[Nikko 40691]

Mazda 3 MPS.

[V88Dicky]

Bit leftfield, but..

Toyota Corolla T-Sport Compressor?

[james28]

r32 mk4 job done

[ambuletz]

Bitzer said:

rallycross said:

MattMF1 said:

would the GTI be reliable at over 80k miles?

Any mk5 Golf will carry on being reliable well past 150k provided its serviced properly.

Mine's on 76k and looks and drives like something with 20K on. The interior wear is minimal.

Oil changes every 10K would be a bonus, and a recent cambelt change

I suppose its best to stick to the ordinary manual instead of DSG for reliabilty's sake.

[vrsmxtb]

Nikko 40691 said:

Mazda 3 MPS.

I concur!

[Arthur Daley]

Sensible hat on would be a mk5 golf gti..
Mazda MPS would be worth looking at...
For me though the only modern cars out there that capture the true essence of a hot hatch all say renaultsport on the tailgate... For the budget a 197 is well in reach or a meg r26, both 3 door though,