Which Warm Hatchback ?
Discussion
Hi all,
I am interested to get people's views.
My brother is looking for a new car. He currently drives an old 'P' reg Fiesta but now has the money to change.
He wants to buy a new (62 reg) car and his criteria includes the following:
- Automatic (as he has a knee problem from footy)
- Fairly small (as he is used to the Fiesta)
- Sporty looking with 2 doors
- Fairly economical with low road tax (eg less than £150pa)
- 4 seats
I have suggested the following to him:
- Alfa Romeo Mito Distinctive: 1.4 Multi-Air
- Seat Ibiza SC FR: 1.4TSI
- Audi A1 Sport: 1.4TSI
The A1 would be stretching him but if it was the best car he might go for it. We also looked at the Polo 1.4 but it is not a TSI and as a result it is a fair bit slower than the others. The Mito looks good but seems to have some pretty mediocre reviews.
His budget is around £15k - £17k assuming he can get a low rate finance deal. For example, Alfa Romeo are doing 0% and 5 years warranty.
What do people think of the list and/or alternatives ?
I am interested to get people's views.
My brother is looking for a new car. He currently drives an old 'P' reg Fiesta but now has the money to change.
He wants to buy a new (62 reg) car and his criteria includes the following:
- Automatic (as he has a knee problem from footy)
- Fairly small (as he is used to the Fiesta)
- Sporty looking with 2 doors
- Fairly economical with low road tax (eg less than £150pa)
- 4 seats
I have suggested the following to him:
- Alfa Romeo Mito Distinctive: 1.4 Multi-Air
- Seat Ibiza SC FR: 1.4TSI
- Audi A1 Sport: 1.4TSI
The A1 would be stretching him but if it was the best car he might go for it. We also looked at the Polo 1.4 but it is not a TSI and as a result it is a fair bit slower than the others. The Mito looks good but seems to have some pretty mediocre reviews.
His budget is around £15k - £17k assuming he can get a low rate finance deal. For example, Alfa Romeo are doing 0% and 5 years warranty.
What do people think of the list and/or alternatives ?
Edited by Spy on Tuesday 4th September 21:01
anything from vag with the 1.4tsi then, the fabia can be had for that money, which has 5 doors. but i would wait for the cupra of the ibiza cause the FR looks crap and iirc is only 150bhp, unless you can get a unregistered pre facelift cupra/boc they had more kit. The polo gti is the 1.4tsi but the price on top of a cupra isnt really worth it although the interior is alot nicer.
that engine also comes in golfs, i saw a finance deal today £3 to drive away any 62 plate stock vw. which was good and with the mk7 due anytime soon you could most likely get a mk6 with a tsi engine cheaper.
the mito is a good little car too, i think the cloverleaf is 180bhp same as a fabia, although i have heard they can be a bit numb. but the same can be same for the vag range
or could put in a order for a new fiesta ST if they have a auto option? they are very nice cars but would probs be on a 13 plate if he can wait i bet that would be the pick of the bunch.
i wouldnt go A1 they look crap without the right options that he will not be able to get in budget, IE xenons nav leather bose
await the 255434234 comments saying a new car will end the world, no finance, get a mx5 or a old manual BMW all the car you will ever need etc
that engine also comes in golfs, i saw a finance deal today £3 to drive away any 62 plate stock vw. which was good and with the mk7 due anytime soon you could most likely get a mk6 with a tsi engine cheaper.
the mito is a good little car too, i think the cloverleaf is 180bhp same as a fabia, although i have heard they can be a bit numb. but the same can be same for the vag range
or could put in a order for a new fiesta ST if they have a auto option? they are very nice cars but would probs be on a 13 plate if he can wait i bet that would be the pick of the bunch.
i wouldnt go A1 they look crap without the right options that he will not be able to get in budget, IE xenons nav leather bose
await the 255434234 comments saying a new car will end the world, no finance, get a mx5 or a old manual BMW all the car you will ever need etc
Edited by okie592 on Tuesday 4th September 21:14
Thanks for your reply Okie.
In response, Auto options seem to be fairly limited in terms of the trim levels. For example, teh Mito only comes in Distinctive trim if you want an Auto !
The Polo GTI is out of his price range, he would need to go for a lower model but they don't have the TSI engine.
The Cupra is a good shout but I don't know if they will do an Auto. He looked at the Golf but felt it was too big and too common on the roads.
The Fiesta is a great car but after driving a Fiesta for about 8 years he wants something different, even if they have gone through about 3 different redesigns in the interim !
I suggested the MX5 to him all ready as I used to have one and loved it but he wants 4 seats.
Also, no old BMWs as he defo wants a new car
In response, Auto options seem to be fairly limited in terms of the trim levels. For example, teh Mito only comes in Distinctive trim if you want an Auto !
The Polo GTI is out of his price range, he would need to go for a lower model but they don't have the TSI engine.
The Cupra is a good shout but I don't know if they will do an Auto. He looked at the Golf but felt it was too big and too common on the roads.
The Fiesta is a great car but after driving a Fiesta for about 8 years he wants something different, even if they have gone through about 3 different redesigns in the interim !
I suggested the MX5 to him all ready as I used to have one and loved it but he wants 4 seats.
Also, no old BMWs as he defo wants a new car
the ibiza mk5 came in :
FR 150
Cupra 180
Cupra Boc 180
all had the 1.4tsi engine and the DSG gearbox,the same car really aprart from the bodykit
http://www.seat.co.uk/content/uk/brand/en/used-car...
FR 150
Cupra 180
Cupra Boc 180
all had the 1.4tsi engine and the DSG gearbox,the same car really aprart from the bodykit
http://www.seat.co.uk/content/uk/brand/en/used-car...
Spy said:
Thanks for your reply Okie.
In response, Auto options seem to be fairly limited in terms of the trim levels. For example, teh Mito only comes in Distinctive trim if you want an Auto !
The Polo GTI is out of his price range, he would need to go for a lower model but they don't have the TSI engine.
The Cupra is a good shout but I don't know if they will do an Auto. He looked at the Golf but felt it was too big and too common on the roads.
The Fiesta is a great car but after driving a Fiesta for about 8 years he wants something different, even if they have gone through about 3 different redesigns in the interim !
I suggested the MX5 to him all ready as I used to have one and loved it but he wants 4 seats.
Also, no old BMWs as he defo wants a new car
its a shame the polo is too much, bonkers quick for a 1.4 and a real world 40mpg and £100ish tax disc In response, Auto options seem to be fairly limited in terms of the trim levels. For example, teh Mito only comes in Distinctive trim if you want an Auto !
The Polo GTI is out of his price range, he would need to go for a lower model but they don't have the TSI engine.
The Cupra is a good shout but I don't know if they will do an Auto. He looked at the Golf but felt it was too big and too common on the roads.
The Fiesta is a great car but after driving a Fiesta for about 8 years he wants something different, even if they have gone through about 3 different redesigns in the interim !
I suggested the MX5 to him all ready as I used to have one and loved it but he wants 4 seats.
Also, no old BMWs as he defo wants a new car
Skoda Fabia VRS, same basic engine but with both a turbo and supercharger. Two pedals but flappy paddles to let him have more control and by far the sportiest of the bunch. Even has an extra bonus of 2 spare doors 
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/car-manufactur...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/car-manufactur...
Spy said:
Although Skodas have come a long way I don't think he will be able to get over the badge.
The Ibiza Cupra is interesting but not showing on the Seat website - when is it due to be released?
Towards the end of this year, I think it's just a lightly facelifted and tweaked revision of the outgoing model.The Ibiza Cupra is interesting but not showing on the Seat website - when is it due to be released?
Just to mention - I know of 4 people now (2 * Ibiza Cupra, Polo GTI and Fabia VRS) who have had no end of trouble with the 1.4TSI 180bhp engines in these cars, with numerous visits to the dealers postponing issues (Via new plugs, injectors, piston rings, coil packs amongst other bits) for a short while before they reoccur.
I would be tempted to look at the Ibiza FR (150bhp version of the same car & DSG box, though no paddles) to avoid any potential issues.
Tax on the outgoing model was ~£135 a year iirc.
Edited by mattydoh on Tuesday 4th September 23:23
mattydoh said:
Towards the end of this year, I think it's just a lightly facelifted and tweaked revision of the outgoing model.
Just to mention - I know of 4 people now (2 * Ibiza Cupra, Polo GTI and Fabia VRS) who have had no end of trouble with the 1.4TSI 180bhp engines in these cars, with numerous visits to the dealers postponing issues (Via new plugs, injectors, piston rings, coil packs amongst other bits) for a short while before they reoccur.
I would be tempted to look at the Ibiza FR (150bhp version of the same car & DSG box, though no paddles) to avoid any potential issues.
Thanks Matty, that is a little worrying.Just to mention - I know of 4 people now (2 * Ibiza Cupra, Polo GTI and Fabia VRS) who have had no end of trouble with the 1.4TSI 180bhp engines in these cars, with numerous visits to the dealers postponing issues (Via new plugs, injectors, piston rings, coil packs amongst other bits) for a short while before they reoccur.
I would be tempted to look at the Ibiza FR (150bhp version of the same car & DSG box, though no paddles) to avoid any potential issues.
The engine in the FR is still the 1.4TSI I believe, but a de-tuned version - would that not have the same issues ?
I have looked into the pricing of the Polo GTI and he might be able to stretch to it if he gets a decent discount. Probably same pricing ball park as the Audi A1 Sport 1.4 TSI but again, similar engine.
Does this make the Mito 1.4 Multi-Air more reliable - any issues people have heard of from those ?
Spy said:
Thanks Matty, that is a little worrying.
The engine in the FR is still the 1.4TSI I believe, but a de-tuned version - would that not have the same issues ?
I have looked into the pricing of the Polo GTI and he might be able to stretch to it if he gets a decent discount. Probably same pricing ball park as the Audi A1 Sport 1.4 TSI but again, similar engine.
Does this make the Mito 1.4 Multi-Air more reliable - any issues people have heard of from those ?
Yep they are the same engine but de-tuned - they have slightly different engine codes but come from the same family. I think the 180bhp versions are stretching what can be reliably achieved, though this is all what I have seen/read from an outside POV. Might be worth a trip to seatcupra.net - it's an owners forum for all things Seat who will undoubtedly know more than me. The engine in the FR is still the 1.4TSI I believe, but a de-tuned version - would that not have the same issues ?
I have looked into the pricing of the Polo GTI and he might be able to stretch to it if he gets a decent discount. Probably same pricing ball park as the Audi A1 Sport 1.4 TSI but again, similar engine.
Does this make the Mito 1.4 Multi-Air more reliable - any issues people have heard of from those ?
For what it's worth, aside from the engine troubles they have been very popular where I work with apprentices thanks to good performance/running costs. Average mpg was somewhere between 32 and 38 I think (Though lead-foot-itis is common amongst apprentices so may be slightly higher otherwise - may also explain the high failure rate!). Real world they have more straight line pace than my Clio 200 as well, though from a brief test drive of a Fabia VRS are not quite as much fun.
Edited by mattydoh on Tuesday 4th September 23:50
If he would go older a cooper s auto would be worth a look, as would a previous generation 1 series. BMW/Mini do PCP type finance on used stuff as well as new.
Also worth a look would be the 2.0 Tdi Ibiza Fr with the DSG box, would probably sound a bit dull but will be cheaper to run and the engine has been around longer so has less problems than the twincharged TSI lumps in the fabia and cupra.
The number of small cars with autoboxes that are fun to drive is tiny, going older or a class up would make the number of possible cars huge.
ETA: He could always hang on for the next RS Clio which will be 200bhp and auto only, but he'll need to accept 5 door only.
Also worth a look would be the 2.0 Tdi Ibiza Fr with the DSG box, would probably sound a bit dull but will be cheaper to run and the engine has been around longer so has less problems than the twincharged TSI lumps in the fabia and cupra.
The number of small cars with autoboxes that are fun to drive is tiny, going older or a class up would make the number of possible cars huge.
ETA: He could always hang on for the next RS Clio which will be 200bhp and auto only, but he'll need to accept 5 door only.
Spy said:
Thanks Matty, that is a little worrying.
The engine in the FR is still the 1.4TSI I believe, but a de-tuned version - would that not have the same issues ?
I have looked into the pricing of the Polo GTI and he might be able to stretch to it if he gets a decent discount. Probably same pricing ball park as the Audi A1 Sport 1.4 TSI but again, similar engine.
Does this make the Mito 1.4 Multi-Air more reliable - any issues people have heard of from those ?
I've been running a Green Cloverleaf MiTo (170 bhp) for the last couple of years and, apart from an alternator failure after 6 months, haven't had any problems with it. Just be aware that the 4 seat MiTo doesn't have a split rear seat.The engine in the FR is still the 1.4TSI I believe, but a de-tuned version - would that not have the same issues ?
I have looked into the pricing of the Polo GTI and he might be able to stretch to it if he gets a decent discount. Probably same pricing ball park as the Audi A1 Sport 1.4 TSI but again, similar engine.
Does this make the Mito 1.4 Multi-Air more reliable - any issues people have heard of from those ?
Thanks for all the suggestions.
It sounds like the 1.4 TSI variants from the VW family are quite popular.
A big car is not for him, he wants it small as he is used to his fiesta and also commutes into London and likes to nip in and out of the traffic. Before anyone suggests it, I raised a scooter as an option but he wouldn't have it.
I think teh short-list now looks like:
- Alfa Mito
- Polo GTI / Ibiza Cupra (although a little worried about the engine issues)
- Audi A1
It sounds like the 1.4 TSI variants from the VW family are quite popular.
A big car is not for him, he wants it small as he is used to his fiesta and also commutes into London and likes to nip in and out of the traffic. Before anyone suggests it, I raised a scooter as an option but he wouldn't have it.
I think teh short-list now looks like:
- Alfa Mito
- Polo GTI / Ibiza Cupra (although a little worried about the engine issues)
- Audi A1
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