who buys brand new hot hatches?
Discussion
Sort of following on from the Kia hot hatch thread... Who are these cars meant to be aimed at? Most of the people I'd imagine wanting to drive them are completely priced out now, and most people with the money to afford one would be bonkers not to consider other more 'upmarket' choices in/close to the same price range? They don't make good company cars, they aren't especially economical, and most people who just want a runaround would be happy with a 1.6 Focus.
Golf GTI/various A3s - some yuppy kudos
Focus ST/possibly RS - fast dad-mobile/essex boy 'motor'
Megane RS - driving enthusiast.
Clio RS - ???
130i - ???
Who buys these things!?
Golf GTI/various A3s - some yuppy kudos
Focus ST/possibly RS - fast dad-mobile/essex boy 'motor'
Megane RS - driving enthusiast.
Clio RS - ???
130i - ???
Who buys these things!?
Me! 41 year old 'fast dad'. Albeit it is a company car so someone elses pennies paid for the car, but I suppose the argument is still valid as I choose to pay a lot more tax to drive it than the TDi that went before it.
I have had a succession of so called premium badged cars over the years with dull interiors, engines and handling. The ST is a far better proposition and proves that if you look beyond having the 'right' badge parked on the drive there is still fun to be had at sensible money!
I have had a succession of so called premium badged cars over the years with dull interiors, engines and handling. The ST is a far better proposition and proves that if you look beyond having the 'right' badge parked on the drive there is still fun to be had at sensible money!
Edited by insideline on Tuesday 4th December 06:29
I have a customer who is well into retirement age but he still works, he is fit, healthy and wealthy, he has a recent 911 of some sort for those long driving trips to Europe, an Exige for hardcore track days and a Megane 250 as his daily drive, prior to the 250 he had a 230.
I had another customer who had a 230 and he had a 911 Turbo, sadly for him he no longer has either as he had a neck problem so he gave his son the 230 and swapped the 911 for an auto Caymen.
Both of my Megane RS customers swear blind that the Megane is a far faster and better tool on a track day than the 911's.
I also have another customer who, when he ordered his Clio 200 also owned an F430. The Clio was for a bit of fun at the weekends and a station car.
I had another customer who had a 230 and he had a 911 Turbo, sadly for him he no longer has either as he had a neck problem so he gave his son the 230 and swapped the 911 for an auto Caymen.
Both of my Megane RS customers swear blind that the Megane is a far faster and better tool on a track day than the 911's.
I also have another customer who, when he ordered his Clio 200 also owned an F430. The Clio was for a bit of fun at the weekends and a station car.
I did, in 2002. Brand new Clio Cup 172.
Me mam at the time worked at a Renault dealership so I was able to get a significant discount off list price, from £12995 down to four figures.
It would have been rude not to, and Renault don't seem to quibble with any warranty issues, which was just as well. I lost count how many times it went back for work. Perks of a handbuilt French car I guess
Me mam at the time worked at a Renault dealership so I was able to get a significant discount off list price, from £12995 down to four figures.
It would have been rude not to, and Renault don't seem to quibble with any warranty issues, which was just as well. I lost count how many times it went back for work. Perks of a handbuilt French car I guess
I bought a brand new Focus ST when I was 22, the joys of living at home and earning a decent wage.
I bought the Ford because I simply didn't want any of the others (I did not test drive any of the rivals on the market) Astra's have never appealed to me, I didn't like the looks of the Megane, the Golf and Audi were more expensive for the same kit level and I didn't really want a 'prestige' badge (still don't and I doubt I ever will). Plus I could have it in bright orange which made it that bit different to some of the other cars offering run of the mill colours.
It offered at the time one of the better value for money packages when you take into account servicing, tax and insurance.
Glad I swapped it for the Mustang though
Ohh and I work in engineering
I bought the Ford because I simply didn't want any of the others (I did not test drive any of the rivals on the market) Astra's have never appealed to me, I didn't like the looks of the Megane, the Golf and Audi were more expensive for the same kit level and I didn't really want a 'prestige' badge (still don't and I doubt I ever will). Plus I could have it in bright orange which made it that bit different to some of the other cars offering run of the mill colours.
It offered at the time one of the better value for money packages when you take into account servicing, tax and insurance.
Glad I swapped it for the Mustang though
Ohh and I work in engineering
I've recently bought a new RS Clio Cup and love it. The reasons I did this:
- one of the last ones to be made, unmolested and the perfect spec
- a cracking deal at just over £15k which comes with four years warranty, breakdown cover and servicing included
I plan on keeping it a while so decided that new would be best in this case as the deal was too good to walk away from.
I fully understand why people don't buy new cars though. I was actually looking at year old cars myself until this cropped up.
EDIT; 33 year old Systems Analyst
- one of the last ones to be made, unmolested and the perfect spec
- a cracking deal at just over £15k which comes with four years warranty, breakdown cover and servicing included
I plan on keeping it a while so decided that new would be best in this case as the deal was too good to walk away from.
I fully understand why people don't buy new cars though. I was actually looking at year old cars myself until this cropped up.
EDIT; 33 year old Systems Analyst
Me!
Opted out of Company Car, and take allowance. A little bit of forethought allowed me to run something mundane, before I bought new.
I do 20K a year in my Civic easily, and up to 40MPG (Mway miles mostly)
No doubt the usual people will be along to say I should have a Generic VAG for this, but looking at the company cars my colleagues have, there is NO WAY! I am doing that.
Opted out of Company Car, and take allowance. A little bit of forethought allowed me to run something mundane, before I bought new.
I do 20K a year in my Civic easily, and up to 40MPG (Mway miles mostly)
No doubt the usual people will be along to say I should have a Generic VAG for this, but looking at the company cars my colleagues have, there is NO WAY! I am doing that.
Me - 45 yr old with two teenage kids.
I got rid of a 996 Turbo and bought an RS250 Megane from new as I wanted something fun to hustle around a track. Great car but after 18 months I was missing something so have now got rid (please don't mention depreciation) and got myself a bright orange Cayman S Sport.
I got rid of a 996 Turbo and bought an RS250 Megane from new as I wanted something fun to hustle around a track. Great car but after 18 months I was missing something so have now got rid (please don't mention depreciation) and got myself a bright orange Cayman S Sport.
I did.
Wanted something nippy at low cost. Drove various hatches and settled on an Astra VXR. Start looking at secondhand prices, there aren't many around and they are expensive. Ended up buying new with the options I wanted for little more than used cars without the options.
Something like an S3 would be hard to justify, even a year old one was £10k+ more than I paid for the astra and would almost certainly cost more to run, thats lots of money for a prestige badge.
Wanted something nippy at low cost. Drove various hatches and settled on an Astra VXR. Start looking at secondhand prices, there aren't many around and they are expensive. Ended up buying new with the options I wanted for little more than used cars without the options.
Something like an S3 would be hard to justify, even a year old one was £10k+ more than I paid for the astra and would almost certainly cost more to run, thats lots of money for a prestige badge.
Back in the day I bought a brand new 147 GTA before they were even released. Owned it for six months, then sold it for very little loss, mainly as there was a six month waiting list by then! These days I would never do it. Prices have spiralled and everything is relatively common, so depreciation is savage.
Me; middle aged, had fast/interesting/fun cars since a Fulvia Coupe at 17 and I'm not about to change now.
My Golf Gti does parts getting/commuting/supermarket runs/family duties for two sons, isn't too slow and is ok-ish at corners (for a fwd chassis). I tried a mk6 but didn't like the suspension, preferring the Bilstein set-up on my own one - at the moment its got winter tyres fitted too.
I've had bigger and more expensive cars, and toyed with getting a Cayenne, but being quite sensible a Golf-sized car is quite big enough for my needs. My 911s are there for fun and a bike when I want it.
When the time comes to change I'll look at the new Golf Gti and the Focus ST.
SS7
My Golf Gti does parts getting/commuting/supermarket runs/family duties for two sons, isn't too slow and is ok-ish at corners (for a fwd chassis). I tried a mk6 but didn't like the suspension, preferring the Bilstein set-up on my own one - at the moment its got winter tyres fitted too.
I've had bigger and more expensive cars, and toyed with getting a Cayenne, but being quite sensible a Golf-sized car is quite big enough for my needs. My 911s are there for fun and a bike when I want it.
When the time comes to change I'll look at the new Golf Gti and the Focus ST.
SS7
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff