Which Hot Hatch?

[mac76]

I have around £7500 to spend on a hot hatch and was wondering what people would suggest? I am looking for something newer than 2007 with less than 60,000 miles. I have narrowed it down to Focus St, Civic type r FN2 or Megane 225/R26. if anyone can give me some details on day to day ownership of the cars e.g costs of service, average mpg etc that would be much appreciated as well. cheers.

[rb5er]

Test drive them all and see what you prefer.

I did and went with the focus ST a few years back.

All people can do is offer their opinions, you would do best to decide for yourself which you like most.

I used to average 26mpg in mine and servicing was very cheap. Nothing ever went wrong but 18inch tyres are expensive on any of those cars.

[trickywoo]

The st would be the best all round choice.

[mac76]

thanks for the quick reply! I plan to get all three test driven over Christmas time as I agree that's the only way to really know what I want, just thought I would ask as it might give me a better idea if I had other peoples views

[billy939]

FN2 would be most fun to drive when pushing on, it would also give the best mpg and has the best interior.
Megane 225/230 will be the best handling.
Focus St would be the best all rounder, a bit softer thn the other 2 but better for day to day driving, especially if you like torque.

I'd go for the Fn2

[folos]

Clio 200? I had a 197 before my R32, incredible fun

[rb5er]

billy939 said:

FN2 would be most fun to drive when pushing on

I definately disagree with this.

Which is why really your own opinion is what counts.

[billy939]

rb5er said:

billy939 said:

FN2 would be most fun to drive when pushing on

I definately disagree with this.

Which is why really your own opinion is what counts.

Interesting, which do you think is more fun when driving quickly and why?

But tbf rb5er is right, it's all down to personal preference, test drives are the only way to decide.

[santona1937]

Delta Integrale ...

Nuff said

[rb5er]

billy939 said:

rb5er said:

billy939 said:

FN2 would be most fun to drive when pushing on

I definately disagree with this.

Which is why really your own opinion is what counts.

Interesting, which do you think is more fun when driving quickly and why?

But tbf rb5er is right, it's all down to personal preference, test drives are the only way to decide.

The focus ST has a great slug of torque, good compliance in the suspension despite the 18 inch wheels and has a very easily provokable rear end. It is much, much more playful the the FN2. The civic has sharper, more direct steering although less feelsome but the focus is much more flingable and playful in all aspects as well as not being put out by poor road surfaces, its a car you can drive anywhere and chuck about a lot more than its size suggests.

I had a Focus ST for 3 years and a friend had an FN2 which I had a lot of drives in. The focus was also a bit quicker, more comfortable and a lot more tunable if thats a consideration.

I`m sure someone would come out with various reasons why they prefer the civic, N/A (if you are the type that likes that sort of thing, I personally prefer torquey cars) and a great gearbox but really they are the only areas that car excels in. I cant see how anyone would find the FN2 more fun after having driven both extensively.

[DUMBO100]

I've had an FN2 for nearly 4 years and think it's one if the best cars I've owned that said the ride quality is not good so be prepared to bump and crash over potholes. Mine has a K+N air filter which gives a nice exhaust note and 6.5 sec to 60 feels quick enough. I mostly drive in suburbs and city during rush hour and it feels like the perfect car for it.

[billy939]

rb5er said:

billy939 said:

rb5er said:

billy939 said:

FN2 would be most fun to drive when pushing on

I definately disagree with this.

Which is why really your own opinion is what counts.

Interesting, which do you think is more fun when driving quickly and why?

But tbf rb5er is right, it's all down to personal preference, test drives are the only way to decide.

The focus ST has a great slug of torque, good compliance in the suspension despite the 18 inch wheels and has a very easily provokable rear end. It is much, much more playful the the FN2. The civic has sharper, more direct steering although less feelsome but the focus is much more flingable and playful in all aspects as well as not being put out by poor road surfaces, its a car you can drive anywhere and chuck about a lot more than its size suggests.

I had a Focus ST for 3 years and a friend had an FN2 which I had a lot of drives in. The focus was also a bit quicker, more comfortable and a lot more tunable if thats a consideration.

I`m sure someone would come out with various reasons why they prefer the civic, N/A (if you are the type that likes that sort of thing, I personally prefer torquey cars) and a great gearbox but really they are the only areas that car excels in. I cant see how anyone would find the FN2 more fun after having driven both extensively.

I can't agree with much of that, I've driven the focus only 4 or 5 times but they feel very front heavy and not all that chuckable, the Fn2 feels much sharper and focused.
I also don't agree with the Focus being quicker, in my experience the Civic is slightly quicker in a straight line and through the twisties it will be a good margin quicker than the focus.

I am more of a fan of N/A hot hatches. the turbo shove of the St is nice but the fun of a hot hatch is wringing its neck to get the best out of it, the smile this puts on your face can't be replicated.

I owned an Ep3 but I've driven Fn2's quite a bit and I actually think they're better, one of the last proper N/A hot hatches.

If you want a quick crusier that is well equipped, has a good soundtrack and can be chucked about a bit then the ST would be a good option.
However I still think that if boost is preferable then the Megane will be more fun and much quicker than the Focus.

Take all 3 on a test drive and I guarantee the FN2 will be the one that you go home with

[billzeebub]

as an all round package the ST, or a Golf GTI

[Cooky]

If you don't buy one of these you'll only regret it when you see one next.

[andymc]

for seven grand??

[Cooky]

ah yes Andy...missed that bit

7k will find a very decent 8V though.

[DanielSan]

[quote=DUMBO100]Mine has a K+N air filter which gives a nice exhaust note...

Errrr.....

[Lewtyper]

DanielSan]UMBO100 said:

Mine has a K+N air filter which gives a nice exhaust note...

Errrr.....

We know what he means though.

OP why no earlier than 2007? Get a late EP3 and pocket the change/ put the rest towards mods?

[Funk]

I looked at all the same cars when they were new (including the VXR and MkV GTI too) and went with the Focus ST. Loved it, a car full of character, albeit with a drinking problem. Put 70k on it in 3 years and preferred it to the rest of the ones I test drove. Reasons why I discounted the others:

VXR - cheap inside, not somewhere I wanted to spend time.
GTI - pricier, lower spec for the same money as the ST but a good all-rounder
R26 - Fun to drive but another rubbish interior and not a looker if I'm honest
Civic - The most fun of The Rest but needed wringing out to get any performance

The ST was great fun and I was hooked the moment the 5-pot growled its way up the rev-range then burbled on the overrun. Get the ST and remap it with Bluefin or Dreamscience and you won't be disappointed.

[Chlamydia]

billy939 said:

Take all 3 on a test drive and I guarantee the FN2 will be the one that you go home with

I drove all three, (plus a few others), and took home the ST . I found it to be the best all-rounder, especially after getting it Bluefinned . But it's a good suggestion for the OP to try all of them, he might even pick the one neither of us did.