Help -Decision on Small Daily with Driving Flair Needed

[zestyfesty]

Starting to plan (well in advance!) purchase of a new daily driver. Wife will use most, as I'm relegated to pedal power mostly. But I do love a good steer. Her non-negotiable pre-requisites are bluetooth, cruise, curtain aribags and stability control and a small footprint. She's happy with a manual gearbox too, yay!
Budget to 20K AUD allows for the following shortlist:

-Swift Sport (with plenty of cash leftover)
-E87 BMW 130i
-Fiesta ST
-Clio RS 197/200 (superseded model)

I have a Mitsubishi Evo VI for weekend competition use so I (sorry we) are not looking to replicate that (wonderful) experience.
Small footprint, fuss-free driveability and reliability a must.

I'm awfully tempted by ST (currently in Zetec 1.6 manual- and a good thing it is) but that'd mean 2 forced induction cars in the drive. I'm charmed by the civility, creamy engine and rear drive in the BMW, and the Clio just has to be on the shortlist for it's involvement, precision and NA screeming. Wife does have driving style better suited to low-mid engine response.

Experiences, then opinions welcomed.

[kambites]

I'd probably go for the Fiesta. I actually prefer both the Swift and the Clio to drive but if it's primarily going to be driven by your wife and she prefers a torquey engine, the Fiesta is a better fit IMO.

The BMW feels much more "grown up" than the others, whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is down to personal preference.

[ZX10R NIN]

I have to say with 20k to spend I'd be grabbing a Megane RS which is still the benchmark hot hatch, if you want a smaller footprint then yes the Fiesta ST.

2014 Megane RS Trophy 19k FSH with good spec (might be a bit to stiff for the wife)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2016 RS (with the softer chassis setup & 4 Years of warranty) 45 Miles with Nav

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2016 Fiesta ST200 0 miles

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2016 ST 1 mile

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2016 Peugeot 208 GTI Prestige (these are supposed to be a good drive)

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[TheInternet]

ZX10R NIN said:

I have to say with 20k

AUD

[ZX10R NIN]

Oh well take a look on the Aus Autotrader & take a look for some of those.

[zestyfesty]

Cheers. Yes Im in Oz. The Megane's size and price rule it out here. 'Grown up' is not really that important for us, and the badge could be an issue for wife who likes to go under the radar.

After having a squizz at those classifieds though, 19K GBP is 32K AUD, and yet here a 2015 ST with 6000km can be had for 19k AUD/ 11K GBP. Aussies have just never got small fast Fords, perhaps there's the evidence right there.

I think the BMW is out, leaving Clio, Swift, and ST...for today. I actually really like our WS Fiesta Zetec, but it's just missing a bit of pizzaz in the engine character department.