Advice on buying a £8k sub 8sec car please!

[Steve6728]

Hi I've been looking at getting a car and between my other half and myself have the following criteria:
0-60 sub 8secs
5 doors
35+ mpg
£8k budget
Would look to keep it for 3-5 years

So far I've found that both an Astra 1.6T or a Focus 1.6 Ecoboost seem to be a decent option but I have a few questions as I don't have a clue about how important age and mileage is.

Would a £5k 1.6T 2010 that's done 50k+ miles be a better buy than an £8k 2014 thats done 30k? The newer model doesn't come with anything added like sat nav or parking sensors so I've been wondering if it's really worth that kind of extra money.

Would you guys recommend the Astra or Focus or suggest something completely different? If mileage/age isn't an issue for these kind of cars then that opens up the option of 100k+ VWs and Audis.

Thanks for any advice!

[ZX10R NIN]

The Focus is the better drive & car IMO Nav shouldn't be a deal breaker as it will be out of date if you buy a 2010 model.

2012 Zetec S 35k (decent spec) 180bhp

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

A worthy alternative is the Alfa Romeo Giulietta in Sportiva trim they come pretty much fully loaded.

2013 Giulietta Sportiva 51k 170bhp

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

[valiant]

Go Volvo or go home.

You'll get a nice S/V60 with all the toys and that meet your criteria and are simply a nicer place to be.

[ANJ91]

Golf

or this looks smart http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...