Which hot hatch for fun v's speed v's daily duties + Elise?

[OPC100]

I've been mulling over my next car purchase and need something that is a 5 door hatch, 5 seater and anything from new / to about 2 years old. Willing to spend £10-35K. This is the criteria that works with the car allowance (less than 10 years old and 4-5 doors) that I get from work and my family requirements. I could go the two car route and if I do I am decided, the car for daily duties will be a Suzuki Swift Sport 1.6N/A.

The plan would be to keep for 5'ish years (as I don't like chopping and changing) and do 25K miles a year.

What I really want is fun on a daily basis though. I like speed/power, but how much more fun is a Focus RS to a SSS on public roads and is it really worth the extra cost? A lot of my driving is on twisty A, B and country roads and this is where I get my enjoyment out of driving. If I'm on a dual carriageway / motorway, I tend to just stick it in cruise control and stick at 70, as I have no desire to drive any faster in rush hour traffic during the working day.

So, the shortlist is a bit of a mixed bag, but is based on cars that I actually want and can still see myself wanting in 5 years time:-

Ford Focus RS Mk3
VW Golf GTI Clubsport Edition 40 5dr manual
Toyota Yaris GRMN + Suzuki Swift Sport 1.6N/A
Lotus Elise CR1.6 + Suzuki Swift Sport 1.6N/A
Suzuki Swift Sport 1.6N/A, or the new Boosterjet 1.4T and not spend so much?

I'd be interested to know of anyone's long term ownership experiences and reliability with any of these and whether you think the 2 car route, or just going for a SSS and saving a load of cash could be the way to go?

[CABC]

You say you like speed and power but also like twisty roads. Those 2 are not incompatible, but what are your priorities: power or handling? Fun or speed?

I always go the multi-car route. Once you're happy with multiple cars there's no going back. Plenty of good reasons why some prefer one car. of your choices i cant see the Yaris and SSS combo making sense. Elise & SSS does. Personally i think the Focus is heavy and not my idea of fun. It's clearly fast, competent and fun of sorts.

[OPC100]

CABC said:

You say you like speed and power but also like twisty roads. Those 2 are not incompatible, but what are your priorities: power or handling? Fun or speed?

I always go the multi-car route. Once you're happy with multiple cars there's no going back. Plenty of good reasons why some prefer one car. of your choices i cant see the Yaris and SSS combo making sense. Elise & SSS does. Personally i think the Focus is heavy and not my idea of fun. It's clearly fast, competent and fun of sorts.

Handling / fun at sensible speeds is my preference, but I've always liked the 4wd monster hatches too. And out of the current crop, it would be the Focus that I'd want. That said, I can see that I would probably get more enjoyment out of the Golf Clubsport as it is sharper, lighter and has a very nice interior (I'd search one out with the Recaros).

No sensible reason to go for the Yaris, other than I am really quite taken with it and as it doesn't comply with my Car allowance, I would have to sort something else out too.

[CABC]

you can't get a GRMN anyway!
How about i30N, they look a proper hoot.

The Clubsport is great, i suspect a lot more fun than a 4wd hatch.
How about a std GTi and an Elise? less depreciation (these things do matter for longer term car purchases after all). GTi would be a more comfortable fun daily and the Elise more w/end thrills.

[OPC100]

CABC said:

you can't get a GRMN anyway!
How about i30N, they look a proper hoot.

The Clubsport is great, i suspect a lot more fun than a 4wd hatch.
How about a std GTi and an Elise? less depreciation (these things do matter for longer term car purchases after all). GTi would be a more comfortable fun daily and the Elise more w/end thrills.

Yep, not new, but there have been 3-4 GRMN's with delivery mileage for sale at list price for the last few weeks. It's something I'm keeping an eye on, although I think that they will depreciate just like any other hot hatch irrespective of their limited availabiity.

I have considered the i30N. Prices look good on nearly new ones and the warranty seems great. I just don't think that I would want it over a Clubsport. So if it's a higher end front wheel drive that I end up with, I think that searching out the right spec Clubsport will be what I do.

Standard GTI could be a consideration, although my thoughts if i go for an Elise would be to spend about £25K and have £10K left for something else, hence going for a relatively simple SSS which I only here good things about on the reliability front and so might be best in the long run. I could afford the best out there for around £10K, so less miles / owners / complications than a GTI that would probably cost at least £15K for the age I'd want ND HAVE 50k+ on the clock. I don't mind racking up miles in a smaller / less refined hatch, I did 100K miles over 4 years in an Abarth Punto a few years ago.

[jam_up]

New Fiesta ST in 5dr form? No user reviews as of yet but looks promising from the magazines that have covered it so far. ST-2 5dr with performance pack comes in at ~19k on D2D.

[OPC100]

jam_up said:

New Fiesta ST in 5dr form? No user reviews as of yet but looks promising from the magazines that have covered it so far. ST-2 5dr with performance pack comes in at ~19k on D2D.

I do like it and it could be a car that does all duties required. Yes, it has been a consideration, although I'm on the fence about the engine. Internet rumours I know, but I read some worrying things from one of the Ford Forums about failures that has put me off. Sounds like a cracking drive though from the First Drive reviews that I've read, so on the lookout for some decent comparisons against the competition and see how the reliability thing pans out. I'm in no rush to buy, so this could work?

[OPC100]

I just re-read the thing about the Fiesta ST engine. 1 guy on one forum by the looks of it.

http://www.fiestastoc.com/forums/topic/275514-next...

Probably nothing?

[jam_up]

I’ve been following the same forum and I think you have to take it with a pinch of salt at this stage. If there was an issue then you’d imagine Ford to be doubly sure given the Focus RS headgasket issue.

It looks like it will be a better daily than the mk7... better ride, interior etc. Actually has a decent exhaust note this time round too!

Edited by jam_up on Sunday 20th May 17:01

[ZX10R NIN]

The Clubsport is a decent hatch but the Focus RS/RS3/A45 would be in front & a test drive of the new Megane RS would be at the top of my list.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[DoubleD]

If you are looking for a single new car then the new megane must be worth a look