Another which car post

[Adwillsy]

Hi all, my name is Adam and I’m 20, 21 in November and I’m looking at getting a new (to me at least) car that needs to perform the following duties:
-be fun in the twisters and B roads
-6 speed manual so sensible-ish economy on a motorway
- be tuneable/ turbo
- something that I can fit in (I’m 6ft 4)
- and under £6k but could stretch to 10k for the right car
My past cars are:
Mk2 Clio 1.2 extreme 4 edition 2005
Fiesta ST-3 2017 - stage 2 tuned to 245hp
And currently driving an E36 touring engine swapped to 2.8 and a welded diff and I’m not a fan of it.
So as you can see, I do like a hatchback lol
My current contenders for a new car are

Vauxhall Astra H VXR
Volkswagen Golf GTI mk5
Possibly mk2 Ford focus ST

Cheers

[Shiv_P]

Motorway with a stock St225 you won't break 31/32mpg, gti probably not much better. But the st225 is a really great car, handle reasonably well and sound fantastic. Quite easy to unlock more power as well

I test drove a GTI, not nearly as special but I think better as a daily car. The ST is not bad at this though, only lacks cruise control but the seats and comfort levels are great.
No idea about the astra, I didn't consider one but I am a bit of a vauxhall hater

[Adwillsy]

I thought as much on the ST, the only thing that puts me off them is the interior though. Are there any other cars that you would suggest?

[Summit_Detailing]

Mazda 3 MPS?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Alfa Giulietta?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Leon Cupra?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Slightly left field - V50 T5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

cheers

Chris

[ilikejam]

The Giulietta Cloverleaf would be right up there on my list.

[Shiv_P]

If you get the facelift the interior is not too bad, particularly with the nav system. Golf is nicer inside though yep, but certainly not the astra
BMW 130i?

[Adwillsy]

I like the sound of the mps to be honest, looks so good. Not too sure on the alfa as had a bad experience with them, Volvo v50 is very nice but possibly too big for me and Leon Cupra I’m not too sure on.

[Jarre]

Golf GTi Edition 30.

Has a 2.0tfsi engine with the K04 turbo (basically a detuned S3 engine) with lots of tuning potential. Standard 230bhp, a map will see 290-300bhp and a stage 2+ tune at r-tech performance will see 360-380bhp depending on supporting mods.

I’ve just sold my edition 30 which was r-tech 2+ 380bhp, so I guess I am biased towards them. They’re more special then a normal gti, not just because of the engine but they have the heated half leather tartan seats (you may not be a fan) colour coded splitter and rear bumper, side skirts and the BBS Pescara alloys too.

[Adwillsy]

I love the edition 30 but I’m not sure I’d be able to justify the 3k ish price increase Over a “normal” gti

[Jonny_gti]

Could get a Tidy Megane R26 or closer to the 10k budget a nice Mk3 Megane 250 cup would be much that will be as good on a b road.

[Adwillsy]

I like the r26 just very hard to push past 270hp which I don’t mind but I don’t want to be running it at its max and have it blow up on me

[anonymous-user]

The Focus ST is a great car and the engine feels very strong, it really is a great engine. My 270bhp R26 disappears from my friends 300bhp ST on track though and also keeps up with anothers Cayman S.

The R26 is a hard car to beat out the box.

[Adwillsy]

My mind has been swayed a bit and I think the focus is on top, Megane second, Astra VXR and then the standard Golf GTI. Ideally I need to drive them all but I know for a fact there’s no Megane in my local area, I’m still part of a ford group so it should be easy to have a sit and play in one and not really for the others

[anonymous-user]

The Golf is capable but so ordinary and forgettably boring. The Astra is a decent car but also overshadowed by your other options.

[Adwillsy]

Exactly my point. Especially in that lovely orange, and That 5 pot burble is hard to beat. I just can’t help but think that the golf is quite vanilla compared to it

[Mr Tidy]

What don't you like about your E36?

If you like RWD it has to be a BMW 130i.

[Jonny_gti]

Yeah agree with the above on track my 280hp R26 would destroy most focus,astra golfs ect but on the road day to day maybe its not just as nice, bit rattily inside ect but its not my daily.

Focus st does have the benefit of that lovely engine note and will be a nicer cruiser .

[ZX10R NIN]

Adwillsy said:

Exactly my point. Especially in that lovely orange, and That 5 pot burble is hard to beat. I just can’t help but think that the golf is quite vanilla compared to it

The R26 Megane is the sharper but the Focus edges it as a daily & the handling isn't to far off the Megane which is why I bought one when I had the option, that 5 pot is a peach also when it comes to tuning the world is your oyster.

[Adwillsy]

Anything that I have to look out for when test driving one or looking at one? And also much of a difference interior and mechanically from FL to PFL?

[Blanchimont]

10k will get you into a properly sorted R26, with change (a lot stop at 300/300 mark to save the engine). Or you can look at the newer Megane RS250. With the cup chassis you get a locking diff, lower suspension and a few other goodies. They also take power well, 350-380 is achievable with a hybrid turbo, intercooler, remap and downpipe.
It's a well built car, with very little in the way of niggles.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renault-Megane-2-0-250b...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2010-60-Renault-Megane-...

ETA: I've had 3. The most they cost me was a bearing, and a thermostat. Rest has been mods.
On a run it'll do 35mpg without much trouble.
With the cup chassis they're great fun, and round track even more so.