Best hot hatch for 14/15k?

[arz12019]

Hi guys, hope you are well? I'm new to the PH forums. I've set a budget for 14/15k for a hot hatch to buy. I've looked at the mk 7 golf gti Pp, leon cupra and a golf r. Have any of you guys driven/owned these cars? What is the reliability like? And do you have any other cars that you could recommend to me in that price range?
Thanks in advance!

[Luke.]

M135i.

[Dannbodge]

Leon Cupra.

Love mine, Pretty fast, decent enough on fuel, comfortable and decent spec (Black pack).

In general they are as fast as Golf R, better spec and cheaper.

BMW M135i/140i could be an option too.

[J4CKO]

Depends what you want, M135i has come up twice and they are great but depends whether you want a traditional hot hatch as the M135i is a bit of a strange one, its got a hatch and it gets lumped into the category but its quite different from say a Golf GTI or Focus ST.

[Brainpox]

Mini JCW

[Pizzaeatingking]

Leon Cupra for me too. Quick, fun, good value.

[barth1]

M135i

[arz12019]

I considered getting the m135i as it's a bmw and has a 6 cylinder engine. But I just think they don't look all that

[anonymous-user]

In terms of Golf R, you're really at the very bottom of the market budget-wise, unless you consider a MK6, which I definitely wouldn't.

Personally I'd go M135i or MK7 Golf GTI. The only reason I've not owned the BMW is that it doesn't quite offer the practicality I need of a hatch.

[Toyoda]

I'm looking at a similar situation at the min - up to £15k but ideally 12k ish, petrol, manual. The contenders for me are basically mk3 Focus ST, Megane RS 250/265, or the cheap wildcard of the Alfa Giulietta Cloverleaf. The Astra VXR comes in on budget too but it's a bit 'Vauxhall'. Not a fan of VAG ste either so that rules out the overpriced Golf GTi and ugly interior Leon Cupras.

Will probably end up in a mk3 ST, facelifted on the 15 plate.

[arz12019]

How bad is the wheelhop/axle tramp in the cupra 280/290? I've heard some people say it's awful and some people say they barely get any axle tramp/wheelhop?

[tomsugden]

The Audi S1 is a cracking hot hatch, nicely finished, economical, and in budget.

[The Voice]

I've owned an M135i and a Leon Cupra 300.

I prefer the BMW in almost every way.

[Coupie94]

Bit left field but have you tried a Mazda3 MPS? Pretty under the radar and surprisingly quick, especially in third! Torque steer not as bad as the critics made out. Maybe not as much fun as other hot hatches but decent value for money.
Test drove a few and would have bought one but couldn't quite convince myself to pull the trigger!

[Dannbodge]

arz12019 said:

How bad is the wheelhop/axle tramp in the cupra 280/290? I've heard some people say it's awful and some people say they barely get any axle tramp/wheelhop?

It's fine for normal driving.

If you drive like a dick then it can be quite annoying, but it's only when the front wheels can't cope with how much power you're asking them to take.

I've only had it a few times, and that's down to going WOT in 1st or 2nd on a crap road surface with crap tyres (Conti SC5).

Decent tyres and the dogbone insert all but cures it.

I suggest you go and drive one and decide if it's something you notice.

[mike74]

Coupie94 said:

Bit left field but have you tried a Mazda3 MPS? Pretty under the radar and surprisingly quick, especially in third! Torque steer not as bad as the critics made out. Maybe not as much fun as other hot hatches but decent value for money.
Test drove a few and would have bought one but couldn't quite convince myself to pull the trigger!

Quick in third because they're so electronically restricted in 1st and 2nd, which seems a bit pointless to me.

So, not much fun, dull as dishwater to look at, still torque steerey to an extent and you decided against getting one... but you're still recommending one!

[Toyoda]

mike74 said:

Quick in third because they're so electronically restricted in 1st and 2nd, which seems a bit pointless to me.

So, not much fun, dull as dishwater to look at, still torque steerey to an extent and you decided against getting one... but you're still recommending one!

Exactly. And they're old cars now. Was it 2012 they stopped making them? Add in the known problems with the timing chain and they're best avoided. May as well take a punt on a R3 RX8.

[Coupie94]

mike74 said:

Coupie94 said:

Bit left field but have you tried a Mazda3 MPS? Pretty under the radar and surprisingly quick, especially in third! Torque steer not as bad as the critics made out. Maybe not as much fun as other hot hatches but decent value for money.
Test drove a few and would have bought one but couldn't quite convince myself to pull the trigger!

Quick in third because they're so electronically restricted in 1st and 2nd, which seems a bit pointless to me.

So, not much fun, dull as dishwater to look at, still torque steerey to an extent and you decided against getting one... but you're still recommending one!

Purely for financial reasons- couldn't quite justify getting a new car at the same time as moving house. Dull as dishwasher only adds to the appeal imo- the fact that no one expects a small Japanese hatchback to have 256bhp is what attracted me to them in the first place. But you go on and recommend your standard German/VAG generic 2ltr turbo awd stuff, which are arguably even worse than an MPS for driver involvement...

[Hub]

Going with the mid sized hatches you have mentioned rather than the smaller (Fiesta ST, Peugeot 208 etc)...

Best all rounder - Golf GTI
Best value for money- Focus ST or Peugeot 308
Most focused - Megane RS
Most Practical - Octavia VRS
Most characterful engine/drivetrain - M135i

Depends on priorities!

[ZX10R NIN]

First pick for me would be a Megane RS 275 with the Cup Chassis it's the best drivers hatch & will daily with ease:

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

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

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

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

Now if you see those as a bit to hardcore go for a non Cup car they're as good as the GTI/ST

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

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

If I was going VAG the I'd probably go for the S3:

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

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

Next would be the Focus in ST-3 spec

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

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

If you're considering a Cupra I'd be looking at the Astra VXR it's a very capable car just as sharp as the Golf/Seat & very quick:

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

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

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

Mazda3 MPS

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

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

For me the M135i is more of a mini GT than a hot hatch, if you want a hot hatch then for me these aren't it but they're a very capable car.

If the above is where you're looking then also take a look at the 335i M Sport which is just as capable & overall a better package:

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

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

Or the R32:

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

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

Leftfield:

Alfa Quadrifoglio Verde

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

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

Cloverleaf

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