10 to 13k for a diesel hot hatch - Page 1 - Car Buying

PistonHeads » Gassing Station » General Gassing » Car Buying

10 to 13k for a diesel hot hatch

My Profile My Preferences My Mates

Search My Stuff

What's New 3 12 24 72

OP Posts Only

Author

Discussion

Buffman

Original Poster

2 posts

83 months

[report]

[news]

Sunday 13th October 2019

Got a car conundrum so would appreciate pistonheads help

So my current situation :

Car: suzuki sx4 2010, 1.6 diesel circa 90bhp, 125k miles
Broke down today with broken selector cables which ive had done before (cost circa 300£ and done by a crap garage. I now know a good independent)

What it needs done (ASAP)
Service + wheels changed over to owned winter tyres. Estimate £3 to 400
Gearbox selector linkage estimate £200 to £300
Oil leakage circa £100 (guess)

It is currently also leaking engine oil (onto the coolant bay) and the oil light has come on. Need to drive it 250 miles back home on Monday

Im in two minds wether to drive it to WBAC / similar or have my trusted independent look over it. Likelyhood is i will want to change next year as id like something reliable, or change ASAP.

Mrs drives a fiat panda 2011 with 125k miles which she uses irregularly so i can use that for a week or so to work if needs be. She doesnt drive for work/ does very low mileage in it (circa 3k)

I have 4 years no claims and never bought a car before (inherited my current one)

My requirements
I Drive circa 16 to 18k a year. Commute is 30miles each way (30ish mins on a good run and probably 28 miles of which is motorway/dual carriageway)
Like the size/length of hatchbacks (particularly due to my houses drive layout so similar to my current 4.3m length)
Want it to be reliable and will probably keep this car for 5+ years / until 150k+ miles of possible
50mpg or better would be nice (or better)
Want 3 years old or under (my company car scheme requires under 6 years old if i get promoted next year but they're fairly flexible on this)
Leather/part leather /decent spec
Air conditioning
If it was within 100 miles of Warwick that would be nice but can travel
Budget 10 to 13k and would like to maximise value for money /bang for buck (eg could pay 13.5k ish for better model). Will be paying cash(unless there's good finance which i can pay off with no cost).
Do a 350 mile trip to Glasgow up to 4 times a year, plus trips to Northumberland.

Nice to haves
Automatic gearbox if its not likely to cost much more /throw up issues?Whats the impact like to fuel economy? Do pistonheads recommend DSG gearboxes?
Circa 180 bhp (my current motor is circa 100bhp so might not make a big deal if its say 150 bhp rather than 180?). Ive driven a 200 bhp Toyota rav4 auto hybrid and liked it, similarly a 460bhp mustang GT... (i cant afford these ofc)
Adaptive cruise control
Android auto
Heated screen for winter, may be better than my current car which is slow to heat up.
Comfortable to sit in (ive previously sat in a mates leon fr for circa 500miles and liked it)
5 doors
Not keyless entry if its likely to be stolen (this is driven around Birmingham.. ) this puts me off focus ST diesel which i think is keyless and easy to steal?
New car considerations
Frontrunner
Seat leon FR 2.0 - 150 or 184bhp. Decent 184bhp model with circa 30k miles/2 years old looks around 13k

I believe its only 2017 models that have android auto / 2017 models have been refreshed (altho this means £145 road tax rather than £30 for 2016 models..)

Others
Volvo v40 D4 R design (190bhp)
Dont really like the handbrake being on the passenger side on this, plus the screen is small amd and seems fairly low headroom? (only sat in back of one)

Golf 2017 or newer (adaptive cruise plus android) - dont think i could afford same spec as seat leon equivalent?

Ford focus 2.0 - can get 150bhp and 184bhp. Can get a good model for 2years old/30k miles/leather spec for 12kish
Lots of these in zetex spec/red/black wheels look a bit chavvy? Some good spec titanium x models with leather seats.

Can get similar ST models for 13.5kish with good specs/seatsST models - worry they would get stolen which puts me off them

Alfa romeo giulietta (circa 160bhp). Circa 2 years old/30k miles
Concerned reliability isnt great on these

Mini cooper s diesel
Would the mpg/depriciation/cost be similar from these?

Mazda 3 - seen quite a few fairly cheap 2016 models but looks a bit long for me plus no android

Bmw 320d?
Are automatic boxes better in bmws than other manufacturers? Likely to throw up many issues?

Example motors :

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2019...

Edited by Buffman on Sunday 13th October 13:01

Pistonheader101

2,206 posts

136 months

[report]

[news]

Sunday 13th October 2019

The bmw zf8 gearboxes are amazing

ninjag

1,878 posts

148 months

[report]

[news]

Sunday 13th October 2019

F11 330d Touring would tick a lot of v boxes. Pretty effortless on the motorway, lots of performance and can also be very economical when wanted.

Edited by ninjag on Sunday 13th October 15:38

anonymous-user

83 months

[report]

[news]

Sunday 13th October 2019

I have the Leon FR 184. It ticks all my boxes. 580 miles to a tank, pretty good progress through the gears. Lots of toys as well. Seem to hold their value quite well as well. Plenty of room for a family as well. Servicing costs are fine.

meatballs

1,140 posts

89 months

[report]

[news]

Sunday 13th October 2019

Pistonheader101 said:

The bmw zf8 gearboxes are amazing

The 320d would be good for the kind of mileage you are doing, the autobox is good and relaxing (but can be found on lots of other manufacturers and for good reason as it's great).

I wouldn't call it a hot hatch though.

ZX10R NIN

30,523 posts

154 months

[report]

[news]

Sunday 13th October 2019

Toyoda

1,577 posts

129 months

[report]

[news]

Monday 14th October 2019

There was a Powershift version of the Focus ST diesel but I gather they're very rare.

Sc0tchland

448 posts

110 months

[report]

[news]

Monday 14th October 2019

Why do so few BMW's come with cruise control?

Buffman

Original Poster

2 posts

83 months

[report]

[news]

Tuesday 15th October 2019

ZX10R NIN said:

I don't think you'll find an actual diesel hot hatch but you will find a capable diesel hatch, the ST comes to mind but it's not auto:

Wow thanks for your help

Following a test drive of the below today (which you also linked) I'm keen for a 184BHP automatic FR or Excellence model. Need to find one (nearish) to me ideally.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2019...

The one I went to test drive had different tyres, all of different brands (generally low spec/unkown brands) and quite a lot of scratches to the bodywork,damage to the rear seats and kerbed alloys. Serviced at 18k and 28k (now). It was also sold to Evans halshaw as the owner couldnt afford it so it concerned me its not been looked after properly thus I walked away..... I may consider it if they dropped circa £1k off the price but I'm concerned its been hooned around on a low budget and not maintained well which may lead to mechanical failure

I think A well specced Excellence model would be up my street as it's a bit of a "sleeper" in that it doesnt look sporty but also has the convenience of keyless entry.

Trouble is finding one on autotrader at 184bhp + DSG.

Any finds welcome!

Nickbrapp

5,277 posts

159 months

[report]

[news]

Tuesday 15th October 2019

I had a seat Leon FR 184 DSG

It was a great car, mine was a 2014 and has ACC, lane assist, winter pack, Pan roof, the half leather half sweue seats, high beam assist, seat sound etc

Very refined and nothing went wrong, ACC made it effortless to drive, however as the pre facelifts lack the EPB you can’t let the car bring you to a stop, hold it on the brakes and then move you off again like you can in a Golf Gtd of the same age, in the new Leon you can do this though.

It was a good engine, very punchy from 30 onwards. Smooth gearbox, I had mine mapped to 230bhp.

I would recommend the facelift to anyone, although a golf GTD is a nicer car to be inside it’s not leagues ahead.

Saying that I now have a a3 with the 1.5TFSI engine and I would say it feels just as punchy in the mid range so I’m sure the 150 Leon TDI would be fine.

ZX10R NIN

30,523 posts

154 months

[report]

[news]

Tuesday 15th October 2019

Buffman said:

lawyered07

86 posts

109 months

[report]

[news]

Tuesday 15th October 2019

The wife has a 2017 Leon. Think it's an excellence technology (or something like that) but it's the eco tsi 1.4 petrol with 150bhp. Had it since new. Done 30k now and no problems so far, not even tyres need changing yet which seems pretty astonishing.

Easily get 50mpg on motorway runs and it's reasonably quick. Decent spec too and the led headlights are insanely good

ilikejam

1,229 posts

145 months

[report]

[news]

Wednesday 16th October 2019

Just because I've seen Mazda mentioned a couple of times, I've just picked up a 2017 Mazda6 Sport Nav Tourer for just over £11k with the 2.2d engine.

The 2.2d comes in 148 and 175bhp variants, so if you do look at that engine try to find the higher one! Remappable to 230ish apparently, which I plan to test out fairly soon...

ETA: Another thing I found out is that any Mazda with the 'MZD Connect' MMI can have Android/Apple Car Play retrofitted by a dealer for under £300 (including adding extra USB ports). It doesn't bother me that much but if it's a big deal to some it is possible.

Edited by ilikejam on Wednesday 16th October 09:06

Alfa Pete

472 posts

255 months

[report]

[news]

Friday 18th October 2019

Currently looking at cars with a similar brief but slightly higher budget.
I currently have a Golf GTD.
Cars that I’ve been interested in include Leon FR, Mazda 3 2.2 Sport Nav, Octavia VRS and Mini Clubman Cooper D or SD.
I’ve ruled out another GTD as fancy a change and much more costly than the equivalent Leon.
Octavia isn’t much cheaper than the GTD.
Mazda nice but a bit dull.
So I think I’m going with the Clubman.
Off to test drive one today........
I did try a Leon and did like it and certainly good vfm.
Just too similar to my Golf to feel like much of a change.
I also considered a 320d but I’ve had one of them before and my preferred touring form was out of my budget.

OP Posts Only

Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff

Posting Rules