What’s the best £7k performance car?

[Richard-rjbph]

I’m an avid petrolhead and have a selection of (sports) cars in my garage but my youngest son has started his journey into car ownership and after initially running an EP2 Civic Sport , he’s been running a Fabia vRS PD130 for the last year. He now wants to step up the performance for his next car. Question is what next …..

His criteria is simple:
Budget: £7k max
Engine: Turbo

His favorites are mk6 Golf GTI and a Cupra K1. I’m not sure he’ll get a good mk6 for his budget and K1’s are super rare.

My suggestion is Megane RS250 but don’t think he wants the same as dad (I own one!).

So I open the question to all you PH’s please - what should he buy?

[Kingdom35]

Audi TT

[Evanivitch]

MX5.

With a turbo.

[the-norseman]

Remember when SEAT UK released the K1, all the body kits were attached at the docks, it was literally just a Cupra with a body kit attached.

Having been a big SEAT fan for around 15 years the K1 is great, the standard Cupra is also great, really tuneable.

[BlindedByTheLights]

F56 Mini Cooper s

[macron]

208 GTi

[georgeyboy12345]

PositronicRay said:

Comfy, quick and under budget.


https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312295...

That's not turbocharged. Also might be a struggle getting insurance on it. It's fantastic though, I love it.


Some ideas from me

Ford Focus ST
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312104...


Kia Proceed GT
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312194...


Saab 9-3 2.0 T Aero
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401125...


Seat Leon FR 1.8 TSI - these will remap to 240 bhp if you are that way inclined
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312144...


Vauxhall Astra VXR
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312295...

Vauxhall Astra GTC SRI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312144...

[aka_kerrly]

the-norseman said:

Remember when SEAT UK released the K1, all the body kits were attached at the docks, it was literally just a Cupra with a body kit attached. .

Did you really witness this ......

I somewhat doubt that there were people at the docks coordinating receiving and changing bumpers, side skirts, spoilers and the exhaust systems.

Also worth noting the genuine 450 original K1s weren't exclusively Cupra/R models as there are K1 diesels and 2.0tfsi 197 variants that aren't as desirable.

Another alternative to the Mk6 Golf and Leon is the Scirocco , £7k doesn't quite get a R but a well specified 2.0 TSI

[the-norseman]

aka_kerrly said:

Also worth noting the genuine 450 original K1s weren't exclusively Cupra/R models as there are K1 diesels and 2.0tfsi 197 variants that aren't as desirable.

No there wasn't, a Genuine SEAT UK K1 is a 2.0TFSI 240ps petrol.

Some dealers chose to fit the same kit to standard Cupra models and even go as far as sticking the centre exhaust and K1 badges on it but SEAT UK will confirm that wasn't a genuine K1.

How do I know this? I wrote the guide on Seatcupra.net on how to tell if yours was genuine or not. At the time I was working with SEAT UK press team and SEAT Sport in Spain.

You can put the Copa body kit on a FR TDI, FR Petrol, Even on the facelift R but its not a K1.

If you can find a diesel FR claiming to be a K1 and put the VIN into the register youll see its not.

Edited by the-norseman on Wednesday 24th January 22:23

[ScoobyChris]

Tbh, anything is a step up from the Fabia

MINI Cooper S (or ideally JCW) is a good shout as a fun car if space isn’t an issue!

Chris

[Evanivitch]

the-norseman said:

Some dealers chose to fit the same kit to standard Cupra models and even go as far as sticking the centre exhaust and K1 badges on it but SEAT UK will confirm that wasn't a genuine K1.

the-norseman said:

Remember when SEAT UK released the K1, all the body kits were attached at the docks, it was literally just a Cupra with a body kit attached.

Having been a big SEAT fan for around 15 years the K1 is great, the standard Cupra is also great, really tuneable.

By your own admission it's just a body kit, so genuine or not, it's a K1 in every sense.

[the-norseman]

Evanivitch said:

By your own admission it's just a body kit, so genuine or not, it's a K1 in every sense.

it literally was just the Copa body kit, centre exhaust and some K1 badges yes applied to a standard Cupra.

But SEAT UK do have a registered of the proper ones now.


If you want really rare you need either a kiwi green MK2 Leon Cupra R or a burgundy (cant remember the name off the top of my head) MK2 Leon Cupra R

2 of each were sold in the UK, all Cupra R are 2010 onwards with the exception of the demo one which is kiwi green on a 59 plate.

[ChrisH72]

Mk7 Fiesta ST.

I've had mine for nearly 4 years and it's very difficult to think what to replace it with.

[PushedDover]

aka_kerrly said:

the-norseman said:

Remember when SEAT UK released the K1, all the body kits were attached at the docks, it was literally just a Cupra with a body kit attached. .

Did you really witness this ......

I somewhat doubt that there were people at the docks coordinating receiving and changing bumpers, side skirts, spoilers and the exhaust systems.

Also worth noting the genuine 450 original K1s weren't exclusively Cupra/R models as there are K1 diesels and 2.0tfsi 197 variants that aren't as desirable.

Another alternative to the Mk6 Golf and Leon is the Scirocco , £7k doesn't quite get a R but a well specified 2.0 TSI

O/T,

back in the day, I did a summer job doing this in Tees- Renaults

[PushedDover]

PositronicRay said:

Comfy, quick and under budget.


https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312295...

Not sure 'young 'uns' get the sleeper / jaaaaaaag look.

[Belle427]

Have you thought about a remap on the Fabia?
180 Bhp is Stage 1 and shouldnt affect the insurance too much, should be a fairly brisk little car then for circa £400.
I was tempted to do mine but as its only my work hack i decided not too.

[CG2020UK]

Peugeot 208GTI is a smashing car!

Happily do the commuter stuff or track days.

Astra GTC VXR is a smasher and seriously under appreciated!

[ZX10R NIN]

As someone who owns a Megane RS, I'd recommend the Astra GTC VXR they seriously underrated & are the tiniest smidge behind the Cup/Cup Chassis RS Megane.

Astra GTC VXR:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401225...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312225...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312315...

Also take a look at the Giulietta Cloverleaf, they're a good car & on par with a GTI:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312154...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401015...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312044...

2.5T Focus ST-3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309141...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401205...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312235...

2.0T:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401235...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309272...

[the-norseman]

One that gets looked over quite often, Volvo C30 2.5T (same as Focus ST)

[Richard-rjbph]

Thanks for all the comments - please keep them coming.