4 door fun hatch for £19k

[Skipppy]

I’m looking for practical fun on four wheels for £19k or thereabouts… the requirements are-

4 doors
No older than 2016/17
Less than 60k miles
Has to be small-ish due to parking some constraints
Use is just personal, but I do need reliability (who doesn’t?!)

So far I’ve considered-

Audi s3
BWM 140i
Golf R
Mercedes A45

I’m leaning towards the s3, have driven one and seen a couple already. Viewing / driving a 140i on Monday. Is there anything I’m missing that I should also consider in this bracket?

Anyone been in the same situation? What did you go for?

Thanks!

[lee1610]

Megane 300 trophy or megane 280, proper fun car that ticks a lot of boxes. Had both and would own again.

The b58 in the m140i is class

Had a few s3/golf r’s and for me they lack the fun side of things personally.

Possibly a type r if you don’t mind the looks, meant to be a class car

[Tony_T]

I’d go mk7.5 gti with the performance pack.

[thetapeworm]

Maybe not Germanic enough but what about an i30N?

Leon Cupra 290?

Focus ST?

A35 AMG? (You've said A45 which would be my default but you might get a newer A35)

Megane RS?

[Glenn63]

For engine M140, for handling Megane, best combo of both probably newest civic you can get for that cash.

[ZX10R NIN]

308 GTI:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504141...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504131...

RS 280:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504081...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504141...

Type R:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504010...

i30N:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504071...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503170...

Not as much of a drivers car as the above but they're a car I'd take over an S3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308251...

M140:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503190...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501248...

Leon 290:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504091...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Sunday 20th April 11:51

[the-norseman]

Leon Cupra 280/290/300 if your looking at Golf R etc.

[White-Noise]

I went with the golf gti. No 4wd to worry about, good residuals, less theft risk and adaptive cruise control as standard. It may be a bit boring for some so maybe that's where a megane would come in.

[Boringvolvodriver]

Every one should have had at least one Alfa - this will fit the bill with change!

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503250...

It’s the one I would have had if it had been on the company car list - the 170 TCT version I did have was plenty of fun and I wish I could have kept it when I left the company.

[the-norseman]

Boringvolvodriver said:

Every one should have had at least one Alfa - this will fit the bill with change!

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503250...

It’s the one I would have had if it had been on the company car list - the 170 TCT version I did have was plenty of fun and I wish I could have kept it when I left the company.

I've got the 150 (same as 170 just detuned) with manual box, would of liked a QV but I wanted manual and as new as possible (they only did manual in the early QV).

[macron]

lee1610 said:

Megane 300 trophy or megane 280, proper fun car that ticks a lot of boxes. Had both and would own again.

The b58 in the m140i is class

Had a few s3/golf r’s and for me they lack the fun side of things personally.

Possibly a type r if you don’t mind the looks, meant to be a class car

Megane or Civic are far more interesting driver's cars than a competent but incredibly dull S3.

[RichFN2]

I was in a similar position and went for a late Leon Cupra. Effectively a FWD Golf R which is 100kg lighter, the vaq diff is really good at putting the power down. More playful and fun on a b road than it's 4WD cousins but I can see the appeal.

I have seen a few Megane 280/300 in person and I think they look fantastic, I parked next to one and they are definitely wider than a Cupra/R/S3 if that's an issue.

I drove an i30n which was a good steer but lacked the overall punch of the Cupra, I also preferred the infotainment system and adaptive dampers in the Cupra.

[lee1610]

RichFN2 said:

I was in a similar position and went for a late Leon Cupra. Effectively a FWD Golf R which is 100kg lighter, the vaq diff is really good at putting the power down. More playful and fun on a b road than it's 4WD cousins but I can see the appeal.

I have seen a few Megane 280/300 in person and I think they look fantastic, I parked next to one and they are definitely wider than a Cupra/R/S3 if that's an issue.

I drove an i30n which was a good steer but lacked the overall punch of the Cupra, I also preferred the infotainment system and adaptive dampers in the Cupra.

Agree with the megane, I had a 300 trophy in liquid yellow, had recaros, Bose, car play etc.

I added some grams springs, airtec intercooler and a map at engine dynamics.

Class car and I’d have another one day

[andy43]

5 doors, bigger, heavier (but it’s got great 360 parking cameras) - you’d get a 17/18 plate Kia Stinger GTS just out of warranty - 360 bhp twin turbo V8 and 8 speed auto, rwd, tuneable and comes with every bit of kit you could want.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504101...

[ajguk]

andy43 said:

5 doors, bigger, heavier (but it’s got great 360 parking cameras) - you’d get a 17/18 plate Kia Stinger GTS just out of warranty - 360 bhp twin turbo V8 and 8 speed auto, rwd, tuneable and comes with every bit of kit you could want.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504101...

...V6

[the-norseman]

andy43 said:

5 doors, bigger, heavier (but it’s got great 360 parking cameras) - you’d get a 17/18 plate Kia Stinger GTS just out of warranty - 360 bhp twin turbo V8 and 8 speed auto, rwd, tuneable and comes with every bit of kit you could want.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504101...

400+ bhp with a tune.

[andy43]

ajguk said:

andy43 said:

5 doors, bigger, heavier (but it’s got great 360 parking cameras) - you’d get a 17/18 plate Kia Stinger GTS just out of warranty - 360 bhp twin turbo V8 and 8 speed auto, rwd, tuneable and comes with every bit of kit you could want.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504101...

...V6

Oops wishful thinking