What 'warm' hatch...

[biggbn]

Ok, just for sts and giggles. Budget of @10k. Outright performance not as important as joy of ownership and fun factor.

Candidates...

Up Gti...don't know if a good one falls in budget...

Abarth 500/595c...lack of cruise control is a bit off putting

Fiat 500c Twin Air...the most powerful version has plenty of pep for me.

Picanto T-Gdi 1.0 Turbo...most sensible, lots of kit

Swift 1.4 Sport Boosterjet Turbo...huge fun, great handling

Obvious choice...Mini Cooper/Cooper S. Arguably a class above size wise, ubiquitous, fun.

Oddball left field...Honda Jazz Sport. 130hp N/a. Lovely 6 speed manual or cut box, well specced, cavernous...

Use pattern...daily driver, two of us, commute is 25 miles one way, must be enough fun for weekend blats on wee twisty Scottish roads and civilised enough for occasional 300 mile round trips...

What say y'all...hey, its Saturday afternoon and I'm bored...

[Prohibiting]

Had my Swift Sport (pre-hybrid) for a few weeks now. Great fun and I can t stop razzing it everywhere They come with adaptive cruise control as standard so good for the occasional long journey too.



£9k at the bottom end, £13k high end.

Edited by Prohibiting on Saturday 13th June 15:30

[biggbn]

Prohibiting said:

Had my Swift Sport (pre-hybrid) for a few weeks now. Great fun and I can t stop razzing it everywhere They come with adaptive cruise control as standard so good for the occasional long journey too.



£9k at the bottom end, £13k high end.

Edited by Prohibiting on Saturday 13th June 15:30

What a lovely thing, love that colour...

[Hippea]

Another vote for the Swift Sport, haven’t driven the Booster Jet one but the model before was a lot of fun

[Trevor555]

biggbn said:

Ok, just for sts and giggles. Budget of @10k. Outright performance not as important as joy of ownership and fun factor.

Candidates...

Up Gti...don't know if a good one falls in budget...

Just about..

But you'll probably have to look at a few in this budget before you find a good one.

They seem to be holding their value very well at the mo, which is great for when the time comes to sell.

[clockworks]

I'd go for the Picanto GT Line S turbo.

I've had two of them - the only time in 50 years of driving that I've gone back and bought exactly the same car for a second time.

Fast enough, every "toy" as standard, easy 50 to the gallon.

[Deerfoot]

My son has just bought a 2017 Cooper (F56) and it's great, I often find an excuse to borrow it.

I previously owned a Swift Sport (ZC32S) 2016 model and I'd take the Mini every time. The 3 cylinder turbo just has a lot more grunt despite similar power outputs. The ride in the Swift was tiring after a while also.

I've not driven the later model Swift Sport and I imagine they're noticeably better that the ZC32S but the Mini is definitely worth a look.

[Lefty]

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/20554282

Rallye is even better. If you have big feet you will need neat shoes or drive in your socks.

Absolute riot of a thing

[ZX10R NIN]

biggbn said:

Ok, just for sts and giggles. Budget of @10k. Outright performance not as important as joy of ownership and fun factor.

Candidates...

Up Gti...don't know if a good one falls in budget...

Abarth 500/595c...lack of cruise control is a bit off putting

Fiat 500c Twin Air...the most powerful version has plenty of pep for me.

Picanto T-Gdi 1.0 Turbo...most sensible, lots of kit

Swift 1.4 Sport Boosterjet Turbo...huge fun, great handling

Obvious choice...Mini Cooper/Cooper S. Arguably a class above size wise, ubiquitous, fun.

Oddball left field...Honda Jazz Sport. 130hp N/a. Lovely 6 speed manual or cut box, well specced, cavernous...

Use pattern...daily driver, two of us, commute is 25 miles one way, must be enough fun for weekend blats on wee twisty Scottish roads and civilised enough for occasional 300 mile round trips...

What say y'all...hey, its Saturday afternoon and I'm bored...

DS3 Performance:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605122...

208 Prestige:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605112...

Leftfield but a bloody good car & a car that'll get under your skin is the RS200 Trophy Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604141...

I know you said warm but these are all great cars that'll daily with ease & are special on a twisty road as well as long runs with ease.

[maz8062]

The Mini is fantastic on country roads. Get a Cooper S and not many will keep up with you on country roads. Interior is a big fall, though.

Left field choices include the Vauxhall Corsa Turbo thing. An underrated car with excellent fuel consumption. Or, if you can look past the CVT gearbox, the Yaris GR sport is a fantastic handling car.

Lots of choices. Good luck.

[Its Just Adz]

Some of the Mk7 GTI Performance with higher miles are now under £10k
This is a 3 door manual

Spend £1500 on a uprated clutch and a remap at Awesome and it will be an absolute rocket.

They are plenty quick as standard but honestly mine is properly quick now with a few tweaks.
Plenty of room too as I know you're a big lad.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202602159...

[Deerfoot]

Its Just Adz said:

Some of the Mk7 GTI Performance with higher miles are now under £10k
This is a 3 door manual

Spend £1500 on a uprated clutch and a remap at Awesome and it will be an absolute rocket.

They are plenty quick as standard but honestly mine is properly quick now with a few tweaks.
Plenty of room too as I know you're a big lad.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202602159...

That looks great value to be honest.

[Its Just Adz]

Deerfoot said:

That looks great value to be honest.

I'd agree. I don't think that would lose much money either, being a 3 door manual.
Looks tidy enough.

[biggbn]

Deerfoot said:

My son has just bought a 2017 Cooper (F56) and it's great, I often find an excuse to borrow it.

I previously owned a Swift Sport (ZC32S) 2016 model and I'd take the Mini every time. The 3 cylinder turbo just has a lot more grunt despite similar power outputs. The ride in the Swift was tiring after a while also.

I've not driven the later model Swift Sport and I imagine they're noticeably better that the ZC32S but the Mini is definitely worth a look.

I love the triple. My current F56 is a tdi triple and its been a gem

[biggbn]

ZX10R NIN said:

biggbn said:

Ok, just for sts and giggles. Budget of @10k. Outright performance not as important as joy of ownership and fun factor.

Candidates...

Up Gti...don't know if a good one falls in budget...

Abarth 500/595c...lack of cruise control is a bit off putting

Fiat 500c Twin Air...the most powerful version has plenty of pep for me.

Picanto T-Gdi 1.0 Turbo...most sensible, lots of kit

Swift 1.4 Sport Boosterjet Turbo...huge fun, great handling

Obvious choice...Mini Cooper/Cooper S. Arguably a class above size wise, ubiquitous, fun.

Oddball left field...Honda Jazz Sport. 130hp N/a. Lovely 6 speed manual or cut box, well specced, cavernous...

Use pattern...daily driver, two of us, commute is 25 miles one way, must be enough fun for weekend blats on wee twisty Scottish roads and civilised enough for occasional 300 mile round trips...

What say y'all...hey, its Saturday afternoon and I'm bored...

DS3 Performance:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605122...

208 Prestige:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202605112...

Leftfield but a bloody good car & a car that'll get under your skin is the RS200 Trophy Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604141...

I know you said warm but these are all great cars that'll daily with ease & are special on a twisty road as well as long runs with ease.

Thanks ZX, always value your input...I know there are faster cars and larger cars available for the outlay, but I love a good small car. I'd actually love another Smart Brabus, or maybe a Roadster even...

[biggbn]

Its Just Adz said:

Some of the Mk7 GTI Performance with higher miles are now under £10k
This is a 3 door manual

Spend £1500 on a uprated clutch and a remap at Awesome and it will be an absolute rocket.

They are plenty quick as standard but honestly mine is properly quick now with a few tweaks.
Plenty of room too as I know you're a big lad.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202602159...

Thanks Adz, I'd really prefer a Polo over a Golf, and I'd even question if I need a car as big as a Polo, but that is a great find

[Olivera]

MINI F56 JCW

[tomsugden]

These are a hoot to drive and can also do 40mpg

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603271...

[ZX10R NIN]

biggbn said:

Thanks ZX, always value your input...I know there are faster cars and larger cars available for the outlay, but I love a good small car. I'd actually love another Smart Brabus, or maybe a Roadster even...

It's not that they're faster, it's more about the fun you'll have with them down your twisty B Roads & with their 6 speed gearboxes & longer gearing longer journeys are also simple.

Also in terms of size an Abarth/Up are 300mm shorter than the 208 above not as fun imo & on a longer a bit more noisy/tiresome.

For me I'd forgo 30cm to have the better/more suited car for my needs.

[ZX10R NIN]

Forgot to say that if you can't let the 30cm go then it'd be the Abarth:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604241...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202602149...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604081...