Discussion
Hello everyone,
I am looking for some advice on buying a cheap large engined hatchback. I have always loved the sound a nice 5 cylinder engine makes which led my down the path of either a Golf V5 or Fiat Stilo Abarth....
I would preferably like it to be quickish as I am coming from a remapped A3 turbo and don't want to make too much of a sacrifice in performance terms. I am not too concerned with fuel economy as I only live 8 miles from the office so it will be mainly used for that commute along a/b roads and motorway trips at weekends to see friends and family.
Are there any other large engine hatches that anyone would recommend with a budget of around 3k? I just fancy something smoother and more relaxed nowadays (an auto or tiptronic would be nice). The cars I have so far considered are Golf v5/v6 4 motion, stilo abarth, bmw 325ti compact (bit out of budget) are there any cars I have missed that fit the bill?
Any advice would be much appreciated. (Apologies if this thread has been covered before the search function is currently broken)
I am looking for some advice on buying a cheap large engined hatchback. I have always loved the sound a nice 5 cylinder engine makes which led my down the path of either a Golf V5 or Fiat Stilo Abarth....
I would preferably like it to be quickish as I am coming from a remapped A3 turbo and don't want to make too much of a sacrifice in performance terms. I am not too concerned with fuel economy as I only live 8 miles from the office so it will be mainly used for that commute along a/b roads and motorway trips at weekends to see friends and family.
Are there any other large engine hatches that anyone would recommend with a budget of around 3k? I just fancy something smoother and more relaxed nowadays (an auto or tiptronic would be nice). The cars I have so far considered are Golf v5/v6 4 motion, stilo abarth, bmw 325ti compact (bit out of budget) are there any cars I have missed that fit the bill?
Any advice would be much appreciated. (Apologies if this thread has been covered before the search function is currently broken)
Audi S2
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=9tZV3fyPANU&fe...
http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=9tZV3fyPANU&fe...
Edited by Vidal Baboon on Monday 2nd August 14:00
Yes I would be happy with 5 or 6 cylinders just always liked the noise a 5cyl makes.
I test drove a GTV a few weeks ago and just could warrant the lack of practicality hence the desire for a hatch. If I had another form of transport that was practical I would have a coupe but unfortunatley it needs to be a jack of all trades!
I test drove a GTV a few weeks ago and just could warrant the lack of practicality hence the desire for a hatch. If I had another form of transport that was practical I would have a coupe but unfortunatley it needs to be a jack of all trades!
kenzie108 said:
S2 would be awesome but seem very rare and I would want the best money could buy which I certainly don't think would be around the 3k mark....
My mates had about 5 over the years ranging from bottom of the barrel to nice clean ones.Out of all of them they are all very similar mechanically. Cosmetically they differed vastly, but I wouldn't have said the 6k ones were twice the car of the 3k ones.
Big miles don't seem to affect them hugely, just usual niff naff. Tuning scope is quite big- Porsche brake upgrades, RS2 cams, turbos etc... And IIRC all body parts can be sourced dirctly from the Coupe/Cabriolet.
I'd rather put my 3k in a leggy S2 than a mint FIAT Coupe.
The VAG V5s are slower than the 1.8t and thirstier, they do sound nice but not fantastic. Not incredibly reliable either coilpacks and MAFs. The old Audi coupes are lovely but heavy and not exactly a sports car, more GTish cruiser. Fiat Coupes are lovely but supposedly fragile ( I havent had one so dont know if thats just rumours)
I would go for the Audi.
Actually I would go for a Quattro.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/994554.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1773017.htm
I would go for the Audi.
Actually I would go for a Quattro.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/994554.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1773017.htm
Fiat Coupes are lovely but supposedly fragile ( I havent had one so dont know if thats just rumours)
Ran my 1st one for 2 years, all that went wrong was a £20 temp sensor - would still have it if some prat hadn't written it off when it was parked up one day
2nd one had a turbo go but to be honest that was probably just bad luck. If you find a good one, they really are cracking little cars & can be reasonably practical too (I have 2 kids).
Ran my 1st one for 2 years, all that went wrong was a £20 temp sensor - would still have it if some prat hadn't written it off when it was parked up one day
2nd one had a turbo go but to be honest that was probably just bad luck. If you find a good one, they really are cracking little cars & can be reasonably practical too (I have 2 kids).I had a stilo abarth for a couple of years and loved it, I crashed it on the motorway unfortunately.
They're pretty thirsty, averaging around 25mpg on a mixed commute, they're quick but nowhere near quick enough as standard. I had mine remapped and added a GSR induction kit to get rid of the ridiculously restrictive standard airbox which put it up to 205bhp. It also made a lovely noise
Get one of the post 02 plate cars and you have a lovely warm hatch thats a bit different to the norm
They're pretty thirsty, averaging around 25mpg on a mixed commute, they're quick but nowhere near quick enough as standard. I had mine remapped and added a GSR induction kit to get rid of the ridiculously restrictive standard airbox which put it up to 205bhp. It also made a lovely noise
Get one of the post 02 plate cars and you have a lovely warm hatch thats a bit different to the norm
AbarthChris said:
I had a stilo abarth for a couple of years and loved it, I crashed it on the motorway unfortunately.
They're pretty thirsty, averaging around 25mpg on a mixed commute, they're quick but nowhere near quick enough as standard. I had mine remapped and added a GSR induction kit to get rid of the ridiculously restrictive standard airbox which put it up to 205bhp. It also made a lovely noise
Get one of the post 02 plate cars and you have a lovely warm hatch thats a bit different to the norm
Hi Chris this was certainly the plan if I purchased a Stilo, GSR kit and red dot remap, I heard this can cause issues with warning lights though have you encountered this?They're pretty thirsty, averaging around 25mpg on a mixed commute, they're quick but nowhere near quick enough as standard. I had mine remapped and added a GSR induction kit to get rid of the ridiculously restrictive standard airbox which put it up to 205bhp. It also made a lovely noise
Get one of the post 02 plate cars and you have a lovely warm hatch thats a bit different to the norm
Really appreciate all the comments guys certainly some food for thought, I have never driven a fiat coupe but I presume they will be no more practical than the GTV? Will have to ake a closer look.
The old Audi quattros are nice I would just be so wary of buying a dog thats been thrashed but I suppose you run that risk with any warm/performance car.
kenzie108 said:
I have never driven a fiat coupe but I presume they will be no more practical than the GTV? Will have to ake a closer look.
Do. The F-coupé has 4 seats that adults can actually use plus a really decent boot.The rear seats in the GTV are for small children, bags or amputees and the boot (whilst holding more than you'd think) is a joke compared to practically any other car on the market.
nobodyknows said:
Fiat Coupes are lovely but supposedly fragile ( I havent had one so dont know if thats just rumours)
Ran my 1st one for 2 years, all that went wrong was a £20 temp sensor - would still have it if some prat hadn't written it off when it was parked up one day 2nd one had a turbo go but to be honest that was probably just bad luck. If you find a good one, they really are cracking little cars & can be reasonably practical too (I have 2 kids).
Well thats good news as I have always thought they looked fantastic and sound pretty nice too. Insurance is still the killer for me though.Ran my 1st one for 2 years, all that went wrong was a £20 temp sensor - would still have it if some prat hadn't written it off when it was parked up one day
2nd one had a turbo go but to be honest that was probably just bad luck. If you find a good one, they really are cracking little cars & can be reasonably practical too (I have 2 kids).Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff