Which 30 grand fast hatch would you buy?
Discussion
There's a plethora of new 300bhp+ fast hatches out there right now for around 30 grand but if you were going to buy one, which one would you buy? The Audi RS3 and Mercedes A45 AMG are out for me simply because they're too darn expensive. If I was spending that kind of money, I wouldn't be buying a small hatchback, even though I'm sure that they are very fast and impressive and also the lack of a manual gearbox option lessens the appeal for me.
So that leaves us with the Golf R, Audi S3, Focus RS, Civic Type R, BMW M140i or possibly the Leon Cupra and Renaultsport Megane as well? Technically it's not a hatch but in the interest of completeness, the Subaru WRX STI may be worthy of inclusion as well.
A quick poll amongst my mates puts it roughly 50:50 between the Focus RS and new Civic Type R. The Focus appealing to the ones who used to be into Imprezas/Evos and the Civic for its hero-like Nurburgring status and its track car/touring car vibe.
I haven't driven all of them. The Golf R is fast and a great all-rounder but I thought a little dull, the S3 I expect much the same. I've driven lesser Focus and 1-Series and they're very good but both platforms are pretty dated now Being PH though, I expect that the M140i being RWD may well be a popular PH choice. I have driven the new Civic with the 1.5 turbo and it's a brilliant small hatch. Great chassis, nice interior and a nice gearbox, so it has potential and I've seen a white new-style Type R and personally thought it looked fantastic.
So, if you were in the market for a 30 grand fast hatch, there's never been so much choice: FWD, AWD, RWD, 4 or 6 cylinders, 3 or 5 doors. What would be your choice?
So that leaves us with the Golf R, Audi S3, Focus RS, Civic Type R, BMW M140i or possibly the Leon Cupra and Renaultsport Megane as well? Technically it's not a hatch but in the interest of completeness, the Subaru WRX STI may be worthy of inclusion as well.
A quick poll amongst my mates puts it roughly 50:50 between the Focus RS and new Civic Type R. The Focus appealing to the ones who used to be into Imprezas/Evos and the Civic for its hero-like Nurburgring status and its track car/touring car vibe.
I haven't driven all of them. The Golf R is fast and a great all-rounder but I thought a little dull, the S3 I expect much the same. I've driven lesser Focus and 1-Series and they're very good but both platforms are pretty dated now Being PH though, I expect that the M140i being RWD may well be a popular PH choice. I have driven the new Civic with the 1.5 turbo and it's a brilliant small hatch. Great chassis, nice interior and a nice gearbox, so it has potential and I've seen a white new-style Type R and personally thought it looked fantastic.
So, if you were in the market for a 30 grand fast hatch, there's never been so much choice: FWD, AWD, RWD, 4 or 6 cylinders, 3 or 5 doors. What would be your choice?
Welshbeef said:
V Depreciation.
It was more of a hypothetical really. There are always some good bargains to be had when you compare new and used but I'm not convinced that a 30k M5/RS6 is done depreciating yet and being relatively more complex, I wouldn't be surprised for either of them to throw up a four figure or worse repair bill. Also, despite having it's own appeal (namely big power), a large, heavy automatic saloon/estate is quite a different beast to a small, compact, relatively light and simple hatch. If the M5/RS6 was 20k then the risk might be more worthwhile but a 30k Boxster/Cayman as an alternative seems like a less risky alternative. Not that you have the option to lease a used model though, if that's your thing.Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff