£10k (ish) budget

[r350]

Basically looking for some advice.

I am 25 yo and recently passed my test while simultaneously being approved for a car loan from a company called 'car finance plus' (anyone vouch?). They deal with folk with bad credit and alike, of which I have, unfortunately. They've conditionally approved my application and all I apparently need to do is to email over some form(s) of ID and a payslip and it's done (apparently).

Permitting this application goes smoothly (toes crossed) I'm in the market for anything quite fun to drive, relatively sporty and not gonna break the bank insurance wise. Shortlist is as follows:

VXR (09 onwards) (GTC?)
Megane RS (2010 onwards)
Ford Focus ST
Clio Sport

I have heard the VXR and Megane don't hold up too well in regards rear visibility, and yet they are the two that keep catching my eye, especially the VXR, just so nice to look at. Quotes insurance wise are around £1500-2000.

Can anyone weigh some of my suggestions up and help me out here. Thanks.

[r350]

Yeah funnily enough I have actually spotted a few Clio RS' online, although the prices have been a tad higher than what you suggest. Is the consensus that a car like a VXR/Megane RS/ST for a first car is a tad too much (money/power wise)?

[r350]

An ST-2? Are they good cars? Think a friend had an ST-2 and loved it.

[r350]

Only reason I was/am entertaining finance/loan options is at present, it would take me quite a while to put down an amount of £ outright and walk away with a car, which is what I want, as opposed to waiting months. I'll look into chepser options however

[r350]

Honestly thanks man some pretty sturdy advice in here. It's making me really pause and ponder on if I'll be worse off in a few years financially speaking..

[r350]

Spotted a few ST's on AT for around the £6/7k mark. Look really nice.

The moral of this thread, do not buy a GTC VXR then..

[r350]

Apologies for resurrecting this but was/am currently looking at a few impreza's, most notably a 2008 WRX 2.5 5 door for around £5k (since I'm trying to lower my budget).

I haven't ran an quite yet but I'm pretty sure a relative of mine is open to me joining them on their policy. Are more recent iterations of Inpreza's decent cars?