Warm hatch recommendations

[ZetecTDCI]

I'm thinking to replace my fiesta 1.0econotec 100ps with something a bit livelier. I'd consider an ST but my wife uses it as her daily driver now, and suspect she'd get tired of any firm ride, probably I would too.

A quick surf around shows most manufacturers now don't do anything warm.
I like the suzuki swift sport.
Does anyone have any experience of a new one of these, or a fiesta with the 155ps engine ?

[edit, thanks for moving to correct place]

Edited by ZetecTDCI on Sunday 14th February 10:53

[gweaver]

The latest Swift Sport is hybrid, but I think the character is similar to the previous turbocharged model (ZC33S).

Thread on those here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=17...

There are also a number of happy Swift Sport 1.6 (ZC31S & ZC32S) owners on here. Look in Jap Chat or use Google to find those threads.

[ZX10R NIN]

ZetecTDCI said:

I'm thinking to replace my fiesta 1.0econotec 100ps with something a bit livelier. I'd consider an ST but my wife uses it as her daily driver now, and suspect she'd get tired of any firm ride, probably I would too.

A quick surf around shows most manufacturers now don't do anything warm.
I like the suzuki swift sport.
Does anyone have any experience of a new one of these, or a fiesta with the 155ps engine ?

[edit, thanks for moving to correct place]

Edited by ZetecTDCI on Sunday 14th February 10:53

Lots of Manufacturers do warm hatches, telling us how much you want to spend will help with recommendation's.

[ZetecTDCI]

Budget is probably around 22k ish. Could perhaps go to 25. (which includes my fiesta trade in)
Ideally 140ps +

[ZX10R NIN]

With that kind of budget you could get a very good nearly new hot hatch.

[barryrs]

1 year old Mercedes A250?

My wife as had one for around 4 years now and the only reason to change would be for newer interior tech.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say spend less warm hatches depreciate a fair bit more than their hot hatch brethren.

Infiniti Q30 Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101087...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102018...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102028...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101188...

308 GT

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011065...

Megane GT Nav

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101228...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102018...

[4BB7]

ZX10R NIN said:

I'd say spend less warm hatches depreciate a fair bit more than their hot hatch brethren.


308 GT

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011065...

Had my eye on this car for a month or so. The price keeps fluctuating; it was originally 12,500, then 12,800, then 13,000, now 12,550. All within a fortnight. Seems a bit strange?

I'm hoping to get a GT or GTI in March for under 15,000. There's really not many about, especially the GT's. Get loads of kit for the money, especially the face-lift ver. Just hoping I drop on a decent one in March.

[jwilco]

If auto is an option, one of the last Leon FR's in the old shape is good value:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009244...

[ChrisH72]

Are you looking to stay with supermini size?

Your budget will buy brand new which I suspect is what you're after. In which case then a new Fiesta seems to tick the boxes. ST line x edition 155 looks nice and I'd call that warm with 60 in 8.9 secs. To be honest I would try an ST as well because I'm sure the new one rides just fine. I have a mk7.5 ST3 and the ride is firm but still perfectly acceptable for daily use. My wife drives it too and she has zero interest in cars, to her it's just a Fiesta.

Mini Cooper might be an option too? They're warm and you get a premium look with nice interior.

Or as others suggest you could go up a size to small family hatch which gives you even more choice still.

[Truckosaurus]

ChrisH72 said:

...Mini Cooper might be an option too? They're warm and you get a premium look with nice interior....

The latest Cooper with the 1.5 turbo engine seem quite spritely plus can be easily tuned if/when you want more power.

Another car to consider (and someone in my street has one and it looks quite good) is the current Civic with the 1.5 petrol turbo engine.

[gweaver]

ChrisH72 said:

To be honest I would try an ST as well because I'm sure the new one rides just fine. I have a mk7.5 ST3 and the ride is firm but still perfectly acceptable for daily use.

Definitely worth trying before you buy. I discounted the mk7.5 Fiesta ST after a short test drive, because I thought the ride quality was atrocious - really uncomfortable over expansion joints. The Zetec S/ST Line is much better in that regard, as is the Swift Sport.

[ChrisH72]

gweaver said:

Definitely worth trying before you buy. I discounted the mk7.5 Fiesta ST after a short test drive, because I thought the ride quality was atrocious - really uncomfortable over expansion joints. The Zetec S/ST Line is much better in that regard, as is the Swift Sport.

With a £20k budget he'd be looking at a mk8 though which I've heard rides a fair bit better.

[culpz]

Yeah, i couldn't spend all that money for a warm hatch when you can just get the proper hot version and have a much superior car for it too, IMO. As said above, the MK8 ST's ride is supposed to be more supple than the MK7, which i didn't personally have any issues with. It'll be just as usable as a daily too. I don't really see the point in a lesser version.

[stevekoz]

Not sure if i'm missing the point here slightly.

For a 20-25k budget, that would buy you a large range of "warm" or "hot" hatchbacks.

As you've specifically stated warm and mentioned the hard ride. I may be wrong, but i'm going to assume you want something comfortable to drive daily - so no hard suspension but something that still handles well?

I'm going to also make a guess that you want something relatively new (under 3 years) as well.

On that basis. I think you could still save yourself some of your budget and tick all the boxes you want -

Seat Leon FR - circa £13k

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102139...

BMW 125i - circa £19k

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012247...

Audi A3 - circa 19k

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102098...

Alfa Romeo Guilietta - Circa 18k

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012096...

Kia ProCeed GT - circa £12k

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008062...


hard to ignore the fact you could pick up an i30N for that money - definitely more hot than warm, but very comfortable in my limited experience

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011055...

Not the last word in dynamics but volvo v40 t3 - circa 18K

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102048...

Golf GTE - circa £15-20K

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202101117...

[ZetecTDCI]

Thanks a lot all. A lot of great suggestions.
I was originally thinking new, chrisH, and yes, commited to supermini size.
A Mini is one of my options, but I just prefer the suzuki and fiesta. I'm off to look at a fiesta ST now...

The 2nd hand options are mostly ones I'd not thought about: some are too big: wife's parking space at work is very tight and persuading her on anything bigger is likely a non starter. I'm also off to look for used options a bit more local to me (central scotland)