Hot hatch up to 7k

Author
Discussion

sam.rog

Original Poster:

905 posts

85 months

Monday 29th January
quotequote all
Having just sold my subaru legacy I’m now in need of its replacement.
I’m looking for a medium sized hot hatch with a maximum budget of 7k. It needs to be pretty special for me to spend that. I sold my legacy as I didn’t like having 10k in a car. So cheaper the better.

It needs to be practical and have isofix for a big child seat. I’m open to 3 or five door as we will use my tesla for 90% of the family duties but needs to be practical enough for the 10%.
It will probably do less than 5k a year.
Also not a ruinous money pit. I can do the basics to mid level maintenance and repairs my self but don’t want something fragile that needs a lot of specialist tools or labour etc

Current thoughts are a civic type r fn2 or a mk5 golf r32.
The ridiculous tax of the golf and the fact a good one is probably over my £7k budget puts me off.
Horror stories of a harsh ride and rusty rear subframes are acting against the type r.

Anything I’m missing? Or a must have at this price?
It seems 7k doesn’t get you a lot these days. Also cheaper the better.


CG2020UK

2,011 posts

47 months

Monday 29th January
quotequote all
Peugeot 208 GTI, Fiesta ST, Astra GTX VXR, RS Megane 250 are all crackers and be better in every way.

Mad Maximus

473 posts

10 months

Monday 29th January
quotequote all
There isn’t a lot on the market for that sort of budget that fits. Maybe consider going semi classic like a Leon cupra R 1.8T

georgeyboy12345

3,641 posts

42 months

Monday 29th January
quotequote all
Out of your two choices, I'd go for the Civic Type R.

Here are some ideas

Alfa Romeo Giulietta 1750 TBi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310062...


Ford Focus ST mk3
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401195...

or a mk2 on the same mileage for a fair bit less
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401215...


Cheap mk5 Golf GTI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401275...


Renaultsport Clio 197 from a private seller, it's been up a while so bid him and bag a bargain
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312285...


Vauxhall Astra VXR
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206206...



sam.rog

Original Poster:

905 posts

85 months

Tuesday 30th January
quotequote all
CG2020UK said:
Peugeot 208 GTI, Fiesta ST, Astra GTX VXR, RS Megane 250 are all crackers and be better in every way.
I’ve ruled out the 208 and fiesta as being too small.
Astra will be rough for my budget and the brakes if they need replacing are very expensive.
Same for the megane. All the ones in my budget look rough and have moon mileage. Plus I'm not sure how robust french engineering is once they get on a bit.

soad

33,444 posts

183 months

Tuesday 30th January
quotequote all
A supercharged EP3 CTR? wink

Probably closer to £10k now.

culpz

4,930 posts

119 months

Tuesday 30th January
quotequote all
Mad Maximus said:
There isn’t a lot on the market for that sort of budget that fits. Maybe consider going semi classic like a Leon cupra R 1.8T
Really? 7k gets you alot of decent hot-hatch that shouldn't be ruinous to run. Even 5k will get you sommat good, which was my budget.

Top end of budget, MK7 Fiesta ST is probably the all round best you can get. A Clio 200 EDC is a good leftfield choice but is a dual-clutch gearbox only. Megane 250 is the best to drive. Pretty solid cars but think like the big cambelt services are expensive and do require specialist tools.

Going for something around 5k, you've got MK5 Golf GTI, which is probably better than an R32 but not as special. Less to go wrong though. Focus ST is what I went for but ended up with a dog. I now have an FN2, which I do recommend, but I still really miss the Ford

Cambs_Stuart

3,115 posts

91 months

Tuesday 30th January
quotequote all
Mazda 3 MPS? The facelift version was made until 2012. Well equipped, LSD, 5 doors, and good power to weight ratio. No idea if they rust as badly as an MX5 though....

sam.rog

Original Poster:

905 posts

85 months

Saturday 3rd February
quotequote all
Ended up buying a fn2 civic type r.
Found a decent milage championship white edition not too far away.
Picture in a carpark where we stopped for lunch and my son to have a play in the park.


First impressions are very positive. The ride is a lot better than the internet tells you. Over speed bumps and pot holes its firm but once going its better than my Tesla MY.
The LSD makes it handle better than any fwd car I’ve ever driven.
Enough power to be able to use it all without fear of losing your licence and still feel exiting.
Steering is very good and much better than the ep3.
Engine, gearbox and the LSD really are sublime.

Few bits and bobs like trim pieces need replacing or reattaching. The interior needs a very thorough clean as who wants to sit in someone else’s farts, coughs and sweat.


CG2020UK

2,011 posts

47 months

Saturday 3rd February
quotequote all
sam.rog said:
Ended up buying a fn2 civic type r.
Found a decent milage championship white edition not too far away.
Picture in a carpark where we stopped for lunch and my son to have a play in the park.


First impressions are very positive. The ride is a lot better than the internet tells you. Over speed bumps and pot holes its firm but once going its better than my Tesla MY.
The LSD makes it handle better than any fwd car I’ve ever driven.
Enough power to be able to use it all without fear of losing your licence and still feel exiting.
Steering is very good and much better than the ep3.
Engine, gearbox and the LSD really are sublime.

Few bits and bobs like trim pieces need replacing or reattaching. The interior needs a very thorough clean as who wants to sit in someone else’s farts, coughs and sweat.
Looks great mate!