Hot hatch - help me put me out of my misery and decide

[ka90]

New job means 3 days in the office and 50mile round commute. We’ve got a family car that covers practicality, so this is a second car for me.

I love hot hatches so that’s the route I’d like to go. I’ve had a few, including a Fiesta St-3 Mk7.5 MY2014 but that was too firm.

I want something fun and reliable. Reliability being the primary driver for me. I really CBA with unreliable and constant unknown expenses. I’m happy with a service plan and I guess nothing older than 2017. Budget is about £16k.

Shortlist;
- Fiesta St 200
- Fiesta St 1.5 mk8
- Up! GTI
- Polo GTI 1.8 / 2.0
- Mini Cooper S / JCW

I keep going round and round.. and round with this shortlist and really can’t settle on anything. Sensible me thinks £16k gets me an almost new Up, but the other half says that I might get bored with the power and crave something more suited for motorways too.

Edited by ka90 on Thursday 1st February 16:37

[ZX10R NIN]

I have the answer & it's not on your list.

Peugeot Sport 208 GTI:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311053...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401185...

Also take a look at the PS308 GTI:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401185...

Or the Focus ST-3 is a very good all rounder:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312064...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308170...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310313...

[ka90]

Thanks! Some more good ideas.
I keep reading a lot about those 208s. I’ll see if I can get a test drive.

[Ezra]

What about a BMW 1 series...something like a 125d?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311224...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401235...

[georgeyboy12345]

ka90 said:

New job means 3 days in the office and 50mile round commute. We’ve got a family car that covers practicality, so this is a second car for me.

I love hot hatches so that’s the route I’d like to go. I’ve had a few, including a Fiesta St-3 Mk7.5 MY2014 but that was too firm.

I want something fun and reliable. Reliability being the primary driver for me. I really CBA with unreliable and constant unknown expenses. I’m happy with a service plan and I guess nothing older than 2017. Budget is about £16k.

Shortlist;
- Fiesta St 200
- Fiesta St 1.5 mk8
- Up! GTI
- Polo GTI 1.8 / 2.0
- Mini Cooper S / JCW

I keep going round and round.. and round with this shortlist and really can’t settle on anything. Sensible me thinks £16k gets me an almost new Up, but the other half says that I might get bored with the power and crave something more suited for motorways too.

Edited by ka90 on Thursday 1st February 16:37

I'd don't think you'd be disappointed with any of those.

My order of preference in your shortlist would be

1. Mini Cooper S/JCW
2. Fiesta ST Mk8 1.5
3. Fiesta ST 200
4. Up GTI
5. Polo GTI

Here are a few alternatives from me

Audi S1

5 door
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401155...

3 door
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311093...


DS3 Performance
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401225...


Very low mileage Suzuki Swift Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312204...

[ChrisH72]

Much as I like the 208 by PS, with your budget of 16k I'd be looking at the mk8 Fiesta as its a generation on from the Pug. You'd get a 2020 ST3 with very reasonable miles and as far as I know that was the year they got performance pack as standard as well as the sleepy key to combat keyless theft. The 3 door looks best to me if you don't need the practicality.

The only thing stopping me from getting one myself is that my mk7 ST3 is still so good at what it does. Its not worth much and owes me nothing at all. And my mileage is so low that its hard to justify the cost of upgrading.

[Mad Maximus]

UP gti

Standard cars are amazing and there are almost perfect as an exciting run around. They are a tad firm but it’s a hot hatch after all. You can not possibly be disappointed with one of these and probably hold the value better long term.

[Neil1323bolts]

I would go for mk8 fiesta st, you may even get into a performance edition,if you like orange . There is one listed on AT for 16k , massive price drop on these over the last few months, I seriously considered one and was going to pay well over 20k for a low miles example, I ended up with an i20N which is fantastic, Budget creep of about 4k will get you into an i20N !

[snorkel sucker]

ka90 said:

I very briefly had a Fiesta ST but it got sent back (to Cinch) due to a couple of niggles, but I also found the ride a bit brittle.

Shortlist;
- Fiesta St 200
I believe these have a revised damper setup, that was also standard on later STs. This may resolve the ride issue . . .

- Fiesta St 1.5 mk8
These were on my shortlist but bit pricey for what I was looking to spend at the time. I think they now look like good value.

- Up! GTI
Test drove one. Really liked it, but couldn't find one in budget / to spec. Wish I'd have bought one now. Very refined, grown up but still fun - definitely try one, they are a gem. Easy remap to 140bhp too.

- Polo GTI 1.8 / 2.0
I had a 1.8 GTI - again from Cinch - that had to go back (notice a theme?!). It was an absolute lemon (£2k worth of work needed) but underneath was a good chassis, refined car but lacked a bit of sparkle, almost like it was being held back a bit. Probably be worth looking at a Golf GTI. That said, the 2.0 I think will be a good car - there's a decent lease deal on these at the moment too.

- Mini Cooper S / JCW
Owned an F56 JCW last year. Great car. Sounds great, went really well. Lovely place to be, and refined when you need it to be. I'd go for 17inch wheels if you can, 18s are a bit hard. I test drove a Cooper S before I went for the JCW - the S was great, just lacked the sparkle, and stopping power, of the JCW. That said, if I had the choice now, I'd be happy to go with the S, for those days when the sheer craziness of the JCW was a bit much!

Edited by ka90 on Thursday 1st February 16:37

[CarlosSainz100]

For something not really that suitable but will be a massive laugh, what about a fiat 500 Abarth?

16k should get you a good one

Or just get a Golf GTi of some description.

Or an Alfa Giulietta QV

[Belle427]

Golf Gti performance pack maybe, a Stage 1 remap if you fancied a bit more power makes them a quick car.

Edited by Belle427 on Friday 2nd February 08:32

[ka90]

Really appreciate all the responses, thanks!
I’ll go away and do some reading and thinking.

[Rowe]

Hothatch.... surely the only sensible answer is something like the following: https://www.performanceonly.co.uk/flame-red-renaul...

[keo]

Ezra said:

What about a BMW 1 series...something like a 125d?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311224...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401235...

We have very different opinions of what a hot hatch is!

For me I’d be going MK8 Fiesta ST or the Megane posted. Another option could be a Subaru BRZ/ Toyota GT86 they aren’t a hot hatch but if you don’t need the practicality they drive really well.

[snorkel sucker]

CarlosSainz100 said:

For something not really that suitable but will be a massive laugh, what about a fiat 500 Abarth?

16k should get you a good one

If you are doing any sort of commuting that involves going near a motorway or dual carriageway, I'd not bother - unless you enjoy being worn down to a shell of a person by the noise, hard ride, rubbish stereo, naff driving position and fit and finish of a tin can.

If your commute involves 20 minutes of driving on a smooth b-road then go for it.

[ka90]

I don’t think diesel 1 series is for me. Think the Abarths are fun and quirky, but put off by the firmness of the ride which I’ve been told is worse than the Fiesta I had.
Im happy to give up some of the focused feel for a l more compliant ride too.

[J1990]

georgeyboy12345 said:

Here are a few alternatives from me

Audi S1

5 door
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401155...

3 door
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311093...

I had absolutely no idea the S1 had become so cheap, I can't help but love these. Never driven one but I was a passenger on a rather spirited drive and that was enough to put this at the top of my favourites list for a hot supermini. I only wish it was available with a digital dash/cockpit but I've never seen one and imagine the retrofit would be rather pricey!

I'd say this is the best suggestion on the thread so far and, for the budget/reqs, very hard to beat.

[ZX10R NIN]

ka90 said:

I don’t think diesel 1 series is for me. Think the Abarths are fun and quirky, but put off by the firmness of the ride which I’ve been told is worse than the Fiesta I had.
Im happy to give up some of the focused feel for a l more compliant ride too.

If the ride is more important then I'd go to the next segment up & test drive the Focus ST.

[captain.scarlet]

keo said:

Ezra said:

What about a BMW 1 series...something like a 125d?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202311224...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202401235...

We have very different opinions of what a hot hatch is!

For me I’d be going MK8 Fiesta ST or the Megane posted. Another option could be a Subaru BRZ/ Toyota GT86 they aren’t a hot hatch but if you don’t need the practicality they drive really well.

I'm glad someone else has mentioned Toyota.

I would in the alternative suggest a Fiat/Abarth 500 of some description as even as a standard car, I've found them to be punchy and great fun. Just that traditional simple setup of a nimble car with an all-important manual gearbox.

Having something of a Japanese/Toyota bias as of late, I'd be minded to consider a Yaris if I were in the OP's position, specifically the Toyota Yaris GRMN.

My own reading and consideration of reviews suggest it does perform better than the GR.

The GRMN comes within budget and with a manual gearbox whereas the GR does not (at least I haven't found any.

I also consider the interior cabin space and build quality given you're going to be sat in it, potentially in traffic. Toyotas are generally better equipped.

It'll last longer, retain its value and be more sellable in future. It is a Toyota after all.

Here's one example for sale:

I just found my dream car... Search for yours https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312084...

[CG2020UK]

Me and my wife both had a Peugeot 208 GTI for a similar commute.

We got 40mpg, amazing spec and really reliable.

It’s more comfortable than your list apart from the Polo GTI. It drives better than all except the Fiesta ST where it is marginally behind due to steering being lighter. Would be the quickest on a track day or B road certainly.

Negatives are steering wheel is small and not everyone’s cup of tea but remember you look over it not through it. Also exhaust drone at fast lane motorway speeds is tiring. Music speakers are pretty poor.

However for commutes of that distance I’d definitely try and step up size to the Focus ST or Megane RS size especially with your budget! They aren’t quite as chuckable but are noticeably nicer to live with on a decent commute.

Highly recommend a Peugeot 308 GTI!

https://youtu.be/wMUlPRvkdys?si=eNqqI7pfayIk0-3m