Risky prospect?

[J.R.Slider]

The time has finally come to retire my E36 and get a practical daily. The main requirements are heated seats, good handling, a torque rich power delivery and ULEZ compliancy.

I've been considering a mk5 Golf 1.4 GT sport, and the F20 114i.

Not the last words in reliability, but at this age, which represents the the more painless ownership experience.

Are there any other suggestions that may be more reliable while ticking those boxes?

Thanks.

[trevalvole]

The Golf seems to have the twincharger engine, so my advice would be: run away.

[Muzzer79]

What is the budget?

[J.R.Slider]

trevalvole said:

The Golf seems to have the twincharger engine, so my advice would be: run away.

The twincharged element fulfills a desire to own a super/turbocharged car in one package. I was hoping with the age of them the faults would have aftermarket solutions.

[J.R.Slider]

Muzzer79 said:

What is the budget?

Between 3 and 6k. At the lower end, I'd accept the car may need some remedial work.

[SteBrown91]

J.R.Slider said:

The twincharged element fulfills a desire to own a super/turbocharged car in one package. I was hoping with the age of them the faults would have aftermarket solutions.

There’s no aftermarket solution to failed piston rings murdering the block really.

Also I think the early 114is are a detuned n20 engine which also aren’t exactly known for their durability

[ZX10R NIN]

J.R.Slider said:

The time has finally come to retire my E36 and get a practical daily. The main requirements are heated seats, good handling, a torque rich power delivery and ULEZ compliancy.

I've been considering a mk5 Golf 1.4 GT sport, and the F20 114i.

Not the last words in reliability, but at this age, which represents the the more painless ownership experience.

Are there any other suggestions that may be more reliable while ticking those boxes?

Thanks.

There are a lot of good options that are both reliable & a decent steer, if you want something that's torque rich then I think you'll need something with at least a 1.6T 170bhp+.

Giulietta Cloverleaf:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404188...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403037...

Or if you can live with a little less torque then the 1.4T is a good option:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403057...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404279...

2.0T Leon FR:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403237...

Kia ProCeed GT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404028...

Nissan Pulsar 180:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402297...

Astra SRI 180:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404198...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402287...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404178...

Astra GTC SRI 180:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404269...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404158...

Limited Edition 200:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310122...

Veloster 185:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403077...

Bit of a risk but not if you do all your checks & get a Vcheck, then an inspection.

GTC VXR:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404088...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403177...

If you really want some torque then the ULEZ compliant M30d is a very good option & they're well in budget:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403207...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402196...

EX30d:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404088...

2.1d Q30 Premium:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404238...

Q50 Sport Tech:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403227...

[J.R.Slider]

SteBrown91 said:

J.R.Slider said:

The twincharged element fulfills a desire to own a super/turbocharged car in one package. I was hoping with the age of them the faults would have aftermarket solutions.

There’s no aftermarket solution to failed piston rings murdering the block really.

Also I think the early 114is are a detuned n20 engine which also aren’t exactly known for their durability

Thanks. I've always wondered if they were as solid as the b38 and 48.

[J.R.Slider]

ZX10R NIN said:

J.R.Slider said:

The time has finally come to retire my E36 and get a practical daily. The main requirements are heated seats, good handling, a torque rich power delivery and ULEZ compliancy.

I've been considering a mk5 Golf 1.4 GT sport, and the F20 114i.

Not the last words in reliability, but at this age, which represents the the more painless ownership experience.

Are there any other suggestions that may be more reliable while ticking those boxes?

Thanks.

There are a lot of good options that are both reliable & a decent steer, if you want something that's torque rich then I think you'll need something with at least a 1.6T 170bhp+.

Giulietta Cloverleaf:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404188...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403037...

Or if you can live with a little less torque then the 1.4T is a good option:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403057...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404279...

2.0T Leon FR:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403237...

Kia ProCeed GT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404028...

Nissan Pulsar 180:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402297...

Astra SRI 180:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404198...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402287...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404178...

Astra GTC SRI 180:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404269...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404158...

Limited Edition 200:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202310122...

Veloster 185:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403077...

Bit of a risk but not if you do all your checks & get a Vcheck, then an inspection.

GTC VXR:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404088...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403177...

If you really want some torque then the ULEZ compliant M30d is a very good option & they're well in budget:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403207...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402196...

EX30d:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404088...

2.1d Q30 Premium:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404238...

Q50 Sport Tech:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403227...

Thank you for this. Some really good options here. The Astra was a car I have been intrigued by, the Giulietta looks great too and the M30d... Why am I just finding out about them now?