Genuine Search - 15k, Fun, Petrol, Manual

[EVOTECH3BELL]

Enlisting Pistonheads help as I've got Auto Trader overload.

15kish budget. Absolute max 20.
Low owners, Low miles
Nothing old (so ideally has tech like decent sound, cruise, heated seats, android auto etc)
No rust buckets. Absolutely allergic to rust.
No inherent major reliability issues that will throw a big bill
Petrol
Manual
200bhp+
No 700 tax
Commute is 11 miles of town/city. So my mind is nippy fun, short ratios type vibe not big mile muncher.
If I want outright pace or speed, il take out a motorbike.
No kids but rear seats/boot a bonus to take a German shepard Rottweiler cross
Could take a track day or two. Trip to nurburgring type thing.
Decent out the box. Don't want to spend thousands modifying to "make it right"
Mpg needs to be 25mpg+ round town
FWD, RWD or 4wd.

Extra points for limited edition type car or I'm a sucker for a limited edition colour or a conversation starter.

Previous car history includes
Mini 998cc(current)
205 CTI
£500 yaris 1.0
Clio 182
Transporter t4
Transporter t25
Transporter t5.1(current - to be sold to fund this purchase)
Honda S2000
Honda Accord 2.4 Tourer (modified 230ish bhp)
Honda CIvic ep3 (modified 240bhp)
Fiesta Red edition ecoboost
Fiesta St3 Mk7
Mini Clubman '12 1.6D (current)
Aprilia Tuono v4 (current)
Bmw Xr1000 (current)

Top of the list is currently
Mini Challenge 210 or Mini JCW with the 2.0.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024081428...

This is a genuine search, I will be buying something and I Will post results on here.

Thanks in advance chaps

[Uncle boshy]

Audi tt?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408092...

[Lefty]

GT86 / BRZ?

[RichFN2]

I had a similar brief and settled on one of the last Leon Cupra 290's I could find with low milage, 1 owner etc and it's been brilliant so far. BUT it's auto (clutches on a manual are not the strongest)and not sure if it would be top of the list for a track focused hot hatch.

Hyundai i30N?
FK2 CTR?
398 GTi with a brake caliper rebuild.
MK4 Focus ST are creeping into your top end

A clean mk7.5 Golf GTi 245 was very tempting for me at the time, slightly nicer seats and marginally nicer inside compared to the Cupra but I wanted the extra power. The Dynaudio upgrade in the golf is supposed to be very good.

[ZX10R NIN]

For out of the box options that can also do long road trips & trackdays as well as the day to day commute I think a full size hot hatch is the pick.

At 15k these would be my picks:

RS275 with the Cup Chassis:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408012...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407312...

Cup S:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407312...

GTC VXR only just edged out by the Megane above but it's the better allrounder imo:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408152...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408173...

308 GTI:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407171...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408142...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407171...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406271...

Going up to 20k & you can add these to the list:

Type R:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405109...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408142...

i30N some will still be in warranty:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407302...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406221...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408012...


RS280:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407252...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408022...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408142...

[PlywoodPascal]

15k, buy an Elise

[macron]

PlywoodPascal said:

15k, buy an Elise

Rottweiler would hate that.

Megane coupe as ZX's typically epic recommendations suggest.

[Shedding]

Fiesta ST Mk8?

[pb8g09]

BMW M235i

[Gerradi]

TTRS

[Lefty]

pb8g09 said:

BMW M235i

This is a great call

[CG2020UK]

Only because the M235i has been suggested I’ll mention you are very close to M2 money. Try the M2 forum and you’ll probably get in budget.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407181...

The M2 N55 cars are by and large pretty bulletproof so won’t throw big bills. Your general servicing will be the same as the M235i and a decent indie can do it all. Tyres and discs will be pricier. Insurance needs checked as can be brutal for some but good for others. Tax is £385.

MPG in town and city will be more like 20mpg realistically but better than some listed above (i30N, ST and RS Megane)

To track days you just need to do pads and fluid.

Not limited edition but people generally love them so starts enough conversations. Sounds brilliant stock (no idea how it’s legal) so gets nice attention. I’ve had people in the gym, at football matches and in random car parks ask me about it.

Offers loads of fun even at slow speeds as it’s just more engaging and raw than some on this list. I’d suggest DCT over the manual as just makes your commute better and suits the car better in my opinion.

If you can make the figures work personally it’s worth a test drive and consideration. Acknowledge they are pricey but probably only £100 a month more than a hot hatch.

Failing that I’d recommend a Hyundai I20N!

[EVOTECH3BELL]

Some interesting suggestions above.
Definitely not considered a TT or an M235i so will look into those.

I'd probably be flexible on the manual/auto thing.
Never had an Auto so would consider a good Auto like DSG or Dct.
Surprised no one has mentioned, Golf Gti, M140i or Golf R.
Had a run out in a friend's 140i and it really is a rocket ship but not sure how great they are out the box and they are so so common around by me. E.g. near Birmingham

Slight more background,
The original budget was around 35k so looked primarily at Mustang V8, F types and M2 Comps.
Had some work done on the house so would now need to finance a proportion to get into that amount which I'm wary of doing.

M2 wise, it has made me look at the early OG M2s so I'm back looking at those, although this is 5ikish over the 20k budget.

[tomsugden]

Try an Audi S1, they're a hoot to drive

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?postcode=N...

[culpz]

CG2020UK said:

Only because the M235i has been suggested I’ll mention you are very close to M2 money. Try the M2 forum and you’ll probably get in budget.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407181...

The M2 N55 cars are by and large pretty bulletproof so won’t throw big bills. Your general servicing will be the same as the M235i and a decent indie can do it all. Tyres and discs will be pricier. Insurance needs checked as can be brutal for some but good for others. Tax is £385.

MPG in town and city will be more like 20mpg realistically but better than some listed above (i30N, ST and RS Megane)

To track days you just need to do pads and fluid.

Not limited edition but people generally love them so starts enough conversations. Sounds brilliant stock (no idea how it’s legal) so gets nice attention. I’ve had people in the gym, at football matches and in random car parks ask me about it.

Offers loads of fun even at slow speeds as it’s just more engaging and raw than some on this list. I’d suggest DCT over the manual as just makes your commute better and suits the car better in my opinion.

If you can make the figures work personally it’s worth a test drive and consideration. Acknowledge they are pricey but probably only £100 a month more than a hot hatch.

Failing that I’d recommend a Hyundai I20N!

You're not getting an OG M2 for 15k. Not one that you'd actually want to buy, put it that way.

Can you get i20N's for 15k? Pretty sure they're also more like 20+ but could be wrong. They're still fairly new.

[pb8g09]

tomsugden said:

Try an Audi S1, they're a hoot to drive

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?postcode=N...

Great cars. I had one- and have an M235i. The trouble with the S1 is when you start comparing it price wise with the S3 and Golf R. Other than novelty factor you’re getting much less for the same money.

[tomsugden]

pb8g09 said:

tomsugden said:

Try an Audi S1, they're a hoot to drive

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-search?postcode=N...

Great cars. I had one- and have an M235i. The trouble with the S1 is when you start comparing it price wise with the S3 and Golf R. Other than novelty factor you’re getting much less for the same money.

I had one too until some scrotes relieved me of it in the night! Brilliant cars though.

[ZX10R NIN]

EVOTECH3BELL said:

Some interesting suggestions above.
Definitely not considered a TT or an M235i so will look into those.

I'd probably be flexible on the manual/auto thing.
Never had an Auto so would consider a good Auto like DSG or Dct.
Surprised no one has mentioned, Golf Gti, M140i or Golf R.
Had a run out in a friend's 140i and it really is a rocket ship but not sure how great they are out the box and they are so so common around by me. E.g. near Birmingham

Slight more background,
The original budget was around 35k so looked primarily at Mustang V8, F types and M2 Comps.
Had some work done on the house so would now need to finance a proportion to get into that amount which I'm wary of doing.

M2 wise, it has made me look at the early OG M2s so I'm back looking at those, although this is 5ikish over the 20k budget.

You said you didn't want to spend £1000's making the car right which is why most haven't suggested the M Light models & Golf etc

[robemcdonald]

It doesn’t have back seats, but otherwise meets the brief.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024081729...

[EVOTECH3BELL]

ZX10R NIN said:

EVOTECH3BELL said:

Some interesting suggestions above.
Definitely not considered a TT or an M235i so will look into those.

I'd probably be flexible on the manual/auto thing.
Never had an Auto so would consider a good Auto like DSG or Dct.
Surprised no one has mentioned, Golf Gti, M140i or Golf R.
Had a run out in a friend's 140i and it really is a rocket ship but not sure how great they are out the box and they are so so common around by me. E.g. near Birmingham

Slight more background,
The original budget was around 35k so looked primarily at Mustang V8, F types and M2 Comps.
Had some work done on the house so would now need to finance a proportion to get into that amount which I'm wary of doing.

M2 wise, it has made me look at the early OG M2s so I'm back looking at those, although this is 5ikish over the 20k budget.

You said you didn't want to spend £1000's making the car right which is why most haven't suggested the M Light models & Golf etc

Fair point.