Hot Hatches under 5k

[abmago]

Hello mates, newbie in the whole driving world here

As a new driver at 23 i am looking forward to buy my first car and i wanted to see what's the best i can find for my budget.
I know the question has probably been asked plenty of times but i would love some advice from you for some hot hatchbacks/fun cars under 5k, 5 doors would be ideal but 3 is fine as well.
I really value reliability as well, so even if the car is not blistering fast but it's reliable, confortable and a good all around everyday drive it's a good pick for me

Thanks for the help

[msportpanda]

abmago said:

Hello mates, newbie in the whole driving world here

As a new driver at 23 i am looking forward to buy my first car and i wanted to see what's the best i can find for my budget.
I know the question has probably been asked plenty of times but i would love some advice from you for some hot hatchbacks/fun cars under 5k, 5 doors would be ideal but 3 is fine as well.
I really value reliability as well, so even if the car is not blistering fast but it's reliable, confortable and a good all around everyday drive it's a good pick for me

Thanks for the help

Congrats on passing!

Have you tried any insurance quotes so far as that will probably be the biggest barrier to entry on normalish hot hatches.

If insurance isn't too bad; Golf Gti or Civic Type R would be at the top of my recomended list. Strong bias as I've owned a GTi and had the chance to drive a CTR a few times and they're both fantastic. The golf is far more livable as a day to day driver but the CTR is the more fun car on a good road.

If insurance is a bit spenny then I'd be looking at Panda 100HP or a Suzuki Swift Sport. Both really entertaining to drive, really affordable to run and insure and a good way to cut your teeth at driving enthusiast cars. I owned a 100HP for 4 years as my first car and every drive in it was fun and wasn't bad at all as a daily car though the swift is probably the more refined of the two.

[smithyithy]

Swift Sport all day long.

More of a 'warm' hatch than a hot hatch to be fair, but still nippy and a fun drive. Should be relatively cheap to insure and run, and they appear to be pretty reliable.

[matjk]

I have one of the new swift sports and it’s an absolutely brilliant little car , you won’t get one for £5k but I think the older ones are still a blast , it would be a great first car

[Dynion Araf Uchaf]

Renault Twingo Rs, there are some for sale in the classifieds. Not too bad to insure for new drivers as well.

[Truckosaurus]

A non-turbo Mini Cooper. There are literally hundreds to choose from, so good value. Modest power but decent handling.

(Perhaps budget for a cam-chain replacement )

[forrestgrump]

Genuine question, are people starting to drive much later now or are you just late to the races?

To answer the Q, as a yoof I’d wish I’d gone for large saloons much sooner. Insurance tends to be cheap cos no one has them, comfier, fit more people in, win all round.

[AngryPartsBloke]

Probably get a good EP3 type r for that money at the moment. FN2's you would actually want to own are probably over that and the same engine & power as the Ep3 but more weight probably not worth going for if you aren't looking to change that in anyway.

Golf GTI, again for that money you aren't getting the pick of the best. Mk5's on 120k+ mileage. Not an issue if it's been looked after.

A few Renault sport Clio's about, that would be my pick.

[lee_erm]

https://www.evo.co.uk/ford/fiesta-zetec-s/6652/for...

Those are great, in my opinion a far better car than the Swift Sport. If insurance costs are less of an issue the MK5 Golf GTI is worth considering.

[mikeyr]

Twingo RS are a lot of fun, I enjoyed mine and your money will buy a mint one. However, comfortable they probably aren't (ride is a little firm shall we say). And not big either so if taking passengers you'll find it limiting. Found it to be very reliable though.

I had a Mini Cooper S, a normal Cooper might be fine for a first car but found build quality not great. Okay to drive.

Just because it's your first car so insurance might be rough, I'd try to pick the warm hatch options rather than the hottest hatches. There's some Fiat 500 Sport options in your price range?

[Howard-]

lee_erm said:

https://www.evo.co.uk/ford/fiesta-zetec-s/6652/for...

Those are great, in my opinion a far better car than the Swift Sport. If insurance costs are less of an issue the MK5 Golf GTI is worth considering.

I'm a Ford fan but I would choose the Swift Sport over this. You'll get a newer, faster car for your money, with considerably better standard equipment (including Xenons, keyless entry, climate control).

[Belle427]

Clio sport is an absolute riot too.

[mikeyr]

My Clio 182 was great fun. But I imagine insurance is rough.

[scoey1001]

Have you ran any insurance quotes yet? i was 30 when i passed my test and the first year was basically the same price as being 17.

[ZX10R NIN]

I think you'll be reverting to something that's a nice warm 100-120bhp hatch as insurance will stop you dead on the hot hatch front.

[mikeyr]

It's a shame they never made a warm/hot version of the Honda Jazz, would have been perfect!

You might have to go for looks over actual power, Seat Ibiza Toca maybe, Citroen DS3? Seat Mii and sticker it up like an Up! Gti? There's some nice looking Peugeot 208s about - feel like ZX10 Nin will have good recommendations based on reliability etc.

[TameRacingDriver]

This has Suzuki Swift Sport written all over it. Sweet handling, robust, reliable warm hatch with a revvy NA engine, and must surely be cheap as chips to run. I'm sure they might have even used these as hire vehicles for the 'ring.

Clio 200 or Mini R53 if you can stomach the running costs.

[300sl-24]

Have a look at the Panda 100hp, they are a fun drive and cheap insurance

[anonymous-user]

300sl-24 said:

Have a look at the Panda 100hp, they are a fun drive and cheap insurance

This or the Clio 1.6 GT should do it, cracking motors. I had the 1.6 Fiesta Mk7 and it was awful, had to have the nuts revved off it everywhere whereas the Clio was far more linear low down in the revs. Give whatever it is you fancy, and can afford, a drive and go with the feel, fit to you and lifestyle and function.

Well done on passing, it's a mad place out there so keep your eyes open.

[MK1RS Bruce]

I reckon you must be almost able to pick up a high mileage early mk7 fiesta ST.

these things are great fun, cheap to run and fairly bullet proof mechanically