8K for that warm hatch

[F_mck01]

Hiya all,

I currently have around 8k as a budget for my next car. I was looking at clio 182/197s mk5 gtis, etc but realised that the upkeep, running costs and taxing could cost quite a lot over the next 3/4 years with the electric push as some people say.

So in light of that what would be the best car for that price which is sub £200 to tax, around 30mpg minimum and still good fun on some country roads but can take a short 20 minute commute easily.

[scoey1001]

Suzuki swift sport?

[egor110]

I'd look again at the 182's.

I've had 2 and found there really good on fuel , totally fine for commuting with cruise control and air con.

[ZX10R NIN]

Astra GTC SRI 200 is a car that ticks every box:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203113...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204124...

Kia Proceed GT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204134...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204024...

[F_mck01]

Are clio 182s not prone to the gearbox synchro issue?

[egor110]

F_mck01 said:

Are clio 182s not prone to the gearbox synchro issue?

i think that was only the 197's .

other than the cambelt and dephaser i think the only stuff that went wrong on mine was the seatbelt warning light used to have a mind of its own and the boot lock packed up , but that was replaced with a 2nd hand part pretty cheap .

8k would get you a proper clio 172 cup , if you can live with no aircon , abs it's a really light nimble car straight out the box .

I'd also look at mini cooper s , mine was actually quicker than the clios but felt a lot heavier and stable , it also drank fuel in comparison to the clios .

[F_mck01]

Ahhh okay thanks for the advice, I mean looking at autotrader it's saying 182s are £330 a year to tax and average 22mpg! But a 2012 cooper S is £165 to tax and average 48mpg so I am tempted by the mini but are they reliable?

[Jonny_gti]

Suzuki Swift Sport ZC32 can be had from about 4k to 6k for a really decent one. Some good tyres and brakes and they are really sorted little cars. mines gets 44mpg average and its super cheap on maintenance and been the most reliable cars i have owned. My other car that i recently sold was a 300hp Megane R26 for comparison and i often found myself smiling more thrashing the swift around.

[egor110]

F_mck01 said:

Ahhh okay thanks for the advice, I mean looking at autotrader it's saying 182s are £330 a year to tax and average 22mpg! But a 2012 cooper S is £165 to tax and average 48mpg so I am tempted by the mini but are they reliable?

Wrong mini , the older supercharged one is far more reliable .

That clio mpg is totally wrong , i used to wrag mine over exmoor and it would still be in the mid 30's , ignore autotrader/parkers and just go on the owners pages and ask what there averaging in the real world.

Really though you need to actually try them both because although there both hot hatches they do it in very different ways and feel very different.

[ChrisH72]

From the sounds of it you don't need a big car so I'd look for something small and hot rather than warm.

208 GTI maybe?

8k used to easily get you into the 2016 prestige model but I'm not so sure now.

If warm is okay and you want lower running costs then maybe..

Mini cooper 1.5
Seat ibiza 1.4 fr

Both of those will do 60 in under 8 secs and are 30 quid to tax.

Or you could go for a Fiesta ecoboost 140. You might even find an early ST 180 in budget. I paid 9k for my ST3 a couple of years ago but as we all know prices have gone up since then.

[F_mck01]

Ahhh okay thanks for the advice, I mean looking at autotrader it's saying 182s are £330 a year to tax and average 22mpg! But a 2012 cooper S is £165 to tax and average 48mpg so I am tempted by the mini but are they reliable?

[Networkgeek]

I wouldn't let RFL being £330 to put you off from buying a 182. For the money, they're incredible cars. I had a 172 Cup many years ago and that is still by far the best car I've ever owned in terms of bang for buck.

RFL can be paid monthly and also £330 isn't a huge amount of money when considering how much fun the car is to drive.

Maybe it's me, but I just don't understand why people obsess over RFL.

Edit -

To clarify my point a bit more - I've owned lots of Mini's over the years and yes they are cheaper to tax, but suck me sideways, they will cost you an arm and a leg to run. My r53 Cooper S every month had an issue, my R56 Cooper S had every single common fault and burned oil at an shocking rate (1L for 600 miles). My F56 Cooper S was okay, I just didn't like the numb steering feel.

Okay the 182's are getting on a bit now, but I know guys who thrash their cars on track most weekends and never have issues.

What I'm trying to say is, there's a bigger picture to appreciate when buying a car. Cheaper to tax > more expensive to run, in this example of Clio vs Mini.

Edited by Networkgeek on Friday 22 April 11:59

Edited by Networkgeek on Friday 22 April 12:00

[Canon_Fodder]

F_mck01 said:

But a 2012 cooper S is £165 to tax and average 48mpg so I am tempted by the mini but are they reliable?

I think the general view on the 2nd gen Mini is that the answer to that question is 'no'

[aaron_2000]

If road tax and fuel economy are that much of a priority then are you sure a hot hatch is for you? A Clio 172/182 is about as fun as FWD can be, the way they drive is the selling point. I'd be looking more towards something like a GTD Golf or 120d if road tax and fuel economy are massive factors, otherwise I'd look past the road tax and go for the Clio. Have a drive of one and you'll be sold on one very quickly

[F_mck01]

Thank you, I shall see if a 182 pops up for me to look at and then I'll see how I go.

[Ouroboros]

Golf Gti would be my shout.

[300bhp/ton]

F_mck01 said:

I was looking at clio 182/197s mk5 gtis, etc but realised that the upkeep, running costs and taxing could cost quite a lot over the next 3/4 years with the electric push as some people say.

Come again.....

...surely not serious

[F_mck01]

Insurance for the gti would be £1000 odd as I'm 21

[Belle427]

F_mck01 said:

Insurance for the gti would be £1000 odd as I'm 21

Pity, i have a nice Edition 30 for sale in the classifieds under your budget but it has been tastefully modifed so insurance may be a killer.
Needs some tlc paintwork wise thats all.

[300bhp/ton]

F_mck01 said:

Insurance for the gti would be £1000 odd as I'm 21

Is that good or bad in this day and age?

Have you considered looking at sports cars too? MR2, MGF, MX-5 sort of thing?