Fastest A to B car for UK roads

[Hysxteria]

I currently own an Audi TTS which absolutely eats the road when needed. Calm when required, but glues to the road when called upon. At times the steering is a little numb though. As it's a two seater effectively, I find myself needing a car with more practicality.

A car that's quick on the straights but useless in the corners makes no sense to me as you're just asking for trouble. I do not want to risk the car, fellow passengers or other road users so speed with safety is paramount.

I have several options and for those with experiences I'd like some input and opinions for the best buy. I'd like to retain the glue like feel of the audi tts in the twisties which is a fast A to B car. Whether a car has a faster time on track or not is sometimes meaningless for UK roads. Which of the below are best suited for our sometimes horrific road surfaces whilst retaining the best grip and driving experience.

Following options

AMG A45
Focus RS Mk3
Evo X
04-06 wrx sti 2.0
Audi RS3 8P
Megane RS trophy / Cup-S
Civic type R fk2

Budget 22k. Open for suggestions.

Priorities: Sound, thrills, grip, seats, tunability, reliability and community.

Do not care about the inside specs or outdated interiors. The most I use is air con and an aux cable.

[Walshenham]

My immediate thought on reading the tittle was “merc a45s”

I wonder if some of the big power AWD super saloons might be as quick to be honest, something like an RS6

[Pistonheader101]

Bmw m140i/340i

[Hysxteria]

I think weight would be a factor. The wide tyres and low center of gravity in the TTS is what I believe truly make that car a B road monster. Don't get me wrong I would love an RS6!

May I also refer you to my budget though!

[Hysxteria]

Pistonheader101 said:

Bmw m140i/340i

Given our weather I think this wouldn't be the most sensible choice but I can certainly see the appeal and definitely ticks the thrills box. Fastest, not so sure.

The rain was horrendous last week lots if stagnant water across my typical driving route. Wouldn't have fancied driving through those conditions in an M140i I'll be honest!

[Zarco]

Hysxteria said:

Pistonheader101 said:

Bmw m140i/340i

Given our weather I think this wouldn't be the most sensible choice but I can certainly see the appeal and definitely ticks the thrills box. Fastest, not so sure.

The rain was horrendous last week lots if stagnant water across my typical driving route. Wouldn't have fancied driving through those conditions in an M140i I'll be honest!

Suspension isn't supposed to be great either when pushing on. That and lack of LSD doesn't bode well.

Lovely engine though.

[Johnnytheboy]

Width would be a factor. Even a few inches width makes a surprising difference on single carriageway roads.

[Xcore]

Golf R /s3, basically the tts with a bigger body

[popeyewhite]

Xcore said:

Golf R /s3, basically the tts with a bigger body

Yep. Either of them tuned can cover English Bs shockingly quickly. Previously I'd have said tuned Scooby or Mitsi. You need 4wd turbo and susp mods, anything damp and fwd or rwd will just slither about.

[The Cardinal]

The Mk7 Golf R and 8V generation S3 tick a lot of those boxes. An 8V RS3 is probably another 20% of your budget but would tick the boxes emphatically, especially one with adaptive dampers and the RS exhaust.

[CG2020UK]

Any of the VW group AWD hot hatches with an APR or Revo remap will be rapid.

Merc A45 would be a good shout and looks great.

[popeyewhite]

CG2020UK said:

Merc A45 would be a good shout and looks great.

Never heard anything favourable about their handling... .

[Zarco]

popeyewhite said:

CG2020UK said:

Merc A45 would be a good shout and looks great.

Never heard anything favourable about their handling... .

A45S got rave reviews.

[CG2020UK]

popeyewhite said:

Never heard anything favourable about their handling... .

I’ve only been a passenger in one so can’t comment personally on this apart from it felt firm. Also bit smaller inside than the VW group cars.

It does cover ground at some rate regardless and love the interior.

[popeyewhite]

Zarco said:

popeyewhite said:

CG2020UK said:

Merc A45 would be a good shout and looks great.

Never heard anything favourable about their handling... .

A45S got rave reviews.

Did it really? I've been in one (non s) only once, it didn't seem special. Owner upgraded the suspension... .

[3454.5]

I have a Focus RS 3 and, currently laid up, a '99 UK Impreza Turbowagon.
The state of our roads now I've started to wonder whether I should put the Impreza back on the road.

[Shifter1]

CG2020UK said:

Any of the VW group AWD hot hatches with an APR or Revo remap will be rapid.

But, aren't all the AWD VAG's incuding the cheap Audis like the TTS, Haldex?

[CG2020UK]

Shifter1 said:

CG2020UK said:

Any of the VW group AWD hot hatches with an APR or Revo remap will be rapid.

But, aren't all the AWD VAG's incuding the cheap Audis like the TTS, Haldex?

Yes (Some are a bit anal and argue they aren’t really true AWD like the Focus RS is)

Why what’s wrong with Haldex in this case? Works great on U.K roads and no doubting it’s effectiveness.

[Shifter1]

CG2020UK said:

Shifter1 said:

CG2020UK said:

Any of the VW group AWD hot hatches with an APR or Revo remap will be rapid.

But, aren't all the AWD VAG's incuding the cheap Audis like the TTS, Haldex?

Yes (Some are a bit anal and argue they aren’t really true AWD like the Focus RS is)

Why what’s wrong with Haldex in this case? Works great on U.K roads and no doubting it’s effectiveness.

It's not really a case of being anal, when they indeed are not really true AWD.

Edited by Shifter1 on Sunday 23 October 23:44

[HustleRussell]

Hysxteria said:

Pistonheader101 said:

Bmw m140i/340i

Given our weather I think this wouldn't be the most sensible choice but I can certainly see the appeal and definitely ticks the thrills box. Fastest, not so sure.

The rain was horrendous last week lots if stagnant water across my typical driving route. Wouldn't have fancied driving through those conditions in an M140i I'll be honest!

TBH it’s full of computers to stop you from crashing and in terms of tyre sizes it is probably much of a muchness.