[Closed] Hot(ish), OK warm, hatch options...

focus is a much better handling car our of thouse two, gold has a nice engine but is softer than a soft thing

alfa 147 gta must be down near that money now
what about an impreza turbo wagon?
or a 330i touring

Already have an estate car, had thought about an impreza, but worried about it being thrashed. gta will be a bit too mental I think, do they do a 5 door?

Mk5 golf gt tdi. My next car will be the 170bhp version.

I've had one of those before, should also add, this is going to be a petrol. I have an Octy with a 2.0tdi remaped too at the moment

Mazda 3 MPS?
[img] [/img]

Or, less powerful is the Sport (150bhp).

Seat Leon Cupra

Octavia VRS?

another vote for the Seat Leon/Ibiza Cupra -

Ladies and Genderbenders, the MG Maestro Turbo:

[img] [/img]

Focus is a good choice.

OK, the older Leon Cupra 1.8T has now bumped the golf from the shortlist, so its focus / leon at the moment...

make sure if you go to look at a leon you can get comfortable in the drivers seat, I never found the right position in ours, the wheel on out tdi had no reach adjustment though, not sure if 1.8t has

Only a bloody fool would consider an Alfa 147 GTA.

I'd love one though.

My dad had an Alfa 147, was good fun, but got to know the dealer far too well, at least they gave him an extra oil can at each service to make it to the next one.

Now has a Mazda 3 Sport as he was too impatient to wait for an MPS. Still no slouch, lot in common with the Focus and feels really solidly built. Only had to see the dealer because he lost the radio code.

They are all still shopping cars. Get something with character.

like...?

Go classic / old to avoid a generic hatch

Triumph Dolomite Sprint
Mk2 Golf GTi 8V / Rallye
Alfasud (should have enough rust to give space for 2 more doors)
Lotus Cortina
Porsche 944 (not quite 5 doors, but a Porsche)

Seat Ibiza FR - it's the 1.8T VAG engine putting out 150bhp.

Triumph Dolomite Sprint

One day I'll drive one again.

Used to have the ST170, cracking car. went well, cheap to run and fix, handled well and more so lots of fun! I had a 3 door version which was big enough for my bike to go in the boot! Only downside to the focus is that it was mega stiff, you felt EVERY bump! But plus side, handled fantastic! Get one! I do miss that car....My Astra VXR is not as much fun! 🙁

xr3i? if you could find a good one it must be a classic now seeing as most were wrecked by early chav sorts

saxo vtr

I'd say the Golf GTiTD. 150bhp and lovely to drive.

We have an Audi A3 with the same engine and that goes like stink, but probably a bit expensive to maintain. I love driving it though. Like a little, very econmical go-kart.

But you want petrol. Ho hum, never understand it myself. Get a Leon then, and a big hair dryer for when it rains.

Mk V Golf GTi 30 Editon. 230BHP, buy mine 🙂

Gen 7 Celica 190/T-Sport, understated, great handling and 190bhp to play with... Well worth a look i loved mine was great fun and was generaly a great place to be sat

I think the 1.8T Golf fits your criteria perfectly. Understated- remappable, debadged and you would never know. Plus there are LOADS to enable that you get a one-owner full VW example for 5k. Cambelt AND pump are essential changes at 60k/every 4yrs.

ST170 - sorry I think its still boy-racer looking and there are alot out there bought by second/third owners who have skimped on the essential manufacturers recommended schedule of service items.

Go for it 🙂

Old style Civic Type-S or Corolla T-Sport. T-Sport especially goes like **** off a shovel but drinks fuel to match.

I'm not driving a toyota!

Whatever you get it's still just a shopping trolley that's going to depreciate like mad.

Buy a secondhand big car like a Jag - if you factor in the depreciation into the TOC, then the heavier fuel consumption of a big car won't seem so bad.

Or save the money and get yourself a new bike. 🙂

Buy an old jag and look like a cockney pub landlord who thinks he has made it (private plate a must)

+1 Skoda Octavia VRS

I was looking at either a Golf 1.8t or an ST170. I've decided to go for a Golf - admittedly the aren't the most interesting car in the world but the handling can be sharpened up for very little money, easily tuneable for a bit of extra poke and the overall built quality will be better than the Focus. If you're tall you might find the driving position in the Focus cramped, most Fords have stupidly high seats and I think they average 5mpg less than the Golf if that matters to you.

No matter how good they might be now, sporty Skodas just have an air of naffness to them imo.

Old cars are great but if it's your everyday driver then creature comforts and reliability are more important to me than character....would love an old 635csi though 8)

Creature comforts and, more importantly, things like crumple zones and air bags.

[img] [/img]

Not sure of price, but an Alfa 159 2.4 diesel - 200 bhp

The Focus is only lukewarm and why you want a petrol I'll never know. Unless going above 200 bhp you'd be mad not to go for a diesel.

OR sell the estate buy [url= http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1703679.htm ]this[/url] and let the Mrs get whatever she wants!

159 is the best part of 10k still.

Skoda Fabia vRS
5 Doors,Diesel 130BHP as standard and easy to chip to around 180BHP if you need more power.

I very nearly bought a Focus ST170 last year and was a bit suprised when I test drove it..................

It was gutless and certainly did not feel like it was 170ps 🙁

All the power was in a tiny rev range and was like a 1.8 Focus until you got the rev's really high.

The Corolla T-sport is a bit the same, nice car that'll never go wrong; but all the power was in a tiny range 🙁

The Corolla doesn't look too boy racerish and if you can get the compressor version, it gives it a bit more umph 🙂

The Seat cupra range or the Golf are brilliant cars although the Civic Type R is the best car for your price range IMHO.

Get a Type R in the gunmetal grey and it doesn't look to boy racerish

[img] [/img]

Mitsubishi Colt CZT 0-60 7.2 secs.

5k should pick you up an 05 with 30-40k miles on it. Buzzy turbocharged engine, solid and fun to drive...returns 41mpg regularly, but only 3 doors.

[url= http://www.carenthusiast.com/reviews.html?mode=article&id=1183 ]Review[/url]

Skoda Octavia VRS TDI 2.0 170BHP

More boot room for bikes etc than the golf.

No matter how good they might be now, sporty Skodas just have an air of naffness to them imo.

I really looked at buying a Octavia VRS estate this time however I couldn't get over the front looking dated and those seats aren't a mountain bikers wet dream are they?

You'll be constantly telling people that its got 180bhp but all they'll be thinking is 'couldnt you have stretched to an Audi or VW'?

The Golf isn't the most interesting car in the world? But its a nice place to be and its got a air about it. Something missing in the MKV Golf IMO.

You could stretch to a 2.0T VRS Octy (actually pretty) or a Alfa 159 but you'd be looking at high-milear's and how long before the major service items need attention?

I went for a Legacy estate in the end. Great drivetrain/chassis and understated subtle looks.

I'm in the market too. I dunno, fancy the older r32 golf but all i can find are highish mileage ones (which is expected as 2004 i think was last shape). Evil fast though. New shape on is OK but doesn't look as good but might go there. DSG though.
Or a Mazda 3 MPS, drove one before, fast but i would expect it to shred tyres and i quite like 4wd. No subaru though, done them to death, fancy something different. Must be able to swallow a bike with back seats down is the only proviso.

Have you visited a Legacy bit-turbo yet?

What do you really want the car for? If its just to feel good at the lights that you can pull away quicker than most then get any of the dull boxes mentioned above. If you want some thing that actually feels more alive to drive, will actually make you want to drive well round corners, and leave a proper smile on your face whilst not giving you speeding tickets, then go rwd and some thing like an mx5.

Funkdunc- any space in the diary this week for my highlights retouching?

I ALREADY HAVE A DIESEL SKODA, NOT HAVING 2! 🙄

The car needs to take 2 baby seats and be capable of holding a double pushchair. Also need something reliable, and only have on street parking which rules out MX5s, classics, 80'shot hatches etc etc.

Occasionaly it will get a blast when I go riding / fell racing etc

Seat Leon Cupra 1.8T 180bhp.

Had one for 2 years, great cars.

Seat Leon Cupra 1.8T 180bhp.

I thought of that but then the OP doesn't want in your face.

Plus the Golf's boot is small but have you seen the aperture to get anything in the back of the Leon!!!

Seat =
[img] [/img]

Not that I am saying the interiors are dull, drab, dark or dismal or anything.

😉
[img] [/img]
Can you spot the difference?

The Leon Cupra interior is the same as a Golf or Audi. Nice leather recaro seats, leather stitched steering wheel good quality finish on the dash etc. Not a bad place to be at all. The boot on them is one of the best in class too IMPO. Had everything from golf clubs, baby strollers, futons and bikes in the back of mine.

The picture above is a [b]NEW[/b] Leon interior which are far worse IMPO.

Well all the Seat's we looked at were very, very black inside. That's one of the reasons we (my wife) chose not to get one and got the Mazda Sport instead. This was three years ago so I don't know about older models than around that time.

Mazda 3 - still not an amazing interior, but much nicer than the Seat IMO.
[img] [/img]
I particularly like the tunnel style speedo gauges - they look very 'Alfa'. And the blue backlighting is a nice touch.

[img] [/img]

NZCol - anything you need to know about R32 Golfs, let me know - I had this for just over a year:

[IMG] [/IMG]

Decently quick, gorgeous engine sound, seriously grippy and a very nice interior. It's also the only mk4 that handles - the rest are diabolical so avoid a mk4 TDI (or GTi) from your list. The R32 engine is bulletproof too - just watch for wheel thieves - I had major problems with mine.

To the OP - The ST170 is a superb car. Well specced, one of the best handling FWD cars out there, nicely made - the only let down is the engine which is a bit weedy but it's still rapid. £5k will get you a minter.

Skoda Fabia vRS - yes they are very good cars for the money but they just don't handle very well.

Only other car I'd look at is a mk5/H Astra 1.9CDTi 150PS - great handling, decently rapid, massive torque and if you want it, easily chippable. 150PS engine version is lowered and gets better brakes. I had the estate "Design" for four years (longest I've had a car!) and it really was very good. £5k should get you a reasonable one.

[IMG] [/IMG]

The handling of Seats just irritates me and I've had two brand now hire Seats break down on me. The interiors are also offensive. Worse than the Astra which is quite some feat.

I don't want another diesel estate, shortlist is still Leon Cupra 1.8T and Focus ST170

If it was me I would take the Ford any day, even though it won't feel quite so gutsy as the S(h)eat.

Focus every time. As I mentioned, they handle brilliantly and £5k will get you a very good one.

Seat handling is ropey and that 1.8T engine is just dull and sounds like a food blender.

Yeah, I'm edging more towards the focus at the moment

A small consideration, but don't Ford actually design the acoustics of the exhausts so they sound 'right'? I always remember the lovely sound my MkII Fiesta XR2 made 8)

I don't think you can go wrong with either the Leon or the Focus. Just watch for signs of being thrashed. I think the Leon Cupra has a good exhaust note.

If you get the Focus there is a little bit of the airbox which you can remove to give it a really deep grunt sound under acceleration.

mf - the current ST has some sort of acoustic "tube" in it that helps make is sound just like a uR Quattro - a very good thing!

Shame they are utterly terrible on fuel for their bhp.

Shame they are utterly terrible on fuel for their bhp

Like all performance fords, cheap components = poor fuel efficiency.

LHS - indeed. I tested one and rather liked it but spirited driving was showing well under 20mpg!! Even a Scooby can outdo that.

Got a Focus RS on order and I'm not looking forward to the fuel-bill on that. 😥

LHS - isn't it the RS500 too?

Sod the fuel bills - that'll be a hoot to drive! Tested (against the Impreza Cosworth) this month in Evo and it kicks the Scooby's ar5e - they love the Focus!

Yes, I keep telling the wife its "an investment" 😉

Subaru versus Focus? I've never gotten the 'Ford' following. Japhead here 😀

Surf-Mat - Member
LHS - isn't it the RS500 too?

Sod the fuel bills - that'll be a hoot to drive!

We had a Seat Leon Cupra - previous style - was a great car...had a bit of poke about it and just went. Got replaced with a Megane 225 Sport - that was a better car in terms of performance but it also cost a lot more.

Wife likes fast cars but hates driving them fast - weird!

Before the Leon we had an Ibiza Cupra and that was a superb car - wee go-cart...if I had unlimited cash I'd have the Ibiza with a more powerful engine - maybe the Cupra R with a chipped engine - would be amazing (in my head!)...

I like the Ibiza drive but found the Leon suffered from some understeer on some occasions...might even have been a loss of grip but it was pretty consistent. Apart from that, it was a nice car to drive...I also drove a Golf (although not as powerful as the Leon) and I actually prefered the Leon's drive...even though they are the same floorplan...couldn't explain why.

Seat handling is ropey

That's tosh that is. I went from an Elise to the Leon and still thought it very capable (after I'd adjusted to my first front wheel drive ever).
Suspension must have been shagged on the one you drove or something.
Like Mr Barton, I preferred the Leon to the Golf drive at the time.. the interior was like an Australians nightmare, but the car itself was better.

sirf-mat : very nice, yep thats the one. Borrowed one for a few days and was mighty impressed. Theres a few knocking about with 60k kms on the clock which is alright, one looks very nice. Newer shape just doesn't do it for me.
Hora-have driven but not owned a bi-turbo, we have a legacy GT already, had WRX STi but common and not great inside.
This is an everyday car, for wazzing around in , must be able to put a bike in the back. I have a 911 for fun days 🙂

I've had a Corolla T-Sport from New 54plate just done 80,000 miles in it...
The powerband is quite small 6200-8500rpm.
But the beauty of this is pretty good fuel consumption i average 35-40mpg for around town use.
its nice to drive slowly and awesome when pushed, comes with a good spec as standard.
Its as quick as a type R (raced a few) and a Clio 172 Cup (mate owns one regularly have a dice on the way to Afan) can fit 2 poeple and 2 bikes in the back, poss 3 with a squeeze...
And since Sept 2004 and 80,000 miles other than tyres and brake pads nothing has gone wrong or needed doing, best car i've owned by a country mile...
Someone bumped it about 8 months ago while it was in getting a new rear bumper i was given a 2.0Ltr focus Turbo Diesel which to be honest i hated, gutless below the turbo kicking in and then when it did it was pretty rapid until it should start to go then just died.
Guess its what your used too but i ride motorbikes too and for me the more you rev the quicker the thing should go, and the T-Sport is exactly that.
performance when you want it, economy and pretty quite/pleasant when you don't...

Goalposts have been moved for me-needs to be able to fit a pushchair in and have 5 doors. Excellent news. RS4 avant it is then 🙂

needs to be able to fit a pushchair

Forget an RS4 avant then, they are tiny on the inside.

R32 does come as a 5 door - I have fitted a pushchair in one. But if you can get an RS4 then GET ONE!!

I looked at them but none were under £35k even a few years old. Amazing motors though.

It's the excuse I need. A practical family wagon that can take bikes albeit ****n quickly ! Almost got one before but baulked at the price. Might need to do some negotiation to get this one across the line methinks. Company car though 😉

Seriously the RS4s are tiny on the inside. We looked at one when our nippers were born.

Had an old RS6 for a year, great motor and a load bigger. Wouldn't mind one of the new V10 versions.

Yes the RS4s are smaller than many big estates but there's still room in there. Our Bimmer is very slightly bigger and we fit tonnes of clobber in it. Anything that doesn't fit goes on the roofrack!

RS4 is a lot lighter and more "fun" than an RS6 - yes the 6 is ultra fast but it's very heavy. They struggle on twisty stuff - I know because I annoyed the hell out of one in my mk4 R32 Golf - RS6 is MUCH quicker in a straight line but this was windey B roads where it was as agile as an oil tanker. The RS4 is a much better drivers car.

Renault Clio V6

no rear seets so the lack of an extra 2 doors to get at them isn't an issue, leave the kid at home :-p

Mk5 Golf GT Sport 1.4TSI

The RS4 is a much better drivers car

Completely agree on that.