[Closed] What Car track world

Leon Cupra? Bit of a rariety vs the GTI and ST. Otherwise a Beemer 1 series? Not sure how much the 130s etc are but they certainly don't hang about. Skoda Octavia vRS if you want something a touch bigger? Go a year or two older and get an S3? Someone will suggest a Mazda 3 MPS but Mazda don't know how to do interiors. Or a FN shaped Type R. Lovely interior and big boot...

Leon Cupra isn't a bad shout. If you avoid the stupid body kit version they are fairly discreet too.

I wouldn't mind sticking with a SEAT as my FR has been a pretty decent car and you get a lot more for you money S/H compared to a Golf

Type R is probably a no go as I'd like 5 doors.

1 series gives me some ideas

Lots of good value Cupras around.

Anyone know what the real world fuel economy is like?

Doesn't matter I'm just bored

I had a ST, love love loved it. No idea what engine the newer ones have, mine had the 2.5 Turbo, and whilst the 5 cylinder rumble was pure joy...it did like a drink and I'd often average mid-twenties on the mpg side of things.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but the GTi has a 4 cyl 2.0 turbo - which i'm assuming will be a lot less thirsty than the ST. Wont have the same rumble/howl though...

My mate has a (mapped) ST and gets mid/low twenties most of the time. My Octavia with the same engine as the mk5 GTI averages mid 30s.

I'd guess real world in the Cupra would be halfway between the above figures.

Heres another thought... mk5 R32? Bit thirsty but V6, 4WD and really well built. Plus looking at the prices of mk4 R32s, it'll hold its value incredibly well.

R32's are a bit special for a hot hatch. I've driven an A4 with that engine and its an absolute peach.

Fuel economy will be pretty bad though and I imagine servicing costs would be a lot higher

Edit: Ignore me.

[i]Help me find a replacement for my Leon FR, which has served me well for 7 years but is starting to develop some niggling issues which might lead to big bills in the near future.[/i]

Doubt the bills will cost you more than the depreciation (and loan interest if you are getting one) on a newer car. So don't use this as the only reason.

Would like to stick with petrol as the car only does long journeys at weekends

With that in mind wouldnt a diesel make more sense,as its short,commuter type journeys that modern diesel engines dont like.

With that in mind wouldnt a diesel make more sense,as its short,commuter type journeys that modern diesel engines dont like.

Its the shorter commuter type journeys the rest of the week I'm worried about.

That and I just don't want a diesel

Golf TSI?

Golf TSI?

The 160bhp version maybe

Still think after giving it a bit more thought the Cupra is the way to go.

I can even reuse my roof rack and boot liner!

[img] [/img]

I had 2 Leon's a 1.8 20v Turbo Cupra, and then a newer one that was called an FR, when they did the name change.

I've since had 2 Golf GTI's. A 2006, and a 2011.

The Golf is a better built car. Nicer interiors, better materials, and they handle better. than my Leons did. It felt like a bit of an upgrade.

I get average around 32mpg in the Golf.

Will you get a 3 year old golf for £10k? They are a £25k+ car new, and hold their value well.

My brother has the newer Cupra and gets high 20's doing short/town journeys. He gets high 30's when heading from London to Glasgow.

I had a Leon FR 2.0TFSI as a company car (same engine, but 40 less bhp) and was getting an average of 35, mainly short sensible journeys.

It all depends on how you drive, hoof it and you'll be getting a tad under 20 mpg. The DSG FR version is fab, launch control is great fun.

Earlier this year I spent several weeks looking at cars in this group, albeit diesels. I drove the Golf, A3, Focus, Astra GTC, 1 Series, Leon, Octavia & Megane. I'd kinda decided on the VW but then, on a whim, drove the Alfa - within 5 minutes I knew I'd changed my mind. It just drives so well & the petrol version I then tried (to see what the floppy-flappy gearbox was like) was even more nimble, probably because it doesn't have a big, heavy oil burner under the bonnet.

Long service intervals, reasonable servicing costs & a great warranty were a bonus (buying new) and it's been faultless so far (I've only put 4k miles on it ) but other owners I've spoken to have been running 'em for a good whole without issue.

Does it have to be a hot hatch? For £10k you'd be surprised at what you could get in large capacity larger German Autobahn barges e.g. a BMW 6-series? Older Audi RS6? Much much nicer cars that any hot hatch, may not be quite as quick, but very quick all the same and much much nicer to drive. Are you really going to be tearing around like a scalded cat all the time? Specialist servicing is pretty reasonable with loads of refurbed parts and breakers around. I used to own an older Porsche and it was as cheap to service as my wife's Ford Focus and 2nd parts were readily avaialble and cheap enough - it was a great car and very reasonable to run costwise - definately cheaper than my mates Leon Cupra R in terms of dealer supplied parts and servicing.

Its not a bad idea wobbliscott but I'm trying to move from a 7 year old car to a newer lower mileage one. I don't think that would be an option if I was to go for a prestige German saloon on my budget

Hot hatches - for me anyway - aren't really about driving around like a scalded cat all the time. They are about a good balance between performance when you need it and practicality the rest of the time - lugging mountain bikes, going on road trips, doing the weekly shop, not being a pain in the arse when stuck in traffic etc.

Nobby what Alfa are you driving?

Giulietta Veloce. Mine's the JTDM-2 170 diesel but the petrol version also comes in a 170bhp flavour and, as I said before, it's a little more nimble.

The Cloverleaf is a bit of a beast but I'm not sure you'd find one in budget.

Waiting on my Alfa Giulietta arriving any day now, bit of a change after 6 years driving a pick-up.
Went for petrol with paddle gearbox 170 bhp. Should provide some entertainment 😈

Just remember to stick it in Dynamic mode every time you drive it - I find it helps with fuel economy, honest. 😉

Do I put a filthy bike in it though?

TBH, I stuck a tow bar on mine but it has had bikes in the back, courtesy of an old duvet cover.