Which warm/hot hatch for under £6k?

[maniac886]

Hi all,

I am going to be chopping in my 1.6 focus in for something a bit faster but just wanted a few ideas as to what I should be looking at.

My criteria is as follows:

• 180bhp+
• Nothing too thirsty 35mpg+
• Petrol
• Fairly comfortable ride
• Decent looking
• 2004 reg onwards

I have 7K to spend in total but writing off 1K for insurance. As I commute using the motorway its fairly important that the ride is not too harsh.

Throw me some ideas guys!

Cheers

 

[qwerty321]

Does it have to be Petrol, especially as you will be using the Motorway.

You could get a diesel and then get it remapped for more power. Plus you should easily achieve the 35mpg as well.

First suggestion would be something like a Golf as they are easily remappable.

 

[maniac886]

Does it have to be Petrol, especially as you will be using the Motorway.

You could get a diesel and then get it remapped for more power. Plus you should easily achieve the 35mpg as well.

First suggestion would be something like a Golf as they are easily remappable.

I do less than 10K miles a year so that is why I have chosen to go for a petrol car.

If I were to go for a golf which model is best for remapping?

 

[qwerty321]

Well Im definately not an expert but from what I understand, diesels respond better to remaps.

For the Golf it would be the 1.9 TDI I imagine. Best to let someone else confirm that stuff though.

 

[Lance H]

How about a Skoda Octavia vRS MK1?

An excellent drive

 

[maniac886]

How about a Skoda Octavia vRS MK1?

An excellent drive

That's deffo a good shout but I am looking for a medium sized hatchback..around the same size as my MK1 Focus.

 

[benhaha85]

The octy is a golf with a different body, pretty similar size to the focus surprisingly, just has a bigger boot! If not the the Seat Leon Cupra should be looked at. As with the octy it's a golf underneath without having to pay the extra premium of having a VW. Turbocharged 2.0 putting out aroun 180 bhp as standard.

The diesel fr is worth a shout too. I know you said you'd rather not have a diesel due to your mileage, but the torque you can get from one of them is stupendous, and as has been said you can get a remap (bluefin probably) for around £350. A lot of petrol powered hot hatches won't be able to touch it.

 

[Solomon Grundy]

You could get an Alfa 147 2.0 with a very high spec and low miles. Probably not up to your BHP spec but ticks every other box. and is not exactly slow.

 

[maniac886]

The octy is a golf with a different body, pretty similar size to the focus surprisingly, just has a bigger boot! If not the the Seat Leon Cupra should be looked at. As with the octy it's a golf underneath without having to pay the extra premium of having a VW. Turbocharged 2.0 putting out aroun 180 bhp as standard.

The diesel fr is worth a shout too. I know you said you'd rather not have a diesel due to your mileage, but the torque you can get from one of them is stupendous, and as has been said you can get a remap (bluefin probably) for around £350. A lot of petrol powered hot hatches won't be able to touch it.

I have been inside a Cupra R....the interior quality didn't seem as good quality as you get in an Audi/Golf. I will definately take one out for a test drive.

 

[Deleted member 39001]

Right, 4th time I've tried this reply ggrrrrr:

Seat Leon Cupra R 2002 to 2005
Peugeot 308 THP 175bhp GT
Peugeot 207 THP 1.6t GTi 175bhp
Skoda Octavia VRS 2001 to 2005
Audi A3 2 litre T 2003 on
Skoda Octavia VRS 2005 on if you can find one in your budget
Golf

As said, the Leon FR from 2006, a bit above your budget but the petrol model has 197bhp and is a nice size.

 

[maniac886]

Right, 4th time I've tried this reply ggrrrrr:

Seat Leon Cupra R 2002 to 2005
Peugeot 308 THP 175bhp GT
Peugeot 207 THP 1.6t GTi 175bhp
Skoda Octavia VRS 2001 to 2005
Audi A3 2 litre T 2003 on
Skoda Octavia VRS 2005 on if you can find one in your budget
Golf

As said, the Leon FR from 2006, a bit above your budget but the petrol model has 197bhp and is a nice size.

Hi mate,

Out of that list I would be interested in trying out the Leon Cupra R(02-05) and the Audi A3 2.0(147 bhp)...shame I can't get the 2.0 T FSI model within my budget.

A mate of mine has suggested the RenaultSport Megane 225 and CTR . What do you guys think of these options? Anyone know what the rides are like, especially on the motorway?

Thanks

 

[benhaha85]

I'd avoid the CTR purely because it's a N/A engine and you have to rev the nuts off it to get any performance; you won't get anywhere near the fuel consuption you want. They're great cars but more suited to b roads than motorways.

The megane by all accounts is a pretty good car, as long as the electrics all work properly (as with all french cars).

 

[maniac886]

I'd avoid the CTR purely because it's a N/A engine and you have to rev the nuts off it to get any performance; you won't get anywhere near the fuel consuption you want. They're great cars but more suited to b roads than motorways.

The megane by all accounts is a pretty good car, as long as the electrics all work properly (as with all french cars).

Yes that was my concern with the CTR...constant revving will become tiresome after a few hours!

I am also going to do some research to check the reliability of the R225.

 

[lmccauley]

Yes that was my concern with the CTR...constant revving will become tiresome after a few hours!

CTR is a great car, and I found the high-revving more fun than tiresome. But, the ride is not great, and there are better motorway cruisers, so I would recommend you look elsewhere if those are important requirements.

 

[NewBeetle]

My sister has a megane, got it new and its been a very expensive lesson in not buying french. No end of trouble, from electrics to sensors/emissions and keycards forgetting their codes.

Everytime something goes wrong it costs £500 plus, she will never buy a renault again.

 

[Deleted member 39001]

Hi mate,

Out of that list I would be interested in trying out the Leon Cupra R(02-05) and the Audi A3 2.0(147 bhp)...shame I can't get the 2.0 T FSI model within my budget.

A mate of mine has suggested the RenaultSport Megane 225 and CTR . What do you guys think of these options? Anyone know what the rides are like, especially on the motorway?

Thanks

Sound choices there, no idea on the CTR but see others have replied. As for the Megane, bar the brand new one and the older one, I can't stand it's looks, daft, but that's my personal opinion.
They have good reviews for handling and fun and safety, but as for reliability, I've never had a Renault but I have heard some horror story's.

I suspect the Leon will be faster and is a bit bigger then the Audi, everyone seems to be buying them at the mo lol, my mate at work just picked one up for around 3 and a half k, just had a suff on the back bumper he's getting sorted.
And for your budget you could get an 05 one I suspect in top condition, I also think they did a few special editions of it, wasn't the yellow one a special edition??

 

[markonline1]

A petrol engine that will give you in excess of 180bhp plus more than 35mpg? You're having a laugh.
If you want power and economy, its diesel (mines a chipped Astra, 200bhp, 340Ib/ft and 47mpg). If you want petrol and power, I think you're gonna be looking more around the 30 mpg mark.

 

[lmccauley]

A petrol engine that will give you in excess of 180bhp plus more than 35mpg? You're having a laugh.
If you want power and economy, its diesel (mines a chipped Astra, 200bhp, 340Ib/ft and 47mpg). If you want petrol and power, I think you're gonna be looking more around the 30 mpg mark.

On motorway my CTR could manage 35mpg easily enough. My current petrol car can manage 32mpg at a squeeze, and that has 280bhp...

 

[Si80]

On motorway my CTR could manage 35mpg easily enough. My current petrol car can manage 32mpg at a squeeze, and that has 280bhp...

As above. I easily got 35 mpg in my CTR when on a motorway.

And all this talk of having to rev the thing high to get it moving is utter tosh too. The car will pull easily without even having to engage vtec (but wheres the fun in that?? )

And the ride is fine for motorway miles, it only becomes a little harsh on crashy A & B roads.

 

[maniac886]

A petrol engine that will give you in excess of 180bhp plus more than 35mpg? You're having a laugh.
If you want power and economy, its diesel (mines a chipped Astra, 200bhp, 340Ib/ft and 47mpg). If you want petrol and power, I think you're gonna be looking more around the 30 mpg mark.

30MPG is fine with me..i don't do a massive amount of miles so the cost difference isn't going to be substantial.

 

[maniac886]

As above. I easily got 35 mpg in my CTR when on a motorway.

And all this talk of having to rev the thing high to get it moving is utter tosh too. The car will pull easily without even having to engage vtec (but wheres the fun in that?? )

And the ride is fine for motorway miles, it only becomes a little harsh on crashy A & B roads.

Got a feeling that as soon as I feel the VTEC I am going to be hooked!

Especially coming from a 97bhp car!

 

[lmccauley]

And the ride is fine for motorway miles, it only becomes a little harsh on crashy A & B roads.

It's "fine" - and I had no problem driving to the Nurburgring and back along the autobahns - but lots of other cars have better ride, and aren't so noisy on motorway. I remember thinking what an improvement my convertible with 19" wheels was over the CTR, which says something!

 

[lmccauley]

Got a feeling that as soon as I feel the VTEC I am going to be hooked!

Especially coming from a 97bhp car!

I went from 125bhp in a Puma to 197 in a CTR, and it was fantastic

Certainly go for a test drive, and make sure you rev the proverbials off it - you'll either love it or hate it.

 

[rhino2k]

As above. I easily got 35 mpg in my CTR when on a motorway.

And all this talk of having to rev the thing high to get it moving is utter tosh too. The car will pull easily without even having to engage vtec (but wheres the fun in that?? )

And the ride is fine for motorway miles, it only becomes a little harsh on crashy A & B roads.

agreed! i had an fto, my ex had a ctr, the ride and fuel economy was much better in the ctr!

35mpg is pretty average and high revving pmsl! where do people get this carp from?

it can rev to 9k but you dont have to do this to get a move on, even below vtec it will outperform the average 2.0 petrol car. and it is geared to do a much higher top speed, so will actually be at a lower rpm cruising

Id say the ctr ticks ALL the boxes, and can easily be modded to 240bhp if needed, plus it is ultra reliable, they have NEVER had a std 2.0l vtec fail to my knowledge!

 

[markonline1]

On motorway my CTR could manage 35mpg easily enough. My current petrol car can manage 32mpg at a squeeze, and that has 280bhp...

You must drive like a granny then I couldn't get more than 28mpg out of my old Astra 200T, although I must admit, I do have a bit of a lead right foot.