New Car

v0n · 5 Jul 2009 at 04:37

Octavia vRS. 2.0T will do 35mpg without problem, reach 60 in 7.1s and they are cheap as chips. If you want something more anonymous and less plastic spoilers, Laurin & Klement in 1.8T format has luxurious Audi tan leathers and wood inside, none of the tat on the outside and easily hits 40mpg while maintaining all the acceleration and tyre squeeling potential on run from lights to lights.

spaz · 5 Jul 2009 at 07:46

I was hardly a saint with my old fiesta ST and would usually get a combined mpg of 32mpg, however this sort of price range and requirements screams Clio 182 territory, owners seem to regularly get decent economy, I'm not too up on the kit of the mk2 clios but think you can get them with cruise control too? As well as lots of other gadgets. Would love to suggest the 197 but I very much doubt there are any around that price and you won't be hitting your wanted economy figures sadly.

[TW]Fox · 5 Jul 2009 at 08:08

Peerzy said:
So a car thats quicker than a Golf GTi wouldn't be classed 'sporty'?

The only GTI it was quicker than is the Mk4, which is also about as Sporty as me wearing a cricket outfit.

Howard · 5 Jul 2009 at 08:42

[TW]Fox;14418310 said:
The only GTI it was quicker than is the Mk4, which is also about as Sporty as me wearing a cricket outfit.

Cricket? You've been in Australia too long

ste2005 · 5 Jul 2009 at 08:55

cheers 4 the input guys, i like the sound of an audi doing 40 mpg. But now its time for bed, ready for another night shift

Tute · 5 Jul 2009 at 12:31

Hi! I'm actually in the same boat as you - looking at a mildly quick hatchback with good reliability/fuel economy.

So far, from looking at facts, figures, and models, I seem to come down to the same list.

Audi A3
Fiat Bravo
Ford Focus
Seat Leon
VW Golf

The A3 is a little on the expensive side for what you get, but if you're happy with an old shape or 3 door version, you should be able to get a decent one into the budget.

The Bravo I test drove and I was quite impressed. It's a real wildcard - nice to drive, cheap, plenty of punch. Despite Peerzy telling me about 200,000 times that reliability isn't a problem anymore, I still have a nagging voice in the back of my head about it though.

Ford Focus - well overall I was a bit underwhelmed. I found it was a bit of a "jack of all trades, master of none". The engine was good, but not fast. Looks decent, but not amazing. So on and so on. I've avoided the ST as I can't get good insurance on it, but it might be worth a test drive for you.

Leon/Golf i'll put together as it's the same car underneath. I drove a Golf TSI and really liked it. Comfortable, good interior, looks good from the outside, and the engines are nippy but frugal with petrol.

I'd get yourself test driving stuff really. Nobody here can tell you what to buy, only give suggestions.

[TW]Fox;14418146 said:
The only thing Sporty about a Fiat Bravo is the fact there is ample room in the boot for your tennis equipment, so thats out.

I can't disagree more Fox, sorry.

It's not the best car in the world, but it's far from the worst. Have you driven one or are you going on hearsay?

[TW]Fox · 5 Jul 2009 at 12:43

Tute said:
I can't disagree more Fox, sorry.

It's not the best car in the world, but it's far from the worst. Have you driven one or are you going on hearsay?

I didnt say it was a bad car, I said it wasn't sporty. A car can be exceptionally good whilst at the same time not being a sporty in much the same way as a car can be utterly hopeless and 'sporty' at the same time.

Tute · 5 Jul 2009 at 12:46

[TW]Fox;14419043 said:
I didnt say it was a bad car, I said it wasn't sporty. A car can be exceptionally good whilst at the same time not being a sporty in much the same way as a car can be utterly hopeless and 'sporty' at the same time.

I would never put it into the same class as a Golf GTI, S3, etc. but to say it's not sporty at all is wrong.

I guess it depends on the interpretation of the word but I think all the "warm" hatches are at least a little bit sporty, even if not as much as the hot ones.

Peerzy · 5 Jul 2009 at 13:42

[TW]Fox;14418310 said:
The only GTI it was quicker than is the Mk4, which is also about as Sporty as me wearing a cricket outfit.

My bad, I meant my Bravo, which is stock plus £380 and a few hours in London was quicker than a Mk5 GTi.

What 'makes' a sporty car sporty then out of interest?

Defcon5 · 5 Jul 2009 at 17:50

Peerzy said:
My bad, I meant my Bravo, which is stock plus £380 and a few hours in London was quicker than a Mk5 GTi.

But its not stock at all is it

Drop the same cash on mapping the Golf and that will then become faster again. You cant compare a modded car to a standard one of a different mode;

ci_newman · 5 Jul 2009 at 18:09

Peerzy said:
My bad, I meant my Bravo, which is stock plus £380 and a few hours in London was quicker than a Mk5 GTi.

What 'makes' a sporty car sporty then out of interest?

Certainly not just its straight-line speed

I would personally class handling as the more defining feature of a sports car than 0-60 speed.

Your Bravo may be quick in a straight line, but I'd bet that Civic and Golf would leave you behind if you saw any backroads / corners

(NB, I've never driven a Bravo so can't comment on its handling

)

flat-6 · 5 Jul 2009 at 19:56

Octavia vRS +1

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1103522.htm

Peerzy · 5 Jul 2009 at 20:33

Defcon5 said:
But its not stock at all is it

Drop the same cash on mapping the Golf and that will then become faster again. You cant compare a modded car to a standard one of a different mode;

Yeah the GTi won't map nearly as well. All I was saying was it's very easy to make it as quick as a GTi.

ci_newman said:
Certainly not just its straight-line speed I would personally class handling as the more defining feature of a sports car than 0-60 speed.

Your Bravo may be quick in a straight line, but I'd bet that Civic and Golf would leave you behind if you saw any backroads / corners

(NB, I've never driven a Bravo so can't comment on its handling )

Golf was on a straight two lane road so totally no idea, but having driven one I would say it's better through the corners and breaking but not massivly. The Civic was down some twisty B-roads and he was only really starting to edge away on the long straights.

In the wet would be a totally different story however.

dean_ham · 5 Jul 2009 at 20:36

ste2005 said:
Lol, i wish i could even get into one of these, im a bit on the podgy side, as well as being 6ft2, ive got no chance of getting into one of these.

But a sporty ford sounds fun.

Edit- Probably not a fiesta ST, they suck petrol like its going out of fashion, and im slightly concious about the rising cost of fuel.

I have a Fiesta ST, im in the same boat as you, i do 250-300 miles a week. I do 75% motorway 25% country roads. I wanted something sporty but doesnt cost the earth to run and maintain.

If i take my time i can easily manage 40mpg combined (nearly 300 miles to a full tank of £35 petrol. Insurance group 12. My services are £120 a go, and ive had mine over 2 years and havent had any problems with it.

I fancy changing my car as im at the stage that i fancy a change, but when i look around and look at my needs there isnt nothing i really fancy unless i want to spend some £££.

I would recommend a fiesta ST, you could get a 2007 with 20-30k miles for around the 6-7k mark.