Best bang for buck hot hatches?

BigglesPiP said:
You might get a poor to average HF Integrale for 9k, or a mint HF Turbo, but an Integrale EVO or Integrale EVO II is going to be out of reach unless you also have a few £k handy to restore one somewhat.
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My dad's EVO I cost him £7k in decent shape. Spot on mechanically, bodywork ideally needed a bit of work.

He sold it for £4k which he regrets, was worth more.

lancia.jpg
 
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MikeHiow said:
You think the DC2 is a hot hatch?

Also, I've seen plenty of half decent EK9s go close close enough to £5k (last one I saw locally went for £5,500)
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No because it's a coupe, but ignoring that fact then yes, absolutely, it is the epitome of hot hatchness.

Modern ones might be bigger, heavier and have turbo's but that only dilutes the experience. I do not count these as hot hatches, they are something different.
 
Clarkey said:
No because it's a coupe, but ignoring that fact then yes, absolutely, it is the epitome of hot hatchness.
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That was my point, its essentially a coupe, therefore "not quite a hot hatch", and thus why it was in my list, despite that fact.

Clarkey said:
Modern ones might be bigger, heavier and have turbo's but that only dilutes the experience. I do not count these as hot hatches, they are something different.
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They are hot hatches, ie. fast hatchbacks. Yes, they are no longer all poverty spec tin cans, but most still do the hot hatch thing quite well - provide a fun, yet mostly easy driving experience, with plenty of LOOS.
 
Sub £2k - Xsara VTS

£2k - £4k - Clio 172

£4k - £6k - Civic Type R

£6k - £8k - Tricky one...Think Clio 197's may just come into budget at around £8k?

£8k - £10k - Focus ST

£10k - £15k - This will get you pretty much what you want in hot hatch terms although id personally be looking away from hot hatches at this price point

£15k+ - Audi S3 (Used ofcourse)
 
PardonTheWait said:
lancia.jpg
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I so love the look of Integrales.

I remember you posting that pic when I was looking to buy a Delta. Good shape EVO1 when I was looking was 7K upwards.

I drove two and didn't really like either which was such a a shame. I drove an Impreza P1 that very afternoon and felt back home so bought another Impreza.

Mistake really because Imprezas have just nose dived in price and the same £7K EVO1 would probably fetch me £10K these days. Amazing appreciation over what? 2 years?
 
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MikeHiow said:
For under £10k, you are buying something older, with higher mileage from the bottom of the market - hardly fantastic bang for buck, is it.
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Yes, because it's a better car.

Since when does something being older and higher mileage reduce bang for buck? Most people on this section of the forum bang the drum about how little an older plate and high miles matters on a modern petrol engine, yet suddently it's crucially important in obtaining bang-for-buck?

Take your Focus ST hat off for a few seconds.
 
Robbie G said:
Yes, because it's a better car.
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In your opinion, of course.

My main choices were between the Golf and the ST, I didn't like the drive of the Golf, it was hard to put my finger on why, but it just wasn't anywhere near as fun as the ST, nor was it as comfortable.

If I were to have gone for a Golf, for the same money, I'd have been buying something that was 2005, 06 if I was lucky, double the mileage, with garish tartan seats, no warranty, and ended up with a car that wasn't as fun, or comfortable as the ST.

Where as, with the ST, I managed to find something special edition, 2008, with 24k miles, a years warranty remaining and something that was actually reasonably fun to drive.

Robbie G said:
Since when does something being older and higher mileage reduce bang for buck?
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It isn't just that, but it certainly helps - I thought you'd be familiar with this, as you seem to harp on about a cars age enough.

Robbie G said:
Take your Focus ST hat off for a few seconds.
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I don't have a Focus ST hat on, I've shopped at that end of the market, and made my decision what I think is best.
 
ST - 3

Golf VS St, i am with Mike on this one,

Having owned a Few Golf GTi's and never found them atall rewarding for the ammount of time i spent filling the tank.

The R32 on the other hand was somthing special but thats a little out of your budget.
Unless you look at 2003 - 2005 R32?


I would say an ST.
 
I had a Corrado VR6 a couple of years ago and absolutely loved the noise - I did look at R32s, but realised they are special for different reasons - mostly that noise, and the teasing VR6/R32 power delivery.
 
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