4k hot hatch... where would your money go?

Stormster

Stormster

Stormster

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
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Location
Stoke-on-Trent
As title.

Only real reqiurements are:

- Not too awful on fuel so 26ish+ around town going steady on the ol' throttle pedal
- Cheapish to run in terms of parts/maintenance
- Quite reliable
- Quite quick, 200BHP? Possibly with the potential to easily tune, so boosted stuff?
- 3 doors ideally, nothing too big, certainly no Mondeo's :)

I've had an EP3 Type R before which I did like and spent a bit on with maintenance and mods, only an issue with work going bust made me sell it (although I shouldn't have as I got sorted quickly! Although I did get good money) but, as I say, 4k in my pocket and not sure what to do with it!

Don't think I'd want to spend 4k on something old which is hard work for a daily and something I'd need to combat rust on, so probably 2002-2004ish hot hatch age?

I do about 14k a year milage, use my car daily mainly for town driving but obviously like the odd spirited drive so decent economy is a must. The Civic was alright, just!

Been thinking EP3, pre facelift with some nice mods, maybe even kpro'd etc. Or an Astra GSi (MK4) 2.0 turbo and some choice subtle mods. Fiesta ST, not that quick but they are quite good to drive and fun to throw around and aren't too bad with full exhaust, induction etc.
Ta :)
 
Slight left-field suggestions here of Mondeo ST220 hatch, BMW Compact 325ti or Alfa 147 GTA (not so good on the reliability side).

Oh, and in b4 Leon Cupra R.
 
Depends on your priorities really

If hassle free is what you're really looking for then you will struggle to find something better suited than a well looked after ep3. I couldnt / wouldnt have one as motorway journeys would frustrate me a bit.
 
Phantom Shadow said:
At that sort of age at 4k I'd probably go for a fiesta ST although standard they're only 150hp, but then i've got a fiesta (non ST) so I'd be biased :) lol
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They might only be 150bhp but they're great little cars to drive. I love mine! 4K should get you a good one now. For example, my 57 plate, 42K miles one is probably worth around that now, if not a tad more.

Bolt on a K&N Open Cone 57i and full exhaust and the car completely changes.
 
Possibly pushing a few of your requirements a bit but you might find a MK4 R32 for around 4500+ if that takes your fancy. Though be cautious incase it's a dog at this price point!

I would say 24ish mpg around town assuming not sat in traffic for long periods, parts depending what they are shouldn't be TOO expensive, they are reliable, 240ish bhp, Haldex 4wd
 
In b4 Stormster says 5 doors is too many!

My vote is VAG 20v something... S3 will probably be high on mileage, you wont get a tidy Golf R33 st that price point so my vote also goes with LCR :)
 
cokecan said:
Possibly pushing a few of your requirements a bit but you might find a MK4 R32 for around 4500+ if that takes your fancy. Though be cautious incase it's a dog at this price point!

I would say 24ish mpg around town assuming not sat in traffic for long periods, parts depending what they are shouldn't be TOO expensive, they are reliable, 240ish bhp, Haldex 4wd
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Would get a better Mk4 2.8L V6 for £4k. Only drawback might be not readily tunable, have to go FI to get any decent gains which is expensive. I normally get ~28mpg pootling around town, which for me doesn't involve much stop-start traffic. Slightly more on motorways, A roads at a constant speed is where the efficiency is, obviously :p
 
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