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

I agree with a lot of the others get a Cupra R 225bhp. Guy at work has a mint red one with AMD £300 remap, milltek catback and k&n panel filter with 270bhp, it's also done 128k miles and he's not had any major problems with it in the 3 years his owned it. I think he also averages 34/35mpg so really good on fuel considering.

You might get bored quickly if you get another EP3 even though it's a great car. I personally wouldn't get a Clio or Megane, but that's just me I'm not keen on French motors.
 
I'm getting the whole "oh they're so girly" comments from mates already after discussing the idea, but I'm more fussed how they drive and the fun involved. My missus likes the idea at least but that is to be expected :D

I do quite like Cupra R's. I could do with driving one and a mini also, probably can't afford a turbo'd one, be nice to try a supercharged one, sounds easy enough to get to 200BHP, I assume it makes quite a difference?

I know what I'm getting/looking for with a Type R, I enjoyed mine but the parts aren't very cheap. All in all mine was good until I lowered it and had some issues with ball joints, cracked hub etc, nightmare and costly at the time. Cost a lot to set up with adjustable camber etc and I've learnt never to polybush one on the road, but I wouldn't do that again.

I like the Astra GSi's because of veerryyy cheap parts and cheap as hell to maintain, but as I say, currently knocking about in a 2.2 SRi, the way they drive is... ok, a bit meh. Quite smooth and soft, but nothing like a Type R, horrible long gearbox throw etc. I would even say my MK4 GTI felt a bit better on corners and generally to drive. So thats a bit of negativity against the Astra, be nice to have something I don't want to change again tomorrow, I do get bored easily but still.

Will have a nosey at whats up for sale online at the weekend to get some ideas and see what seems to float my boat more :)
 
My friend and I found that (properly) maintaining his EP3 and my LCR were pretty much the same, other than brake parts, which was to be expected seeing as the LCR has proper performance brakes ;)
 
EP3's are fun, had one as a company pool car, dull with the traction control on and takes a bit of mastering to get power down coming out of corners with it off, still thats half the fun i guess. Handled rather well, seats werent THAT supportive, interior designs a bit 'naff' but solidly put together. Image problem also, but i guess if you're a young chap you probably wont care..

Shame you didnt like the clio sports, granted the pedals are in the wrong place and its got a 'so so' interior, but the engine - its a corker, mines done 198k now, on original everything apart from the obvious bearings and suspension. Reliable if you keep up on top of the servicing and Renault dealers labour charges arnt that expensive.

On the jap side of things, a bit aged and will be a pain to find in good nick but a DC2 is probably the most focussed hot hatch of all time, lightweight, bomb proof engine and a tight as can be 'box. Handles like a dream with plenty of lift off and those seats, so damned supportive...

LCR /S3 would be the only derivative of the VAG 1.8t i'd bother with after experiencing friends and various articles ive read over the years. the lcr has the brembos and recaros and enough poke, but are pretty lame on fuel (~27mpg). Avoid mk4 golf.. Could save up another grand and get a mk5 gti?
 
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gigeorge said:
LCR /S3 would be the only derivative of the VAG 1.8t i'd bother with
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Easily the only two worth bothering with.

gigeorge said:
the lcr has the brembos
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Yes.

gigeorge said:
and recaros
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Only if specced. Quite a rare option in reality.

gigeorge said:
and enough poke, but are pretty lame on fuel (~27mpg)
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Even better with a remap, but will easily average over 30MPG. I certainly managed to over the 7 years or so I owned mine, and on a motorway run I'd get between 37 and 42 MPG depending on traffic conditions and speed.
 
paradigm said:
Easily the only two worth bothering with.



Yes.



Only if specced. Quite a rare option in reality.



Even better with a remap, but will easily average over 30MPG. I certainly managed to over the 7 years or so I owned mine, and on a motorway run I'd get between 37 and 42 MPG depending on traffic conditions and speed.
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Theyre really nice cars, i only wish'd they'd made them in 3 door :) !
 
NathWraith said:
They are still 4WD, they are just not "permanent 4WD".
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Nor are they particularly well balanced 4WD systems, with the standard weighting being incredibly front-heavy. A Haldex controller goes some way to rectifying it, but it will never be as good as mechanical 4WD, and obviously it's extra expense.

In most scenarios, the resultant transmission losses will make them slower (and less economical) than their FWD counterparts, unless we are talking adverse weather.
 
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Relentless81 said:
I am indeed a fanboy.

Type-R is a well established brand name, T-Sport is not, you only need to look at the likes of the iPhone to see how easily the Sheeple are lead

What I find most interesting is the fraction of people on here that have owned one will vouch for them yet the people that havent and have no first hand experiance what so ever will slate them, "says it all really"
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If it were too tier posters like Gibbo, Housey or DRZ etc vouching for the car I would see your point, the problem you have is you have 2 posters, one an unknown and the other one of the worst posters on this forum with aggressively idiotic opinions who has been shown up time and time again to be wrong about pretty much anything they post about (the latter poster is you just fyi m8). You have zero credibility and if anything you supporting something harms its reputation more than helps. That's the downfall to first hand experience, it depends on the credibility of the poster.

I have driven one, it was rubbish, the ST-170 felt like a genuine hot hatch in comparison and I thought that was a stretch to call a hot hatch.
 
Relentless right now:

Z8rXEaW.gif
 
herpderp appears as if from no where in a wave of dishonest opinion, if you've driven a facelift CTS and an ST170 you would know that the facelift CTS is the better car by a long shot, the ST170 is absolutely pants but you only ever post derp and everyone knows this so its all good.

Janesy lets be honest, you have more experiance hosting and posting gifs in an effort to be funny than you do driving cars of any interest what so ever so why you get yourself involved in these conversations is beyond me
 
ST170 has a great chassis and suspension setup, the only thing that lets it down is the engine. Yes I have driven one.

Relentless81 said:
Janesy lets be honest, you have more experiance hosting and posting gifs in an effort to be funny than you do driving cars of any interest what so ever so why you get yourself involved in these conversations is beyond me
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And you have more experience in losing your temper, throwing your toys out the pram and constantly fail to portray the Corolla T-Sport as a credible hot hatch so why you get yourself involved in these conversations is beyond me.
 
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