180hp for £2,700- what's the catch?

[Marshstyles]

Leon Cupra will give you 180HP, slightly smaller and another gear. No real catch. I have said Cupra and its been faultless for the last few months.

Had mine for 5 years. Still love it!

 

[Makhaira]

I've got an ST220, and it's utterly brilliant. The only reason I'll move from it is to get a more "luxury" focussed car, but for the money I'd get an ST220 every time.

 

[Twentymac]

Ive got a Octavia VRS estate too

Picked mine up for £1500, I just use it as a work horse. Good to chuck my work gear in and reliable and not too bad on fuel.

 

[adam cool dude]

GTi Golf is a decent shout, although you need to get an 'Anniversary' model to get 180HP. The standard ones only have 150HP.

Wrong.

 

[Frozennova]

GTi Golf is a decent shout, although you need to get an 'Anniversary' model to get 180HP. The standard ones only have 150HP.

Unless you specifically want an anniversary its cheaper to buy and insure a regular GTI and have a remap, specifically those with the AUM engine (Most 2001 onwards IIRC) as they have the KO3s turbo the same as an anniversary opposed to the smaller KO3 on most of the other Mk4s

 

[Phil W]

Wrong.

It's not is it?

Ordinary 1.8T GTI's were mostly AUM K03s/AGU K03/ARZ K03 150bhp, Anni's were AUQ k03s 180bhp. Not sure on the 2.0's, 115bhp?

 

[Frozennova]

I think you're right, Anni's we're AUQ.

Good list of 1.8T engine codes and what they we're fitted to here

http://www.qpeng.com/faqs/engine_faqs/all_these_engine_codes_can_you_explain_what_they_mean.html

 

[Matt82]

Whats 1.8t fuel cost compared to an ST220?

 

[danza]

I would imagine the ST220 would do about 28-30MPG in my hands (from what I've read and current experience with a 3.0 V6) and from experiencing my wife's Leon Cupra, about 32-33MPG. ~10-15% more for the ST220 at a guess.

 

[Phil W]

1.8T will most certainly be better on fuel.

 

[Von Luck]

..

 

[SkodaMart]

GTi Golf is a decent shout, although you need to get an 'Anniversary' model to get 180HP. The standard ones only have 150HP.

That's pretty much how I understood it to.

 

[MissChief]

Could get a Polo GTI? They come with the 150HP 1.8T but it responds well to a remap. Should get around 200HP, maybe a bit more. Would make a proper little pocket rocket.

 

[ci_newman]

If anything, I'd say that Octavia is a bit overpriced.

Another option is the VW Bora 1.8T sport. I've had my 53 plate 2004 180bhp 6 speed model for about 8 years and they're great cars, but worth pennies now - thinking of selling mine on but value-wise it's probably only worth £1500.

The Honda Accord 2.4 Type-S / Exec falls into this same bracket really. 190bhp, 52-plate and it's worth £1500- £2k.

 

[Phil W]

Could get a Polo GTI? They come with the 150HP 1.8T but it responds well to a remap. Should get around 200HP, maybe a bit more. Would make a proper little pocket rocket.

They command a higher premium than the Octavia. My personal choice would be an Octy vRS followed by Leon Cupra.

 

[almoststew1990]

All this talk has changed my vague day dreams into actual maybe sort of nearly plans to save up a bit... Unfortunately insurance quotes come out at £1500 to £1700 for the Octavia and ST220 (drawback of being 23, even with 5 years ncb) so it might be a one year only if I do car and insurance in one hit. Still, it would be a great way of getting some experience of faster cars and how they drive...

Shameful question considering I call myself a car guy... Is the Octavia 4wd? I can't remember

 

[Makhaira]

Try Sky, they're who I use.

 

[cmsbfent]

For that price, and less, you can also grab a nice example of a celica. Would give you a whole 8 more horses too. 8!!

 

[Frozennova]

Octavia is fwd

You must have a horrendous post code to get quotes like that

 

[Phil W]

There are *some* 1.8T 4x4's out there, none of them vRS though.