Any more ideas for my new motor?

Akagi

Akagi

Akagi

Caporegime
Joined
29 Jul 2011
Posts
37,621
Location
In acme's chair.
Hi guys,

Looking to replace the Slowlo in a few months time, with something a fair bit more rapid, and I believe I have exhausted my options. I was wondering if you have any more ideas of cars which I may have missed. :)

Criteria:

- Hatchback (Focus-ish sized)
- No more than £5000 (can be stretched if my employment stead is decent in the new year, and I save more)
- Must be quick (lets say sub 8.5s 0 - 60)
- Petrol
- Must handle well
- Must be reasonably comfortable
- Must look good, to me. Prepare for chronic fussyness!
- Must be as reliable as can reasonably be expected
- Parts must not cost an absolute bomb, if possible
- Nothing before a 54 plate please
- Must feel quite "premium"
- Must be available in or near budget without "moon miles" (which to me is over 100K)

My test drive list currently consists of:

- Audi A3 8P 2.0T FSI (Preferably a 5dr Quattro manual) Insurance = £1343

And that is all currently. Because it is the only quick hatch which I have found so far, which is in the realms of "reasonable" insurance, and I have looked into far enough to decide it is worth a shot. On top of this I love how it looks, and it would make me smile when I see it in the morning. - This is important. :)

Cars which I have considered are listed below. Some of them have been eliminated for insurance reasons, some of them I have eliminated because I simply do not like or want them, and some I need to look into a little further with regard to insurance before I decide to look into them any further. I will re-organise them into the relevant catagories once I have done this:

- Focus ST 225 - This one may move onto my test drive list Insurance = £1592
- Civic Type R EP3 - I suspect these will cost too much to insure Insurance = £1800
- Civic Type R FN2 - I suspect these will cost too much to insure Insurance = £1780
- Mazda3 MPS - Heard these are a bit harsh and uncomfortable? Insurance = £1660
- 120i - The E87's aren't great lookers and the 120i is the quickest I can afford Insurance = £1254
- E46 325ti - Possible big bills? And a little dated. Insurance = £1630
- Golf GTI V - I suspect these will cost too much to insure, despite sharing an engine with the A3 Insurance = £1830
- Renaultsport Megane - despise how these look Insurance = £1700
- Astra VXR - these look far too Barry and chavvy Insurance = £1720
- Corrola VVTI T-Sport - interior quality leaves much to be desired, styling looks disproportionate Insurance = £1220
- C30 T5 - These really don't look good from the rear... Insurance = £1515
- Abarth Grande Punto - I drove a Fiat once, I'm not sure if I want to drive one again... Insurance = £1370


From this thread/after thread creation:

- Leon FR - Will look into, I think I had looked at these but was been scared off by the interior. Insurance = £1333
- Peugeot 207 THP 175- Not a fan of Pugs. I wouldn't be happy owning one.Insurance = £1250
- A3 8P 3.2 - Would absolutely love one, but the insurance is astronomical Insurance = £2170
- Golf R32 - as above Insurance = £2135


What am I overlooking which I should take a look at? :eek:
 
Last edited:
same sort of cars i was looking at before losing job :( i also stopped caring about 0 - 60. 0 - 40 is where its at day to day! imo obviously
 
A3 3.2 just as quick (quicker stock vs stock than the tfsi) and it makes a much nicer noise
 
mk2 Octavia vRS tfsi, if you can handle the rubbishness of the badge, fits your criteria pretty well. Except perhaps the subjective looks department :)

Guess you decided not to drop a bigger engine in your polo then?
 
233 said:
A3 3.2 just as quick (quicker stock vs stock than the tfsi) and it makes a much nicer noise
Click to expand...

I can't afford to insure these sadly, I expect it is because of the big engine. Will add to the list. :(

mccarf said:
mk2 Octavia vRS tfsi, if you can handle the rubbishness of the badge, fits your criteria pretty well. Except perhaps the subjective looks department :)

Guess you decided not to drop a bigger engine in your polo then?
Click to expand...

The Octavia was a past consideration of mine, but I don't think I want a saloon really.

I did decide against the engine swap yes, because after looking over the car more thoroughly, it is not exactly engine swap "material". I would be better off buying a better Polo as a base, but if I do that then it all starts to become pointless. :p
 
Last edited:
Acme said:
I can't afford to insure these sadly, I expect it is because of the big engine. Will add to the list. :(



The Octavia was a past consideration of mine, but I don't think I want a saloon really.
p
Click to expand...

Get an Octavia VRS hatchback then ;)
 
You've basically ruled out any other hatchback.

Just go buy yourself an A3.

But you could always chuck £2k at an RX-8 and save the rest for the inevitable parts bills? :)
 
chanjy said:
You've basically ruled out any other hatchback.

Just go buy yourself an A3.

But you could always chuck £2k at an RX-8 and save the rest for the inevitable parts bills? :)
Click to expand...

Ha, I didn't mean to "eliminate" them, I just listed them off and wrote why they are only in the consideration pile. :)

An RX8 would be an issue with respect to insurance. ;)

chanjy said:
Octavia is a saloon shaped hatchback (ie. with a massive hatch)
Click to expand...

Ahh thanks, my mistake! :)

bradUK said:
Have you been quoted on an EP3 TR? You may be surprised, my old one was buttons to insure.
Click to expand...
I think the issue with the Type R's is because I'm 19. A VTEC Honda and a teenager is a bad combination for any insurance company. :p
Archeum said:
As above, my FN2 was cheaper to insure than I had expected!

£4k on an EP3 and the rest towards insurance? :)
Click to expand...
If we start thinking like that then I start wondering if I should spend £2K on an old 330Ci and put the rest on parts and insurance :eek:
 
Last edited:
Also if your insurance is sky high, this implies you're still young. Why do you need a hatchback?

If you actually want to get something more exciting why not a sports car like a MX-5, not just another FWD Audi which won't actually be any more fun to drive than a Polo?

You don't need 200hp to enjoy yourself tbh
 
chanjy said:
Also if your insurance is sky high, this implies you're still young. Why do you need a hatchback?

If you actually want to get something more exciting why not a sports car like a MX-5, not just another FWD Audi which won't actually be any more fun to drive than a Polo?

You don't need 200hp to enjoy yourself tbh
Click to expand...

Or alternatively, if you do need a hatchback what about a warm hatch like a Suzuki swift sport/RS twingo/Panda 100hp? They aren't exactly rapid but those sort of little cars with decent power are fun while not being megabucks to insure.
 
chroniclard said:
Will you actually find an Audi for that price with all that criteria?
Click to expand...
Yes. :) I was looking at 2005 2.0T FSI Quattro's which were hovering around the 100K mark, for 4K, leaving some change for repairs.
chanjy said:
Also if your insurance is sky high, this implies you're still young. Why do you need a hatchback?

If you actually want to get something more exciting why not a sports car like a MX-5, not just another FWD Audi which won't actually be any more fun to drive than a Polo?

You don't need 200hp to enjoy yourself tbh
Click to expand...
I am still young yes. I sometimes have a full car when ferrying people about for "taxi money" (the last instance was taking people to the Reading festival) and I need a little more space for bags and computer equipment when I attend LAN's such as Insomnia.

MX5's aren't really my "thing", and I know I don't necessarily need 200BHP to enjoy myself, but I can get cars with 200BHP for almost the same money similar cars with 150BHP. For example 2.0 FSI 150HP A3's cost almost the same to buy and insure as a 2.0T FSI. :)

The upgrade of car isn't just for "fun" either, it is for refinement and creature comforts. The suspension on the Polo is shot, and it is about as luxurious as a barn in winter. :p

Wizardskills said:
Clio RenaultSport 197?

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/renault/renaultsport-clio/clio-renaultsport-197/2825861

Toyota Auris T180 or SR180

[URL]http://www.silverladymotorcompany.co.uk/used-cars/toyota-auris-2-2-d-4d-t180-5dr-chingford-201405304599038[/URL]
Click to expand...

The Clio is too small, and the interior is just plain awful. :(
Thanks for the suggestion of the Auris, I didn't even know they existed!

mccarf said:
Or alternatively, if you do need a hatchback what about a warm hatch like a Suzuki swift sport/RS twingo/Panda 100hp? They aren't exactly rapid but those sort of little cars with decent power are fun while not being megabucks to insure.
Click to expand...

Not a fan of any of those, sorry. They are also too small.
 
Last edited:
Fair enough (but don't call yourself a petrolhead if you are putting 'amount of petrol money I will get' and 'premium feel' as key criteria :p)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom