£5K (give or take) something quicker than a Focus but just as reliable

ShiWarrior · 27 Aug 2017 at 21:47

I have been looking into changing cars for the past few months

been looking on autotrader quite a lot lately for a different car

Currently drive a Focus (2009) 1.8

What would you be looking at buying in this price bracket ?

Things I do not want are :

Don't want a huge car, Focus sized is big enough (id go a little bigger but not huge)
I don't want a really small car (ie. smart car)
No lower MPG than 30
No extortionate tax (ie 300+ ones are out)
No Diesel
No SUVs or people carriers
No Convertibles
No Ford or Vaxhalls
No Citroen or Renaults

must haves :

at least a 2007 (2009 or later if poss)
Faster than a Focus
A/C (or climate control)
Heated rear window and mirrors
Parking Sensors on rear (front would be nice but not necessary)
Modern styling

Can be a hatchback (preferred) or a Coupe..

Been looking at

BMW 1 series 120i and 118i (SE Trim?)
Audi A3 1.8 TFSI (facelift)
Mini Cooper S
Seat Leon Cupra FR
Mazda 3 MPS

Holst1981 · 27 Aug 2017 at 22:19

Mx5 with hardtop

Fits all your specs except for being a convertible and there is no need for parking sensors.

We constantly see threads like this, it's really just down to personal preference.

Test drive a few of the cars in your list and see what you like.

What don't you like about your focus?

ShiWarrior · 27 Aug 2017 at 22:25

Holst1981 said:
Mx5 with hardtop

I feel its not for me, i just don't feel comfortable driving it to be honest
its slower than i wanted (2L at the time was double the price) and i had a clio 172 before that
no parking sensors

wedrum · 28 Aug 2017 at 08:29

Mazda 3 mps

BinnsY · 28 Aug 2017 at 08:56

Depending on how much faster you want I wonder if a "normal" civic would suit you? They certainly have all of the toys you want, definately offer the reliability, you can hit the year / tax / mpg requirements etc, but there not loads faster. Your current focus is 120bhp these come in at 140 and lower the 0-60 time by a little over a second. I'm sure the difference would be noticeable but it isn't going to set the world on fire.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201707227621066

Nasher · 28 Aug 2017 at 10:25

Mazda 3 MPS won't get over 30mpg and tax is high.

I don't think there are any cars that meet those requirements for 5k. High performance and low running costs is quite a new thing.

adam cool dude · 28 Aug 2017 at 12:13

Volvo C30 T5?

chaparral · 28 Aug 2017 at 12:36

adam cool dude said:
Volvo C30 T5?

Heard those Volvo's are a ford focus ST225

I've got a Volvo C30 T5, which for the uninitiated, is essentially a Focus ST225 in disguise
http://www.focusstoc.com/forums/topic/521906-wait-is-that-a-focus/

Dav4 · 28 Aug 2017 at 13:12

You need to up your budget OP or don't bother. You won't get a good Leon Cupra for 5k and the Mazda MPs is £480 tax and expensive to run. Which leaves you with a Mini that looks like a girls car, TFSi Audi which could be problematic at that age and the old shape 1 series which now looks really dated for its age and again I'm sure some of the petrol engines of that era had some problems like injectors and coil packs etc

Akagi · 28 Aug 2017 at 13:20

Clio 197 and get over your no Renault rule.

adam cool dude · 28 Aug 2017 at 16:19

chaparral said:
Heard those Volvo's are a ford focus ST225

Thread title says something quicker than a Focus but just as reliable. Volvo is similar to the Focus but interior and exterior a lot better. Reliability would be no different. ST exterior is a bit in your face.

chaparral · 28 Aug 2017 at 17:29

Acme said:
Clio 197 and get over your no Renault rule.

I have owned Renault cars before and don't think I would want to own another one...

Kenai · 28 Aug 2017 at 17:34

Excuse the "suggest the car I own" cliché but an Octavia vRS might fit the bill?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201706226692555

Don't want a huge car, Focus sized is big enough (id go a little bigger but not huge) - tick
I don't want a really small car (ie. smart car) - tick
No lower MPG than 30 - tick
No extortionate tax (ie 300+ ones are out) - tick
No Diesel - tick
No SUVs or people carriers - tick
No Convertibles - tick
No Ford or Vauxhall - tick
No Citroen or Renault - tick
at least a 2007 (2009 or later if poss) - tick
Faster than a Focus - tick
A/C (or climate control) - tick
Heated rear window and mirrors - tick
Parking Sensors on rear (front would be nice but not necessary) - tick
Modern styling - subjective but I'd say it's as modern looking as anything else on a 2009 plate.

Nasher · 28 Aug 2017 at 19:13

chaparral said:
Heard those Volvo's are a ford focus ST225

The engine is the same (but not exactly the same), but they are very different to drive.

crazy8s · 28 Aug 2017 at 19:22

I'm in a similar position after getting rid of my old Focus 1.6 Zetec. Have been looking at the Golf GTI (or 1.4 TSI).

Not sure if it meets all your requirements however.

FurryLemon · 28 Aug 2017 at 19:23

I wouldn't bother.

Double that, then come back.

Fluke? · 28 Aug 2017 at 20:30

Acme said:
Clio 197 and get over your no Renault rule.

DS3 DSport 1.6 and get over your no Citreon rule.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...&aggregatedTrim=DSport&postcode=tf91rl&page=1

Dav4 · 28 Aug 2017 at 20:36

arfoll said:
a 2009-2013 MPS is 305GBP. Add 5quid to your budget and job done. Not sure if you can find one for 5k though - never looked.

Yes but a 2009 MPS would cost at least 8k to buy. He only has 5k which will only get him a 2007 MPS with the high tax

Hyburnate · 28 Aug 2017 at 20:40

Up the budget slightly ... The Mk5 Ibiza Cupra is nice but rare enough to need to travel to get a good example and is what I will probably go for.