Fast family hatchback

Participant

Participant

Participant

Caporegime
Joined
13 May 2003
Posts
34,581
Location
Warwickshire
Hi all

Looking to replace our infamous (sort of) Golf MkVI (2009) with another hatchback for general family, shopping, and country B-road commuting duties.

The Golf is a 1.4 petrol and whilst it's been a fantastic (and cheap to run) car, we're looking for something with quite a bit more fun factor, since the new car will only do something like 5k miles a year.

Other considerations are that German marques are preferred, upwards of 250 BHP is preferred, and the budget is around £25k but flexible.

I guess this means Audi S3, BMW M135i, Merc A something, Golf R...are there any others we should be considering?

We're a family of four but this won't be the main family car, so practicality doesn't need to be class leading.

Does this sound like M140i territory?
 
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Got to be worth at least trying the Hyundai i30N given it only appears to get excellent write ups!

Granted my mind would go to the cars in your OP first, but I have to admit I’m intrigued by the Hyundai!
 
Thanks. Just had a look. Not many around on auto trader so I guess they've just come out. Seem to be £25k for almost new. 272bhp Vs 330 bhp for M140i.

Struggling to see the value in the N but will look at some YouTube videos to start with.
 
Surely worth considering all options in the segment rather than just the German ones.

Focus RS, Civic type R, Seat Leon cupra 300
 
I'd honestly just go out and drive every single one of them including the cars from a power class down like the Hyundai, ST etc then narrow it down from there. You might decide there's a compromise in terms of cost Vs power you're happy to make (or the complete opposite)

Obviously I have no experience of the Hyundai but in terms of comparing my ST to a 135/140 it just feels another league of power. That might sound stupid and obvious but in terms of driving every day I can't find much in it between the st and any of the circa 200bhp cars I've owned( ok it's clearly a bit quicker, but not hugely so), whilst the power bracket you're looking at really does give you that impressive, always on offer plenty of grunt feel
 
One thing to take into account is a 135/140 can have a lively rear end in the damp/wet, especially on bumpy B roads. I was always uneasy with my wife driving it in the wet as she is a bit ham fisted with the throttle. She was put off driving it after wiggling her way out of a roundabout.
 
Participant said:
Hi all

Looking to replace our infamous (sort of) Golf MkVI (2009) with another hatchback for general family, shopping, and country B-road commuting duties.

The Golf is a 1.4 petrol and whilst it's been a fantastic (and cheap to run) car, we're looking for something with quite a bit more fun factor, since the new car will only do something like 5k miles a year.

Other considerations are that German marques are preferred, upwards of 250 BHP is preferred, and the budget is around £25k but flexible.

I guess this means Audi S3, BMW M135i, Merc A something, Golf R...are there any others we should be considering?

We're a family of four but this won't be the main family car, so practicality doesn't need to be class leading.

Does this sound like M140i territory?
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Those cars are going to probably be quite a bit less reliable than your trusty 1.4 golf.

Golf R would be my choice
 
Drive them and see which one you prefer. Do you want to move away from VW, or would you consider a Mk7(.5) Clubsport/GTI Performance/R?
 
If a 1.4 has been fine for now I see little point in bothering about 270 v 330 bhp. Are you really going go fully utilise the 270? Let alone the 330... especially with kids in the car.
 
sigma said:
If a 1.4 has been fine for now I see little point in bothering about 270 v 330 bhp. Are you really going go fully utilise the 270? Let alone the 330... especially with kids in the car.
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Nobody should be fully utilising 330bhp in a small family hatch on a public road! I'd always rather a lower powered car I could properly rag than one I'd always find myself holding back in!
 
Hmm perhaps an M140i is a bit weaponised for my purposes and a Golf R would be a bit more of an all rounder for family duties, with AWD etc.

Will arrange some test drives, thanks.

sigma said:
If a 1.4 has been fine for now
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It hasn't been fine, hence changing it.

sigma said:
I see little point in bothering about 270 v 330 bhp. Are you really going go fully utilise the 270? Let alone the 330... especially with kids in the car.
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There won't always be kids in the car; as I said this will be for commuting too. But yes point taken in that 270 vs 330 is probably academic for my usage.
 
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I have the Golf R estate and highly rate it, very well balanced. My biggest complaint though is whilst it is rediculusly fast, it is not that exciting. It takes everything I throw at it with ease and I know that it's limit is way beyond my capability and the laws of the road.

Still with the kids in the back, it's all for the best.
 
a1ex2001 said:
Nobody should be fully utilising 330bhp in a small family hatch on a public road! I'd always rather a lower powered car I could properly rag than one I'd always find myself holding back in!
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This is a bit daft really, you don't need to do 3 figure speeds every day or be tormenting other road users to use 300bhp. Might well be more than you actually "need", but surely that's half the fun?
 
rodenal said:
This is a bit daft really, you don't need to do 3 figure speeds every day or be tormenting other road users to use 300bhp. Might well be more than you actually "need", but surely that's half the fun?
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Very few people will be driving within sensible limits if they are ragging 300+ Bhp hot hatch to it's limits on a B road on a regular basis surely that is pretty obvious!
 
a1ex2001 said:
Very few people will be driving within sensible limits if they are ragging 300+ Bhp hot hatch to it's limits on a B road on a regular basis surely that is pretty obvious!
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Why is it obvious? I'm not trying to be obtuse but there is more to enjoying a car than driving like a **** 24/7.

There's also a world of difference between using some available power regularly and ragging a car to *your* (you'll never get near the cars) limits

The type of driver that can't be trusted with 300bhp in all likelihood can't be trusted with half that, it won't stop their driving habits
 
I'd avoid a Golf R because you'll probably end up waking up one day with a sawn-off in your face demanding the keys, assuming they don't extend the key signal.

Cupra ST is a good shout, is it basically a Golf R?
 
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