£8000. What would you get?

Will · 28 Jun 2012 at 21:45

Focus ST would get my vote for this money but the running costs are key, how many miles per year are you likely to be doing in it? The Focus ST sounds great and is amongst as accomplished an all round hot hatch as you'll get for 8k, but its not great on fuel...

Unlight · 28 Jun 2012 at 21:53

To be honest, fuel isn't a massive issue. I do maybe 10-11k a year. Have seen a couple of facelift 08 ST3's for around £8.5k which is interesting..

FerretBoy · 28 Jun 2012 at 22:24

Love the mondeo mk4 2.5t estate that I got for 7.5k.Its remapped so should have 260-270bhp. Suprisingly fast but still comfortable and massive boot. But sounds like you're after something smaller.

jellybeard999 · 28 Jun 2012 at 22:24

If I have the right person, another Mazda 3 MPS seems to fit the bill. A bit more unusual and cheaper than a Focus ST.

Unlight · 28 Jun 2012 at 22:31

Yep I had a Mazda 3 MPS for a couple of years. Great car, but don't really like to go back to cars I already had!

Shady89 · 29 Jun 2012 at 00:00

id go with a st tbh

Tesla · 29 Jun 2012 at 08:12

The Mazda 3 MPS is a good shout. Lots of power and good levels of kit!

Never driven one but assume it's similar to the Focus ST?

Howard · 29 Jun 2012 at 08:17

mattyfez said:
I'd personally prefer a civic r over a golf, the golf is a bit if a girls car.

No you're thinking of the Mini

Helios1234 · 29 Jun 2012 at 09:29

Tesla said:
Mondeo Mk4 2.5T?

This! Looking for one myself at that price.

Edit: just saw the mention of hot hatch...

Tesla · 29 Jun 2012 at 10:08

The residuals seem pretty rubbish on the 2.5T making them an excellent second-owner purchase.

Titanium X Sport (not to be confused with Titanium X with Sport pack) is the one to go for but unsure if they're at this price point yet. I had a Titanium X Estate with 18's, 2.0TDCi and on the whole was a good car.

The "Sport pack" has 18" wheels, spoiler and different suspension. The Sport model has different bumpers and looks better. Most of them have a better spec too like active cruise control.

Helios1234 · 29 Jun 2012 at 10:55

Tesla said:
The residuals seem pretty rubbish on the 2.5T making them an excellent second-owner purchase.

Titanium X Sport (not to be confused with Titanium X with Sport pack) is the one to go for but unsure if they're at this price point yet. I had a Titanium X Estate with 18's, 2.0TDCi and on the whole was a good car.

The "Sport pack" has 18" wheels, spoiler and different suspension. The Sport model has different bumpers and looks better. Most of them have a better spec too like active cruise control.

The 2.5T Titanium X Sport is very rare. Apparently around a 100 according to howmanyleft.com. I've been searching for one and only found one 150miles from where I am from a car supermarket. Granted the price is decent at £9000 with nav included but the place doesn't seem to get positive reviews or else I'd have got it myself. The rest of the Titanium X sports (until the facelift) are the 200ps 2L Ecoboost models but they are easily in the 12k+ region.

For £8K, a Titanium X with Sports pack is more likely.

Hostile-17 · 29 Jun 2012 at 11:19

Siliconslave · 29 Jun 2012 at 11:38

mazda 6 mps ? - you don't see may around, they are relatively cheap and pretty damn nippy

Unlight · 29 Jun 2012 at 13:18

Well I've decided on a MK5 Golf R32. Pick it up next week.

Tesla · 29 Jun 2012 at 13:38

Wow, that was a quick decision and purchase!

jamief · 29 Jun 2012 at 13:40

Unlight said:
I have just sold an FN2 Type R after running one for 3 years. It's now attracting the wrong image! Combined with the horrifically thin paint and back breaking ride, I got rid.

Think I'll go for a decently specced Golf GTi. Any links to decent ones would be great!

The Golf is literally twice as good as the FN2 Type R.

Hostile-17 · 29 Jun 2012 at 13:42

Unlight said:
Well I've decided on a MK5 Golf R32. Pick it up next week.

good choice and fun to drive

Unlight · 29 Jun 2012 at 13:52

Tesla said:
Wow, that was a quick decision and purchase!

Yeah been looking at the GTi and the R32 for quite some time. Randomly searching this morning I spotted one I hadn't seen before.

Its a march 2006 (very last of the lower tax), manual, 5 door with full leather.