Sure there is, it doesn't take a genius to look at a set of requirements and find a fit. Ultimately it's down the OP to then go and drive these cars and decide.
Hot hatch recommendations - £20k
- Thread starter gobbo
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Sure there is, it doesn't take a genius to look at a set of requirements and find a fit. Ultimately it's down the OP to then go and drive these cars and decide.
OK then
I recommend the OP goes for a Fiat Abarth 595 Competizione..........
3 door.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
Rubbish.
Soldato
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Soldato
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In my mind a hot hatch is something you can grab from the scruff of the neck and really abuse. M135i doesn't really strike me as that kind of car, although I know it's very capable and fun.
A hot hatchback is a car of two halves - a sensible, practical hatchback that is comfortable and easily suited for going to the shops - which you can then use to have a great time driving home in a far more sporty manner.
I see nothing about the M135i that stops it being pretty much a textbook example of a hot hatch. Hot hatchbacks are not about being 'raw' or 'stripped' - infact for some time the hot hatchback of a model range was genuinely the most well equipped in the range.
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Renault Clio V6 
Agreed, hot hatches aren't really genuinely sporty, especially as most are FWD. The only one I can think of that actually takes it to the next level are the Megane sporty ones that are even more sporty than the sport models.
Service pack isn't worth having so is no real victory, warranty is good on the bigger cars but it's not hugely expensive to renew on a 1 Series.
Just why spend £20k on a hatchback when a 5dr saloon does everything the OP wants except for the 'hot hatch' bit. He doesn't mention service or running costs and everyone needs that V8 engine in their life.
There are loads of 135 and 235 at my work and they just look dull, lower interior finish than the E90, less special and less comfortable.
Why compromise to just have a hatch rather than a boot ?
Ps I don't have the car I recommend. I have a E92 which has less doors
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Haven't you got a xantia or mondeo to plug ?
Don't get why we have to limit to car types when the requirements are clear and he's concerned about space and comfort.
What even is a hot hatch anyway?! It's a generic 1 series with a big engine. Hardly like the proper ethos of a hot hatch (the m3 fits this bill much better)
And you of all people know that newer bmws aren't always 'better'
Op. How long you planning to keep the car
Most hot hatches has been FWD for about the last 35 years ..
When has the M3 ever been a hatch? So it doesn't fit the proper ethos of a hot hatch at all, it falls at the first hurdle...
And what is a hot hatch? I thought Fox addressed this a few posts ago.
I think you've taken over the 'plug your own car all the time' mantle
We don't have to limit car type but his suggested cars give us an idea of his requirements. He wants something reasonably new and practical - a 10 year old M3 will cost orders of magnitude more to keep running and buying a 10 year old car is a very different proposition to buying a 3 year old one.
if he wanted an old 400bhp saloon I suspect he wouldn't be considering Renault Meganes, would he?
Wikipedia said:
A hot hatch is, as I said above, two cars in one. Part boring, sensible, practical and easy to run hatchback. Part performance car.
Look at the typical hot hatches - Golf GTI, Focus ST, etc etc - they are all ordinary hatchbacks with powerful engines and uprated handling. That's the point.
We get it - you love your M3. That's great, and if he'd asked for advice on buying an iconic V8 sport saloon it'd have been a great suggestion.
This thread screams M135i. £20k is a decent budget for one. We recently picked up a May 2016 (LCI) with 8k on the clock, pro nav, auto, hk, heated seats, etc for £23ish.
They are great fun, very practical, and quick. The autobox is brilliant.
The e92 M3 really isn't the right car here at all given that you can pick up a nearly new 135 for the budget. The M135 also has sensible fuel consumption if this is a consideration (the e92 definitely does not).
They are great fun, very practical, and quick. The autobox is brilliant.
The e92 M3 really isn't the right car here at all given that you can pick up a nearly new 135 for the budget. The M135 also has sensible fuel consumption if this is a consideration (the e92 definitely does not).
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435i GC?