Hot Hatch Spec Me 10k

Southy_

Southy_

Southy_

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Joined
11 Nov 2007
Posts
364
Hi Guys,

I am looking at spending around 10k on a hot hatch.
I drive a good mix of high speed dual carriage way/motorway and back lane driving.

I have mostly been looking at Civic Type-R's.
I know lots about them and really enjoy the style of driving you get from the VTEC, having owned an S2000 a few years ago.

I was thinking that I will also take a look at some of the other options available, but I know very little about them.

So, for the following cars what kind of year, spec, mileage and condition should I be looking for at 10k?
And some opinions on which will be the most fun.
Golf GTI
Focus ST
Megane/Clio RS (Not sure which one is really in budget?)
Mazda 3 MPS
BMW 1xx (Does this count as a hot hatch?)

Any others I might have missed...

Thanks in advance.
 
Megane would probably be the most fun.

Go test drive them would be my shout, phone your local dealers up and take them all out. Most of them should allow you to take them out on your own.
 
Begbie said:
Megane would probably be the most fun.

Go test drive them would be my shout, phone your local dealers up and take them all out. Most of them should allow you to take them out on your own.
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No doubt I will test drive all of them, I was mainly looking for suggestions about what specs I should be looking at, what age should I be looking at.

With the Civic's for example I know that 8k gets me a 2007 GT with all the toys and 10k gets me a 2009-2010 GT, but only just.
 
A few other options not yet mentioned:

Mini Cooper S (R56) - (check what options are fitted as options list for these was huge - so make sure prices are like for like)
Skoda Fabia vRS (reliability probably concern with these)
New shape Fiesta ST (just over budget, but a handful on autotrader for just under £11k)

Not necessarily "hot", probably just "warm"
Citroen DS3 (155bhp)
Audi A3 2.0 TFSI (£10k would get you a 2009 or 2010 model on average miles)
Seat Leon Cupra as above
Abarth Fiat 500


Out of those - having owned one, a Mini is definitely more fun than most of your original list.
 
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Southy_ said:
No doubt I will test drive all of them, I was mainly looking for suggestions about what specs I should be looking at, what age should I be looking at.

With the Civic's for example I know that 8k gets me a 2007 GT with all the toys and 10k gets me a 2009-2010 GT, but only just.
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You're off your head if willing to spend £10k on an FN2

My 2009 car is worth around £6k or £7k from a trader - there is zero reason to go with a silly low mileage example with these. They all chip terribly, if that bothers you factor in £600 to respray the front end.
 
rodenal said:
You're off your head if willing to spend £10k on an FN2

My 2009 car is worth around £6k or £7k from a trader - there is zero reason to go with a silly low mileage example with these. They all chip terribly, if that bothers you factor in £600 to respray the front end.
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Really? I haven’t seen any 2009's near me (50 miles or so) for less than 8k trade most of them around 9, and all the 2007’s are around 6.5-7k, I assumed that was the price they were at?
 
Southy_ said:
No doubt I will test drive all of them, I was mainly looking for suggestions about what specs I should be looking at, what age should I be looking at.

With the Civic's for example I know that 8k gets me a 2007 GT with all the toys and 10k gets me a 2009-2010 GT, but only just.
Click to expand...

£10k will get you a 09/10 ST3 with plenty options
 
£11k might squeeze you in to an early (2013) MK7 Fiesta ST. Maybe even £10k but it might be the dregs of the market at that price.
 
Jono8 said:
£11k might squeeze you in to an early (2013) MK7 Fiesta ST. Maybe even £10k but it might be the dregs of the market at that price.
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As per my post a bit further up, I think there was about 7 in the UK between 10.5k and 11k - Think one was also CAT C, so yes probably low end of that market.
 
Southy_ said:
Really? I haven’t seen any 2009's near me (50 miles or so) for less than 8k trade most of them around 9, and all the 2007’s are around 6.5-7k, I assumed that was the price they were at?
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They might well start off advertised at that value but I highly doubt they are selling for that. If the front end of my car was perfect I would insist on at least £6.5k for it privately, so it wouldn't be entirely unreasonable to expect a similar car to be closer to £8k from a trader - but there's next to no chance the cars you are seeing have anything other than a very chipped front end, probably about 4 owners, rusty roof and a non dealer history (not that this in itself is a problem, but it decreases value slightly).

If you want one just buy privately from someone who has had the typical warranty work carried out and save yourself a couple of grand. I'm not exactly rushed off my feet with people coming to see the car at 6 grand (though I do now have someone coming back to see it today) so be aware of what you might need to sell it for when moving it on again.

I wouldn't buy a Focus St either at the moment due to the lol asking price - you'd almost be better waiting for the newer shape to come down in price a touch
 
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