Hot Hatches

timbob

timbob

timbob

Soldato
Joined
27 Nov 2002
Posts
3,121
Righto - more thinking out loud from me....

Situation:
The Cavalier is going in a few months time after I finish my first year at work and I get a 6 1/2 week summer holiday to car hunt. I was thinking along the lines of a 200sx - but for the 350-400 miles a week I do, fuel would bankrupt me, and the insurance, although reasonable at £800, is still a bit steep. So I'm probably ditching that idea, and going for something a touch more sensible.

The requirements:
I have up to £4k to spend. Whatever I buy has got to be reasonably new (10 years max) for reliability purposes - it has to work 99.9% of the time. It's got to be fun to drive as I'm tired of driving a boat. It's also got to have some sort of boot - enough for clarinets, flutes, the odd saxophone, and a box of music/paperwork. Nothing huge to transport, but out of sight storage is a must. I don't want anything slower in a straight line than the Cavalier (~100bhp/tonne), but it can't chew petrol, due to my mileage for work. 30mpg would be a minimum I'd be able to live with. Obviously I'm not going to be able to get something ballistic, but something with a usefully revvy and willing engine and good handling would be cool. Ideally not Jap for parts availability/cost either.

Going through the various options, I seem to be left with only hot hatches. Things like Pug 106 Rallye/GTi, Saxo VTS, Clio 1.8 16v/Williams. They're all around the 7-8 second to 60 mark, known for handling well, not too bad on fuel, being 1.6s (the Clios aside)...

What are the opinions of the car's I've listed above, and does anyone have anything to throw at me from leftfield that I've totally forgotten to consider?!
 
With the williams you've got to be prepared that there an older car and there not exactly 100% reliable, you either seem to get a good one or get one that you've got to pieces every other week.
Still amazing machines though.
 
I know the 200sx isn't a hot hatch - it's a turbocharged Japmobile, with a healthy appetite for fuel. Hence why I discarded the idea! If I didn't need a car for work, that would be what I'd go for though.

I'd do my homework with a Williams. I'd preferably look for a 2 or 3, a later M or N plate with low miles. The most expensive ones on autotrader are only £4.5k, so I'm in budget for a decent one.

The Xsara VTS is a good call, although they have a repuation of being a little fuel thirsty don't they? 170bhp from an NA 2.0 is fairly highly stressed. That said, what are the Williams Clios like on fuel?
 
I can throw a hearty recommendation in for a Xsara, having owned the fastest non-VTS version. It's comfortable, has a sound handling setup, the VTx versions have fairly admirable looks, come with a decent level of standard specification and above all is excellent value for money.
 
[TW]Fox said:
Open the boot on a Xsara Coupe.

Then come back and tell us it isnt a hatchback.
Click to expand...

hehe i was just about to say the same. on a coupe the boot opens... with no glass.. on a hatchback the boot opens along with the rear screen. Guess which the Xsara has?
 
paradigm said:
OK, done. Its NOT a hatchback.
Click to expand...

Errr, it is.

Sorry to use such a vile modified example but here we go:

james6.jpg


A Xsara Coupe. Note rear hatchback.

Look, it opens:

james12.jpg


In what way is that NOT a hatchback?
 
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