I thought i'd better make one of these threads...

Yeah but a car like that sends my insurance alarm crazy! I would love to just drop the money on something like an S3, Golf GTI, Focus ST, Leon Cupra, etc. but it's just too expensive to insure, maintain, and run.

I need to find a comfort zone, which I think is more "warm" than "hot" hatchback, as things like the Golf GT, A3 2.0, Focus 2.0 etc are well within my ranges.

Appreciate the input though. :)
 
Tute said:
Okay, i'm at my wits end with this, quite frankly.

I've looked in, sat in, driven, and collected reviews, reports, and various information about all the different cars. I've whittled my list down from numerous, so a handful. But i'm totally stuck at this point.

Focus - Good interior, probably the worst looking of the cars on my list, but solid, reliable. Performance is reasonable, but I don't think it's anything to shout about.

Fabia - Is a diesel, and I enjoyed test driving the petrols more, despite the huge torquey kick in the back. Interior is basic, but the looks good from the outside. That, however, would make it a target, so it both a good and bad thing. Fuel consumption is the best of a lot, but the insurance is the worst.

Bravo - Interior is reasonable, nothing to shout about but not bad either. I feel the same with the exterior, I don't like it as much as the Fabia but I like it more than the Focus. Engine is superb, but the handling felt a bit "off" - not sure what you call it, but when zipping around corners it leans a lot. Also, from reading reviews, it certainly seems to be the "wildcard" in my list when it comes to reliability. Not saying it's bad, but it can be a risk.

Mazda don't really appeal, I had a sit in one but prefer the looks of the Focus.

I'm toying with the idea of "finding" (read beg, borrow, steal) the extra for a Golf Mk5 GT 1.4TSI. I've not had the chance to drive one, yet, but I love the looks inside and out, the engine gets rave reviews and it's more than reliable. But it's almost certainly going to be the "uncomfortable" side of £10K for a good 06 plate example.

I guess i'm asking, how do you guys whittle down when you get to half a dozen cars or less? How do you decide what to go for? I'm stuck.
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Go for whatever you like the most, if that's the Golf then save up the rest and get it, as you'll always regret not getting it.

I test drove and looked at every car that competes with the Bravo and couldn't look past it for looks, performance and price.

Like I said before don't even consider it to be an unreliable car because it's a Fiat. I would bet good money it would cost the same as the same Golf, Focus or Astra over a 5 year period. Infact possibly less if you take into account servicing and parts are dirt cheap for a Fiat. Only thing you have to consider is depreciation.

To me it sounds like you've rulled the Focus out in your head already, the Fabia and Bravo are nice but you've got you're head set on a Golf :)

Just to compare my Bravo I 'raced' a Golf GTi (Mk5) a few weeks back (traffic light GP just off the M4 at about 2AM) and pulled out just a tad faster and he didn't catch up through the corners either. Mine is 179bhp so has had £380 worth of stuff done to it and I would imagine the GTi was stock.
 
Sorry, didnt see this thread had moved on a few days ago.

My point about Fiats was a serious one and not based on any unreasonable bias. I'm sure a lot of them will be fine and I'd be suprised to see a lot of trouble on a car under 3 years old but they just dont have the same reliability as the Focus or Golf.

Before you ask what I've got to back this up, I know several people with Fiats (mostly Puntos) and all of them are seriously problematic vehicles. My colleague's 5 year old Punto has just needed a fair bit of welding to get it through its MOT and a friends 2 year old is back and forward to the dealership more than a courtesy car.

I personally have owned an Alfa 156 (Fiat own alfa) and while I loved the car, it appeared to have been put together by chimps. The back door handles coming off in your hands when you tried to open them wasnt an uncommon occurence and it needed regular electrical work.

Much better cars out there for the same money IMO but my original point was - if you like it then make sure you have a warranty for the duration that you plan to own it.
 
The Fiat 1.4 TJet engine, does it have anything in common with the VW engine used in the Golf GT/Scirocco, apart from the size?
 
Nothing at all.

The Fiat is the tried and tested FIRE engine with a turbo and I know nothing about the VAG engine apart from it has nothing to do with fiat and it also has a supercharger in addition to a turbo :)
 
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What about a 2 litre Megane?

I've got a 2005 2 litre Dynamique - only paid £4400 for it 6 months ago with 18,000 miles on the clock and I'm very happy with it. Possibly worth a look?
 
Tute said:
Yeah but a car like that sends my insurance alarm crazy! I would love to just drop the money on something like an S3, Golf GTI, Focus ST, Leon Cupra, etc. but it's just too expensive to insure, maintain, and run.

I need to find a comfort zone, which I think is more "warm" than "hot" hatchback, as things like the Golf GT, A3 2.0, Focus 2.0 etc are well within my ranges.

Appreciate the input though. :)
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If it helps my dad has an 06 1.8tfsi 163hp audi a3 sportback, its really nice and keeps up with my car even though i have the same power and a lot more torque.

Lovely interior.

his is black on 18's, not an s-line either but looks so smooth :D I think I have a pic somewhere, will dig it out.
 
iaind said:
Sorry, didnt see this thread had moved on a few days ago.

My point about Fiats was a serious one and not based on any unreasonable bias. I'm sure a lot of them will be fine and I'd be suprised to see a lot of trouble on a car under 3 years old but they just dont have the same reliability as the Focus or Golf.

Before you ask what I've got to back this up, I know several people with Fiats (mostly Puntos) and all of them are seriously problematic vehicles. My colleague's 5 year old Punto has just needed a fair bit of welding to get it through its MOT and a friends 2 year old is back and forward to the dealership more than a courtesy car.

I personally have owned an Alfa 156 (Fiat own alfa) and while I loved the car, it appeared to have been put together by chimps. The back door handles coming off in your hands when you tried to open them wasnt an uncommon occurence and it needed regular electrical work.

Much better cars out there for the same money IMO but my original point was - if you like it then make sure you have a warranty for the duration that you plan to own it.
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Brilliant, base an opinion on a Punto thats nearly a decade old in design. I had my (W reg same shape Punto) for 8 years and apart from servicing it every year and putting new tyres on it, it never had any problems.

You won't have any issues with the engine or any need to weld on a new Fiat. Like I've always said you do occassionally get electrical issues but these are almost always easy fixes.

Fiat's reliability has come on leaps and bounds in the last few years and they are one of the old car companies doing well at the moment.

Fiat also own Ferrari as well :rolleyes:

Tute said:
The Fiat 1.4 TJet engine, does it have anything in common with the VW engine used in the Golf GT/Scirocco, apart from the size?
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No totally different engines, the 1.4 Fiat originally came from the Fiat FIRE 1.0 engine used for ages. They've expanded it and added a turbo and uprated the insides. Pretty much everyone from the press has praised the engine as a real gem, especially in 150bhp form.
 
Today's test drive.

A Mk.V Volkswagen Golf 1.4TSI 120hp.

So a bit under the power i'm aiming for, but the dealer got one in so I had to go have a drive in it.

It's brilliant, especially in driver comfort. Absolutely perfect for that, 10/10. Engine was fabulous, good turn of speed but whisper quiet unless pushed hard. Handling spot on.

I've given the dealer the go-ahead to find me one in 140hp guise for about £10K, we'll see what comes up, hopefully I can get one in time for the meet in New Forest.
 
Stick a Honda Civic 2.2 diesel on the list.
Drove one last year, thought it was brilliant.
Just go have a look and then tell us what you think.
 
Tute said:
Today's test drive.

A Mk.V Volkswagen Golf 1.4TSI 120hp.

So a bit under the power i'm aiming for, but the dealer got one in so I had to go have a drive in it.

It's brilliant, especially in driver comfort. Absolutely perfect for that, 10/10. Engine was fabulous, good turn of speed but whisper quiet unless pushed hard. Handling spot on.

I've given the dealer the go-ahead to find me one in 140hp guise for about £10K, we'll see what comes up, hopefully I can get one in time for the meet in New Forest.
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How was the engine compared to the Bravo's 1.4 Tjet 150? I've not given a standard 1.4TSI Golf engine (only the GTi 2.0TSI and my 180bhp Bravo back to back).
 
Pretty much the same kinda thing. Both sounded gorgeous. The Fiat was certainly the zippier of the two, given that it's 30bhp up i'd expect that though.

I think with the Fiat I wasn't really sold on the looks, or the ride feel. It didn't look bad at all, but there was a fair bit of body roll, and it didn't feel quite as good to drive as the Golf. :)
 
Peerzy said:
How was the engine compared to the Bravo's 1.4 Tjet 150? I've not given a standard 1.4TSI Golf engine (only the GTi 2.0TSI and my 180bhp Bravo back to back).
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The GTI has a 2.0TFSI engine not an TSI one. :)

EDIT: Apologies, i thought you were talking about the Mk5 GTI - OT how was the Mk6 GTI to drive?
 
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Er... so yeah. Things have gone slowly and now i've had a bit of a financial delay which means I won't be able to buy this month, going to be next.

But the search goes on.

I've narrowed down to a very specific list now.

Focus Mk.II - 2.0 Petrol
Audi A3 Sportback - 2.0 Petrol
BMW 1 Series - 120i.
Seat Leon Mk.II - 1.4 TFSI or 2.0 FSI.
Skoda Fabia vRS - 1.9TDI.
Volkswagen Golf Mk.V - 1.4TSI 140bhp or 2.0 FSI.

Everything else i've managed to eliminate from the list.

What would people buy off that list if given the choice?

P.S No more other suggestions please, I think i've looked at and eliminated just about everything else. :)
 
Okay. *draws breath*

I'm picking this up tomorrow.

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*obligatory "Yes Fox, I know it's a hatchback"*
 
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