If You Had...
- Thread starter Tute
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I like your thinking.
14k on a hatch like a golf/focus. Hmmmm. Difficult, i'd probably go for the newer shape megane if the 3dr variety. 5 door would be a golf or perhaps a mazda 3 in 2.2d variety. I think the new focus is good but the spec levels i'd like i dont believe have hit 14k yet (might be wrong).
However if you actually gave me 14k i'd buy a clio 200 and banger for running around in.
Soldato
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The new Megane is utterly dreadful. I can't believe how bad it is for a new car.
I'd probably pick a facelift Focus ST and stomach the increased running costs
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.. some 3 yr old hatch for about 5k
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
A 3 year old hatch for £5k would be pretty crap. Infact totally crap.
Okay, time for a bump to this as i'm really looking to buy anytime now.
After looking around, I've set a concrete budget at £12K and I've narrowed it down to basically the following:
Seat Leon Cupra (non R)
Golf R32
Focus ST (w/Mountune kit)
Mazda 3 MPS (facelift)
I've test driven all but the Leon (as there aren't many around where I live). The Golf has what I thought was a great engine but beyond that didn't really excite me. The Focus I drove was stock and a good drive with a decent engine but didn't feel as urgent as the Mazda or Golf, and it's also hard to get one with a decent spec (compared to the Golf/Mazda).
The Mazda I found to be the best all-rounder, quick and with all the toys. Also you can get ones with 20K on the clock and some of the original warranty left in the budget, whereas with the R32 I need to go much older.
Still, i'm finding it hard to actually commit to a decision. I'm going to be trading in the current car so I believe that rules out private sales.
I think I've ruled out everything else that might fit the criteria, and i'm happy with those four in the shortlist. It's just a case of actually making the decision.
What would OcUK Motors do/choose?
After looking around, I've set a concrete budget at £12K and I've narrowed it down to basically the following:
Seat Leon Cupra (non R)
Golf R32
Focus ST (w/Mountune kit)
Mazda 3 MPS (facelift)
I've test driven all but the Leon (as there aren't many around where I live). The Golf has what I thought was a great engine but beyond that didn't really excite me. The Focus I drove was stock and a good drive with a decent engine but didn't feel as urgent as the Mazda or Golf, and it's also hard to get one with a decent spec (compared to the Golf/Mazda).
The Mazda I found to be the best all-rounder, quick and with all the toys. Also you can get ones with 20K on the clock and some of the original warranty left in the budget, whereas with the R32 I need to go much older.
Still, i'm finding it hard to actually commit to a decision. I'm going to be trading in the current car so I believe that rules out private sales.
I think I've ruled out everything else that might fit the criteria, and i'm happy with those four in the shortlist. It's just a case of actually making the decision.
What would OcUK Motors do/choose?
Soldato
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I'd spend 12k on a MK2 Mazda 3 MPS and pocket the change
Thanks, but Fox has already covered the "OMG HATCHBACK" rhetoric.
Because it would mean owning an E81?
The 1.4 yes, but the 1.75 ones seem to start at £15K and go upwards from there.
Thing is, I want to do the hot hatch thing for a couple of years before I move up to something bigger. I know that if I was to go, for say an E46 M3 now i'd never be able to make the downgrade in the future and it is something I just want to do.
Hence why Porsche/350Z never made the list.
Hence why Porsche/350Z never made the list.
Trust me, my heart wants me to find another £6K to drop on a Focus RS but my head wants to own a house at some point in my life.
Just to add to what you said about the R32, do you consider the Seat/Ford/Mazda to be noticeably less reliable than the Golf then?