M140i, Golf R, S3 - Anything else to look at?

Scottland

Scottland

Scottland

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
15,713
Location
North Wales
Hi,

Just starting to look at replacements for my Focus ST as my deal (PCP) is up in March.

I've narrowed it down to the 3 mentioned in the title, but just want to check I've not missed anything off?


Requirements:
5 doors (would consider an estate, but need a hatch for the dog)
~240hp+
'Sporty'
Auto preferable
Petrol
Upto ~£35k

I quite like the look of the V40's, but don't think they would trump either listed above considering they're around the same price (in T5 auto spec).


Anything else?
 
Wait, you're telling me an A45 is over 35k? Seriously? For an A class? That's ridiculous. It could have a million horsepower and do the 60 in a second flat, but it's still an A class.

A few grand more will have you sitting in a brand new Boxster :eek:
 
Diddums said:
Wait, you're telling me an A45 is over 35k? Seriously? For an A class? That's ridiculous. It could have a million horsepower and do the 60 in a second flat, but it's still an A class.

A few grand more will have you sitting in a brand new Boxster :eek:
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But that boxer will have base spec and have less performance, be more expensive to run etc.
 
Diddums said:
Wait, you're telling me an A45 is over 35k? Seriously? For an A class? That's ridiculous. It could have a million horsepower and do the 60 in a second flat, but it's still an A class.

A few grand more will have you sitting in a brand new Boxster :eek:
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And the Boxster would be much slower, far less practical, harder to drive in poor weather and more expensive to run.

Plus, it's arguably quite good looking in the correct spec.

21j5cna.jpg
 
The Merc is just massively overpriced. People who buy hot hatches won't pay that much, it kind of defeats the point of them.

The are supposed to be low cost but high performance. But they have made a hot hatch that costs almost as much as a Porsche lol. Also I think you will struggle to sell it once your done with it, because the alternatives are just as good, but much cheaper.
 
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Nasher said:
The Merc is just massively overpriced. People who buy hot hatches won't pay that much, it kind of defeats the point of them.
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You seem to be under the impression that they don't sell them.

I think the days of the £10-15k hot hatch are dead. For that you'll get a warm hatch.
 
Nasher said:
The Merc is just massively overpriced. People who buy hot hatches won't pay that much, it kind of defeats the point of them.

The are supposed to be low cost but high performance. But they have made a hot hatch that costs almost as much as a Porsche lol. Also I think you will struggle to sell it once your done with it, because the alternatives are just as good, but much cheaper.
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The Mercedes badge on the front is equal to the Porsche badge, so really they've made a hatchback that costs "somewhat similar" to a coupe. Although once you get past the myth of this, it actually doesn't.

The A45 fully optioned is a £45k car, the Cayman (with the Boxster now being even more expensive) with the equivalent options is £65k. Happy for you to spec them up like for like but it's actually quite a lot more for a Cayman S.

To help the OP, I'd certainly consider an A45, as it's certainly one of the strongest examples of it's kind (being a very fast and practical car). If however you are looking to spend less, a Golf R / Focus RS / M240i would be fine choices (although the performance simply isn't equal to the A45 / RS3).
 
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Scottland said:
Hadn't actually considered that, but to be honest it looks too much like it's been driven through halfords covered in glue. Not to my taste :D
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Have you seen one in the flesh? I wasn't a fan at first but after seeing one and having a sit in one they're great. Definitely a future car for me I think.
 
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