Spec me - something relatively quick, supple and practical

[roadie]

I've had my first car, a 57 plate Honda Civic 1.8 for a couple of years now. It's my first car and is OK. It's very cheap to run (insurance with no excess is £238), it has a decent spec list and swallows huge loads (just like your mum ). What it lacks is any fun and the suspension is dreadful! It crashes and bangs over less than smooth roads and doesn't inspire very much confidence when driving quickly. It's very much just a tool, which is fine, but I'd like something faster and more enjoyable.

I don't do many miles a year (maybe 5k) and most of them are either single carriageway A roads, smaller country roads or motorway. I do barely any 'town' driving. Whilst I'd like to retain as much as the practical element of the Civic, I don't think anything can rival it in that regard. Late model FN2 Type R pricing is too high from what I've seen and would also suffer from the same suspension issues.

My needs are a car that is:

• relatively quick
• has a supple ride and decent damping
• handles well
• is practical
• has good build quality and interior materials
• has HID/LED headlights
• has Bluetooth/AUX in for music and a decent stereo

My budget would ideally be around £10k taking into account trading in my Civic, which has ~59k miles on it. However, for the right car I could push that up to around £15k. I've been browsing Megane Renaultsports, 308 GTIs and a few Golf GTIs with the intention of testing them soon.

I really like the look of the Megane; does anyone have experience of the Cup/non Cup suspension against each other?

Any other thoughts and ideas most welcome! Cheers

 

[roadie]

Thanks for the replies guys. Direct Line have quoted me an additional £96 on my insurance for a Cup 265 and £59 for a non Cup 275 so I don't think insurance is a massive issue.

I like the ride in the standard Focus cars I have driven and ridden in, but am not a fan of the interior so I'll rule them out. I don't mind a firmer ride if the damping is good. For instance my father has a new BMW 225i M Sport X Drive on 18" RTFs which is OK.

With regard to the budget, I'd rather spend less (who wouldn't!). For instance I have seen Megane 250s toward the bottom of my budget and 275s at the top. Just focusing on those cars for the moment, if I wanted one and I felt the 275 was clearly the better car I would go for it. I do appreciate the age of those cars and need to drive one and maybe more. Other cars like the 308GTI and Golf GTI are clearly toward the top of my budget.

I'll look at Cupras, thanks.

 

[roadie]

If you're wanting something relatively comfy on UK roads you don't want a cup pack Renault. This is speaking as a Clio Cup owner, I haven't been in the Megane but I'd be willing to guess that they are similar in terms of harshness.

How is the Clio in everyday use? They are an interesting little car! Could a non Cup Clio be an everyday proposition that isn't too loud on the motorway? My Civic does 3,000rpm at a little over 70 which is loud enough.

F10 5 series.

I'm not sure a 520d is the answer to my question!

The Renault sport meganes are great cars - but if you don't like the interior of the newer focus you're going to hate the Renault too as they're pretty sparse

Good compromise could be a 125i - going to be somehwere near the top end budget but you should have a selection of cars, be able to buy approved used and you'll certainly notice an interior difference vs the civic (in look at least). Still going to be a good bit quicker than the Honda too.

Feels like you're at the bottom of the market for either the Leon Cupra or 135i which would eliminate them for me right away.

Mk3 Octavia vrs could be worth considering from a refinement point of view, but they're more family car orientated than hot hatch really.

I still have a soft spot for the 8P S3, particularly in 5 door form however you're spending a lot of money on what is an old car - they're a bit numb to drive but have refinement going for them (for the size of car)

BMWs are difficult. I have experience in picking my father's and getting the right combination of options is a pain! That has put me off somewhat.

Leon Cupra 280s look decent and good value.

This. The Focus interior isnt too bad. The Mk3 Megane interior feels very old hat now and it put me off getting an Rs250/275. The MK4 Megane interior is very nice and feels suitably modern, up to date and well built (speaking as an owner of one!).

Yeah, the Megane interior does look basic compared to that of a more modern car. That's not too much of an issue for me if it is well screwed together, as it's very modest. Ford and Vauxhall interiors look like cheap, Japanese from the 90s to me!

A left field choice could be the Alfa Guilietta?

 

[roadie]

I think there are more desirable options than the Mazda...

 

[roadie]

Yeah a Cupra 280 on 18s is very interesting. Potentially budget busting though, as are Mk7 Golf's.

The Peugeot GTI 270 is also a slightly leftfield option where an 18 month old car could be had for approaching 50% of its original value. Again, the budget may rule one of those out, and the interior looks and functions in a unique way!

The Ocavia VRS might be a little large for me? Otherwise it appears it would fulfil the criteria.

 

[roadie]

LOL I love this forum and the little debates that occur. Thanks for the further replies

Whilst I didn't explicitly set out that I'd like a hatchback, that is very much what I have in mind. My experience of the Civic is that something that size is all that is necessary. For instance I made a trip to Ikea last night and came back with a flatpack 160cm chest of drawers that just fit in lengthways. I've also moved house a couple of times using it. Being able to carry stuff is nice and the dimensions and interior proportions that a hatchback offers makes sense.

 

[roadie]

Well I drove the Megane 275, 308 GTI and Clio 200 yesterday.

I was enormously impressed with the Megane and 308. I did not spend a huge amount of time driving either, but was able to discern that they're both incredibly capable machines. However, the 308 felt like a completely modern car on the inside whilst the Megane betrayed its earlier conception.

The Clio is surprisingly spacious, but a bit cheap and cheerful inside.

Lots to think about!

 

[roadie]

After having driven a Megane RS 265 Cup last weekend, seeing it again in the flesh yesterday and reviewing the paperwork, I put down a deposit. It's firm, but the damping is excellent.

The car looks and feels like new. The previous owner appears to have taken exceptional care of it and I will do the same.