Upto £4000 on a Hot Hatch

tonyyeb · 2 Jun 2006 at 10:11

Hi all

Currently I own a Corsa 1.2 SXi - done a bit of chavving, changing alloys, removing bump strips etc... but i want to go for something with more than 73bhp!

On autotrader.co.uk there are some 306 Rallye (167bhp) Insurance group 16 which isn't a prob (only £600 pa).

But i was wondering if anyone has any other suggestions of cars under £4000 with less than 70,000 miles, less than 6-7 years (no higher than a T reg really) with 150+bhp.

Cheers guys!

OllyM · 2 Jun 2006 at 10:16

I'll probably get shot for this, but what about a Mondeo ST24?

Mind you, I doubt you'll find one with less than 70,000 miles on it that easily.

Snaggle · 2 Jun 2006 at 10:17

Xsara VTS (Mk2) Cheap fast and imho looks good...

Persil

tonyyeb · 2 Jun 2006 at 10:19

OllyM said:
I'll probably get shot for this, but what about a Mondeo ST24?

Mind you, I doubt you'll find one with less than 70,000 miles on it that easily.

Not quite a 'Hot hatch'! And my driveway is so small that a mondeo would not allow me to close the gates!

But thanks for the suggestion

paradigm · 2 Jun 2006 at 10:20

Persil said:
Xsara VTS (Mk2) Cheap fast and imho looks good...

Persil

The "Xsara MK2" and "looks good" should NOT be in the same sentence in that context IMO.

The MK1 looks quite good, certainly not the prettiest of cars, but its definately not a bad looker. The MK2 looks vile, and this is coming from someone who prefers the phase 2 saxo to the phase 1, so its not just that I prefer the original models.

TerryWogan · 2 Jun 2006 at 10:20

The rallye/gti6 is a great car. But undoubtedly some certain folk will tell you the Xsara VTS is just the same and looks just as good

paradigm · 2 Jun 2006 at 10:23

Another suggestion, although goes over budget by about £500, is an early Clio 172. You could have a W-ish reg one for anywhere between £4350 and £5000, with relatively low (seen a few at 45000~ miles) milage.

Nathan · 2 Jun 2006 at 10:26

jonarob said:
The rallye/gti6 is a great car. But undoubtedly some certain folk will tell you the Xsara VTS is just the same and looks just as good

Same car, as a gti-6 maybe but not a rallye. Depends on what you want, the xsara is an awesome car for the money really, but looks worse than a 306. The rallye is a really pure bred drivers car which, if your hardcore is good. I bought a GTI-6 because for the same price you get leather, aircon, electrics etc etc and lose .2 seconds off 0 - 60.

Also look at 106 gti + saxo vts

Can get a VERY nice one for that kinda money.

tonyyeb · 2 Jun 2006 at 10:27

paradigm said:
Another suggestion, although goes over budget by about £500, is an early Clio 172. You could have a W-ish reg one for anywhere between £4350 and £5000, with relatively low (seen a few at 45000~ miles) milage.

Yeah my friend suggested that and i do like the performance, shame it is a clio. he also said that his friend took him out in it and said that he couldn't go to full lock on the steering due a 'design fault' on the suspension. This creates a knocking sound which "cannot be fixed"! Bit worrying on a car with a pretty poor turning circle anyway!

Plus a little bit small and the clio is quite common. As the 306 hasn't been made since 2001 and so they are becoming less common on the road, and I haven't seen a rallye for over 6 months now.

paradigm · 2 Jun 2006 at 10:27

Nathan said:
Also look at 106 gti + saxo vts Can get a VERY nice one for that kinda money.

Not with > 150bhp though.

tonyyeb · 2 Jun 2006 at 10:28

Nathan said:
Same car, as a gti-6 maybe but not a rallye. Depends on what you want, the xsara is an awesome car for the money really, but looks worse than a 306. The rallye is a really pure bred drivers car which, if your hardcore is good. I bought a GTI-6 because for the same price you get leather, aircon, electrics etc etc and lose .2 seconds off 0 - 60.

Also look at 106 gti + saxo vts Can get a VERY nice one for that kinda money.

Again 106 and Saxo quite common but yes they are available for less money. So you liked your GTI6? Better than a Rallye? Are they both turbo charged? If so is there tuning potential?

timbob · 2 Jun 2006 at 10:31

paradigm said:
Not with > 150bhp though.

Feels like it though, I've been surprised since I got my 106 GTi, it keeps up with a lot of things that it shouldn't! Lightweight is the way forward

A lot cheaper on the fuel as well, I get almost 40mpg out of my GTi, and a friend with the 306 GTi6 struggles to get 25mpg. It's not really that much faster either...

Lopéz · 2 Jun 2006 at 10:33

None of the cars mentioned so far are turbocharged.

tonyyeb · 2 Jun 2006 at 10:33

Lopéz said:
None of the cars mentioned so far are turbocharged.

Cheers

AlanJ · 2 Jun 2006 at 10:38

What about a Honda Civic VTi 1.6 158Bhp. Nice cars

tonyyeb · 2 Jun 2006 at 10:45

Jestergt said:
What about a Honda Civic VTi 1.6 158Bhp. Nice cars

For less than £4000? I am looking at the 306 GTI6 now. Looks cracking for the price. Seen one for 3,499 less than 60,000 miles.

AlanJ · 2 Jun 2006 at 10:47

Good choice, and yes they can be had for around that price. Ive always had french cars, but the time has come to move onto jap!

dadofsam · 2 Jun 2006 at 10:54

If you dont care too much aobut image and can stretech your budget slightly -

http://www.saxosportsclub.com/forum/SEURLF/ASP/SFS/THREADID.294265/FORUMID.10/SFE/posts.htm

A cracking car and should hold the value well, if not the vtr look in the rest of the for sale section, some nice vts's and 106 gti's which are both great cars as mentioned before in this post.

tonyyeb · 2 Jun 2006 at 10:58

dadofsam said:
If you dont care too much aobut image and can stretech your budget slightly -

http://www.saxosportsclub.com/forum/SEURLF/ASP/SFS/THREADID.294265/FORUMID.10/SFE/posts.htm

A cracking car and should hold the value well, if not the vtr look in the rest of the for sale section, some nice vts's and 106 gti's which are both great cars as mentioned before in this post.

Sorry if i offend anyone but saxos are high up on the chav motors list. Not a fan.

Hate · 2 Jun 2006 at 11:03

i know they aren't technically hatches, but £4000 will get you a fine example of a 200sx, turbocharged, rear drive - perfect for tuning.