hot hatch ideas

[sneaky]

My sister is thinking about buying herself a 21st present at the end of the year.

At the moment she wants to buy a new Mazda 3 MPS. I'm trying to suggest she buys a 1 or 2 year old car to save some money.

I will also tell her to have a look at vw scirocco and some others.

Any one have suggestions for other models to look at?

Cheers
-tim

[Nic85]

In that price range? ($50k onroad remember)

Renault Megane 250.

TBH though, these cars are not worth the money. List prices mean diddly squat. By the time you option and pay on roads and insurance, you're up for $50k. That's a shed load of coin for a hatchback.

IMO, better off downsizing to say a Polo GTi at $30k. Even then, options (bi xenons, leather, premium sound) plus on roads makes it a $40k car!

Buying a couple year old Euro car has its drawbacks too. Seen the price of a DSG gearbox out of warranty?

Maybe stick to a couple year old Japanese car, maybe a Mitsubishi for the good warranty?

[Nikked]

Hyundai veloster

[Wretched]

depends on budget and the size of the car wanted and whether she wants used or not, there are a good range of cars.


- Focus ST/XR5T
- Fiesta XR4/ST
- Renault Megane RS250
- Golf GTi
- Polo GTi
- Lancer Ralliart
- Subaru WRX
- Renault Clio Sport (Cup)
- Mazda 3 MPS

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by Nikked

Hyundai veloster

For a "Hot Hatch" she would need to wait for the Turbo. That would be my pick if she could wait.

If not, perhaps a used Focus RS?? They are around 50K now.

Audi TT AWD?? XR5??

If you get something a few years old that has been well looked after you can spend a little 'tinkering' with it etc ;)

[Chilliman]

I'm waiting for the Focus ST - I'm hoping it comes in priced around the
mid-30k bracket.

[sneaky]

Don't get me wrong I think she is throwing her money away on a new car. She drives a 3yr old yaris now which has nothing wrong with it.

I think the money would be better spent travelling or at least buying a slightly used car and saving thousands.

I'm guessing she will be focussed more or style and looks over handling and performance.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by sneaky

Don't get me wrong I think she is throwing her money away on a new car. She drives a 3yr old yaris now which has nothing wrong with it.

I think the money would be better spent travelling or at least buying a slightly used car and saving thousands.

I'm guessing she will be focussed more or style and looks over handling and performance.

Sister did the same thing, sold her 3yr old Echo (cheap) she bought new for an Audi A4 sedan several years ago that was already 4-5 years old... Told her she should just keep her reliable car and travel as well...

Just sold the A4 after thousands of dollars in maintenance / repairs over her few years of ownership... and the engine was still on the way out.

She now drives an i45 ;)... Oh well, I guess many of us have made similar decisions with cars lol

[Psi-Pop]

Sierra RS Cosworths? Under 50k for non RS500's, the ultimate in Hot hatches. Not the most practically solution I know, but its got styling and that spoiler!

[XP6]

She'd be better off keeping the Yaris and handing it to a doof doof ricer shop to pretty it up

[4.0i OHC]

The BMW 130i is the last word in hot hatches. She should be able to find a decent example for under $30000, although they haven't been made for a few years now.

[EL97]

Put that money into long term deposit, then use the money for a home loan deposit. House > Car anyway. It's a much smarter investment, a house doesn't lose value untill a bomb has hit it. If she really wants to use the money for fun, the Renault Clio or the XR5T would be a good choice, just remember that french cars are expensive to maintain.

[BEN189]

She should get whatever she wants. If it was me, I'd wait for the new Focus ST

[davenl5l]

if she's on p plates she might have to check what she can legaly drive

[trippytaka]

Renault Clio sport rs
Renault megane
Scirocco is amazing

[sneaky]

Cheers guys I'll tell her to shop around next time I see her.

She will be off her P's by the time she wants to buy something.

[In Focus]

If she's more after the look than an actual hot hatch, then there are a few "warm hatch" choices.

Hyundai Veloster (with/without turbo)

Suzuki Swift Sports (NA but does a nippy 0-100 in 8.0, and supposedly handles outstandingly with a low kerb weight)

Kia Rio (NA 0-100 8.8)

New 2L Focus (somewhere in the high 8's with the auto petrol, a little higher with the manual; diesel has plenty of torque, of course)

Skoda Rs (= to VW Polo, 0-100 7.3) is out in a few months.

Fiesta ST, not out till next year, but good for 0-100 in high 6's.

A lot of these choices, or some of the older ones like the XR5, could be had for a lot cheaper than the new MPS and given a bit of after-market oomph with money to spare.

[EDManual]

Get a Renault!

[lockieoc]

Another really good pick is the Lancer Ralliart may not be quite as small as the others but it feels nimble and zippy.
Awesome warranty, caped price servicing, 3.9% finance, safe, reliable and very fun to drive only downside (to some) is it only comes with the twin clutch gear box.

[4.0i OHC]

The best 'warm hatch' alternative is the Fiesta Zetec Diesel.

[GULL]

Originally Posted by EDManual

Get a Renault!

His right,and they are no more expensive to run or maintain than another other car on the road

[Danny]

Originally Posted by EDManual

Get a Renault!

Originally Posted by GULL

His right,and they are no more expensive to run or maintain than another other car on the road

+2 - Sensational motor car, sensational sports car, and a highly comfortable and practical cruiser.

Has not given me any trouble and neither did my Clio Sport before it, where the Falcons have not been the last word in reliability and nor was my WP Fiesta Zetec I had as a younger lad.

The 130i hatch was a great hatch, in it's time (but never the greatest or the last word in hot hatches), unfortunately it is now a victim of political correctness, and is the previous model.

VW Scirocco is a good car, but not amazing. The RenaultSport Megane RS250 is at the moment the greatest hot hatch available (the Focus RS was also an awesome awesome thing, had it not been so exxy). It wins every single comparison I've yet read, and garners unbeleivable praise. It is deserving of its success and reputation, and is worth considering.

[Kevaclone]

Has she considered the Insurance???
under 25 in a "Sports" car....... Anything with a turbo and 2 doors is gonna cost heaps,
for some reason taking away the back doors makes it a sports car to some Insurance Companies

[Franco Cozzo]

If she doesn't mind anything a bit older, look for a DC5 Honda Integra Type R or S, they're fairly good "hot hatches".

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by sneaky

Don't get me wrong I think she is throwing her money away on a new car. She drives a 3yr old yaris now which has nothing wrong with it.

I think the money would be better spent travelling or at least buying a slightly used car and saving thousands.

I'm guessing she will be focussed more or style and looks over handling and performance.

So why are you asking about HOT Hatches?
Does she want;
manual or auto,
power or economy,
5 doors or 3,
petrol or diesel,
Small/ Medium/ or Micro,
FWD or AWD,
Sportz or SUV style?

Buying new is not a bad option, as it is far easier to shop for the best price/ changeover.
Unless she really knows what she’s looking at, buying 2nd hand can be a minefield.

Currently my personal pick of the small hatches would be the Pug 308
(which shares its platform with the C4 and I think is based on a Mitsubishi.)

[WILDB]

Originally Posted by Chilliman

I'm waiting for the Focus ST - I'm hoping it comes in priced around the
mid-30k bracket.

Add 10k and you'll be on the ballpark.

[Nic85]

If she doesn't want brand new, I should throw the Ralliart Colt into the mix too. Cracker of a little car, and easily tuned for more power too. They make about 90kwatw stock, with guys changing the turbo to a TME Evo turbo, FMIC and tune and getting 180kwatw! Probably laggy as hell haha, but the stock turbo with FMIC, tune and exhaust will push 145kwatw, which is 50% more power.

They are a really good drive. Best of all, you can still find ones with the Evo Recaro seats, around 50,000kms for $15k or less. Some even still have factory warranty.

[DJM83]

I won't comment as it will be bias.




XR5 With a few subtle mods they are quite quick, if modding is what she wants to do.

[sneaky]

^^^ the reason i was asking about them is because if she is set on spending her money on one she may as well get a decent one. if the mps is one of the better ones around then it's all good, if the renault/vw/ford/whatever hatches are worlds infront of the mazda then i will try to get her shopping around before parting with her money.

but i still would rather see her spend money on travel while she is young, rather than being tied down to a car loan for the next 5 years

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by sneaky

^^^ the reason i was asking about them is because if she is set on spending her money on one she may as well get a decent one.

yes, but if she is more focussed on looks and styling than performance, then why does it need to be a HOT hatch???
Plus you need to provide a lot more info before anyone can give you appropriate advice