Hot Hatch Market

[billyvtr93]

I've only had my Vtr for a month but i'm looking at getting something new already.
I have been insured through my work so I can insure any car up to 3.9l for £60pm instead of the £210pm I was paying before :D :y:
I want something a bit newer and hopefully quicker with a budget of around £8000.
My current ideas are either:
Civic Type-R Ep3
Clio 172/182
Clio 197
Corsa Vxr
Megane 225

I'm going to testdrive an EP3 next week and i'm looking around to testdrive a few others, but I wondered if anyone had experience of driving more than one of these cars and could tell me how they compare in real life, i've looked up the specs and know how they compare on paper, but unbiased opinions are what i'm after? :D

Thanks :D

[Carl-h]

Is the 93 in your name the year you were born? If so your 18? I wouldn't of trusted me in any of those at 18 lol! But if I had 8k and the insurance like that I'd be looking at stuff a lot more special to be honest.

[DanViner]

I wouldn't get a ep3 If I had 8 grand tbh wouldn't get any of them maybe the 197 or a Astra vxr

What about m3's, Audi s3, cooper s r56,

[jw1325]

EP3's are brilliant.

if your insurance is only gonna be 60 per month I'd go for something bigger if you can afford to run it.

saying that I'd still turn my nose up at paying 60 quid a month insurance

[0rang3peel]

If I was 18 and could get cheap insurance then fuck yeah I would get whatever car.

Just because you're inexperienced doesn't mean you need to drive like a plank everywhere.

I would maybe get a CTR and then pocket some cash?

Wish I had that money at 18 (if you are 18)

[CrouchyM]

Sounds like I need your job!

To reply to a previous comment, my cousin has a vxr and IMO its not worth the money, my vts isn't far off it and he hates how much fuel it drinks and how much parts ect are.

If you can really insure anything up to 3.9L and you have £8000 you can pick up a 07 Skyline GT-R for around £7-8000 lol.

[TypeRDavid]

£8,000 is a decent wad to spend, Out of the list you've chosen I would go with the EP3 or Clio, however I've said before I would stray off and buy one of these instead, purely for the noise they make.

Nowhere near as bad as all these Internet/ Forum experts would make out they are, All you need Q2 Diff, 330 mm Brembo's, Raggazon system and Oh my goodness!!! :)

And did i Mention that sexy Interior too :)

http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww291/adistinction/147gta.jpg

[billyvtr93]

I should also mention that fuel/servicing/repair costs should be considered, I was considering an RX-8 but the rotary engines drink oil and fuel.
I think a 2.0l is most i'd go too because of my age tbh, i've only been driving just over a year and jumping from a 90bhp saxo to a 180-200bhp Ep3/Clio will be a big enough gap anyway.
I was really interested in a 182 Trophy but got slightly put off by a lot of people saying the reliability and driving position are both poor.
How would an E46 330d stack up against them? They're a bit more grown up and bigger and being in a sales job I would fit the average 3series driver profile well ;)

[Giraffe]

I know theoretically you could get a "good" car, but why don't just just get something sensible and cheap to run?

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

Seat Leon (diesel) or something.

[saxova]

Fuck how a 330d would do against other cars!

They look boss, and decent MPG!

I was 17, had a 1.2 nova or a year.. so turned 18 and bought 200bhp nova turbo. EVERYONE I knew said I was going to kill myself. Clearly not - that thing used to scare the shit out of me, no PAS + turbo = dragged all over road. So I respected it =]

[0rang3peel]

Ok then you should definitely get a 330d I was going to suggest one however didn't think it was in your criteria.

[Gandi699]

I should also mention that fuel/servicing/repair costs should be considered, I was considering an RX-8 but the rotary engines drink oil and fuel.
I think a 2.0l is most i'd go too because of my age tbh, i've only been driving just over a year and jumping from a 90bhp saxo to a 180-200bhp Ep3/Clio will be a big enough gap anyway.
I was really interested in a 182 Trophy but got slightly put off by a lot of people saying the reliability and driving position are both poor.
How would an E46 330d stack up against them? They're a bit more grown up and bigger and being in a sales job I would fit the average 3series driver profile well ;)

The trophies are very good and reliability wise - look after it and it'll look after you. Driving position is a touch high as standard but you get used to that.
However I wouldnt personally buy one if you intend to do a lot of commuting miles say over a 330d as they are totally different cars obviously

[Stissy]

OP, also consider:

an A3 8P3 170 diesel with the S-Tronic box - quick, high mpg and a beautiful car. It'll cost about 17k though which i know is way over your budget but you could get banging finance with an 8k deposit and in 3 years time it'll still be with 14/15k

Seat Leon FR diesel - bit of an imitation of the above, but if you cant afford an A3 and you want that sort of car then you could get one of these? same 170bhp diesel engine, so its still a fantastic engine with high mpg and a revo stage 1 will see it 200bhp+, but they only come in manual. A massive positive over the A3 though is that you can pick an 07/08 plate up for dirt cheap for the amount of car you're getting, 8K will get you a really nice one

Audi 8P2 S3 - if you're willing to spend a but more than 8k on buying an S3, then more money on tax every year and money on petrol then without a doubt get one the 8P2 S3, beautiful cars, and look stunning in sprint blue :y: the only reason i said 8P2 is because they're only about 10/14k, where as the 8P3 would be about 20k

Seat Leon Cupra K1 - Nice cars but again sort of an imitation S3, still got plenty of power though and the K1 kit makes them look soooo nice too, i'd recommend one of these if you cant afford to put a bit more money in for an S3, although with 8k you'd have to get a slightly older one probably with more miles

Seat Ibiza Bocanegra - again, you might need to put a little more money to your 8k but these are loads of fun and have plenty of power to keep a smile on your face, the DSG box makes them really fun to drive, and they look pretty tidy and modern too - if you cant afford the Bocanegra then get the Cupra, its basically the same car, but i've always thought if you're going to do something do it properly, you dont want to look back at the cupra in a few months time and think "why did i not put a few extra k in and get the Bocanegra?"

Alfa Giulietta Cloverleaf - this would be my personal choice, i love Alfas and the new Giulietta Cloverleaf is just ridiculous. 1.75t engine, its like 235bhp or something similar but the best thing about it is that its so exclusive, if you bought one of these i guarantee you'll never pass another one on the road - probably have to double your budget and add a few more on top though, and even then in 3 years time they'll be worth nothing

aaaand obviously i'll throw this in... buy my car - its yours for 7.5k ;) thats 500 under your budget and it meets all your requirements: its newer than a VTR, its just had its 4th birthday and its definitely faster than one, it'll easily outpace a vts ;)

[billyvtr93]

For some reason I usually overlook german cars, an Audi A3 Tdi would definitely look the part but im not sure how fun they are to drive compared to a french hot hatch?

[leeroybrown]

I am also on the look out for my next hot hatch.

Only 2 I would have is Ep3 Premier Edition or 182 trophy.

Both drivers cars and look epic in red.

[DeanAngell1234]

Be a man, get an M3 :P