What hot hatch?

Altezza-Dan

Altezza-Dan

Octane Boostaholics
So since the oil burning diesel a7 will be gone this week i need to line up the net purchase. Im liking the idea of a small fun hot hatch( not too small, im 6ft4!)

Budget is 7k-7.5k max( needs a bit of tax for his price)

Ford focus ST
Golf GTI
Astra OPC
Leon FR

I test drove 2 ST's over the weekend, nice drive and sound from the 5 cylinder, supposed to be fairly reliable once you check of the known faults on any potential purchases:

2008 blue 3 door and it was in absolute pieces, some wheeler dealer trader had it and knew nothing about the car. https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/08-ford-focus-st-turbo/14948247

2008 FL White 5 door, nice car good condition, no real issue, just cosmetic things. best price 7.5k, might get him down to 7k
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/ford-focus-st/16083965

Going to look at 08 3 door in black today, would remove the sticker kit
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/2008-ford-focus-st/15593080

On Wednesday going to look at an 06 3door in blue, might get it for 4k
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/ford-focus-st/15873044


GTI - common as muck around my parts, ideally would go for a 3 door 07/08 variant but the cleans ones are probably out of budget

OPC - only went to view one so far, looks like it was sitting up for about a year on a forecourt so walked away from that. Heard the torque steer is so bad they want to put you in the wall Cole trickle style

Leon FR - povo spec GTI, bargain purchase but heard they are quite basic and cheap looking interior, lack of sound deadening can be an annoyance on long trips, could get it for 3.5k, needs timing belt done
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/seat-leon-fr/15950482

I know all the fanboys will tell me get a scooby :) , I would probably only consider the hatch which is way out of budget currently

If anyone knows anything good or bad about the above ones ore has any recommendations, please post the link here. Firstly looking at Dublin/Kildare/Meath based cars

Open to other models to just nothing french please :)
 
If you're thinking VW and SEAT... what about Skoda?

Skoda typically better interior by some stretch than the SEATs.

e.g. https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/skoda-fabia-1-4-tsi-vrs-dsg-180hp/14888462 2011 car with asking price on your budget, so probably would get off a bit, and in Ashbourne so within the area you mentioned.

Vrs Octavias can definitely be got within that budget too and same engine as the Golf GTI, but more comfort and not as common.
e.g. an 2006 for €3300 asking price. https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/skoda-octavia-vrs-black/16125576
 
Colm Mc said:
Type R Civic?
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A bit to boy racer i think for me :)

JohnRA said:
Renault Sport Clio 200 Cup Chassis? https://www.donedeal.ie/carparts-for-sale/renaultsport-clio-200/15939134

There's also a yellow one but with higher miles, extra 3k dolla bills and no cup chassis or Recaros. https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/renault-clio-rs-200/16132238

Or the bigger brother, megane? They're turbo'd.
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Sorry, not a fan of the Reanults due to some past experiiences

Keadeen said:
If you're thinking VW and SEAT... what about Skoda?

Skoda typically better interior by some stretch than the SEATs.

e.g. https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/skoda-fabia-1-4-tsi-vrs-dsg-180hp/14888462 2011 car with asking price on your budget, so probably would get off a bit, and in Ashbourne so within the area you mentioned.

Vrs Octavias can definitely be got within that budget too and same engine as the Golf GTI, but more comfort and not as common.
e.g. an 2006 for €3300 asking price. https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/skoda-octavia-vrs-black/16125576
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Ooh i didn't know they did the VRS in the petrol variant in that age. Could be a contender, I was trying to keep it to hatchback in size though

GORDON GT SERIES II said:
Stay away from that 1.4 tsi engine it's absolute chocolate
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Which engine is that? The one in the Golf GT's?

STiBrian said:
Above your budget...but

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-123d-m-sport-coupe/15490343
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No Diesels i should have said :)
 
Something different like a 350z?

335i?

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-335i-sport-tax-till-aug-nct-2018-286bhp/15386363

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https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-3-series-335i/14400886

ZGEzNjFhZDc3NGQ5ZmQ3MDY2ZjY3ZGFhMDcwZWJmNWOPIv7cvVb_BfdNVz0mxgH8aHR0cDovL3MzLWV1LXdlc3QtMS5hbWF6b25hd3MuY29tL2RvbmVkZWFsLmllLXBob3Rvcy9waG90b182OTQyNTAzMnx8fDYwMHg2MDB8fHx8fHx8fA==.jpeg


Boxster S?

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/porsche-boxster-s/13568767

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An alternative to the Focus ST, if you can find one. What about a Volvo S40 T5? Or a Saab 9-5 Aero? Or the smaller 9-3 Aero?
 
I'd stick with the focus st.

With a few sensible mods they can be up at 320bhp.

Drove one last weekend for the first time and was surprised how much nicer it was to drive than a gti
 
Have a 207 gt 150 bhp with the map it's will see 180 great spec and is big inside glass roof park sensor duel climate control auto headlights rain sensor wipers auto dim rear mirror heated mirrors and lots more ...I changed the chain when I got it and it has never missed a beat....there are some gti's on dd for very handy money .....I love it and it Handel's well and the BMW engine is cracking little yoke ...1.6 turbo..
 
welcome back to world of petrol engines

ST if you can get a clean one; id probably consider gti more cause ive never had one
 
Focus st would probably be my own choice but what's tax on them ...I know it's a small car but the fiesta st is a little cracker great fun car bit plastic inside but fast enough the 2lt duratec is a smashing lump
 
keith dublin said:
Focus st would probably be my own choice but what's tax on them ...I know it's a small car but the fiesta st is a little cracker great fun car bit plastic inside but fast enough the 2lt duratec is a smashing lump
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Yeah tax is 1200 is is the only annoyance on the ST.
 
"Leon FR - povo spec GTI, bargain purchase but heard they are quite basic and cheap looking interior, lack of sound deadening can be an annoyance on long trips, could get it for 3.5k, needs timing belt done
https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sal...on-fr/15950482 "

I have an 08 Leon FR. Bought it as could not insure a WRX and no 5 doors ST for sale at the time (that white one above came 7 weeks too late for me). They have all you need in a car, cruise, air con, blue tooth, etc. Seats are nice and supportive, steering wheel feels nice, etc. They handle as good as a Mk5 Gti. Maybe even a little sharper as stiffer and feel less refined than a Gti Golf so more fun when pushing on.

On the downside they can be a little loud on motorway spins. I drove to Galway/Dublin return on motorway. On way up I never noticed it, but little lad did not sleep that night so I was shattered when driving back and that was the only time I felt it was loud. Plastics and the like are a little cheaper than VW counterparts, but not noticeably so, really has not bothered me. They are stiff stock, people recommend getting Eibach springs to improve the ride. Mine has them and it is still a little stiff, but I did come out of a Mondeo so anything sporty will feel stiffer and only on really bad roads do you feel it.

Given the price of the one above, it is worth a look and see what you think IMO. The saving in tax over an ST would cover the cost of the timing belt.
 
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I'd go for the white or black ST. Being near Phil's RS, the white really pops when taken care of.
 
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