Im toying with the idea of swapping the fabia vrs se for something else. Id like something a bit different, resonably quick and maybe petrol. As theres nothing that jumps out at me im after a few suggestions. So far ive only found a mk1 focus RS that takes my fancy, what other similar cars are out there for around the sub £8k mark? nothing smaller than the fabia, reliable and practical as i have a toddler.

KIA PROCEED GT (2013) FIRST SKETCH OF KIA'S SPORTY HATCH

Ollie Kew, 27 November 2012 07:00

Here's Kia's answer to Volkswagen's Golf GTi and Ford's Focus ST - the Proceed GT. It's a hot hatch with a 200bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine, and will cost just over £20,000. Look out for its reveal at the 2013 Geneva motor show, with sales starting in summer 2013. Tell me about the Kia Proceed GT... The Proceed GT blends hot supermini power with mid-sized hatch ...

SEAT IBIZA CUPRA (2013) PRODUCTION CAR SHOWN

Tim Pollard, 05 November 2012 09:21

Seat has shown the production version of the new Ibiza Cupra - six months after showing the concept at the 2012 Beijing motor show. And, as predicted, very little has changed for 2013's new Ibiza hot hatch. It's powered by VW's 1.4 TSI engine, complete with twin-charging by super- and turbocharger. Outputs mirror those of the 'concept' Ibiza Cupra, peaking ...

VW GOLF (2012) - PRICES FOR NEW MK7 GOLF FROM £16,330

Tim Pollard, 03 October 2012 16:38

Volkswagen today announced prices for the new Mk7 Golf. It'll start from £16,330 on-the-road - and the good news is, that's cheaper than the outgoing Mk6 Golf which today kicks off at £16,425. CAR's been saying for some years that the new MQB architecture underpinning the new VW Golf, and indeed the rest of the VW Group's mid-sized cars from ...

RENAULTSPORT CLIO 200 TURBO (2012) FIRST PICTURES

Ben Pulman, 27 September 2012 15:11

This is the new Renaultsport Clio 200 Turbo. And as those last two words signify that although this new Clio RS has no more horsepower than its predecessor, it is now turbocharged. Outgoes the old hot Clio’s naturally aspirated 197bhp 2.0-litre engine, in comes a blown 1.6 with the same output, and rather than a six-speed manual gearbox the front ...

VW GOLF GTI CONCEPT (2012) FIRST PICTURES

Tim Pollard, 27 September 2012 12:50

Volkswagen surprised the Paris motor show attendees with this production-ready Golf GTI concept car shown today. Although dubbed a concept, everything looks and feels like a showroom ready hot hatch. Expect to see the real thing at next spring's 2013 Geneva motor show. The new model takes the conservative polish of the new Golf Mk7 and applies just enough visual aggression ...

AUDI S3 (2012) FIRST OFFICIAL PICTURES

Rory Smith, 21 September 2012 14:36

Audi has revealed official pictures of the new S3 ahead of its debut at the 2012 Paris motor show. Audi should know what matters when it comes to hot-hatches, with two generations of S3s occupying a 13-year stretch of Audi history. On first impressions, the new model’s restrained styling fits well with the S3’s history of subtle sporting luxury rather ...

MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS GP (2012) FULL SPECS AND STATS

Ollie Kew, 06 September 2012 09:00

A cynical marketing exercise, or Mini getting back to its pocket rocket best? Say what you like about the new (deep breath) Mini John Cooper Works GP, but there's no arguing with its raw specification. With slightly more power (up to 215bhp from 208bhp in the standard JCW), it's the fastest Mini yet. It's also one of the priciest, at £28,790. What ...

PEUGEOT 208 GTI (2012) FIRST OFFICIAL PICTURES

Ollie Kew, 03 September 2012 00:01

You might well be fed up with Peugeot's recent hot hatch efforts being compared in vain to the iconic 205 GTI, but Peugeot is so confident they've got it right at last with the 208, they're likening it to the iconic Eighties pocket rocket. Kicking out 197bhp, the 208 GTI is also usefully lighter than its 207 predecessor, helping acceleration ...

RENAULTSPORT CLIO (2012) SURPRISES GOODWOOD

Tim Pollard, 02 July 2012 09:19

Renault surprised festivalgoers at Goodwood over the weekend when it sent the new 2013 Renaultsport Clio up the hill. The prototype hot Clio appeared twice at the Festival of Speed, driven by chief operating officer Carlos Tavares. Renaultsport Clio at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2012 The go-faster Clio was still wearing its prototype disguise when it went up the hill ...

VOLKSWAGEN SCIROCCO GTS (2012) FIRST OFFICAL PICTURES

Ollie Kew, 31 May 2012 15:33

Volkswagen will unveil a special edition Scirocco GTS at the Leipzig motor show next week. The changes are all cosmetic, based on the 2.0-litre TSI model. So, what alterations turn a standard Scirocco into a GTS? For starters, there's the obvious stripe down the Scirocco's middle and the GTS wears a slightly more aggressive body kit. There's a sharper front lip spoiler and ...

All nice cars but need to be under £8k

too old?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201245491762164/sort/default/usedcars/maximum-mileage/up_to_80000_miles/price-to/8000/engine-size-cars/1-7l_to_1-9l/model/s3/make/audi/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/radius/1500/postcode/so152ar/page/2?logcode=p

Renault megane 225,

Vauxhall Astra VXR,

VAG offering of golf gti's, seat leons and s3's

Pulsar gti r?

Like the S3's but prefer the newer shape, didnt really want a golf. Megane, really like these but not sure on the quality/reliability. Vxr, again nice but plenty about. Dont really want any imports. Id like something that you dont see about to much, the mazda mps look pretty good on paper, but the looks are a bit standard. Its difficult because i love my cars, but theres nothing that i see and think id love one of those! Focus st's are nice, but again theryre everywhere

What about a volvo C30 T5, same as focus st but not as may about well not in T5 format anyway

What about a volvo C30 T5, same as focus st but not as may about well not in T5 format anyway

Have to have a look into these, never thought of a volvo

When I was looking for a petrol car I came down to the Megane R26's or the 325ti (prefered the looks to the saloon/couple). Guessing as you've got an e46 already the ti isn't of interest though!

Didn't they do some pretty powerful Alfas for a while? A 3.2 V6 147 springs to mind.

There was the Alfa 147 GTA...but reliability is a bit patchy. The C30 is a good shout, although there is no boot really and the back is a bit tight.

There isn't a lot of choice when it comes to things you don't see every day...I have heard the Megane is not too bad in the reliability stakes.

You don't see many MPS' for a reason...they're brilliantly equipped, but £425/year for VED before you've driven it anywhere will be hard to stomach after the £130 of your Fabia :(

You don't see many MPS' for a reason...they're brilliantly equipped, but £425/year for VED before you've driven it anywhere will be hard to stomach after the £130 of your Fabia :(

Yeah seen that, i was really tempted until i saw the rfl! Looked at the bmw compacts before i bought the e46 (which is now gone), i like the newer 3 series, just aint got the budget for a decent one. Normally i see a car and think ive gotta have one, but the fabia is a cheap to run nippy car so its hard to beat at the moment,

These last few years haven't really provided us with anything 'wow'in my opinion...nothing that has made me go...I need one of those. Only now are new models starting to appear with a wow factor. Unless you like the run of the mill golf brigade etc.

And what is it with everyone buying mk4 golfs at the moment! Everywhere I turn mates or colleagues are buying them!!

^{Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart}

Thats the thing with these types of cars after coming from a diesel,

They cost a fortune to run even just doing normal running about that you would do in fabia,

I have a mk1 octy vrs and kiss goodbye to 65 quids worth of optimax every 300 miles and 265 quid road tax a year, it soon adds up,

Have a mate at work who traded his bora diesel for a old volvo 850R saloon. I got the tale "i only live 8 miles from work ill be able to afford to run it"

It now spends most of its time sat on drive and get used as a summer weekend car because he carn't afford to run it

Yeah seen that, i was really tempted until i saw the rfl! Looked at the bmw compacts before i bought the e46 (which is now gone), i like the newer 3 series, just aint got the budget for a decent one. Normally i see a car and think ive gotta have one, but the fabia is a cheap to run nippy car so its hard to beat at the moment,

Same, when I was looking to change my Leon. I think they look gorgeous, they're well-specced (everything as standard including a proper LSD) and I bet there's some serious potential for mapping given that they're "only" 260bhp as standard and VAG can pull that from a 2.0. But even though I could afford the car, once I looked into the running costs that idea had to go out of a window sharpish!

Thats the thing with these types of cars after coming from a diesel,

They cost a fortune to run even just doing normal running about that you would do in fabia,

I have a mk1 octy vrs and kiss goodbye to 65 quids worth of optimax every 300 miles and 265 quid road tax a year, it soon adds up,

Have a mate at work who traded his bora diesel for a old volvo 850R saloon. I got the tale "i only live 8 miles from work ill be able to afford to run it"

It now spends most of its time sat on drive and get used as a summer weekend car because he carn't afford to run it

This is my mindset too, i do 4 miles to and from work a day and thought im not really benefiting from a diesel and we have a 2nd car that my partner uses for work. My other idea is a cheap car and another motorbike for the summer but as ive never really had a high powered petrol (200bhp+ turbo) i thought id try it.

A leftfield suggestion but I'm a big fan of the BMW 130i with its eager straight six, RWD, subtle looks and in M-Sport trim lots of toys and fantastic seats. There was a facelift in 2007 which introduced "Efficient Dynamics", but in terms of driving experience, I don't think much changed.

Chris

A leftfield suggestion but I'm a big fan of the BMW 130i with its eager straight six, RWD, subtle looks and in M-Sport trim lots of toys and fantastic seats. There was a facelift in 2007 which introduced "Efficient Dynamics", but in terms of driving experience, I don't think much changed.

Chris

I was just about to suggest that. Brilliant cars.

I could do this **** all day, I`ll start a list . . .

BM 130i (m sport)

Audi A3/4 2.0T/2.0 TDi (s line)

Technically not a hatchback, but it has a hatch, Volvo V70 R (2.5t 300bhp, Brembos all round, loads of kiddy space and nice and fast for when you wanna be a ****, subtle but beasty)

Mitsibushi Evo 7/8 (not a jap man but these are nice)

Ford Mondeo 2.5T (focus engine but bit more grown up/uncommon)

Bit out there, Merc B200, (2.0T)

More will pop into my head later, I know most are a bit random but still. . .

This is my mindset too, i do 4 miles to and from work a day and thought im not really benefiting from a diesel and we have a 2nd car that my partner uses for work. My other idea is a cheap car and another motorbike for the summer but as ive never really had a high powered petrol (200bhp+ turbo) i thought id try it.

Just do the Evo/Sti thing, even if It's only for 6 months. There are still plenty around so you've time to take your pick of good examples. For the money nothing comes close, the performance is genuinely disgusting.

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/mitsubishi/evo-vii--ix/2004-04-mitsubishi-lancer-2-0-4dr-evolution-8-evo-viii-15-services--cambelt/887563

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/subaru/impreza-sti/2007-56-subaru-impreza-2-5-wrx-sti-spec-d/895393

Owning these kind of cars at least once should be on every petrol heads bucket list IMO

Of the two, I'd go for the Evo. Scoobys hav never floated my automotive boat enough to consider owning one. I've been on the verge of an Evo more than once in the past, but my 10k miles a year made them too expensive. However furby-le, 4 miles each way to work makes your annual mileage quite a bit less than mine. One issue is that it wouldn't even be warmed up after 4 miles.

Of the two, I'd go for the Evo. Scoobys hav never floated my automotive boat enough to consider owning one. I've been on the verge of an Evo more than once in the past, but my 10k miles a year made them too expensive. However furby-le, 4 miles each way to work makes your annual mileage quite a bit less than mine. One issue is that it wouldn't even be warmed up after 4 miles.

I too prefer the evo over the scooby but i dont fancy the servicing costs. Right about not being warmed up, its 2 miles to work and 2 miles back! Id be better riding to work but i dont want to be cold. Im racking my brain trying to think of cars and i keep going back to the focus rs