I have been searching unsuccessfully for a 5dr Polo GTI for my £4.5k budget. The polo fits my requirements about right being; 125 bhp performance, style, 5dr for occasional family use, small so fits comfortably down the side of the house, reliable (well, it's a VW ?!) and lots of spec.
However, they seem pretty rare and almost non existent at my budget for a low miles/full service example.
So now I'm thinking of widening the goal-posts.
So suggestions please for something that fits the above criteria.
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How about a slightly older Golf VR6? It's actually probably not that much bigger than the golf and whilst the mileage may be higher the engines are pretty bomb proof and there are lots of specialist who will work on them for a lot less than a main delaer and probably do a better job.
I think the main problem you will find is wanting a small hot hatch type vehicle but in 5dr form - most warm versions of things like clio, 206 and saxo are all 3dr only. The only two other 5dr warm hatches that i can think of are the Alfa 147 and the Seat Leon.
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A pristine Mk2 Golf GTi five door. 16v if you want, but not a huge improvement on the 8v.
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There's a 1988E 205 GTI-6 2-litre in totally refurbished condition on eBay for £3500. Rather more bhp than the Polo I should think.
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There's a 1988E 205 GTI-6 2-litre in totally refurbished condition on eBay for £3500. Rather more bhp than the Polo I should think.
Approx 167bhp depending on if anything has been done to it. However i personally would not go for this car as the extra weight of the cast block on the GTI-6 engine affects the balance and handling of the vehicle and the six speed box limits lock dramatically. A better alternative is a 205 running a 1.9 Alloy block MI16 engine.
However i think the OP is looking for something a little more conventional.
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I'd be stupid and spend about £3.5k on a Toyota Supra, or an Alfa 156 2.0TS. I know...but it's a second car dammit!
Alternatively you could look to a Citroen Xsara VTS/306 GTi-6...or maybe a turbo Saab?
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Ford Puma 1.7 VVT Yamaha engine. Probably the most fun you can have in a front wheel drive car. Cracking little motor, get one with the lux pack. Superb gear-change and Ford running costs.
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Thanks for the suggestions. I will certainly check out the Puma idea. The problem remains that it is only 3 drs and my ideal spec is for 5 drs. However, I may just move the goal posts slightly and consider 3 drs again for the right motor. With this in mind the 206 gti also becomes an option plus a may find a polo gti within price and not too far away. So..... any thoughts or experiences of ownership / comparisions of these three cars (206 GTI vs Polo GTI vs Puma VVT) ??
Thanks again for all comments.
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I'd recommend a late 306 GTI6 over a 206 GTi as it's a much better car to drive.
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I'd also recommend a 306 gti-6. I'm on my second. I sold my first and couldn't find anything nearly as much fun for my budget so bought another. £4500 will get you a decent one.
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Impreza Sportswagon. All the fun of an Impreza but the chavs don't like them so cheap and not thrashed.
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