I am currently looking for a replacement for my Fiat Stiklo Abarth. The wife has decreed that it MUST be 4 door....

sadly this cuts the market down somewhat

SO I am after suggestions. So far I have test driven

MAZDA6 MPV - saloon only - horrible engine sound - poor handling

Jag X type 2.2 diesel - bloody awful - no no no!

Honda Civic 2.2 diesel - lovely car BUT that diesel is awful and it completely lacked power (but the wife loves it!)

Basically I am after a five door hatchback that Isn't french! does 0-60 in 7 seconds or less and costs less than 20k...

you'd think that was easy wouldn't you!

and NO OIL BURNERS! I know everyone raves about them but I have driven 4 different 'performance' diesels now and HATED every single one of them!

(going to look at the Seat soon but no local dealers )

cheers

[Edited on 7/2/07 by DaveFJ]

I'd get a Subaru - they are well below £20K (and 4 door)

quote:

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Originally posted by alanr
I'd get a Subaru - they are well below £20K (and 4 door)

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If it wasn't for the fact you want a hatchback, I would suggest a Mazda RX8. OK, so MPG won't be great but I prefer performance over economy...........

Phil

Loved the RX8 but was so sad when I sat in it and bumped my head

- I'm 6'3" and just don't fit

Oh yes - and an Alfa 159 is too expensive

[Edited on 7/2/07 by DaveFJ]

Couldn't you just let some air out of the tyres??

Phil

the seat leon cupra is a bloody nice motor, there is miller and middleton in colchester, if you wanna try one out, cant be anymore than half hour drive for ya

Oil burner, Focus TDCi, try one, you may be very pleasantly surprised.

Locost 5 seater?

then get a 5 door one - much more descreet, still as cheap and still as quick

skoda rs

Golf GTDi?

BTW Isn't the Alfa 159 a 4 door & not a hatch.
try http://www.autolusso.co.uk/alfa_159.htm

Also
http://www.allbrandsnew.co.uk/search_results2.asp?aid=561236&van=C

I used to love my 156

[Edited on 7/2/07 by Schrodinger]

quote:

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Originally posted by Schrodinger
Golf GTDi?

BTW Isn't the Alfa 159 a 4 door & not a hatch.
try http://www.autolusso.co.uk/alfa_159.htm

I used to love my 156

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The Hatch Alfa is the 147

Look at http://www.allbrandsnew.co.uk/search_results2.asp?aid=561236&van=C
The 159 is just under £19k

[Edited on 7/2/07 by Schrodinger]

quote:

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Originally posted by CaLviNx
Hi

You can deride the VW 2.0GT TDi as much as you like, but I cant understand how you can hate a 5dr hatch with all the toys inside and with a little tweaking mine is pumping out approx (with less sooting) 170Bhp & 270ftlb of torque, with the possibility of getting another 8-10 horse no bother. and it handles quite well , and best of all like you people look at and think pah bloody diesel.... a really nice sleeper car.

I had one guy in a Honda Civic Type "R" who stopped me after I had a play with him on our back roads (esp off), and he was adamant my car must be a modded GTi, and wouldn't believe me the car was an "oil burner" till I lifted the bonnet, to say he was cheesed off when he saw the engine was a joy to behold the look on his face.

I used to think the same, but I'm a convert. If and when I change the car it will only be another Golf or an Audi A4 Oil Burner.

Edit (just noticed what you drive/drove)

My next door neighbor has a Stilo and after having driven it if you like a Stilo, you should love how a New Golf drives.

[Edited on 7/2/07 by CaLviNx]

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OK - Maybe i need to try out a VW first before I comment on them specifically...

Lets Just say that I hate the Honda Diesel and you couldn't pay me to drive the Jag.....

I'll let you know my opinion after I drive one....

How about the new 5 door focus ST ?
just... not in THAT orange

I like THAT orange

So do i...It just seems that they are all that colour (just like with scooby's=sonic blue)

I've seen blue, silver and black focus st's in the new shape. maybe its just people in surrey have more taste don't you know

VW Golf mkV, car or the year 2005.

quote:

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Originally posted by Jon Ison
Oil burner, Focus TDCi, try one, you may be very pleasantly surprised.

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Second the Focus TDCi or how about the new sporty focus mini MPV thing? Thats pretty damn fast.

DaveFJ

I am about to choose a new company motor for trolling around in. Constraints are 4dr, under £20k (unless I can sweet talk my MD) and must be Diesel. I've been driving a Leon Cupra TDI (VW PD150 engine) for the last 3 years and personally wouldn't go back to driving a petrol car for all round use. As CalvinX says, they're easily tuned these days and certainly don't have that "tractor" quality of old.

My short list is Audi A3 TDI (170), BMW 120d (163), Golf GTTDI (170) or Volvo V50 (140)

With the exception of the Volvo (I know, I know, but it is a very nice car) all of these will give you at least as much entertainment as your Stilo, with the benefit of better economy and probably cheaper insurance too!

IMHO Diesel is king for road driving

Have been thinking about a Mondeo ST220
?do they do a 5 door version?

shopping around I could get one for about £18500 !

But the wife has a thing about Ford so it might be difficult convinving her......

The ST220 is available in 4 dr

http://www.ford.co.uk/ns7/mondeo/mdo_0504_body/mdo_0504_body_st220/-/-/-/-

The TDCi Focus is quicker from 30-70 though, by nearly 3 seconds

David

[Edited on 8/2/07 by flak monkey]

quote:

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Originally posted by flak monkey

The TDCi Focus is quicker from 30-70 though, by nearly 3 seconds

David

[Edited on 8/2/07 by flak monkey]

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quote:

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Originally posted by nick205

quote:

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Originally posted by flak monkey

The TDCi Focus is quicker from 30-70 though, by nearly 3 seconds

David

[Edited on 8/2/07 by flak monkey]

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Precisely why I reckon Diesels are better for "real world" driving. Looking at 0-60 times on paper seems daft to me - how often do you really sprint a car flat out from 0-60 in everyday driving? Far more improtant to me is being able to safely overtake on A & B roads and pull well out of corners.

All IMHO of course

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