Next Car - Hatch Back

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#2535749 6-Aug-2020 13:01

Dugimodo:

I'd keep the mazda as a daily driver and buy yourself some kind of sports car to feed your power obsession if it was me.

The Mazda isn't the daily driver, it's our fun car. I'll need to sell it to upgrade.

Mike

MikeAqua

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#2535752 6-Aug-2020 13:04

trig42:

The i30N would be my pick of a 'hot' hatch I think.

Stinger too (but not a hatch, and it's RWD).

Has anyone driven an i30N and can comment on handling?

Mike

Obraik

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#2535754 6-Aug-2020 13:07

What about the Mini Electric? Being an EV it's pretty spirited and can be had new for $60k

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MikeAqua

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#2535756 6-Aug-2020 13:07

mudguard: Civic Type R? If they could bring out a slightly prettier version it would be more palatable.

I feel as though these will age really badly. Too many extraneous bits of external trim.

Mike

Dunnersfella

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#2535758 6-Aug-2020 13:08

Mazda have been talking about releasing a new, higher engine spec of the Mazda 3...

I have an entry level version and it's a great car to 'live in'.

The engine is where it's let down (a turbo or 2.5NA would fix this) for any sort of 'enthusiastic' driving.

mudguard

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#2535763 6-Aug-2020 13:19

MikeAqua:

mudguard: Civic Type R? If they could bring out a slightly prettier version it would be more palatable.

I feel as though these will age really badly. Too many extraneous bits of external trim.

Yeah it's way too out there for me. By all accounts brutally fast, and only just been pipped for the fastest FWD. The new Corolla is supposed to be a bit of monster. 200kW.

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#2535798 6-Aug-2020 14:23

Subaru WRX ticks all the boxes mentioned

I think you need to get a Jap import as the local ones are sedan only

I recommend the STI with 6 speed manual

Scott3

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#2535825 6-Aug-2020 15:02

What's your daily driver?

Given this is your fun car, could you relax your requirements around it being a hatch (and around mechanical reliability)? Coupes are a nice body shape for a fun car. A Nissan 370Z comes comes in under your budget, and is a 245kw RWD. If you need a back seat, the turbo ford mustang hardtop is under budget. It's a 235kW RWD. apparently the turbo handles a lot better than the v8 too.

Alternatively you could look at combining your daily driver & fun car, with a little higher budget. Something like the top spec 272kW Kia Stinger ($70k), Tesla model 3 performance (0-100 in 3.4 sec, $107k), or wait for the tesla model Y to come out in NZ.

Also do you have a manual / auto preference, many hot hatches are manual only.

Sticking with the original brief, The common options would be:

Hyundai i30N 202kW FWD hatch, with LSD. $55k. Manual only.
Civic Type R 228kw for $60k - Currently unavailable - Very raw, marketed as track ready. I think acoustic insulation is deleted. NZ version still gets aircon I think, but it is deleted in some other markets. Manual only.
Ford Focus ST - 206kW $59.5k - 7 speed Auto only.
Golf. GTI in budget, Golf-R outside budget. 169 & 228kW respectively. Both well regarded in the space.
John Cooper Works 3 door Mini 170kW - $55k manual.

Performance oriented variants from the perineum brands are generally out of budget:

Audi S3 228kW: $85k
Mercedes-AMG A45 S 310kW: $119k
BMW M135i x drive: 225kW, $87k

Can't really comment on head room etc, but I view a i30N then work onward from that.

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#2535883 6-Aug-2020 16:29

MikeAqua:

I actually wanted a Golf-R last time, but Golfs in general lack head room. I should retry as that was 6 or 7 years ago.

I'm 6'1" and there's plenty of head room for me (in front and back) but YMMV if you're taller or don't have your seat as low as I do.

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#2535887 6-Aug-2020 16:40

Scott3:

Performance oriented variants from the perineum brands are generally out of budget:

Audi S3 228kW: $85k
Mercedes-AMG A45 S 310kW: $119k
BMW M135i x drive: 225kW, $87k

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#2535891 6-Aug-2020 16:55

MikeAqua:

mudguard: Civic Type R? If they could bring out a slightly prettier version it would be more palatable.

I feel as though these will age really badly. Too many extraneous bits of external trim.

If looked after, I feel they'll go the way of the Evos, STIs, GTRs, GTI-Rs, GT fours, S15s etc. They are weird as heck, can compete with the Focus RS, and I don't see that many of them out there. In 20 years time when everyone is in their EV SUVs, people will pay big money for a darth vader helmet with 300+ HP.

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#2536287 7-Aug-2020 14:50

Maybe also consider the Renault Megane R.S

205kW / 390Nm

I've seen a silver one around Wellington recently, looks the goods

Scott3

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#2536335 7-Aug-2020 17:08

WyleECoyoteNZ: Maybe also consider the Renault Megane R.S

205kW / 390Nm

I've seen a silver one around Wellington recently, looks the goods

Manual starts at $59,990.

Assumed it would be a less attractive offering than the better known hot hatches, but just took a look at the spec sheet:

https://www.renault.co.nz/cars/megane-rs/specifications

4 Wheel Steering! & hydraulic compression stops as standard.

Optional cup pack - (I don't know what it costs here, but in the UK it's GBP1900) adds a LSD, custom suspension, dual material breaks.

davidcole

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#2536343 7-Aug-2020 17:27

Scott3:
Optional cup pack - (I don't know what it costs here, but in the UK it's GBP1900) adds a LSD, custom suspension, dual material breaks.

When you really want those cup holders....

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martyyn

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#2536347 7-Aug-2020 17:42

I'd be looking at something like this BMW M140i

At 2017, might be a little older than you're looking for but still has factory warranty, FSH, 250KW, 500Nm, 0-100 4.6s.

A couple of friends have M135i's and they go like the clappers.

Or cheaper from a main dealer with 2 years servicing and warranty.

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