Need hot hatch buying advice

andyseadog

As the summer rolls in, i want to get into something fun again.
Getting mothing but low ball offers on my vectra but i'm getting closer and closer to accepting one of them just to get some of my money back.

I'm looking to spend 2k - 2500 max on a 90's "hot hatch"

ideally want :

3 doors
1.6 petrol give or take a bit
reliable but entertaining

thats about it!

kind of swaying towards a 106 gti but im not sure what they are like?
what would you recommend?

CianRyan

I'd have a look for an N15 Pulsar VZR with an SR16VE. They'd be hard enough to come buy but the engine is meant to be a little beauty.
Nissans NEO-VVL is similar to Hondas VTEC but much more refined.

This'll give you an idea on performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEcKrtMIsf0

andyseadog

i should add i'm not really into driving "hard". i'm more after looks with a bit of poke to match is all. economy is also a slight factor so maybe no fancy valves?

CianRyan

Well you don't buy a hot hatch for economy and if you're only after looks and a bit of poke you may as well buy something like a Suzuki Alto Works.
Cool little cars, 660cc 3 cylinder turbo, so it ain't slow but it ain't thirsty either.

A 106 GTI will be as thirsty as any other hot hatch.

Also, VTEC, NEO-VVL and the likes only kick in at certain revs, generally well above what you be using with general day to day driving, they can also be adjusted to what ever rev you like.

Looks wise, can't go wrong.

drunkmonkey

Not sure if today's mini driving punani would give you the respect you deserve for driving a 205 Gti but you should own one at least once in your life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXi-uK2ZUuY

1.6 or 1.9 doesn't make a difference and it still looks good;)

JimmyCrackCorn

106gti-6

There is one for sale for a while now in the country that is immaculate. A great choice of car.


Civics also fit the 1600 bracket but insurance is a nightmare on them.

Drove an n15 pulsar for a week and loved it.

Testament1

CianRyan wrote: »

I'd have a look for an N15 Pulsar VZR with an SR16VE. They'd be hard enough to come buy but the engine is meant to be a little beauty.
Nissans NEO-VVL is similar to Hondas VTEC but much more refined.

Theres plenty of VZR Pulsars about its the VZR-N1 models that are rare enough (N15 just means fifth generation). N1s would probably be at the top of the 1600cc 90s hot hatch pile since the SR16VE-N1 engine throws out 200PS from the factory, same power as DC2 Type R's came with! You'd be hard pressed to pick up an N1 for 2500 though!

While the likes of the 106 Gti and Saxo Vtr are still great little cars I dont think they've aged half as good as their Jap counterparts, the design is very dated on them whereas as stock facelift EK9 still looks very fresh IMO.

--Kaiser--

CianRyan wrote: »

Looks wise, can't go wrong.

It's probably the ugliest hot hatch around (and that's saying something)

CianRyan

Testament1 wrote: »

Theres plenty of VZR Pulsars about its the VZR-N1 models that are rare enough (N15 just means fifth generation). N1s would probably be at the top of the 1600cc 90s hot hatch pile since the SR16VE-N1 engine throws out 200PS from the factory, same power as DC2 Type R's came with! You'd be hard pressed to pick up an N1 for 2500 though!

While the likes of the 106 Gti and Saxo Vtr are still great little cars I dont think they've aged half as good as their Jap counterparts, the design is very dated on them whereas as stock facelift EK9 still looks very fresh IMO.

This I know, if his budget is €2.5k then I'm hardly going to recommend an N1.

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

It's probably the ugliest hot hatch around (and that's saying something)

That's a personal thing really.
I and many others love how it looks.

Ciano35

You won't be disappointed.

Testament1

CianRyan wrote: »

This I know, if his budget is €2.5k then I'm hardly going to recommend an N1.

Fair enough. You threw me a bit when you said they might be hard to come by, VZRs aint that hard to find!

Daniel S

T-sport Yaris. They're 1.5's and reliable afaik.

You might not like the look of them, but they're damn fast, usually under €2500 on DoneDeal.ie and pretty reliable. Doubt they'll loose much value either.

Here's one that's a bit over budget, but there's other ones there for under €2k.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3029232

andyseadog

Daniel S wrote: »

T-sport Yaris. They're 1.5's and reliable afaik.

You might not like the look of them, but they're damn fast, usually under €2500 on DoneDeal.ie and pretty reliable. Doubt they'll loose much value either.

Here's one that's a bit over budget, but there's other ones there for under €2k.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/3029232

been there, done that all before :P



if i'm feeling lively in the morning i have 2 cars i want go view, a 02 civc hatch and an oddball ignis sport somewhat newer cars than i wanted to consider, but hey i'l keep yous posted.

also in response to the above, dont quite fancy going as old as the 205, though i do believe they are a great car.