Which $7k Hot Hatch

My vote goes for EP3 Si, RSX Type S and Celica GT-S. In that order.

Ian F wrote:

93EXCivic wrote: Have you worked on one? It suffers from tons of German engineering problems. The bushings are like BMW bushings, the metal where the strut mount isn't strong enough, the power steering pump is just a stupid design that is a complete piece of crap and use unicorn jizz as fluid, it develops random coolant leaks. In other words it is exactly like pretty much every German car since the mid 90s. Honestly I haven't seen to many electrical issues out of them yet. Oh and it doesn't leak oil (only thing it doesn't leak). So not too British.

Leak oil? Oh like hell they do. I've spent a lot of time working on MINI's and I've yet to find one where the underside wasnt' covered in oil - of course, much of this is because it's damn near impossible to change the oil filter element without spilling oil into the rear cavity of the engine bay where it's impossible to clean up. It's a little easier if you use a lift, but if you change the oil on ramps you're doomed. When the engine is angled back the filter housing doesn't drain well.

Maybe I should say my friend's doesn't seem to be leaking oil just every other fluid...

pinchvalve wrote: $7 - $8 will get you the best Daewoo in the US.

Prettiest girl in the trailer park?

I have had my SVT Focus for 7.5 years and 75k miles. It has been quite durable. I changed the timing belt recently, about 20k miles late, and the ordeal wasn't too bad. Throttle response due to the DBW could be better. It is difficult to overpower its handling.

93EXCivic wrote: Maybe I should say my friend's doesn't seem to be leaking oil just every other fluid...

Your friend must have a bizarro-MINI.

I've known a few with blown p/s pumps, but the fluid stayed inside.

Coolant tanks can leak, but by this point in time if its going to leak it will have by now and been replaced (the g/f's car is still on the OE tank).

Like most German cars, coolant is a critical thing. Use non-BMW/MINI coolant and/or tap water (instead of distilled water) and you'll be hating life.

Oil is a little less critical. Old spec was 5w-30 synthetic. Updated spec is 0w-40.

I also vote for a 318ti w/ a swap, or an Alfa, or a Viggen...

I'd defend my choice of the Celica, but i've never actually successfully convinced anyone on these forums to buy a Celica in the last 7 or so years, so what's the point?

The answer is BG chassis 323 hatch with an MX3 Recaro leather interior swap, MX3 dash swap, and a KL sitting in the bay.

In reply to Swank Force One:

Not true, I bought one as the result of my last what car thread

lnlds wrote: In reply to Swank Force One: Not true, I bought one as the result of my last what car thread

Did you really? I don't remember this! Was it "my fault?"

Swank Force One wrote: I'd defend my choice of the Celica, but i've never actually successfully convinced anyone on these forums to buy a Celica in the last 7 or so years, so what's the point? The answer is BG chassis 323 hatch with an MX3 Recaro leather interior swap, MX3 dash swap, and a KL sitting in the bay.

You should just try to sell him the deathscrotum......

yamaha wrote:

Swank Force One wrote: I'd defend my choice of the Celica, but i've never actually successfully convinced anyone on these forums to buy a Celica in the last 7 or so years, so what's the point? The answer is BG chassis 323 hatch with an MX3 Recaro leather interior swap, MX3 dash swap, and a KL sitting in the bay.

You should just try to sell him the deathscrotum......

Lessee.... Tommy said:

Oh, and let me throw in some more requirements: lots of options and "premium" feel (LOL), if that makes any sense. I'm going to put 15 thousand miles a year on this (berkeley THAT), and I'd like a good stereo (Has one, but you'll never hear it over the motor), steering wheel controls (Does a horn count?), sunroof (Has it! It's even power!), electric windows (Nope. Power sunroof, but manual windows and locks. WUT.), automatic air (BAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA), etc. (Doesn't have much of this, either.)

In reply to Swank Force One:

Buwahahahaa

But seriously... Escort of any kind isn't the answer here, unless he killed someone for their Cossy.

Or if it was this:

We get Escort RS2000's up here from yurope Not 25 years old yet for you guys (another couple years!)

You want comfort? You want reliability? You want good stereo? Done, done and done. Throw on a set of H&R springs on some new KYB GR-2's, a tib rear sway bar for $50 from the dealer, some nice Hawk HPS pads fr/rr, 16x7's in some good 205/55/16's and go to town.

Engines like ~10psi of boost in stock form. Lots of good. Finding a rust free model may be a little harder, but they're solid cars with a lot of potential and are easy on the wallet. Maintenance is cheap, easy to work on and they're bullet proof.

In reply to Mitchell: Hmm, my 2003 SVT focus has a throttle cable not DBW. But I agree the throttle response off the line is a little weak, once above 3000k it is good in my opinion. I suspect the Focus will be more livable than a Cooper S, but the Mini is probably just a bit more hardcore.

For 7K you could be a 2.3L Focus and modify it accordingly under that budget.

Hmmmm, how does this look? It fits every requirement.

http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/3740906754.html

I'm now thinking it might make more sense (both editorially and financially) to buy a $4-5k focus.

I'm just not seeing a Focus fitting in that "upscale feel" for the interior. I know the car can be capable, but the interior screams CHEAP at the top of it's lungs with a bullhorn at it's lips with the volume set on max.

Wow, only one other than me suggesting a Mazda3? Tons of them out there, would make great copy for a magazine. Looks like an early SP23 hatch should be easy to get in that price range...

Can you actually find a Mazda 3 for $7k? Just curious, I've not seen anything locally that cheap on them just yet.

Tom Suddard wrote: Hmmmm, how does this look? It fits every requirement. http://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/3740906754.html

I feel that one is overpriced for milage.......plus, if you're going to go after an SVT, you'll want the EAP package(better wheels, better headlights, etc)

Bobzilla wrote: I'm just not seeing a Focus fitting in that "upscale feel" for the interior. I know the car can be capable, but the interior screams CHEAP at the top of it's lungs with a bullhorn at it's lips with the volume set on max.

Says the person recommending a Hyundai......

GTwannaB wrote: In reply to Mitchell: Hmm, my 2003 SVT focus has a throttle cable not DBW. But I agree the throttle response off the line is a little weak, once above 3000k it is good in my opinion. I suspect the Focus will be more livable than a Cooper S, but the Mini is probably just a bit more hardcore. For 7K you could be a 2.3L Focus and modify it accordingly under that budget.

Really? I admit that I never looked into it; I just assumed that the pokey throttle response was due to drive by wire.

Bobzilla wrote: I'm just not seeing a Focus fitting in that "upscale feel" for the interior. I know the car can be capable, but the interior screams CHEAP at the top of it's lungs with a bullhorn at it's lips with the volume set on max.

After having spent significant time in my roommates, I kinda have to agree with you simply on the road noise. Much of that could probably be remedied fairly easily by Tom with the resources he has available to him and $50, but out of the box it is hard to have a conversation with the radio off.

That would be the only big qualm I have with it though. Also, this was on a base Focus with probably very cheap tires.

While I find the on going recommendations interesting, its comforting to know my hot hatch will not only smoke every car mentioned so far, it will get 30 mpg, probably carry more than all the cars listed and meet the pricing requirements.

Shelby GLHS, of course.

second place would have the Focus SVT getting my vote.