Lamenting no more manual GTI? Try these

You might have read over the past few weeks that as of 2019 the option of buying a brand new manual transmission VW Golf GTI in Australia will be no more.

The reasoning for VW doing this is obvious, nobody bought the three pedal option so why bother packing them on the boat from Germany? It's business and the Germans do it rather well. However as a part time motoring journo and car enthusiast I just need a moment to lament the death of one of the purest hot hatches you can buy new. Whilst knowing full well that the reason its gone is because people like me didn't put there money where there mouth was!

For someone like me, the manual transmission adds an extra layer of character to a car. It makes you work hard for that forward momentum and turns that sometimes tedious job of getting from A to B into something that bit more exciting. Yes I am that 1% who doesn't mind a manual in traffic. Rev matching a downshift on the way to stopping at red light actually gives me some excitement and I feel that driving a car which allows you to do that is just that bit more personable even if it is an econobox.

But a manual hot hatch, they are quite possibly the most personable and characterful cars money can buy. They are workaday hero's who nip at the heels of cars 3 or 4 times their price. A three pedal hot hatch eggs you on, makes you feel like a driving god and releases your inner hooligan, in a good way of course. And the Golf GTI was arguably the original. So the thought of no longer being able to buy one new makes me very sad indeed.

So in a bid to stop myself lamenting the loss of the three pedal GTI I've hit the classifieds to see what used hot hatch hero's you can buy with a H pattern sticking out the middle. And in the process doing the very thing that probably killed the Golf in the first place; buying used instead of new!

BMW 130i M Sport

My first pick is definitely one for a specific type of enthusiast, but wow what a car. The BMW 130i M Sport. A left field hot hatch if ever there was one. With a wopping great 3 litre straight six shoehorned under the bonnet sending 195kw of power rearwards the little 1 Series was highly regarded in period as one of the finest handling hatches available. That big 6 was of course mated to a crisp 6 speed manual that allowed BMW's hatch to be a smooth cruiser or a total hooligan.

Despite its niche appeal there are a few 130i's on the market at the moment, priced from $13,000 up to $25,000 the little BM is holding its value 13 years after it first appeared, but I view this as a good thing, previous owners have most likely looked after their big engine wrapped in a little package.     

Audi S3 8P

BMW a bit too slidey for you? How about something with 4 wheel drive? The second generation S3 took VW's already excellent 2 litre turbo four, upped the boost and added Quattro to make it an unstoppable 188kw all weather back road blaster. For some it might be a little too clinical, but I urge you to consider it if you lust after a Germanic hot hatch with a manual.

Prices for an S3 are slightly more palatable than the 1 Series and if you so choose an S3 can be had in ultra niche 3 door form, for that extra slice or hot hatch originality. Anything from $9000 to $20,000 should get you into one. I'd advise going mid teens for decent one.     

Kia Pro'ceed GT

My next pick is for someone who wants a car that almost nobody else has, which is odd given that it's a Kia. I present to you the Koreans first attempt at a mildly hot hatch, the Pro'ceed GT. A somewhat random but very welcome break from the norm that Kia billed as a halo car in Australia between 2014 and 2016. Powered by a 150kw 1.6 litre turbo the 3 door manual only Kia wasn't quite a fire breather when compared to some rivals in a straight line. But it made up for it in the corners with superb handing and a set of lovely Recaro bucketsto keep you snug. Also buy one of the last ones and you'll still have a chunk of Kia's 7 year warranty left too.

Prices have dropped well below $20,000 for Pro'Ceeds with low KMs, which given that the car is still pretty modern compared to the first 2 on my list seems like a very good deal. 

Peugeot 206 GTI 180

Everything else on my list proving too pricey? How about this little French rocket, from the makers of one of the godfathers of the hot hatch game (the 205 GTI) I give you the Peugeot 206 GTI 180. The recipe here is simple, take a small hatch, add a 2 litre 16 valve naturally aspirated engine, close ratio manual box, work some suspension wizardry and every time you get out you'll be smiling. That 180 denotes the bhp of the little Pug, that's 130kw by the way, in a car that weighs a little bit more than a bag of frozen peas.

Since the cars debuted in 2003 prices have plummeted as per most French cars Down Under. But although that might be bad for previous owners it means that hot hatch connoisseurs longing for back to basics thrills need only part with $5000 to get a good one. Happy hunting. 

The manual Golf GTI is going away, but please don't despair, the used market is a treasure trove of hot hatchery with 3 pedals. I hope that showcasing 4 here has helped ease some sadness. The cars mentioned are really just the tip of the iceberg if you lust after a proper hot hatch with great driving dynamics, I could go on and on and on reeling of alternatives, but I wont subject you to that.     

Mountune package makes fast Fords even faster

I love a good bit of modifying, for a car enthusiast nothing quite beats making your car go faster and look better than everyone else's. Trouble is modifying is largely seen as a young persons past time, once you get older boring stuff like warranties and resale values start to influence your car buying brain and suddenly modifying just seems like a waste of money. However imagine if a car company allowed you to buy a box full of go faster parts direct from them? Not only that, they would fit the parts and still happily cover your car with their warranty. Well Ford Australia are offering exactly that.

 

From the middle of this year, conveniently around the time Ford will stop manufacturing locally, the blue oval is to offer a Mountune upgrade package for both it's Fiesta ST and Focus ST hot hatches in a bid to boost sales of it's already profitable performance car range. These packages sold under the Ford Licensed Accessory Programme will see buyers able to seriously up the performance of their hatch with full factory backing. And don't think Mountune is just some buzz word marketing lingo dreamt up to sell Ford customers a remap, no, Mountune is a bona fide company that's been tuning Fords for 30 years, these upgrade packages are the real deal.

For an extra $2328 and 1 hours labour Fiesta ST buyers get; a new airbox, high performance air filter, a new air feed pipe, engine remap and a Mountune badge on the boot. In power terms this equates to 158kw, that's over 20kw more than standard. A decent return on the initial investment in my book and one that can only make the already epic Fiesta ST that bit more rewarding to drive. Ford Focus ST buyers on the other hand can opt for the $4135 MP275 package which takes 2 hours to fit, this includes a new intercooler, air filter and remap to boost power from 184kw to 202kw. Again an impressive power hike that not only makes the car faster but makes it even more engaging to drive at the limit. The final benefit of the packages is that being a factory option available from any Ford dealer they shouldn't affect the resale/trade in price should you ever have to part ways with your hot hatch. If anything a Mountune package might make your car even more desirable to it's next owner.

So if you buy a fast Ford and are concerned about the disapproving reaction your boring middle aged friends will give the moment you want to make it faster, fear no more. Ford Australia will happily help you modify it and won't kick you to the kerb should anything go wrong. Peace of mind and modifying, two things that rarely go hand in hand.  

       

New Peugeot 308 GTI: 5 things you need to know

The last time a mid size hatchback Peugeot wore a GTI badge in Australia was 2001. That's a long absence from sportiness for a company that used to be one of the major players when it came to the letters G T I. However the wait is now finally over, Peugeot has launched not one but two range topping 308 GTI's, here are the top 5 things you need to know about them.

1. It will only come with a 6 speed manual! Yes, car guys the world over rejoice, much like Fords hot hatches of late Peugeot will not be offering an auto option. So if it's some cushy no clutch, flappy paddle action your after best look elsewhere. Good job Peugeot.

2. Power comes from a tiny 1.6 litre turbo, in an era where downsizing is king Peugeot has been leading the way, this engine has already been doing the business in the RCZ-R coupe since 2014. The 308's 1.6 will come with either 184kw or 200kw.

3. Yes what I said above is true, you can buy a 308 GTI in 2 states of tune, however quite why is unclear. Peugeot says the less powerful GTI 250 is for the daily driver, whereas the GTI 270 is for the enthusiast. Shouldn't everyone who wants a GTI be an enthusiast? Honestly save up that bit more and order the 270, there might only be a difference of 16kw between the 2 cars but when your buying a hot hatch more is always better. GTI 270's also come with a much better specification; you get upgraded brakes, a limited slip diff, 19 inch wheels, the option of garish 2 tone paint and a 0-100km/h time of 6 seconds, that's 0.2 seconds quicker than the 250, doesn't sound like much but it gives you infinite more man points.

4. It looks fast too, but in a subtle Germanic way. That is provided you don't tick the option for, I quote "The Coupe Franche separation-line design exclusive to the 308 GTi 270 contrasting the new, explosive Ultimate Red with Pearlescent Nera Black". Yes leave this option off and what you get is a sophisticated looking hatch that sits 11mm lower than standard on a nice set of wheels with twin pipes out the back and ever so slightly redesigned bumpers. The only obvious clue to it's sportiness being a GTI badge on the boot. The interiors a pretty nice place too, with go faster bucket seats and red detailing letting passengers know this ain't no hum drum 308.

3 Pedals!

   

5. Price, probably the most important thing to tell you about. Well if for some reason you want less power and a slower car $44,990 buys you a GTI 250 (that's the black car in the pics). Save up $49,990 though and you can drive away with the GTI 270, plus on road costs of course.

There we have it, 5 things you need to know about Peugeots welcome return to the land of hot hatches, let's hope it can live up to the hype.

4 Alternative Budget Hot Hatches

Hot hatches, what's not to love about them? They combine practicality and performance, usually for very little financial outlay. Trouble is some of the worlds best are harder to find than unicorn poo in Australia or depressingly never made it here in the first place, I'm taking about Peugeot 205 GTI's, early Golf GTI's, Renault 5 Turbo's and Ford's XRI range of hatches. So what Aussie alternatives are out there for the budget hot hatch connoisseur? Let me share with you 4 of my favourites.

Ford Laser TX3 Turbo

Based on a Mazda 323 the Laser range was a massive sales success for Ford in Australia over 5 generations. And naturally at the height of the 80's hot hatch war Ford couldn't resist strapping on a Turbo, some all wheel drive hardware and an X badge. Available in a sportier 3 door body style with obligatory rear spoiler, skirts and alloy wheels the TX3 actually has more than a passing resemblance to Ford of Europe's Mk3 Escort. With a turbo charged 117kw 1.8 litre and a kerb weight of just 1180kg the TX3 was good for 0-100km/h in 8.4seconds. The 4 wheel drive also meant the Laser was that little bit more sure footed than it's rivals on the twisty stuff. A truly forgotten hot hatch hero if ever there was one that you can pick up now for less than $3000, a future classic perhaps?

Toyota Corolla GTI

Twin cam's, 16 valves and the engine code 4A-GE, 3 phrases that should raise the heart rate of any die hard car guy. Unfortunately though if you were brought up in the last 20 years the words Toyota Corolla are more likely to put you to sleep than set your heart racing. But imagine a time when all those words were thrown together! What appeared was a Corolla that deservedly wore a GTI badge on its boot. 100kw of naturally aspirated 1.6 litre goodness teamed to a light body and willing chassis saw the early 90's Corolla do a rather good job of being an every day performance car. 0-100km/h took a little under 10 seconds so although it wasn't blistering it had just enough fun factor to distract you from what was at best bland styling, the AE93 Corolla GTI is a rare gem which can be had for as little as $1500 nowadays, if you don't mind fixing one up like the car in the pics.

Holden Barina GSI

Holden's European cousins Opel/Vauxhall thought it was a good idea in the mid 90's to tune the engine they put in they're tiniest car and give it a set of 3 spoke alloys, what they created was the Corsa GSI, a car which thankfully Holden imported and sold here as the Barina. The Barina measures a mere 3.7 meters and has a dry weight of less than 1000kg, these figures are good from a handling point of view and when you slot in a 1.6 litre 16 valve engine which loves to rev, your left with a recipe for the perfect winding road warrior. The lady in the picture is certainly happy with hers.

Suzuki Swift GTI

My last choice makes do with just 1.3 litres and 74kw but it is arguably the most back to basics hot hatch on this list. With a willingness to rev, some period body modifications and a set of bucket seats the Swift GTI really isn't a whole lot more. And the great thing is it doesn't need to be, I've been passenger in a basic Swift (GLX if you want to get technical) which was driven briskly and can honestly say without sounding too clichéd it lives up to the name! A surprisingly balanced car that with a shot of GTI'ness makes it all the better. You can get one for under $3000 and I cant recommend one enough.  

       
Coming from a era when 16 valve's, twin cam's and liberal usage of the letters S and X implied your car was better than everyone else's I hope my little run down has given you something to think about, especially if you find yourself sad at the lack of retro hot hatches Down Under. Naturally certain people might not agree with my 4 cars and for obvious reason, a least one of them looks like an utter pudding, but what lies beneath are ultimately fun and engaging cars with a liberal dosage of nostalgia. Perfect for tearing up a good road, without breaking the bank. Whack their names into Gumtree.com.au and see what I mean.

Peugeot 208 GTi for the price of a 205.

Now I don't often report on marketing campaigns or indeed brand new car deals but today I'll make an exception thanks to Peugeot and their rather generous offer, I also love a hot hatch. To mark the run out of the last current 208 GTi's Peugeot Australia are offering the final 30 at the same price as their 80's 205 GTi predecessors; $29,500. That means a brand new car for the price of one which pre-dates a heap of inflation and two economic downturns.

It doesn't take a genius to work out what sort of deal you'd be getting if you got your hands on one of the 30 cars. The 208 offers far more in terms of driver comfort, connectivity and ultimately performance than the original 205 GTi did at that price. However the jury's still out on whether the 208 is quite as fun as it's back to basics grand daddy down a twisty back road.

Decidedly more futuristic 

The last 30 bargain basement 208 GTi's score; a 7 inch touch screen, cruise control, dual zone climate control, bluetooth and aux connectivity, follow me home lights, cornering fog lights and day time running lights to name but a few of the extra's. Things that in 1985 would have been the stuff of future car fantasy.

Get one while you can

The offer on the last 30 208 GTi's runs until the 21st October or while stocks last, paving the way for an all new 208 GTi in 2016. As for the original 205 I've not done a car of the week feature on it yet, but I feel one is long overdue.

Car of the Week: Mini Cooper S R53

First off an apology, last week I neglected to bring you a car of the week, but if you've read the blog you'll be aware I was otherwise occupied driving a certain Volvo 800km's back to Sydney. Anyway on to this weeks car and this ones a mini, literally.

But its a German

Do you remember when the New Mini came out? If your interested in cars you will, BMW's re release of the most iconic car of all time was all the automotive and to a certain extent normal media could talk about way back in 2001. It was controversial to redo the Mini in the first place, but the fact a German company were doing it seemed almost unholy! The idea of the Germans making something so quintessentially British also seemed a bit patronising especially as they had just hung Rover, who previously owned the mini name, out to dry. Among the mutterings of the Mini losing its Rule Britannia'ness there was also the rather obvious flaw that the Mini was no longer, well mini. Oh how we all laughed, surely this car would flop, just like VW's re imagined Beetle a couple years earlier?

Global success 

However that cutesy little face teamed with the fact it was actually a hoot to drive has seen the New Mini go through 3 generations and become one of the greatest motoring success stories of the 21st centuries. And nowadays thanks to that massive success you can pick up one of these not so new, New Minis's for well under $10,000. I thought I might as well go for broke too and pick out the quickest Mini you can get, the sublimely supercharged Cooper S.

Cooper S distinctions 

Visually the Cooper S's can be distinguished from the One's and Coopers by a bonnet scoop, body coloured grill, twin centre exit exhaust 16 inch alloys and half leather seats. Of course in true Mini fashion though the cars were infinitely customisable form the factory, so expect to see many colours, speed stripes and graphics applied to the cars out there, personally I just like a solid colour with a contrasting roof and mirrors, I'm a traditionalist like that.

The Minis's actually quite mini

The next thing I want to mention is rather ironic given the Mini's initial ridicule and that thing is size, you see the original New Mini at 3626mm long is by today's standards some 14 years on actually pretty small. A brand new Ford Fiesta for example measures 3969mm while Mazda's brand new 2 is a whopping 4060mm. Turns out the Mini is mini after all. Now that you know how small the car actually is it's performance figures are really quite impressive. 120kw and 210Nm or torque are produced by the little 1.6 litre supercharged motor, which is sent through the front wheels via a 6 speed manual box all in a car weighing 1215kg. If you had to write down a recipe for the ultimate hot hatch surely those things would be the ingredients? Combined with proven BMW dynamics including independent rear suspension the Cooper S was a shoe in as a drivers car.

There are negatives

There were some teething problems with the first generation though, electrical gremlins being one thing and a gearshift cable breaking was another. Also listen out for noisy or worn rear suspension, some of the older cars may be suffering with this now too. As I've said about previous cars of the week though, try to get a well maintained example and have a good poke around when viewing, press every button and flick every switch. The good news though is being performance orientated most Cooper S's will probably have been owned by someone who cared for it.

Go get yourself one

My pick this week is a lovely little blue number, 171,000km's and full BMW service history are pluses as are 4 new Pirelli tyres. Price has been reduced by a $1000 too meaning this car with its sun roof could be your perfect weekend toy.

2003 Mini Cooper S, $7900
     

            

Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy-R sets Albert Park record

Renault, clearly not happy with setting production car records at both Suzuka and the Nurburgring last year have taken on Melbourne's Albert Park F1 circuit to set another record. In the hands of newbie RedBull driver Daniil Kvyat the most hardcore of sporty Megane's the Trophy-R has set a production car record for Albert Park with a time of 2 minutes 23 seconds.

By completing a lap Renault's Trophy-R also happens to be the first ever production car with an engine no bigger than 2 litres to lap the Albert Park circuit. If Daniil had just pushed the car around he would have walked away with the record, but unless you enjoy watching Russians push Renault's that wouldn't have been much of a video would it?.Thankfully Renault filmed the full throttle attempt which you can see below.    

Kvyat spoke after the lap praising the Renault for it's on track ability, he also noted that the Trophy-R is noticeably more hardcore than the already fairly bonkers RS 275. Delivering 275bhp (hence the name) from a turbo charged 2 litre to the front wheels the Trophy R comes as standard with Renault's Cup chassis. It also has a mechanical limited-slip differential, titanium Akrapovic exhaust system, Öhlins one-way adjustable dampers with composite springs and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres that are specifically designed for the car. The R is also considerably lighter than the normal RS, all these things help improve the way the car communicates with you on the road. 

Australia is only being allocated 50 of the global 250 production run Trophy-R's so if you want one best be quick and have a spare $65,000 lying around! It might cost a lot but if an F1 driver thinks it's a good car the chances are you'll think it's pretty awesome too. Find the Trophy-R here.

 

Bruce's Car of the Week: Skoda Octavia RS

How much do you think a Mk5 Golf GTI would set you set you back? 15, maybe 20k? Well this weeks car gives you all the GTI's performance in a more practical package for under $10,000. Lets move the stigma aside and welcome on in the Skoda Octavia RS.

It's just another bloody Golf

Released onto the Australian market in 2007 the 1Z generation Octavia, essentially a Mk5 Golf with a bigger seden esque hatchback body on it failed to set sales charts alight. And this is a real shame as the Octavia RS is a very capable car with some lovely Volkswagen underpinnings. I feel it's only right I explain those underpinnings in more detail. The Mk5 Golf platform was released in 2004 and replaced the squidgy, lackluster Mk4 setup. Not since the late 80's had we seen a Golf with a capable chassis underneath it, so the world waited with baited breath for a GTI that could actually live up to the name. Thankfully Volkswagen delivered, slotting a sweet 2 litre turbo motor into that very capable chassis, with 147kw of torquey turbo power the GTI was reborn.

Styling

The Octavia RS utilities exactly the same setup, the only difference is that by dressing it in a Czech suit people won't pay as much, making the RS an incredibly good value modern hot hatch. Visually the RS is understated in that typically European way. It's not overly designed and definitely not ugly but just different enough to make people in the know look up and take notice, personally I love it.

 

The practicalities

From a practicality point of the view the RS has smaller hot hatch rivals licked. Available as a big hatch or wagon reviewers at the time concluded the Octavia to be the ultimate Jekylle and Hyde car. It could be sensible family transport during the week and a back road barnstormer at the weekend. The turbo engine managing to deliver respectable economy when driven gently and blistering performance when wound up to its red line. The icing on the cake for the RS is that being a top of the range model it wasn't short of standard equipment either, heated front sport seats, duel zone climate control, tyre pressure monitoring, 18 inch alloys and sports suspension were just some of the things which came as standard.

 

A good value, practical, economical but fast car that can carry the family with ease? Come on Australia get over your preconceived ideas about Czech cars, Skoda's are good and the RS Octavia is great.

My pick from the web this week, a 2007 car advertised by a dealer. High km's on this car might explain the asking price, but this should not put people off. These engines are strong and with regular servicing will just keep on going. I think this cars an absolute bargain.
2007 Skoda Octavia RS, $9990

Bruce's Car of the Week: Citroen Xsara VTR

For the past couple of weeks the cars in this feature have been big, luxurious and although exceptional value, were perhaps a little on the expensive side. So in a bid to fix this, today I'll be showing you a characterful, sharp handling French hatch back for under $5000, the Citroen Xsara VTR.

Hot Hatchery

Available in Australia from 2001 the Xsara Coupe VTR was the closest thing to a hot hatch that Citroen offered Australians in the early 00's. This was vastly different to the situation in Europe though, where Citroen offered a proper old school hot hatch based on the smaller Saxo model. The recipe was simple, small hatchback, pokey 1.6 litre engine and a capable chassis. This combined with an offer of free insurance made sure the Saxo VTR was a massive sales success and the larger Xsara didn't really get a look in, which is a bit of a shame as the Xsara despite being a bit bigger than a Saxo follows exactly the same recipe.

Simple but effective

Thankfully though with Saxo out of the equation down under the Xsara is readily available and for even less money than a similarly aged Honda Civic. So the details, well firstly the Xsara is pretty, especially in 3 door coupe body style. It takes styling ques from classic wedge shape Citroen's and curves them up a little. Secondly the Xsara VTR's chassis was fettled by the very same French bods who perfected the smaller Saxo, meaning that should the road get twisty the Frenchie will handle it with aplomb. And lastly there's the engine, a simple 1.6 litre 16 valve naturally aspirated double overhead camshaft unit. It won't set the world alight making do with 83kw and a 0-100km/h time of 10.9 seconds, but it is mated to a short shifting 5 speed gearbox and that chassis. All things considered the Xsara has all the makings of a wonderfully engaging car. I should also say that a more powerful 2 litre VTS Xsara was also offered in Australia, but I couldn't find any for sale at this moment in time.

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Try one on for size

Short and sweet this week, but there you have it, the Xsara VTR. Hopefully I've made you consider a hot hatch ( ok, maybe warm hatch is a better description) that never crossed your mind before. It might be worth giving one a go, as for the price you really don't have much to lose.  

The car I've chosen is this 2003 example, well cared for with full service history, lots of rego and a set of alloy wheels. The latter you will either love or hate but they show that this car definitely belongs to someone who took a lot of pride in it.
2003 Citroen Xsara VTR, $4000

Bruce's Car of the Week: Renault Clio Sport 172

New year, new car of the week, I think your probably getting the theme of this feature by now. I'll just make it a French quickie this week. So without further ado I give you the the Renault Clio Sport 172.

With a free revving 2 litre engine tasked with the job of punting a featherweight Clio along, the Sport is the motoring equivalent of fly buzzing around your head. Nimble, light and impossible to catch on winding roads the Clio Sport is a real headache for drivers of larger more powerful sports cars. If you hadn't guessed by the name that 2 litre 16 valve under the bonnet produces 172bhp, that's 124kw in Aussie money and is good for 0-100km/h in 7.2 seconds. Standard equipment on the Sport was generous, xenon headlights, climate control and auto sensing wipers were just some of the goodies offered for the $33,000 hatch back in 2001. 2004 saw a 182 Cup version launched, it had, you guessed it, 10bhp more, was even lighter, sported a rather lovely twin exhaust and a nicer set of alloy wheels on top of the power gain.

2004's updated Clio Sport

 A whole racing series is dedicated to the Clio in Europe  

All in all with a chassis tuned by the guru's at Renault Sport and a kerb weight of just 1050kg the Clio is a proper weapon. Yes, build quality could be better and the engine makes the Clio a bit thirsty for such a small car, but all that is forgotten once you get the Sport on a good road. In Europe Clio's were advertised with the help of Thierry Henry and sold you the idea of "Va Va Voom", as cringingly bad as the adverts might have been then, I've got to admit the Clio does offer some alternative French flair to your driving experience; go sample one to see what I'm on about.

First car this week is the piece de resistance of the Sporty Clio range, a 182 Cup. Full service history and the owner says it never fails to make you feel good! That's a bold claim but one I'd be inclined to believe.

2005 Renault Clio Sport 182, $8500








Next choice is a fastidiously looked after 172 example with a few choice modifications. Major timing belt service just carried out along with a new water pump should mean this Clio will cause you little headache mechanically. It also comes with 6 months of rego on it.

2002 Renault Clio Sport 172, $6900  




Last choice is another good'un; enthusiast owned for its whole life, garaged and always well cared for I cant see why there should be anything wrong with this 172. Excellent value too. I'm aware it's silver like the others, but these 3 were the best compromise of value and condition I could find.

2001 Renault Clio Sport 172, $5000