Moving back to blighty after 8 years or so away and looking at 5 door hatchbacks.
After some interesting comments here:
http://www.fiatcoupeclub.org/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1602049#Post1602049

Wanted to ask the forum.

I'm looking at
Renault megane 225 vs mk5 golf gti vs seat Leon 20vt vs Volvo v50 t5 vs fiat bravo sport . key criteria
Must be 150bhp or more,
Must be practical
Must be 5 door
Must be a hatch. Not too fussed about milage but less than 125k is desirable with a decent service history.

I was all about the megane, or golf. Then the bravo was thrown into the mix. Not having lived in Europe for the best part of a decade, none of these cars have been available to me at all owing to the different market preferences of big country people......so its quite exciting coming home.

I'd say the Megane would probably be the most fun to drive but 2 of my friends have had endless issues with theirs which has put me off them!
The mk5 gti is a tidy car and quite fun to drive.

What about a Focus ST? Good handling car with a great sounding engine too.

Mazda3 MPS

Good shout. I'd forgotten about the MPS
Less chavvy image than the focus but I think they share some mechanicals?
Mazda has a torsen diff too.

My missus has had a 1.6 Mazda 3 for nearly 10 years and all it's needed is rear springs and some roll bar links.

It's got the same engine as the new Focus RS / Mustang!

My ex-ex had a 1.6 diesel Mazda3 for a few years. Most practical hatch I've ever been in - it was more like an estate!! I test drive the Mk1 3 MPS but didn't get on with the gear ratios after being spoilt with the Coop. Very torquey lump with close ratios felt mismatched to me. 90mph in 4th gear?

I have a Mazda 3 sp23 here. So one below the MPS. Want a change, hence why its not in the running. Loving the idea flow though. Also the focus has been discounted as my wife dislikes them.

Impeza WRX
BMW 130i


This could be worth a punt. Its only 3dr and a Cat C but seller says it only required a door which has been professionally repaired.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201706206610929?atmobcid=soc3

I would go an Alfa GTA as a first choice. We had a 156 sportwagon and a 159 so the 147 GTA would be excellent but its a nipper hauler so 5 doors is key.
Like the 130 BMW idea also and had no idea they were in the price range? The impreza wagon, like the mps is probably the best choice but has been discounted.

Any bravo sport experiences out there?
It's a fiat, its the easiest to get a top spec example in price range. Its the least powerful but also the most economical in terms of road tax and servicing. But I've never even seen one in the flesh. Also the Volvo v50 t5 seems a bulletproof model?

Any details on the sort of megane horror stories we are talking of? My understanding is the gearboxes might be a weak link on the more sporty models and that the diesels were fairly reliable. I am only considering the f1 225. But at 100k miles they might be a bit past their best?

Dunno about Bravo Sport, but I've had a Bravo 150 diesel with all the toys for 200k miles at 35k/year... only one serious issue in that time (a wire melted in the harness and slightly killed the ECU).

Our Bravo 1.4 T-Jet is comfortable and well-specced. Goes reasonably well, too. It's ideal as a courtesy car, which is why we bought it. Not that you'd be looking for the same criteria! However, we have just had to shell out a grand for a recon-gearbox after the main bearings wore out. Look for a baulk in the gear change if you do try a Bravo. No idea if the sport has the same box, mind.

Hoops, have you seen any examples of the Ritmo Sport in WA?

(To our UK friends, the late model Bravo was marketed as the Ritmo here due to Mazda having a ute named the Bravo, now the BT50.)

A few of my car club mates have these in both 1.4 turbo and 1.9 turbo diesel. They all speak very highly of them, especially the diesel. Could be worth a look when you arrive back in UK, but you will miss the weather here!

Thanks for the feedback. Bravo is a front runner I think. Can't find anything particularly consistently bad about them on the fiat forums. Neither are they remarkable but seem a safe relatively cheap golf gti alternative. What was the mileage on the box when the bearings let go?

The only fiats I have seen here this decade are 124 BC and cc coupes, the odd old fiat 500 at car shows and plenty of the new fiat 500s. Nothing else.
Alfa are here in a fair way but not fiat.

The mileage is pretty low, Hoops - about 45k miles. We were a bit gutted. But it could easily be a one-off.

This one looks OK

https://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/Fiat-Ritmo-2008/SSE-AD-4811024/?Cr=0

There were quite a few sold here in the East.

One has had a new gearbox due to losing 4th gear and both have had a few issues with ecu/immobilizer preventing starting.
A new key was required for the one car.

Regarding the megane. That is exactly like a friends Clio 2 cup 182. Gearbox went twice, ecu once and clutch over two cars and two years. It broke down a lot.

Maybe WA was taxed differently.... Never seen one. The closest one to me for sale is in SA. Just 2770km away

Only 9 of them on carsales currently.

SWMBO has had a 2008 Bravo 150 T-Jet sport for about 3 years - Yes, I was very influential in the decision, but she loves it.
It had done about 48,000 when we got it and it is now approaching 80,000, aside from an exhaust (which was expensive as you cant get pattern ones) and a battery it has been a great car, plenty of room, goes well, very comfortable and it is well specced for its price point. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending one.
The boot space is great for the size too, four up for a weekend away last year, the boot swallowed a big pram, 2 suitcases (my hand luggage sized and her 3 week holiday sized one! ) and a travel cot with room to spare... which was soon filled!
I will be looking to freshen it up next year, and a Giulietta (essentially the same car) will be at the top of that list.

So far then it seems
Megane 225- quick and fun but reliability issues likely
Golf gti- not the quickest and also the most expensive but probably a safe choice
Bravo / rimto- the slowest and most economical but likely to get the best bang for buck in terms of reliability and spec
Seat cupra 20vt- maybe as good as the golf but a bit dull??
Bmw130- outside choice but no feedback yet
Volvo v50 t5- who knows....
Mazda3 MPS- would be silly to turn it down if we can find one. But a bit samey with the sp23 left here in Aus.

I think I am really tending towards the bravo based on multiple positive feedbacks. I have always been a sucker for cost effective joyful motoring. But then, on the megane forum there is a lot of positive chat on the 225 and not a lot of breakdown stories.......

Bought a Saab v6 turbo 9-3 wagon with Hirsch performance pack for 2k GBP a couple of years back. Used it with the family about Europe for three months then sold it for what I paid for it. Super satisfying.
I did cry a bit when it had to go though.

The V50 is a decent looking thing for an estate and shares an engine with the Focus ST so a great sounding 5 pot with plenty of grunt.
Might not be very economical though.

I've not been in V50 but I had an S60 for 5 and a half years and all it needed was an exhaust backbox and routine servicing.
Very comfy car.

I was going to suggest a 9-3 as I've just bought an Aero 2.0T for the work commute, but discounted it because of the hot hatch in the title...

Mine's a right shed of a thing (£750 and riddled with things to do) but 'The Swedeheart' is growing on me already after only a month of ownership Just yesterday I discovered that the rear seats fold flat. Flat! In a saloon?!

For between 2 and 5k there are some lovely looking examples around. I wouldn't right them off if I were you

Skoda Fabia VRS mk1 would be my suggestion, Mine was very reliable and had a remap to 170bhp which gave it a turn of pace. Easily got 50mpg on a run too

She's really after a hatch rather than a wagon,,doesn't want a saloon.
The 9-3 was a sleeper weapon. Well over 300bhp(hirsch upgrade) and sub six secs 0-60. But she found it a bit wide and long.great for swallowing prams and all manner of furniture it was.

I would have another Saab in a heartbeat otherwise. Hard to find Hirsch v6 turbos now though.

The fabia is something I'm totally unaware of. Again, I haven't seen a Skoda in years. Is it the same as a golf but badged as a Skoda? The fabias I remember in the 90s might be teinting my vision here....

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-Bravo-T-Jet-150-Sport-/263048082892?hash=item3d3ee335cc%3Ag%3A4AEAAOSwpONZSX4G&_trkparms=pageci%253A461d16c5-56da-11e7-b837-74dbd1804674%257Cparentrq%253Acd02861015c0ab199752262bfff7cbcb%257Ciid%253A1
Even the bravo owners want a Saab!

Ahh, the disadvantages of living "in the West". As well as not seeing a Ritmo/Bravo, have you seen a Punto or a Panda?

My local Fiat dealer also has Skoda in the showroom, so I see quite a few over here "in the East". There is a Skoda dealer in Victoria Park, Mandurah and Albany so drop in to one and have a look, although Albany may be a bit far.