Be prepared for crippling depreciation. High spec Hyundai’s crash in value and these don’t hold much appeal for the boy racers who fall over themselves and borrow up to the eyeballs to afford a used GTi, VXR or ST. I’m not saying it’s a bad car by any means but despite costing less than rivals it’ll cost substantially more to own thanks to very weak demand used.
If I wanted a performance hatch I’d be looking at a previous gen Ford Focus ST with the 2.0 Mazda designed turbocharged motor. These are aggressive and fun to drive but not rock hard riding plus keep it nice and service it at a Ford dealer and you’ll have people biting your hand off to get it when you’re done with it. A Golf GTi manual would appeal too but it’s more of a fast exec hatch than a true back road blaster.
|
|
|
Thank you for your responses. I am well aware of the differences between the two variants. The main reason I am interested in the lower power version is the wheel size. Tyres on 19" rims are not practical on our roads and (to me) do not look right. The torque figure is the same for both ( as is overboost ). 0-60 time purely academic. I want the practicality, reliability, oomph when I need it ; without the wings and OTT styling of some of its main competitors. Yet to road test ( assuming I can find one ) but might come round to buying new if a good deal was to be made available.
I can well understand that reasoning for wanting the lower spec car, but i fear you may be on a long quest to find one!. Not that easy to understand the info on the how 'many left' website link, but (if i am reading it right) there has been a grand total of 51 i30 N registered in total compared to 1449 of the performance model!.
Suggestions?, well assuming the (138bhp) 1.4 T GDI won't suffice, you could look at a last of the previous shape i30 1.6 T GDI (183bhp). There is also the Kia Ceed the fastest version of both the previous and current shape has a 201 bhp 1.6 turbo.
Edited by badbusdriver on 05/12/2019 at 10:53
|
|
I would check out the KIA Stinger, as it's not as popular in the UK as North America, and as such this GT car (but still really quick and better looking inside and out, if a bit big and a bit thirsty) might be on offer as a nearly new example at dealerships for a big discount, if you time it right. My local dealership has at least two of these sitting outside that haven't sold for at least 2 months now.
I suppose it depends whether they want mainly performance or that and cracking handling. Don't forget that as it's a KIA it gets the 7 year warranty.
|
I would check out the KIA Stinger, as it's not as popular in the UK as North America, and as such this GT car (but still really quick and better looking inside and out, if a bit big and a bit thirsty) might be on offer as a nearly new example at dealerships for a big discount, if you time it right. My local dealership has at least two of these sitting outside that haven't sold for at least 2 months now.
I suppose it depends whether they want mainly performance or that and cracking handling. Don't forget that as it's a KIA it gets the 7 year warranty.
I do like the Stinger myself, but the question is whether or not badge obsessed UK buyers would choose a Kia over an Audi, BMW or Merc?. And yes, its a big old bus compared to an i30!.
As to the economy, well according to the introduction page for the review on this website, the economy is described as 'reasonable'. So, bearing in mind the economy of the i30 N is apparently very poor (not sure if this is just the Performance, or both models), the difference may not be as big as you'd expect going from a 2.0 four pot turbo to a 3.3 V6 turbo!.
In the test i mentioned earlier, the economy achieved during the road test for the i30 N was 18.6mpg!. Granted, they will have been caning it, but the same will be the case for the other two cars on test. By comparison the Focus ST (this is a 2.3 remember) did 22.7mpg and the Golf managed 25.2mpg. That is a sizeable difference, especially expressed as a percentage, and makes you wonder why?. They all use a 4 cyl turbo engine and there is only 4kg difference in weight between the lightest (the Hyundai) and the heaviest (the Ford).
|
I would check out the KIA Stinger, as it's not as popular in the UK as North America, and as such this GT car (but still really quick and better looking inside and out, if a bit big and a bit thirsty) might be on offer as a nearly new example at dealerships for a big discount, if you time it right. My local dealership has at least two of these sitting outside that haven't sold for at least 2 months now.
I suppose it depends whether they want mainly performance or that and cracking handling. Don't forget that as it's a KIA it gets the 7 year warranty.
I do like the Stinger myself, but the question is whether or not badge obsessed UK buyers would choose a Kia over an Audi, BMW or Merc?. And yes, its a big old bus compared to an i30!.
As to the economy, well according to the introduction page for the review on this website, the economy is described as 'reasonable'. So, bearing in mind the economy of the i30 N is apparently very poor (not sure if this is just the Performance, or both models), the difference may not be as big as you'd expect going from a 2.0 four pot turbo to a 3.3 V6 turbo!.
In the test i mentioned earlier, the economy achieved during the road test for the i30 N was 18.6mpg!. Granted, they will have been caning it, but the same will be the case for the other two cars on test. By comparison the Focus ST (this is a 2.3 remember) did 22.7mpg and the Golf managed 25.2mpg. That is a sizeable difference, especially expressed as a percentage, and makes you wonder why?. They all use a 4 cyl turbo engine and there is only 4kg difference in weight between the lightest (the Hyundai) and the heaviest (the Ford).
I still regret not buying a 2005 model Honda Civic Type R. Great looking, goes like stink, decent enough handling, unbreakable engine, 30mpg, then £16.5k. The current hot hatches are way too expensive and overpowered.
|
Thank you for your responses. I am well aware of the differences between the two variants. The main reason I am interested in the lower power version is the wheel size. Tyres on 19" rims are not practical on our roads and (to me) do not look right. The torque figure is the same for both ( as is overboost ). 0-60 time purely academic. I want the practicality, reliability, oomph when I need it ; without the wings and OTT styling of some of its main competitors. Yet to road test ( assuming I can find one ) but might come round to buying new if a good deal was to be made available.
That to me makes total sense.
And even if the Performance version is more desirable used there is no way you would ever recoup the £3000 extra it cost new. A quick look around tinternet suggests that the Performance version would be theoretically worth about £2200 more thus its lost £800 more.
Stick to the "standard" N, it makes more sense.
|
Stick to the "standard" N, it makes more sense.
Sage advice indeed but it doesn't address the OP's problem, that of finding one of the 51 registered in the (nearly) 2 years it has been on sale.
There is just one currently for sale on Autotrader, that makes it equally as rare as a Bugatti Chiron (if a little cheaper).
|
|
You could just get the performance version and buy some 18inch wheels. Swap them back when you’re ready to sell?
|
You could just get the performance version and buy some 18inch wheels. Swap them back when you’re ready to sell?
@drd63. Yes. Good point,but I can just hear my insurers quoting " that is a modification" and loading the premium accordingly. So that is four new wheels, four new tyres and having to store the spares. I might just stick with the performance version, avert my eyes and visit the dentist more often.
|
You could just get the performance version and buy some 18inch wheels. Swap them back when you’re ready to sell?
I suspect that may not work looking at the on-line specs. One of the additional features of the Performance model is different front brake calipers and that normally means bigger. 18" wheels may not fit over those.
|
|
|
