Best Hot Hatches for under 5K | Fifth Gear

[@halethewhale]

“Brake discs corrode if not used” This might be the case on all cars Vicky

[@ziad123bakkich2]

I think the brakes are very weak for corrossion!

[@VluggeJapie22]

It's always funny when I hop in after a 3 week holiday.

[@lukey3507]

@@ziad123bakkich2 - It's surface rust. Soon as you start driving the rust will burn off. Rust on the lips is nothing more than cosmetic. Unless the brake disc is worn down and thin, it isn't a problem.

[@sydclark5581]

I had the Clio. Flipped it multiple times down a Belgium motorway (tore off one front wheel, rear axle and every panel for smashed in). I walked away with only a few scratches to my right shoulder. I'd recommend the Clio for safety ;)

[@golf1diesel]

What about the 120 kmh radars on your Belgium mway?

[@sydclark5581]

@@golf1diesel I was only doing around 55 mph in a reduced motorway lane. The rain was hammering down. I actually aqua planed on a surface transition (tarmac to concrete). Slid to my right, hit the outside barrier with my front left which flipped it around a dozen times across the motorway to the other side. All seemed pretty controlled. The only air bag that didn't go off was the steering wheel.

[@golf1diesel]

@@sydclark5581 you just need better tyres,probably tyre pressure and more careful driving.As with many people.But especially tyres are very important when thinking aquaplaning

[@sydclark5581]

@@golf1diesel I'm no expert m8, but I think it was transitioning onto a concrete surface that snatched the back end. Anyway... I'd vote the Clio, great car for touring (comfort, mpg, speed when needed and safety). Only downside is width. Not great for someone with wide shoulders. Only fault I had, the Steering wheel peeled at around 4k miles (I had from new), got replaced for free under warranty :) Edit: I think I had Michelin pilot sport tyres (these may have been standard for this car). They had nothing to do with the torrential rain and flooding that caused me to aqua plane as they are great tyres.

[@golf1diesel]

@@sydclark5581 fair enough.

[@BuzzaB77]

er, you missed one major detail. the mini r56's major fail point is the engine, specifically the timing system. don't buy one that's 'ticking' or sounding anything like a diesel (known as the death rattle for a reason). make sure it's had the timing parts swapped, and just as importantly make sure it was timed by a mini or bmw specialist (3rd party garages don't have the bespoke timing tool) before considering.

[@PrettyGreenMonk]

Mine had timing chain at 60k they drink insane amounts of oil too. 1litre /1000m easy

[@AllenSAshley]

I've got an R56 and can confirm. But I still love the car.

[@laurieedwards6797]

That's my Mini in the video, hasn't blown up yet😂 Couldn't believe they failed to mention any of the major issues these cars can have..

[@epicwithin4555]

When was it filmed?

[@laurieedwards6797]

June last year :)

[@Sweaty__Sheep]

Yes, the script writers missed a hell of a lot of really important bits. It's not like the info is difficult to find!

[@JamesGreenawayOnline]

Good luck finding a good condition Trophy under £5K these days...

[@gravemind6536]

It should be easy since they are French junk I am suprised people pay even £5000 for them.

[@thomasmason8481]

You can get the non trophy ones for around £2K

[@d31zzz_]

@Chris 1k😂 the cheapest I've found one is £1700

[@d31zzz_]

@Chris Where can u find an mot’d one for 1k?

[@bign3ck]

Just get a regular Clio cup and add the Sach dampers and you have a trophy 🏆

[@neovenom9833]

"What can go wrong?" It's bmw, and it's a mini, want to pay over a 200 bucks for a 20 dollar thermostat?

[@lukey3507]

Not to mention all the other issues of owning both of them cars which are on the lists of most unreliable vehicles.

[@Blackmamba12345]

You can try getting one from the breakers

[@lukey3507]

@@Blackmamba12345 Lol, who in their right mind that knows anything about cars would put a USED thermostat in? They're enclosed in plastic, with constant hot & cold cycles. Plastic goes brittle and breaks. Not to mention thermostats are maintenance items, changed in intervals. Not to mention, a breakers yard won't remove any of the main components to an engine block. They'll never remove a water pump or anything else, unless the engine was shot. In which case most scrap yards wouldn't even remove the engine from the car.

[@richboy900]

The minis are said to be very unreliable. Heard the same for the fabia with the turbo and supercharged engine

[@MrChaos500]

Stupid plastic housings

[@the_stoned_priest]

Ex Evo journalists Henry Catchpole, Jethro Bovingdon and founding editor Harry Metcalfe all have Clio 182's... CASE CLOSED!

[@gandi69]

Da Ca “bozos” who happen to have driven most things going over the years and still own that cheap clio..

[@FenderUsa]

@Da Ca not the case with the 182, because its a brilliant little car, great chassis and the perfect speed for british b roads, french reliability is its only shortcoming.

[@danielmarshall4587]

Clio Trophy for less than £5K good luck..... GUT LAK as my Polish workmates would say.

[@petersothern2909]

tell him to puss off

[@donRageme]

That's sounds like some Taken shit

[@georgegregory6538]

@Da Ca stupid

[@williammcconville4967]

@Da Ca your right my old 306 dturbo used to smoke them when they came out an it was like 15 years older and a diesel lol

[@toysandgameswithesmeeandis4096]

I had 3 R56 mini Cooper s' all three of them had issues with turbo oil feed pipes f***** loved them though. Straight piped one and loved the pops and bangs!

[@redlineracing4947]

Honda Civic Ep3 Type R?

[@50pesos]

They already did a video on it

[@pharaongaming8617]

that is a hot hatchback these are hot super minis

[@redlineracing4947]

pharaon gaming shit your right

[@ghrenu]

They are talking about cars not lawnmowers

[@redlineracing4947]

Ownzii Clutch if your trying to take the piss out of he K20 you are so obviously disconnected with the car industry. Please go back to revving your French POS

[@stitcha123]

Known tons of BMW minis. They all had tons of issues.

[@AlexanderPJM]

Cannot get a sorted 182 trophy for less than 5 grand. Some good examples are upwards of 10 grand. The best examples are fetching close to 20 grand. Examples less than 5 would be rough as arseholes!!

[@gravemind6536]

Thats weird that any Renault would be worth more than 5 grand, Renault are total junk like all French cars.

[@AlexanderPJM]

@@gravemind6536 a lot of manufacturers make junk. Not just Renault. Rover are shite but look at the mg maestro turbo. They are worth a small fortune now.

[@AlexanderPJM]

@Da CaI'm guessing that your intention is not to actually call me stupid? I don't own one and I would never buy one. I've owned a couple of renaultsports in the past. Cracking cars but not worth top money. But the market is the market and they will appreciate.

[@Blackmamba12345]

Damn I'd never pay that much for a Clio ... even though it's a 182 ... I'd just get a Mk5 Gti far better car for money

[@AlexanderPJM]

@@Blackmamba12345 I agree 👍

[@chrisdooley6468]

I’d buy an EP3 Type R for about half that from what I’ve seen in your 🇬🇧 market prices but I do like the Renault....shame we got neither here in the states although when I lived in Marseille I drove a 172 and it was glorious

[@gravemind6536]

You guys in the states are lucky you don't get the French junk.

[@kristianolsenlarsen]

The Mini looks the best both inside and out and that's why it wins the test for me personally.

[@tommycarradice3146]

Will cost you a fortune when the engine goes tits up, one of the worst engines ever made

[@jameshall3017]

Bought a lovely Clio 172 for 1k a couple of weeks ago. Great cheap daily. My 350z fuel bill and impracticality after a couple years of ownership is finally too much and is up for sale. Holiday and more trips out in the Clio ensue.

[@BuzzaB77]

haha similar story here, I went from an rx8 to a cooper S (r53) for the same reasons.

[@AqueleDoHonda]

It's almost scary to see that some of those cars here would cost 10k in pounds . And they say Brazil is broken . With all these taxes there are in here I really can't believe jt , thank you so much for this video Fifth Gear !

[@Birmingham_racing]

I would rather buy a civic type r, Leon cupra mk2 240bhp r or golf gti

[@TheAshlovesu]

Birmingham racing okay? Then don’t watch this video.

[@Birmingham_racing]

Why not?

[@TheShinyShow]

That's a different size range. This are cheap alternatives to the fiesta, yours compare more to the focus.

[@Birmingham_racing]

Ross fair point

[@jasonjuggler3457]

@@Birmingham_racing yaaaa reet lad? u again, I prefer focus st astra vxr or Meganne 225

[@deanodrives4966]

Watch out for the dephaser pulleys on the 172/182. Other than that, they are pretty decent

[@S93.45]

And the chocolate boxes lol

[@EppingForest304]

Look for a Renault Megane as well, the fast 💨 Clios are so popular on track days 😁

[@AntoineZertyty]

I take the clio anyday of the week

[@Gump1Gump2]

Vicki Butler Henderson signed my dashboard of my Clio 182 at Brooklands 10 years ago. It’s a great car and I believe she used to own one! Knew it would win!

[@lukoil4966]

I would talke the fabia,its not the best but it looks way better than clio and mini

[@dkpheonix339]

yep

[@jalenn757]

Much prefer a GTI, focus St, civic EP3.

[@thomasmason8481]

j a - you’d struggle to find them with decent miles for under 5K

[@chrisrobinson7395]

Thomas Mason Even if they’d had a lot miles, why’s it matter providing it’s been looked after?

[@thomasmason8481]

Chris Robinson Most of those cars will have been tagged by their owners, I know I have 😂

[@Cars_and_adventures]

R56 mini is loverly !!! However what can break pretty much everything !!

[@1061shrink1061]

yeah no mention of the N14 chain issues, oil feed issues, leaking rocker gaskets, leaking oil filter housing. Also no mention of manifold cracks due to high turbo temperatures and no mention of electrical gremlins. I love my R58, but this generation is plagued with issues.

[@azzamehmet]

Type r is the best hot hatch 🔥

[@ElChasco_official]

My choices are the Clio, Swift Sport, and C2 VTS (I owned a VTS. Super fun car)

[@ollie42]

Swift is so underrated.. An C2 is like marmite but decent choice 👌

[@M440iUK]

Might want to mention that the R56 mini Cooper S engine is made of glass and if you don't check the 1.5 litres of engine oil every 32 seconds then the timing chain is likely to destroy the guide, at this point the engine will light up like a Christmas tree and you will own an expensive smoke machine. Just saying. Great car when they are running right just don't buy one if it sounds like a diesel or rattles like frost bitten testicles.

[@leotac5737]

How in the world can you find a R56 cooper S for 5K?!?!?!?

[@kirt121]

Spend two thousand more and get a Mk7 Fiesta ST, much newer and more fun than all of them :)

[@GingerHamster19]

kirt121 you’ve obviously never driven an r56 mcs

[@jasonpoole6284]

And common as shit, least you got the advantage of scrap parts.

[@neovenom9833]

@@GingerHamster19 I have, and made the decision to go with the Fiesta ST. Because a new mini cooper can get you a fully loaded Focus ST, I30N, and quite a few other cars. not to mention it's a money pit.

[@prontoklasik]

Yeah right. 2k more. It is so easy. Almost half a price.. maybe 5k more? Why not 15k more and get fiesta st mentioned before

[@slinkey123]

I dunno my clio 172 and clio 200 was more fun than my Fiesta ST. Granted the Fiesta ST is still great especially after getting it mapped.

[@jonathonedwards6741]

Umm, for under 5k you can buy a ZC32 swift sport. “I’m really impressed with the swift, I think it looks great and I’d be proud to own one” Vicky Butler-Henderson 2012.

[@toyotaprius79]

Make it £8K if we're gonna include one year's worth of realistic repairs, fuel and insurance costs.

[@faisalmd4694]

Fabia vrs is the best one

[@vwporschefreak97]

I'd take the clio, The fabia has Turbo failure/oil consumption/chain tensioner problems and The Mini is even worse when it comes to that, a mini looks great but is absolute garbage in terms of quality

[@EugVR6]

12 years old and 137000 miles and the only thing that's gone wrong, was the crankshaft sensor....they arent all shit.

[@strussdo]

500pounds for mini discs and brake pads? Not in $outh Africa

[@gravemind6536]

Not here unless your are being ripped off by the dealership or dodgy mechanics. More like £250-£350 here.

[@JMB1891]

Clio Trophy, great little car.. had one and it was amazing fun. Wouldn’t touch the Fabia VRS, too unreliable. Never been a fan of the Mini. Suzuki Swift Sport is a great little cheap and fun hatch as an alternative.

[@gravemind6536]

Hahahahaha lol Renault have 10% of the reliability a Skoda has. French junk will never ever match up to Skoda.

[@ITVWeatherFans]

Honestly, what a refreshing sight - a car show clip that actually reviews cars, with details and a presenter that talks to you not down at you. A lot better than that self indulgent nonsense from Clarkson and co.

[@stuartball4639]

Hmmm so the Cave (VRS engine ) is a problem 🤔 As long as the recall to Skoda has been done not a problem. It was actually an VW problem as the same engines in the Polo GTI & Seat Cupra & Skoda engineers fix it.

[@jamessheehy4895]

Mk5 golf gti, clio cup 200 surely! Skoda is a lovely car but never a hot hatch per say

[@ACERASPIRE1]

Will you get one for 5k?

[@alextruswell5879]

Waffling a bit lol. Clutch and brakes are things which will need replacing 😂 problems on a mini should've been timing chain issues and carbon build up

[@stuartanderson89]

What about 09 plate vxr st’s

[@ArturoPerez-si2xk]

I take the Skoda Fabia

[@nobbywhu3943]

Civic Type R EP3. All day long. - CTR faster and just a better car than the Clio. - I've had the R56 MCS the car is fun but the engine is from Peugeot and very poorly made, loads went wrong. - Skoda looks horrible.

[@mc1996]

Faster on straights...

[@nobbywhu3943]

@@mc1996 Wrong

[@mc1996]

@@nobbywhu3943 No sorry, its a known fact...

[@danielhasahondaandtriumph]

What about Honda Civic type r fn2 cheap and fast

[@topgearmad12]

Everything in the mini is bmw EXCEPT the engine, that’s made by/with Peugeot. Don’t make the same mistake I did and spend another 3 or 4k fixing it

[@sameverett5640]

Josh B it’s a Renault engine acc

[@topgearmad12]

Sam Everett the n14 and n18 was made by Peugeot mate, I know because I’ve had to replace it. Not sure why you think Renault did it

[@badrc350]

You forgot the Polo 9N3 GTI :/

[@zingystardust4082]

All hail the VB-H.

[@golfiukasJega]

I like Vicky in general, but this kind of comparison isn't great at all. I would like track comparison, if compare on technical issues dig deeper. Minis have quite some issues with engines, and interior isn't that great and quite plastiqy, also later 2009 models are better choice.

[@MalcolmXpat]

Does the mini have a Peugeot engine? Apparently Very unreliable. The earlier petrol version was a Chrysler super charged more reliable engine. The earlier diesel was a Toyota Yaris 1.4 slow but reliable.

[@brycmtthw]

Malcom Xpat yes. The Prince engine appeared in the second generation Mini for 2007. The Tritec engine is a much better engine, still in production in some form by FCA.

[@sneeuwwolf1176]

Title should have read: 3 most unreliable hothatch es for under 5 grand. The VW turbo/supercharged Frankenstein engine 1.4 is a grenade waiting to explode. The 1.6 turbo from the mini is a PSA crap bucket. The timing chains will break the engine will leak. The Clio is a Renault.... a RENAULT !!! It will never drive. Where are the reliable alternatives? Suzuki Swift sport? Ford Fiesta St ?

[@1061shrink1061]

No abarth 500's either... have significantly fewer reliability issues than almost any of the cars noted here.

[@1061shrink1061]

Or fiesta ST150 (earlier 2.0 model) In fact what we have here is a decent little clio, and two slightly crap hatchbacks ;)

[@FenderUsa]

EP3 CTR

[@JK_JK_JK_JK]

How old is this Video?!?! 🤔

[@zingystardust4082]

Try reading the description. You are obviously new at YouTubing, for future reference look at the description (so called because it describes the video) for information about (yes you guessed it) the video.

[@JK_JK_JK_JK]

@@zingystardust4082 😑

[@UKWEED]

@@JK_JK_JK_JK lol

[@Hazardous975]

Simple, just get an EP3

[@donRageme]

Overated and have about as much torque as a reliant Robin 😴

[@pharaongaming8617]

that is a hot hatch and is included in their hot hatch video, these on the other hand are hot super minis

[@pharaongaming8617]

@@donRageme overrated? there is a reason for that, its reliable, cheap, easy to work on, fun to drive and fast. also why you need torque? its a hot hatch not a truck, it has exciting high revving engine which makes it quite fast as i said earlier and also torque would make it understeer like hell and take away the driving fun

[@tonyhunt857]

@@donRageme you not got a clue.

[@napraznicul]

Except mini cooper, both, clio and fabia, are "sporty equipped" with CHEAPEST rear axle which could be found: a metal tube from side to side 😂😂

[@johnstokes3232]

Mk5 gti best car for under 5k 🤔

[@unknown-hl4bj]

and unreliable af

[@pharaongaming8617]

that is a hot hatch these are super minis

[@gravemind6536]

@@unknown-hl4bj Not as unreliable as the Renault nothing out there is as unreliable as French junk.

[@arthurstube]

Definitely not the Mini Cooper with the psa engine absolutely junk. Timing chain problems, overheating, the list goes on.

[@jay55148]

A mk5 gti is a better pick!!

[@sc1837]

zzz

[@jay55148]

@@sc1837... 🖕! 😁

[@slinkey123]

I went from a mk7 Golf R back to a Clio 197. That's how boring Golf's are 😂😂

[@jay55148]

@@slinkey123 😂 😂 😂. Them clio are pocket rockets but long run the gti mk5 is a better choice.

[@user-vk4vd7vr5t]

Jay Ali better for falling asleep in?

[@mohamed-ihcenbouadjadj1351]

This 182 clio rs is a little bomb

[@gravemind6536]

Yep they are nutorious for blowing up early, the French have never been good on reliability.

[@ThaDutchDK1989]

@@gravemind6536 go look on the nurburgring then 80% of the hot hatches are renault.. stupid hater

[@AlexanTheMan]

Top 10 ways to age your episode

[@robinmarples5198]

The Clio trophy is still the best hot hatch ever built. If you want a good one in France the price is 20 000 euros

[@andrewnorris5415]

It's exactly the same as a 182 cup but with the dampers. Can get great dampers elsewhere, esp. with the servicing costs of those ones which are not tough enough got daily driving and need regular rebuilds.

[@gravemind6536]

Nope its French junk so only worthy of the scrapper, totally unreliable junk.

[@robinmarples5198]

@@gravemind6536 don t mind if it s reliable or not. It s a great car in its class. The m3 e46 is also a great car Don 't you agree? So...

[@gravemind6536]

@@robinmarples5198 The M3 is a lot better than the French junk. The Renault is total rubbish.

[@robinmarples5198]

@@gravemind6536 the m3 is far from reliable.

[@vikingraiders4138]

Vicky hasn't got much tread left these days

[@oopsydaisy4637]

Hot hatches are 3 door. Why a fall apart mini with so many problems and a skoda? where's the Golf? or Pug GTI etc many better choices. The Clio though...what a rocket but not under 5K these days

[@blitzchaserjzx100]

Lots of FUN 🖐😎🖐

[@F7Rmaxi]

Clio 💛

[@mihajlo990]

Swift sport?

[@simongb7897]

Trophy 5k where...I'd buy one, your looking double that.

[@kienfung3045]

I know it's a 2seater, Mazda MX-5 RWD

[@pharaongaming8617]

its not a hot hatch tho (well technically the ones in this video are hot super minis but anyway) where are you gonna put stuff in MIATA?

[@bisterousmusic2738]

I got a VW Polo 9n3 GTI for about £3000

[@AF-nf4yf]

5k? 500 seems more affordable.

[@jirikara6807]

Where the hell is Swift Sport?

[@benjamin-jp93]

...Or buy an ep3 type-R

[@jamesocallaghan4807]

1:52

[@jurassicmatt2796]

Came to say EP3 but noticed everyone is saying the same.

[@Andy-il3eq]

What a fucking awful collection of hot hatches, no mention at all of an EP3? you're having a laugh

[@EvendimataE]

i dont mind paying 10k for a mini cooper...if only they are as reliable as toyotas

[@bign3ck]

Don't get an r56 too unreliable, r53 is better imo

[@donRageme]

The 1.4 engine in the fabia vrs is wicked, supercharger and turbo charged, very underrated engines. The mini is looks ugly and the interior in my opinion is boring. The clio 172/182s are fun but you need size 6 shoes so you don't touch all 3 pedals at once :) 👍🏻

[@gravemind6536]

Clio is French junk and unreliable too.

[@adeelhdgamer1547]

No s3

[@markleaning107]

How can they even recommend a mini total junk

[@alexm4515]

My Cooper R57 was the most unreliable car I've ever owned.

[@M17_Max]

Yeah the N14 had a lot of problems. Just ultimately weighing up the potential (almost definite) issues against the price and fun factor really

[@alexm4515]

@@M17_Max so much fun to drive though. This was my second and last bmw product.

[@vladmihai306]

The engine in the Fabia is a POS. Avoid it like plague.

[@gumpy4960]

I would buy any of them. Can buy far better cars for the money

[@gourapaavishan9842]

Clio

[@chrisrobinson7395]

For 5k, get a mk5 gti for 3k, spend 2k doing the ko4 turbo conversion and have 350bhp and a reliable car

[@MrChaos500]

Vrs mk1 is superior

[@Birmingham_racing]

Fabia are too unreliable would stay away

[@gravemind6536]

If thats a problem then you need to avoid Renault especially, the French make the most unreliable junk in the world.

[@motorised1]

wow no mazda

[@rajchoudhury5130]

Smash it all day. And night

[@niallconneely5645]

Ignore fifth gear buy a Toyota preferably a yaris or an aygo. Your wallet will thank you.

[@ineednochannelyoutube5384]

Toyotas dont depreciatr almost at all, and I wouldnt exactly call the yaris with 116bhp a hothatch, unless you mean the GR which costs ten times what these do.

[@niallconneely5645]

@@ineednochannelyoutube5384 They don't depreciate because they are so reliable and usually pretty safe. Yeah but a gr is out of most people's budget I'm talking a bog standard yaris aygo or corolla.

[@CZARNYEU]

Kia proceed

[@hondansx1000]

God that VRS looks boring as f*ck

[@marfrandema1884]

Disagree

[@thejasks2318]

These 3 cars are so unreliable and are money pits!!

[@olafdv]

car first Source? Oh wait, it's the internet and well just have to take your word for it.

[@dompavonschtek]

You dont need a source for an opinion but using ones head kind of negates what he just said. Its not a rule even if he is a mechanic.

[@gravemind6536]

@@olafdv Don't need a source for Renault or Mini they have always been junkers.

[@timproctor7340]

suzuki swift sport???

[@redlineracing4947]

Honda Civic FN2 Type R?

[@FenderUsa]

or even better, an EP3

[@redlineracing4947]

Oh comment that one too, I love he ep3 my all time favourite hot hatch. Best ever made idgaf what anyon says

[@donRageme]

Soon get bored of overrated Vtec though, I sold my ep3 after a month cos it was slow as fuck and sounded like a two stroke crosser.

[@FenderUsa]

@@redlineracing4947it's almost perfect, only let down by the electronic steering, LSD would be nice too but you can get that in JDM version

[@redlineracing4947]

Oh electric steering? I thought it was hydraulic, cus the steering is weighted