10 CHEAP Hot Hatchbacks with INSANE PERFORMANCE! (Under £2,000)

Cheap hot hatchbacks for under £2k? 0-60 in some pretty insane times? Second cars that even some lucky young drivers could get driving in? All 10 cars have solid performance and look the part - hopefully this video will inspire you to check out some for yourself. However, at £2k I'm not sure I can go much cheaper!
I hope you enjoy the video!
Bruddas (Patrons):
- Will D.
- Davidos
- Will A.
- Ethan W.
- TheGeordieTiger
- Callum W.
- Gabriele S.
- Johannes I.
- Jag H.
- Dhruv A.
Chapters
Introduction: 00:00
Ford Fiesta ST: 01:16
Alfa MiTo: 02:36
Vauxhall Corsa SRI: 03:53
BMW 120D: 05:01
Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart: 06:05
Mini Cooper S: 07:38
Peugeot 207 GTI: 08:49
Renault Clio RS: 09:57
Audi A3 TFSI: 11:00
VW Golf VR6: 12:15
Close: 13:28
Links:
Instagram - / carswithjb
Patreon - / carswithjb
Twitter - / carswithjb
Discord - / discord
Music:
Background: My (musically gifted) sister
Outro: Ship Wrek & Zookeepers - Ark [NCS Release]
Attributions/Creative Commons Content:
Ford Fiesta ST
• A Desirable Facelift F...
• 2007 Ford Fiesta ST 15...
• Fiesta ST 2007
• SteveCPT - FIESTA ST v...
Alfa Romeo MiTo Veloce
• GREY AUTOMATIC ALFA RO...
• Alfa Romeo Mito 1.4 TB...
• Alfa Romeo Mito 1.4 TB...
• Alfa Romeo MiTo 0.9 Tw...
Vauxhall Corsa SRI
• 2010/60 Vauxhall Corsa...
• 2011 Vauxhall Corsa SR...
• 2010 Vauxhall Corsa SR...
• 2010/60 Vauxhall Corsa...
BMW 120d
• 2007/57 BMW 120d M Spo...
• 2007/57 BMW 120d SE on...
• 2011 E87 BMW 120D M Sp...
Mitsubishi Colt Ralliart
• Mitsubishi Colt rallia...
• Video
• Video
• NOW SOLD Mitsubishi Co...
Mini Cooper S
• 2006 Mini Cooper "S" R...
• 2004 MINI Cooper S | C...
• 4TD89990 | 2004 Mini C...
• 2004 R53 Mini Cooper S...
Peugeot 207 GTI
• Peugeot 207 1.6 THP GT...
• 2008 Peugeot 207 Gti
• Peugeot 207 GTI 2008 Grey
• Peugeot 207 RC
• For Sale 207 Gti (Stag...
Renault Clio RS
• Renault Clio Renaultsp...
• Renault Clio Renaultsp...
• Renault CLIO 2.0 16V R...
Audi A3 TFSI S-Line
• Country Car Barford Wa...
• Country Car Barford Wa...
• Audi a3 s line 2.0 tfs...
• Video
VW Golf VR6
• VW Golf Mark 4 V6 4Mot...
• Volkswagen GOLF 2.8 V6...
• A Luxurious Volkswagen...

[@haychkhamisa07khamisa21]

Can't lie man this guy is work rate is alot good video once again as a guy that loves cars have to give u a thumbs up my guy

[@CarsWithJB]

I appreciate that!

[@jhondiick4202]

man that ford is not under 2k , where do u guys liv lmfao

[@risforracing]

When you think JB can't find 10 cheap hot hatches under 2k, he is like: ARE YOU CHALLENGING ME?

[@CarsWithJB]

Haha I had to give it a go!

[@big5th159]

We’re getting closer and closer to my budget!! I’ll keep waiting for the under £1000 vid😁😁🤝

[@dodgywheelsandropeywiring5697]

If that is your budget you may struggle with the insurance, servicing or fuel bill on a hot hatch mate. However a lot of small hatchbacks are great fun regardless of power, good luck bud.

[@jasperlawrence6240]

A fiat punto sporting might be the closest u can get to a hot hatch for under 1000. Decent cars tbf

[@pbamanley4570]

Seat Leon 2.0 and 1.9 tdi are decent shouts

[@marcustaylor670]

I recently purchased a MK4 Golf GTD PD150 supposedly with a remap and a K & N filter. Gets to 60 in close to 6 seconds, a mapped PD130 would be pretty much as quick, I paid 800 pounds for it with a years MOT but I had to buy my own wheels as the guy wanted to keep the ones on it. I've just spent about £200 upgrading the brakes with Brembo pads and discs with new fluid. Now just debating what suspension to have before I take it to a track. I bought 2 sets of wheels, a 16" VW set for £130 with a set of decent Rainsport 3's for wet tracks and winter use. A 17" aftermarket set with 2 Rainsport 3's and a pair of cheap chinese tyres all with good tread for £180. Then got a pair of part worn Bridgestone Potenza's for the track for £30. Cheap tax and does 50mpg when driven sensibly.

[@alexp8924]

Anything without an AC will be pretty hot this summer :D

[@JosephiGoebbeli]

the stubble really suits you, JB!

[@gillers94]

I’m currently looking for a second car after my AWD V70 manual daily, to use as a track car and for a trip to the Nurburgring next year and I’ve found your videos very helpful when looking for a car. Your videos are brilliant mate, very informative and you’ve sparked a lot of flames in my brain. Keep doing what your doing!

[@keeperlogger]

I love how you are developing the channel, keep grafting my man.

[@fxtblues]

Excellent vid, awesome research, great work! Again!

[@grahamsalmons2027]

Love your work! Agreed with your choices! That golf has an amazing creamy power delivery and some real mid-range punch

[@lordpetrolhead477]

The best R53 is the 2005 or 2006 JCW. Becoming very rare now and I paid £2,800 three years ago for my Cooper S, one down from the JCW. My insurance company told me they’d increased the value to £7,500 in October 2022. The factory option heated Recaro racing seats now sell for around £2,000 whilst a really top spec JCW recently sold on the FB R53 Owners Club for £14,000. The Holy Grail however is a GP1 which will go for around £30k with around 60k on the clock. Any R53 for under £2k these days will need a bit of work doing to it.

[@gghhhjjjhr677f]

Yeah no idea how people can justify paying for the GP1. I own a R56 JCW and I prefer the build quality of the R56 but R53 have bullet proof engines. But I hate the SC whine on them. My R56 is luckily the N18 engine and i service it myself. But again teh GP2 is stupid money for the same car with no rear seats

[@markalan2064]

Great views! A really well presented video!

[@zenvij2636]

I’ve been watching for so long and didn’t even realise I’m not subbed, big love my guy, I’ve been looking for a new car for a while now so this gave me some good ideas

[@adiliqbal2623]

Watched you for along time mate keep it up 👍

[@DANIEL-ce3pq]

Great video as always. A lot of new cars here to consider for my next car.

[@williamdawber1945]

Damn. You gonna be at 100K real quick! Bout time you get the recognition you deserve!

[@fergcrichton8058]

That colt ralliart on autotrader is mine 😂👍 been such an awesome car and sad to be getting rid. Great video JB

[@coripu]

Another good vid man, keep them coming

[@JJonCars]

How did I not know that the Corsa and Grande Punto were developed together?! Great vid.

[@philkirk2806]

Excellent as always spawns conversation ... Thanks chap

[@delts9444]

I’ve been refreshing your channel for the last week thanks!!!!

[@CarsWithJB]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@joelpethick3406]

I have a 2005 fiesta ST150 I bought in march with FSH and 120k miles for £1850. I'd fully recommend but if you're going for a high miler check clutch biting point and for gearbox whines/crunching but trust me, the 2L N/A engine is an absolute laugh. Great vid!

[@Saj123]

woah i last watvhed u at 15k subs nw ur at almost 100k respect the grind n i got alot of catchin up to do

[@k88kee]

Love these vids!

[@MrSERIOUSSTAR]

i fully respect your channel & content keep going

[@ethan_59]

I love mk4 golf's and the vr6 is a dream. Nice set of coilovers and a good exhaust and they are beautiful cars

[@jackcrosland4278]

Great effort on this video mate 👌

[@carlbrown2123]

Fair play JB nicely done my man

[@stoneisland6789]

Always really enjoy your vids, just bought a 2015 Megan 3 rs 265

[@martsec9330]

Excellent video

[@Mrjoboo1]

Love the cheap car vids!

[@intial_j4611]

This is the video I have been waiting for

[@CarsWithJB]

Hopefully it’s useful 👀

[@martsec9330]

I've been waiting even longer

[@dngautomotive1939]

First time watcher / subscriber. Good informative video. Some I’d never of considered myself. I know it’s not a hatch but I’m surprised you didn’t put Mk1 Audi TT 1.8 turbo in there. For cars now 20yrs+ old they’re amazing to drive still. They have aged very well too, still look sharp. The winner of the group is the Mini 1.6 supercharged. Best fun road / track car for money. You can easily find ones below 100k miles for very little money. Can you do a video on convertibles below £6k

[@CarsWithJB]

I’ve included the 225 BAM TT in a few previous vids - definitely a great consideration!

[@rebel099tl]

Back when I looked at them the most bonkers thing about the 1.6 turbo Cora’s SRi was that I got cheaper insurance quotes than on an NA 1.2. Also, having owned 2 207 GTi’s, the stiff suspension was to make up for how bloody heavy the nose was, which gives them a tendency to understeer like crazy.

[@adacy6199]

NOICE ONE MATE, KEEP UP THE GOOD VIDZ MAAAyTE

[@craigroyce4472]

very good content keep it up! nice to see my car on the list however i did get the a3 2.0 tfsi quattro for just under 2k with fairly low miles keep the faith guys if u fancy one mines been solid as a rock cant see how u can get much more car for the money

[@CarsWithJB]

Very decent car indeed for the cash!

[@Richard-Bullock]

I know it would be virtually impossible to get a decent hot hatch for around £1k. But a video about good cars around that price point would be interesting.

[@disobeytoday4685]

I paid £1,300 for a 2003 Toyota Corolla T-sport, with service history and 90,000 miles.

[@jamesroberts2503]

Nice video

[@RG-gg5ye]

Going to be hard pushed finding a clio RS under 2k now. They’ve shot up in price! The Mk4 has went up to like 9-10k from 7-8 a few weeks ago 😂 I’d change clio RS for the Twingo RS. The lesser known little brother of the clio. Bit underpowered IMO but hilarious fun to drive

[@starcrash1750]

Just waiting for the Polo MK5 GTI to be in the list 😍

[@alternativeperception6949]

Crazy because it doesn't seem that long ago these were all very expensive cars . Always liked the Clio 182's 👍

[@achilleconte4385]

Good video as always! Next one "best sportscar for less than 500£" 🤣

[@antonsodergren8722]

Please make a video of cars that can gain a lot of power with a chip tune. Love your videos!!!!

[@exgtt2061]

Clio 1*2's are £££ at the moment, like a year ago you could get a tidy one for under £1500. The Mini is a good shout and cheaper than the Clios

[@xa-xii1316]

golden video

[@mwk221TopG]

thank you JB

[@harriball7862]

The colt ralliart/czt getting some love!

[@gavinwilkes3702]

Your bang on the money with the mk4 4 motion by v6 I had 2 in the past and there a great reliable golf with a couple of mods driver very well keep up the good work. 👍

[@covingtonrace1]

I know 2 people that had them and had every problem listed online, overheat, head gaskets, impossible to work on, the suspension was like butter inn a sock, sounded great but i had to give a lot of lifts because it broke dow all the time, they carried water everywhere and topped up everyday because the repair would cost more than the car.

[@aquilinorodrigo]

I love the 207 GTi😍

[@dinartesoares13]

Hey love your channel. Any chance you could do a review on the proton gen-2?

[@alexp8924]

Just remember that a 15+ years old engine won't pump out the same 0-60 number as a new one.

[@nossilfossil3108]

Passed my test! Using the tips I got my car from £2200 to £1200 for insurance without a black box!

[@yankee2yankee216]

The Alfa Mito is one I wish we had here in the US... such a pretty car!

[@Sunstepa]

Yes it is. ❣️

[@chubbsmasterson]

Clio 182, owned one and is one of the best hot hatches for sure. Now as a Mini R56 Cooper S owner... AVOID AVOID AVOID. R53 is much hardier, the R56 is a nice driving machine but a dog of an engine for reliability. 2k plus of repair bills after having an engine rebuild for only 4k miles of driving. Sadly Clio 182s are beyond the 2k mark for a decent one.

[@thomasweddell2116]

Could you please do a video on cheap fast estates for under £3,000 JB. Cheers

[@gilles4588]

C30 CDI AMG, stock 540NM

[@yahyasajid5113]

@@gilles4588 under 3k?

[@benmcdonald5277]

Could you do a list for second or third cars for younger drivers (20 ish) that are under 20k? Loving the stuff ❤️

[@disobeytoday4685]

What f*cling job have you got?

[@subby4226]

The swift sport would've been a great addition

[@lordsummerisle852]

I had one. Lovely car. Handled amazingly. Just could've done with another 30 or 40 hp. If it was just a bit quicker it would be perfect

[@vwcorrado916]

If you do buy the r53 mini cooper s just know that by adding a smaller pulley to the supercharger you need to upgrade your clutch asap! The clutch will start to slip !!

[@iamburko]

Absolutely not. 1320 ran a standard clutch on their drag monster.

[@jasperkemp6876]

Can you do a list video of your personal favourite cars it would be really interesting maybe under a certain budget or your dream cars?

[@MrSluby]

Surely some form of 20v turbo car would fit in this category easily ? Can get a mk1 Octavia vrs for well under 2k and has a lot of tuning potential

[@Tbiddz1]

A mk1 fabia is a option to. Loved mine to bits

[@daboi6714]

CMON YOU ALMOST HAVE 100K SUBSCRIBERS 🥳

[@ash2730]

Could you do a video on best classic first cars? Like a MK1 GTI for example

[@CarsWithJB]

Yeah it’s been on my list for a long time!

[@TheGeordieTiger]

Black XR2i was my dream first car, but ended up getting a red 1.1LX instead. Loved it! Can't go wrong with the Fiesty!

[@TheHermeticHobo]

I've currently got a Lancia Delta HF Turbo. Insurance was only £1400 a year without a black box and I'm 18. Off the top of my head, other cars I looked at which gave me cheap quotes (under £1500) were the MK1 MX5, the MGB GT, the Triumph GT6, and the first generation Toyota MR2.

[@archiebrown6407]

That mini ;)

[@garrytheninja5404]

One thing the fiesta, you said it was based on a mk5 but it’s a mk6.5 body shape, other than that great video as usual

[@CarsWithJB]

My bad - I think it's the 5th gen fiesta or I may be wrong? never can tell with fiestas!

[@VexxedSR]

No mention of the Citroen Saxo VTR? Especially those before 2003 that had no esc or abs. Might not be the fastest hatch out there but for corners and fun it beats all.

[@disobeytoday4685]

Maybe that's because it's impossible to find one

[@alfaguy1554]

I have a mito 155 t jet 109k miles, never missed a beat, and the 0-60 2 up is 6.4, it does it time and time again without fail

[@TheRealD4]

Love the examples at £1500 or £2000... some you just know will have major faults hidden or not at that price!! Cmon video title should be "Gambling £2000 on a Hot Hatch" :D

[@davidlukey5189]

Ah a video for us mere mortals 👌 I'm thinking of getting an S3 8l when I decide to sell my MX5, or perhaps a Mk1 Skoda Octavia VRS. Thoughts? Great vid again btw.

[@teeejaayhtc94]

S3 all day will only go up in value also great engine

[@bilaltariq7819]

@@teeejaayhtc94 go up in value 🤣🤣

[@ginj4ninj4180]

was looking at exactly that 182 just yesterday! Really want to pick one up, but dont start my grad job till September!

[@darthwiizius]

Just do it if you can, I've owned mine now for 8 years and it's the funnest little car I've ever driven, not perfect but really lovable. Same colour BTW, make sure it's got the Cup pack like the one on the video it's easy to tell as the alloys were part of the option. Mind you most did get the pack because Renault only charged £200 for the upgraded alloys, tires and suspension effectively giving them away as dealers would throw them in free if pushed.

[@sidewaysstar2613]

Hot hatches are nice, but for 2k it's hard to overlook NA or NB mx5

[@cammymillard7385]

*sad british insurance noises" chances are, if youre after a hatch, youre a new driver

[@seancorrigan3531]

The Mx5 is the most overrated, boring car I've ever seen. Had an NB and Christ above it was dull.

[@jorgeviegas4303]

I am 19 years old and I can’t even get a quote for the VW golf 😅 but Great video, thank you once again

[@ElzChunky]

Video idea. Cheap first cars that are able to drive through clean air zones. 🙌🏼. Would help so much with knowing what cars are and aren’t.

[@mattbuckland4302]

Good list mate, the ST looked great

[@daveholmes8243]

Another great vid. 👍🤜🤛 If you ever wanna review a merc W203 C200 cdi, get in touch you can take mine out for a run.

[@GirthFX]

i picked a 116i se over a 120d m sport because the 116i had blacked m sport wheels... something that I highly regret when I'm getting slapped by the corsa's ;-;

[@mikep6726]

I have an A3 in the spec on this video. Absolute screamer of a car, equivalent to the MKIV GTI

[@Keyboardbeatz]

I got a mini cooper 1.6 (116bhp) for 1k....I only use it in the city, great handling and enough power to be fun

[@MRMEGABIGWILL]

Me too. For 1k as well. Love it. Only issue is mines an 06 model with only 5 gears. Definitely fun in the urban environment. I'm looking at a coupe or roadster next.

[@abz.c]

bro can you do an updated vid on best first cars under 1k with cheap insurance please!!!

[@marcustaylor670]

How about cars you can buy for around a grand and turn into hot hatches for 500 to 1000 more? I got a remaped MK4 Golf GTD PD150 for 800 this year and in 2019 I bought a E46 BMW 330 CD for 900. Both quick and capable with a bit of money spent on them.

[@CarsWithJB]

Yes definitely possible to do - I’ll have a think!

[@k88kee]

Shame the 2nd hand market has gone nuts recently so all these cars have pretty much doubled in price

[@GarryMcGovern]

Young drivers have absolutely no idea how good they have it! To have ANY of these available in this budget 30 years ago when I passed my test would have been beyond dreams! Ya gotta remember, the finest, most lust-worthy 'hot hatches' on the road back then were lucky to make 120bhp (205 GTi's, R5 Turbos, Golf GTI's, XR3i's, etc.) and cost the equivalent of around £30k+ now!!! My first car was a 1981 VW Golf diesel with about 50bhp..... an absolute hideous bag of sh1t€ - but at 17, it's value to me was priceless!! 😉

[@disobeytoday4685]

I disagree with you. I'd give anything to drive a Vauxhall Nova 😂

[@splat668]

The mini has to be goated, something about that car feels alive when you drive it

[@aarongrisham5555]

And faster than a GTI

[@splat668]

@@aarongrisham5555 they just handle like a go cart, years of grip

[@aarongrisham5555]

@@splat668 I agree. And they're fast. My JCW is just unbelievable. Couldn't imagine anything else

[@Keyboardbeatz]

Sick cars, amazing grip and easy to oversteer...feels grown up yet fun

[@simonfearing4907]

What about top 5-10 cars that are best for tuning?

[@isoconfused8744]

I bought a Astra SRI 2.0T, 197 bhp.. 77k miles for £1250. I can swap the turbo, MAF, and injectors and clutch off a VXR and I have a VXR performance car. A VXR on 77k would be around £5000... I can then add a FMIC, Stainless exhaust, and intake and remap to over 300bhp

[@zubairsiddique9058]

Please do best first cars under £5000 that are ulez compliant.

[@eddiedavis9222]

Can you make a video on most spacious first cars that are cheap( cheap insurance, tax), spacious in passenger space and boot space please

[@vladimirart758]

Please write me it is mito automatic gearbox reliable, cuz I have leg problem and in the last 4 years I drive only automatic transmission cars 😩

[@jasiahkw9726]

Do a top ten project cars for under 5k and what mods u would look to do to it

[@CB-gg1sg]

My first/ current car is a vw polo 6n I bought it for £200 it needed a few minor parts and an mot so in total I spent around £300 now the car it’s self is fairly slow and dull, however with cheap and easy modifications it now does 0-60 in under 9 seconds and In total I have spent around £600 and it’s a car I can say is my own, that’s my cheap hot hatch story.

[@disobeytoday4685]

For the time ever, I can say this and truly mean it: Cool story, bro

[@greggyboy86]

Good list but what about the little Citroen C2 VTS. 125hp per ton (it weighs 1 ton) and well under £2k. A pretty accessible hottish hatch atm.

[@The_journeyy]

The hottest hatches of all time 🤣

[@willpark7483]

3:59 i had a corsa d sri just like that..... but with the 1.7 diesel engine, it flew with 206lb/ft until it was written off 10 days after purchase and 6 hours after a rebuild of the notorious m32 gearbox 😳 fyi the m32 gearbox is in all higher powered Vauxhalls of that era ( VXR included) so be VERY weary as they are almost guaranteed to go wrong at 70-90k miles

[@willpark7483]

@@deividasnavickas Yeah thats it, i had the bearings done. its on a few alfas and fiats of that era.

[@yaturbochargedguy3307]

Could you do a cars under 10K that are going up in value? (Future Classics)

[@georgeleelee6246]

Hi m8 any chance doing a video on what cars would be able to run on the new petrol and the cars are not able to run on the new petrol this year cheers m8

[@TypicalBambi]

why did you not include the first gen Seat Cupra? Or something else with a 1.8T engine in it?

[@Ztxk94]

think he’s trying to consider insurance too

[@Feltfx]

You missed the Suzuki Swift Sport!!! They use that car round Nurburgring for a reason yo!!

[@michaeladgo]

The mk4 golf handled like a boat

[@neilwalsh4058]

A good watch, pretty predictable choices but the Mitsubishi and Mito were good inclusions. Where was the MG ZR160 tho? Quicker than most on that list.

[@jonxst150]

Yeahhh🤪🤪

[@LA-og5vj]

I have an Audi A3 2.0 TFSI Quattro. It is expensive to insure as a first car but with s line trim level and a Bose sound system it looks the part. Also stage 1 remap puts you at a similar power output to an S3 and with £500 worth of mods you can achieve over 300bhp.

[@delts9444]

How reliable is it and how many miles do these usually get to?

[@LA-og5vj]

@@delts9444 I usually get about 340-380 miles out of a tank. But for city miles 250-280 is more realistic. It is a reliable car generally provided the timing belt has been changed as these can be problematic on 2.0 tfsi engines. One thing to note Quattro adds anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5k to the price and 5 door Quattros start at £4000.

[@thesollys9540]

@@LA-og5vj I have the 3.2 VR6 A3, with S3 rims and wheels...Love the sound, gives me a grin every time I drive it.

[@BeryProduction]

Alfa Mito cheapest in my country ( CZE ) is 2 688gbp. UK has great prices