Renaultsport Megane (2009 – 2011)
The Renaultsport Megane is a genuine French hot hatch legend – it has held many a lap record in its time, thanks to handling that can only be described as legendary.
Available in more pedestrian forms or hardcore ‘Cup’ and ‘Trophy’ variants, there’s a Megane RS to suit every kind of driver – as well as every budget.
We’re talking serious future classic value on some of these, so opting to pay £10k now for a tidy and desirable model could net you a handy profit down the line.
Suzuki Swift Sport (2012 – 2017)
Suzuki’s Swift Sport was the last of a breed in its previous generation — offering a back-to-basics naturally aspirated engine paired up to a bolt-action-like six-speed manual gearbox.
A new, turbocharged machine now joins the firm’s line-up — but the outgoing machine presents itself as a compelling option for any hot hatch enthusiast. Although not the most powerful, with ‘only’ 128bhp from its 1.6-litre four-cylinder unit, it excels on tighter roads — thanks to a lightweight chassis with a playful character.
Well-kept examples can be had comfortably under 10k, and also offer bags of equipment such as cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity and keyless go. Expect even more to flood the market as owners switch to the new-generation model that arrived in 2018.
