Looking for three nice occasions for a maximum of € 12,000

With 12 grand in our pocket, we are looking for a coupe from the so-called C-segment. These are often derived from house, garden and kitchen cars, so that the technology is not too exotic and the operating costs can therefore be kept under control. We would like an occasion with a Bovag warranty, because you never know how sporty the previous owner(s) have been with their exciting four-wheeler…

Which occasion has the best match with our tracksuit?

Volkswagen Scirocco 1.4TSI (122 hp) – 2009 – 95,324 kilometers – €11,750

This Volkswagen Scirocco is available for €11,750 in Leende in Brabant. With its bright red paint and large 19” wheels, modesty is strange to him, but make no mistake: under the hood, the 122 hp 1.4TSI base engine simply hums. Maybe that’s better, because the next power source is the infamous 160 hp power source with turbo and compressor. It’s better to leave it alone (stretched timing chains, broken pistons, high oil consumption). Or take a copy of which the engine has already been overhauled. Another possibility is to increase your budget, because since 2014 the reliability has improved greatly. You are then stuck with an import model, since only the prefacelift model (up to and including 2013) has been delivered in our country. Incidentally, our fashion model has also been imported. Especially with cars ex-Germany you have to be careful because of possibly rolled back counters, but the overall condition of this ’09-er is neat (it has not run a ton yet), the enclosed maintenance booklets are neatly stamped and moreover, this occasion is not away without a Bovag guarantee. All in all, we would dare to buy this Scirocco.

Then what do we get? Compared to an Opel Astra GTC and a Renault Mégane Coupé, such a Scirocco is more than a flattened three-door Golf: it is wider on the wheels, looks meaner at the world and the back is nice and thick. And where the Golf is everyone’s friend with its driving characteristics, this Scirocco looks just a bit more playful thanks to its sports suspension and limited slip differential. Except for the sports seats, the interior differs little from its more well-behaved relative, but you can live with that. ‘In’ for a Scirocco, but are you a mileage eater? Don’t worry, it was also available with 2.0 TDI machines of 140 and 170 hp. But you don’t seem to be allowed to say that these days. Something about a smoke-free generation…

Signaling

Brand Volkswagen

Type Scirocco 1.4 TSI

Construction year February 2009

Mileage 95,324

Asking price €11,750

Where to buy? Car company Van Mensvoort, Leende

The specifications of this Scirocco 1.4 TSI 122 hp can be found here.

Hyundai Veloster 1.6GDI i-Vision (140 hp) – 2013 – 76,941 kilometers – €10,960

You might not say it, but the good Hyundai has had coupes in its range for decades. This started in 1990 with the Scoupé and ended in 2014 with the not very successful Veloster. Such a South Korean can then be a tip for the used car seeker, because unknown makes unloved and therefore attractive in terms of price. Just look at this orange/copper-colored copy that is waiting for a new owner in Ulestraten, Limburg. This Hyundai Veloster is four years younger than the Scirocco, has a lower mileage and is still cheaper!

In addition, the 140 hp, direct injection 1.6GDI block is known as more reliable than the VW-TSI. In short: such a peculiar sports coupe should not be missing from your shortlist. But why strange? Well, it has two doors on the right and only one on the left! This can be a godsend for those who regularly transport passengers or items in the back seat. But you have to love its asymmetrical appearance. What you also have to get used to is the more good-natured character than what the German displays. The steering is quite light – perhaps too light for such a sports enthusiast. The same applies to the reasonably soft-tuned chassis. Of course, it is no fun if you have to buy new kidneys after every ride, but the sporty expectations that the compact coupe propagates do not quite come true. Also because you have to keep the atmospheric block up to speed to keep the momentum going.

This makes the Veloster seem to be a more rational choice, but with an electrically operated panoramic roof, among other things, it still manages to pack you in nicely. And the younger year of construction comes, among other things, in it lane-departure warningsystem expressed. All in all, the picture emerges of a reasonably versatile coupe that on the one hand has an excellent price/performance ratio, but whose expected sporty features remain somewhat underexposed.

Signaling

Brand Hyundai

Type Veloster 1.6GDI i-Vision

Construction year February 2013

Mileage 76,941

Asking price €10,960

Where to buy? Jos Kallen Cars, Ulestraten

You can find the specifications of this Hyundai Veloster here.

Peugeot RCZ (156 hp) – 2012 – 113,435 kilometers – €11,445

What applies to the first generation of TSI engines also applies to the primal THP blocks that have served in various models of Peugeot, Citroën, BMW and Mini. Proper maintenance is a must, as is a fully completed maintenance booklet. Or else take an occasion with a revised engine, or one with sufficient warranty. Like this mother-of-pearl white copy.

This Peugeot RCZ is explicitly offered by the Heerenveen seller with a one-year warranty. Given the not too high mileage, we would therefore dare to purchase. And what do you get for the asking price of €11,445? To begin with, a very nice car. We don’t know anyone who doesn’t like the RCZ. The French did, however, look at the Audi TT with a slanted eye during its development. Its premium label suggests higher operating costs (just like the BMW 1-series Coupé, for example), so – if well maintained – you have the benefits and not the burdens of the appearance. Moreover, such an RCZ ages beautifully and is certainly not ordinary. Under the hood there is always a minimum of 156 hp strong block, also in the 31-TLK-5 (February 2012). His performance is clearly higher than that of his German and South Korean opponents. In addition, the engineers have given the Peugeot enough French comfort. It is not a bouncing board, but two people who travel to the south of France have a pleasant travel companion.

That makes the RCZ more of a GT than a real top athlete. Incidentally, we emphasize two people, because due to the steeply sloping roofline, there is only room for smaller children in the back. Rear passengers will undoubtedly appreciate the Scirocco and the Veloster more. Traditionally, French cars are well stocked with treats, but this occasion is not out of step with the Scirocco. The Veloster is a bit more luxurious, more modern equipped.

Signaling

Brand peugeot

Type RCZ

Construction year February 2012

Mileage 113,435

Asking price €11,445

Where to buy? Garage Van der Veen, Heerenveen

These are the specifications of this RCZ