what's it like to live with at speeds that dont threaten the licence? at 9/10 of course its going to be as lot of fun. too small inside for me to consider but am looking at the new i30n, or the focus st, 420nm will make it a nice lazy drive for the times i just want to get about.
It really depends what you are buying it for and how much you paid. I was lucky enough to get one for a test drive for nearly 3 hours. On my own. It was a lot of fun, and I have had some memorable test drives... I rate it better than the Focus RS I drove.
They are a small car, if the purpose is a daily or commuter for one or two and a track or weekend play thing then they are fine, especially if you can get one at the discounted price. If you need to travel any real distance with 2 or more passengers grab an i30N. I avoid the V word in all its incarnations but such a thing might be your choice. The only thing I don't like about the i30N is the pop and crackle from the exhaust. It is a bit fake and occurs at weird times. I like a bit of antilag but that seems over the top. Otherwise a fine car.
On the track doing sprints or short circuit work the GR is faster than the i30N, GTi Golf or Polo (is there still such an animal?) or the French options in its size or larger. But all of those would be easier to live with if the main purpose is family oriented. I tried to get my large Bronson in the back, two wheels off please.
Anyway see if you can find one and take a test drive. Being a 3 pot there is a big gap in firing strokes (compared to what you are used to) so you need to hold gears longer, and that makes it even more fun. Stock Dunlops are rubbish though.