Hi,
Ask him to try a BMW 320 or 330d. I swapped my Mk5 GTi for a E90 330d M sport and it's never missed a beat. Re-mapped, it has tremendous performance (a single re-mapp will get you around the 300bhp mark) and the economy is exceptional; in fact, i find it difficult to drop below 36mpg around town. I've seen in excess of 54mpg on long motorway journeys. It will keep with anything the best of hatchbacks can throw at it around the twisties and the chassis is full of character.