Family cars don't have to suck...do they???

[monkeymandg]

Well my first child has arrived and I have to finally accept that a 3 door hatch is not exactly ideal but im also not willing to be pushed into the realm of people carriers/MPV's! Please help me find a fun car that falls in between. The criteria I have come up with is:

- Budget under £5k
- 4/5 doors
- 0-60mph sub 10 secs
- 45+ mpg
- decent size boot
- fun to drive and looks good

The only options I can see so far are:

Seat Leon 150bhp FR/Cupra diesel
Alfa 156 1.9 JTD

The only concern I have with the cars above are reliability issues. So if has anybody got any other ideas or have any reviews on the cars mentioned above please let me know?

Thanks

[ewenm]

The Focus is meant to be a good drive.

[monkeymandg]

Unfortunately I do need the mpg, so bye bye Scooby's, Evo's, M3's etc

Edited by monkeymandg on Wednesday 5th January 16:00

[chrisispringles]

An E46 BMW 330d ought to fulfill those requirements.

[2 Wycked]

BMW E46 320d or a Ford Mondeo ST TDCi.

[wilbo83]

If only you didnt have 45mpg+ on that list, i would recommend an impreza which i am looking for at the moment!

With that kind of economy, i would be looking at diesel bmw or audis. Maybe an A4 S Line

[Vidal Baboon]

330d Touring.

Mondeo ST220?mpg issue.

Edited by Vidal Baboon on Wednesday 5th January 22:08

[gamefreaks]

Volvo V70 or S60 D5?

Don't think you'll quite manage 45mpg though.

[hornetrider]

Vidal Baboon said:

330d Touring.

For 5k? Are they that cheap?

[kambites]

I don't think you'll do much better than a diesel 3-series touring or the Alfa (depending on your definition of "not boring") with those criteria.

[Vidal Baboon]

hornetrider said:

Vidal Baboon said:

330d Touring.

For 5k? Are they that cheap?

Thought they were around that now. If not, the 320d still has 160ish bhp IIRC?

[kambites]

hornetrider said:

Vidal Baboon said:

330d Touring.

For 5k? Are they that cheap?

Sounds about right for the bottom end of the market.

[g3org3y]

kambites said:

hornetrider said:

Vidal Baboon said:

330d Touring.

For 5k? Are they that cheap?

Sounds about right for the bottom end of the market.

Are these the models with the swirl flap issue?

[Patrick Bateman]

2 Wycked said:

BMW E46 320d or a Ford Mondeo ST TDCi.

Bingo.

Doubt many people would actually achieve 45mpg on a 330d though.

Swirl flaps may well be an issue but it doesn't cost that much to blank them off.

Say ~£40 for the blanking plugs + any labour if a garage is doing them.

[parapaul]

g3org3y said:

kambites said:

hornetrider said:

Vidal Baboon said:

330d Touring.

For 5k? Are they that cheap?

Sounds about right for the bottom end of the market.

Are these the models with the swirl flap issue?

320d had swirl flap problems, I think the 330d was OK.

[thinfourth2]

How big are children?

Modern ones must be fking huge, my parents managed with a hillman imp.

[Chris_w666]

Skoda Octavia VRS, quick enough, fun, spacious. May not manage 45mpg but will be better than quite a few things, won't be a diesel and the 1.8T has a decent reliabilty reputation.

[GuinnessMK]

I've had a Seat Leon TDi from new on an 07 plate, clocked up 70k without fault. Great family car without being boring like a Golf.

Serviced every 10k by my local trusted independent. Does easily the mpg you want, seats 4/5 (ours has managed 2 child seats in the back + 1 adult but only on a short trip!)

[Patrick Bateman]

parapaul said:

g3org3y said:

kambites said:

hornetrider said:

Vidal Baboon said:

330d Touring.

For 5k? Are they that cheap?

Sounds about right for the bottom end of the market.

Are these the models with the swirl flap issue?

320d had swirl flap problems, I think the 330d was OK.

The 330d had them as well, certain versions don't, can't remember if it's the autos that are without them or not- something like that anyway.

[monkeymandg]

Thanks for all your replies, i especially like... "How big are children? Modern ones must be fking huge"

Lol...my 9 mth old daughter is tiny but it's all the gear that goes with her...push chair, high chair etc. etc. and my current car's boot (C2 VTR) is no bigger then a glovebox.

Looked at Audi A4's but not many in my area coming up for decent price unless a shed load of mileage.

Im really not a fan of BMW's or more so there drivers, no offence to anyone who has posted in this thread.

Would love an Impreza but far too thirsty. I could prob stretch to 40mpg? But that prob doesnt open up many more doors.