Family cars - fun v's practicality?

[Mr Scruff]

I need to sort out a family car as Mrs Scruff wants to downsize her current SUV thingy and I'm struggling - looking for some input from the PH mind.

Criteria:

Up to £12k (ideally under £10k)
Petrol - non negotiable
4+ doors
Reliable
Ideally some toys - heated seats are high in the list
Decent enough performance so I don't begrudge driving it.

Had a Subaru Impreza in the past and looking for something a little more luxurious than that. Also prefer something that doesn't have heart-stopping MPG and VED figures!

Short list is pretty short right now! A5 4-door, mk6 Golf GTi, 5 door A3. What am I missing??

[Pints]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&a...

The new sub-section for just such a question.

[p1stonhead]

E90 330i? Maybe a 335i is within budget?

Even better if you can get a touring.

[g7jhp]

Golf GTI Mk5 Edition 30 or Skoda Octavia vRS

[Mr Scruff]

No idea this sub-forum even existed!

335i - worried about turbo issues?

VRS I wasn't taken with the interior but agree, needs another look. Ed30 I've looked at and are nice, are they worth the premium over a standard Mk5 though?

[V8RX7]

1, 3 or 5 series would be my starting point.

[Mr Scruff]

Not very impressed with the current BMW line up, just seems a bit underwhelming.

Audi A5 2.0 TFSI.

Would I get annoyed with just 3 door? And does anyone ever get used to the offset pedals...?

[Pints]

Mr Scruff said:

Not very impressed with the current BMW line up, just seems a bit underwhelming.

I discovered this morning that the new 318i is a 3 cylinder, 1.5L engine.

[manracer]

Mr Scruff said:

No idea this sub-forum even existed!

335i - worried about turbo issues?

VRS I wasn't taken with the interior but agree, needs another look. Ed30 I've looked at and are nice, are they worth the premium over a standard Mk5 though?

Yes because they tune straight to 310bhp+. So for about £250 your going seriously quick, mine was quicker through the DSG gears than a mk7 R. Still look good. Decent tyres and some s3 brakes and it's very much a sleeper.

Edited by manracer on Friday 9th September 09:55

[Belle427]

As a new father I struggle to comprehend what we have to take on our travels, especially short family visits and uk holidays etc!
My clothing allowance usually results in a bag for life while the missus and the daughter get a suitcase!
I have an older b5 Passat estate for these duties and find it great, lots of room for everything.
In reality you could probably manage with something golf sized and 5 door but personally I would never go back, and much prefer the practical aspect of the estate.
I'd love an smax but the missus hates them!

[Mr Scruff]

Belle427 said:

As a new father I struggle to comprehend what we have to take on our travels, especially short family visits and uk holidays etc!
My clothing allowance usually results in a bag for life while the missus and the daughter get a suitcase!
I have an older b5 Passat estate for these duties and find it great, lots of room for everything.
In reality you could probably manage with something golf sized and 5 door but personally I would never go back, and much prefer the practical aspect of the estate.
I'd love an smax but the missus hates them!

Problem is the only estate that really appeals is the 3 series - but my boss has one and getting a higher spec version of the same car doesn't go down well in my company.

Thankfully my son is now 4, so he doesn't need anywhere near as much stuff - so long as we can get a bike rack on then he's happy!

manracer said:

Yes because they tune straight to 310bhp+. So for about £250 your going seriously quick, mine was quicker through the DSG gears than a mk7 R. Still look good. Decent tyres and some s3 brakes and it's very much a sleeper.

Just not sure of the need when it comes to a second car? I can see the appeal but I get my thrills from the Porsche.

Hmm, decisions decisions...

[manracer]

Mr Scruff said:

Belle427 said:

As a new father I struggle to comprehend what we have to take on our travels, especially short family visits and uk holidays etc!
My clothing allowance usually results in a bag for life while the missus and the daughter get a suitcase!
I have an older b5 Passat estate for these duties and find it great, lots of room for everything.
In reality you could probably manage with something golf sized and 5 door but personally I would never go back, and much prefer the practical aspect of the estate.
I'd love an smax but the missus hates them!

Problem is the only estate that really appeals is the 3 series - but my boss has one and getting a higher spec version of the same car doesn't go down well in my company.

Thankfully my son is now 4, so he doesn't need anywhere near as much stuff - so long as we can get a bike rack on then he's happy!

manracer said:

Yes because they tune straight to 310bhp+. So for about £250 your going seriously quick, mine was quicker through the DSG gears than a mk7 R. Still look good. Decent tyres and some s3 brakes and it's very much a sleeper.

Just not sure of the need when it comes to a second car? I can see the appeal but I get my thrills from the Porsche.

Hmm, decisions decisions...

Yeah I get that, but it's so intoxicating, and for £250 a bargain but I guess it's not quite in your remit.

[b19rak]

An Octavia vRS hatchback is a brilliant tick all boxes car. I had a brand new one in 2012 which I kept for 18 months. Comfortable, quick, all the toys you need and the bonus... A starship enterprise boot. Honestly, if you want a car that does everything well, you can't beat it. I still really miss having the boot. It could swallow up anything you throw at it.

[ZX10R NIN]

Mr Scruff said:

I need to sort out a family car as Mrs Scruff wants to downsize her current SUV thingy and I'm struggling - looking for some input from the PH mind.

Criteria:

Up to £12k (ideally under £10k)
Petrol - non negotiable
4+ doors
Reliable
Ideally some toys - heated seats are high in the list
Decent enough performance so I don't begrudge driving it.

Had a Subaru Impreza in the past and looking for something a little more luxurious than that. Also prefer something that doesn't have heart-stopping MPG and VED figures!

Short list is pretty short right now! A5 4-door, mk6 Golf GTi, 5 door A3. What am I missing??

I'd say you're missing the Mondeo Titanium X Sport 240bhp a good steer & the kit list is comprehensive Heated/Air Cooled seats Keyless entry/start Adaptive Cruise DAB Xenons Heated Windscreen etc for under 10k

50k on the clock
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

or for under 12k with the same spec but 21k on the clock

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[Mr Scruff]

Octavia I've taken a good look at actually, I'm not 100% sold on the interiors but could potentially look past that. Seem like good value for money too.

Now, the Mondeo is a very interesting proposition - I can across a couple on my AutoTrader trawls but I know nothing about them. The aforementioned SUV thing is a Kuga which, while not quite to my tastes, has proved itself to be very capable.

What's that gearbox like?

[ZX10R NIN]

The gearbox is good on the Mondeo but with the mileage on both links I'd get the fluid changed but I'd say that with any auto, Driving wise imo they're a better steer than the Skoda & nicer inside take one out for a test drive & see if you like them.

[wsn03]

Belle427 said:

As a new father I struggle to comprehend what we have to take on our travels, especially short family visits and uk holidays etc!
My clothing allowance usually results in a bag for life while the missus and the daughter get a suitcase!
I have an older b5 Passat estate for these duties and find it great, lots of room for everything.
In reality you could probably manage with something golf sized and 5 door but personally I would never go back, and much prefer the practical aspect of the estate.

I'm a convert too. I drive a 2002 530i Sport BMW Champagne M Tech, but the growing family issue has led to a Passat Estate 2010 as a daily drive and long distance family mover. The missus threatened me with divorce if I bought it, but unfortunately didn't go ahead with that promise, and now admits its the best thing we've ever bought.

It is pretty boring, but I could honestly live in it, comfort is off the scale (those seats are amazing), pulls like a train (don't knock modern diesels, really impressive, and I was 'petrol til I die'), and mine is the Highline so has all the toys. I've kept the BMW as a toy now.
Next year the toy collection will grow to include an XKR, however I'm still thinking I'd be happy to do the Le Mans trip in the Passat. I spoke to an owner of one on my way back from SPA WEC, just before I bought mine - he does 12 hour trips in his, I didn't get his love for it, but I do now.

Edited by wsn03 on Tuesday 13th September 10:21

Edited by wsn03 on Tuesday 13th September 10:23

[skinnyman]

I had a similar problem when I got my last car. I still wanted something quick, interesting, with all the toys, but having just had a baby we needed the space too (The EP3 just wasn't cutting the mustard), I ended up in a Focus ST estate. Admittedly mine was new, but the pfl's are around your budget now, although I realise Fords are not everyones cup of tea. I looked at the usual VW/Seat/Audi offerings, but nothing touched the equipment level of the Ford for the money.

Now I'm going the opposite way to you, and looking at SUVs next, I like the Ford Edge, but not sure I can justify that price tag