Suggestions - fun, 4 seats and child friendly!
Discussion
Time for another 'what car' thread as there doesn't seem to be one yet today! Forgive the preamble but it has purpose.
I've changed job (still in 6 month probation tho), now with a lovely 4 mile commute down country lanes and any business use will be a hire car (company policy) so I don't need a frugal diesel and thinking of changing once I'm out of the probation period early next year.
I currently have a Honda CRV 2.2 derv in old 4wd format, not the rubbish new thing. I also have an MG Midget that is about to return to the road with a 1.4 kseries and 5 speed box. A nice PH mix of frugality, practicality and fun. But if I'm honest won't get much chance to use the Midget as I'll either be:
A) collecting child and friends from nursery/school as part of the commute;
B) driving to see family (rather nicely all the other side of the pennines) with OH and young lad.
In both cases I'll need 3 seats.
SWMBO has deemed that the Midget is a 1970s deathtrap and if I'm honest I agree, and given the general standard of driving I'd like something a little more visible to the C4 Picasso / Mitsi Warrior / White Van driver playing on their phone.
So I'm considering selling both cars and getting something fun for the times I can enjoy it with a vague air of practicality and as a minimum 4 seats that you can put a child seat in 2 of if necessary.
To give an idea of the kind of thing current ones I'm considering are:
GT86,
Civic Type R,
Mustang, (RS before anyone suggests does absolutely nothing for me as its too bland looking)
TVR Cerbera (are child seats available?)
Budget is around 10K-30K depending on how much I want it and loads of other factors. It doesn't have to be new but I don't want something that will easily throw a £10k bill at me (Maserati 3200 GT I'm looking at you) or is unsafe for little ones if a eastern european lorry punts the car into a field. The primary reason for changing the car is more fun than a diesel suv so something numb and silly fast is pointless as I rarely get above 60mph. Suggestions please!
I've changed job (still in 6 month probation tho), now with a lovely 4 mile commute down country lanes and any business use will be a hire car (company policy) so I don't need a frugal diesel and thinking of changing once I'm out of the probation period early next year.
I currently have a Honda CRV 2.2 derv in old 4wd format, not the rubbish new thing. I also have an MG Midget that is about to return to the road with a 1.4 kseries and 5 speed box. A nice PH mix of frugality, practicality and fun. But if I'm honest won't get much chance to use the Midget as I'll either be:
A) collecting child and friends from nursery/school as part of the commute;
B) driving to see family (rather nicely all the other side of the pennines) with OH and young lad.
In both cases I'll need 3 seats.
SWMBO has deemed that the Midget is a 1970s deathtrap and if I'm honest I agree, and given the general standard of driving I'd like something a little more visible to the C4 Picasso / Mitsi Warrior / White Van driver playing on their phone.
So I'm considering selling both cars and getting something fun for the times I can enjoy it with a vague air of practicality and as a minimum 4 seats that you can put a child seat in 2 of if necessary.
To give an idea of the kind of thing current ones I'm considering are:
GT86,
Civic Type R,
Mustang, (RS before anyone suggests does absolutely nothing for me as its too bland looking)
TVR Cerbera (are child seats available?)
Budget is around 10K-30K depending on how much I want it and loads of other factors. It doesn't have to be new but I don't want something that will easily throw a £10k bill at me (Maserati 3200 GT I'm looking at you) or is unsafe for little ones if a eastern european lorry punts the car into a field. The primary reason for changing the car is more fun than a diesel suv so something numb and silly fast is pointless as I rarely get above 60mph. Suggestions please!
One answer Renault Megane RS250-275 depending on budget the best hoth hatch for a long time it still beat all newcomers despite being discontinued this year.
RS250
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
RS265
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
RS275 Trophy
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
RS250
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
RS265
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
RS275 Trophy
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...
not sure I would want to run a cerbera for a 4 mile commute - unless you go the long way every day. also i am not sure you would get 2 car seats in.
the gt86 is pretty tight in the back too, may not accomodate 2 seats, there is practically no room between the seats
RX8 would probably fit you all in. but as mentioned further up 924/944 might be a good option.
I had a rented mustang with 2 child seats whilst on hols once so that might suit also
the gt86 is pretty tight in the back too, may not accomodate 2 seats, there is practically no room between the seats
RX8 would probably fit you all in. but as mentioned further up 924/944 might be a good option.
I had a rented mustang with 2 child seats whilst on hols once so that might suit also
sawman said:
not sure I would want to run a cerbera for a 4 mile commute - unless you go the long way every day. also i am not sure you would get 2 car seats in.
Any particular reason why not use one for a 4 mile commute? It's down 30/40/50/60 mph country lanes, I'd only be sitting in town traffic at 1 junction.I've never been taken by the 928 looks, the 924/944 would seem a bit of a missed opportunity for something more interesting.
A flavour of 911 would be nice but the prices are getting silly now and they're as equally challenged in the back if not more than a GT86. The GT86 I'd agree is too small in the back, the main reason it wasn't a dead certainty as it ticks all other boxes.
An RX8 would be nice but do they still have the stop/start issues with overfuelling? A friend had one years ago and I remember it clearly being unable to start after he moved it from the road to his driveway or vice versa.
I 'test drove' a CTR at the weekend, although the Honda dealer was a pathetically dis-organised mess and would only let me have a 5 minute drive up a 40mph dual carriageway despite me organising it with them a week in advance. Definitely not enough to get good feel for it. Nothing wrong with the car at all, I quite liked it what I saw but the whole experience really put me off buying a Honda as they're the nearest dealer by quite some margin and I'd hate to be having to put up with that kind of hassle every time it needed a service, or god forbid a warranty issue.
renrut said:
Any particular reason why not use one for a 4 mile commute? It's down 30/40/50/60 mph country lanes, I'd only be sitting in town traffic at 1 junction.
.
its going to struggle to get warmed up fully in that distance, which from reading about cerbs in the past is not a good recipe for trouble free motoring. might be worth posing the question over with the tvr lads (as I have never been brave enough to take the plunge!) with regards car seats in cerbs, TVR did a purpose made one, some recaro car seats also fit, I think for 2 carseats you would need one in the front and one in the back - I dont think the drivers seat is far enough forward to fit one behind it..
A TVR is still on my wish list - I found this forum researching a possible cerbera purchase over 10 years ago - still haven't got around to it!
Generally, I'd say 4 miles is a less than ideal regular journey. Many cars will not have warmed the water to normal temp before you turn it off again, and I'd guess most won't have engine oil warmed and surely none will have warmed the oil in g/box or diff (if it has one).
I don't know if this is long enough for the cats and exhaust to get warned up and clear the water vapour.
I'd say that the wear and tear on the mechanical parts will be far higher than the 8 miles /day might suggest, so look for a car with a reputation for tough engineering and longevity. As a TVR fan and previous owner, I wouldn't say this was a TVR strong point.
I don't know if this is long enough for the cats and exhaust to get warned up and clear the water vapour.
I'd say that the wear and tear on the mechanical parts will be far higher than the 8 miles /day might suggest, so look for a car with a reputation for tough engineering and longevity. As a TVR fan and previous owner, I wouldn't say this was a TVR strong point.
I have a BRZ and a Golf R Estate.
Think of a GT86/BRZ as a 3 seater. A child sitting behind a front seat passenger will both be fairly comfortably, but behind the driver, they will have to cross their legs (unless the driver is very short!).
Obviously there is no problem getting kids in the Golf.
Think of a GT86/BRZ as a 3 seater. A child sitting behind a front seat passenger will both be fairly comfortably, but behind the driver, they will have to cross their legs (unless the driver is very short!).
Obviously there is no problem getting kids in the Golf.
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