Swapping an estate for an SUV? 2 cars to 1

[Lucas_Wxm]

So the wife and I (who has been absent from this site for quite some time!) have been pondering for the last several months about downsizing from 2 cars to 1 car. We are a family of 5, my eldest generally sits in the front whilst the wife goes in the back with the 9 and 7 year old.

My wife works from home 5 days a week and her car spends the vast majority of time decorating our drive. My car generally does my commute to work (around 3miles in total).

The wife has a 65plate Mercedes GLA220d and I have a 15 plate BMW 530D (F11) Touring. The wife's car can be sold on motorway for £2k more than what she owes on it. The 5 has plenty of room for us, and is a car I find is a great place to be even though a diesel isn't ideal for the daily driving I do.

Mine on the other hand, according to motorway, is worth around £12k. I would be in negative equity, but I'm not sure the spec of my car is taken into consideration? The first owner ticked a lot of the options boxes IMO. I have a feeling one of the only things missing is the adaptive suspension.

Now, after all that waffling, one reason I'm thinking of swapping is that our eldest, who is a very big lad for 13 (nearly 6ft 2 and still going) struggles to get into my car due to his height and also he suffers from joint hyper mobility. He never had this issue when my wife had her XC60 mk1.

As a result of all this, I'm thinking of going for an SUV, I've not always been their biggest fans, but needs must. The wife also feels more confident in a higher car.

Now SUV wise I've been thinking of going for a petrol/hybrid, thinking the battery will be used most days.

Choice of cars - budget around 20-25k.
- Cayenne (958) - surely big bills?
- XC60 mk2 - a T8 would be lovely.
- X5 F15
- Enyaq - all in with electric?
- I Pace

I've always been a BMW driver.... so going away from that will be odd for me.

Any help/suggestions will be great.

Thank you!

Edited by Lucas_Wxm on Friday 31st May 23:05

[ninjag]

Perhaps not your taste but never any harm...


F-Pace 3.0 V6 petrol
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405149...

CUPRA Formentor 310ps
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404188...

Audi SQ5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405039...

Lexus RX 450h 3.5 Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405159...

[Panamax]

Stick with two cars.

F'rinstance, when the car goes in for a service or suffers a breakdown how are you going to get there?

Unless you feel the need to bling up your driveway just keep them cheap. Some of the mainstream vehicles from the likes of Nissan or the Koreans are remarkably competent. A Cayenne is unlikely to fit this category...

[Lucas_Wxm]

Panamax said:

Stick with two cars.

F'rinstance, when the car goes in for a service or suffers a breakdown how are you going to get there?

Unless you feel the need to bling up your driveway just keep them cheap. Some of the mainstream vehicles from the likes of Nissan or the Koreans are remarkably competent. A Cayenne is unlikely to fit this category...

I forgot to mention, the FiL has said we can use his car should we ever need it so in the case of service we would have access to his car. He also just lives around the corner from us, which does help.

[Pica-Pica]

Just the two of us, we are both retired, don’t travel much on a daily basis, but we still feel the need for two cars. Only just, mind you.
In your circumstances, definitely stick with tow, unless you are in a city with good public transport links.

[Panamax]

Lucas_Wxm said:

I forgot to mention, the FiL has said we can use his car should we ever need it so in the case of service we would have access to his car. He also just lives around the corner from us, which does help.

Excellent, that makes it all so much easier.

[Lucas_Wxm]

ninjag said:

Perhaps not your taste but never any harm...


F-Pace 3.0 V6 petrol
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405149...

CUPRA Formentor 310ps
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404188...

Audi SQ5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405039...

Lexus RX 450h 3.5 Sport
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405159...

The jag is something I’ve not thought of… even thought I have thought of the I Pace.

I really like the Seat, but feel it could be room small.

I’ve never been a big fan of the Audi’s, just not sure what it is about them.

[mk1coopers]

If the OH likes the Merc then a bit of budget creep gets you into the older shape GLE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405019...

Edited by mk1coopers on Saturday 1st June 03:51

[Mabozza]

Cayenne is a great choice for a do it all car. I'm on my second. No big bills or horror stories, just servicing. My last one needed a bit more (injectors and other diesely bits replacing etc) but thats more a general thing than a cayenne thing, for any diesel car with >120K

[fflump]

My personal experience with a 958 Cayenne PHEV was very positive, but only because it was under approved-used warranty. Plenty of electrical gremlins among other things.

Edited by fflump on Saturday 1st June 11:08

[blank]

X5 or XC90 in PHEV format?

If you can charge at home your commute will be all electric.

[Lucas_Wxm]

The X5 I had considered and we do like the XC90 but the OH feels they will be too big for her.

She doesn’t really like the Cayenne now I’ve shown it her.

Her favourite has been the XC60. The choice of engines is mind boggling.

I definitely don’t want a diesel engine this time around. But also want to have enough poke. I’d know a Volvo won’t offer the handling of my current car.

[loskie]

you should get an e bike for your 3 miles of commute. Then a big thirsty 4x4 for driving as and when you need to.

[ZX10R NIN]

Lucas_Wxm said:

The X5 I had considered and we do like the XC90 but the OH feels they will be too big for her.

She doesn’t really like the Cayenne now I’ve shown it her.

Her favourite has been the XC60. The choice of engines is mind boggling.

I definitely don’t want a diesel engine this time around. But also want to have enough poke. I’d know a Volvo won’t offer the handling of my current car.

XC60 T5 will be the pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405290...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405300...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404289...

Hyundai Tucson Ultimate:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405159...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406010...

Sorento:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403147...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402206...

[Lucas_Wxm]

ZX10R NIN said:

XC60 T5 will be the pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405290...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405300...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404289...

Hyundai Tucson Ultimate:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202405159...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202406010...

Sorento:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202403147...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402206...

Was speaking to the FiL before, and he said it’s not worth me getting a hybrid as I won’t really make use of the electric motor on my commute to work as the ICE will need to warm the engine up?

How true is this?


I really am liking the aesthetics of the XC60. Saw an F-Pace today, looked alright. Ended up trying to find some videos of the exhaust note of the 3.0 S and it sounded okay.

I would love a throaty noised car. One last dance with an ICE perhaps?

[blank]

Lucas_Wxm said:

Was speaking to the FiL before, and he said it’s not worth me getting a hybrid as I won’t really make use of the electric motor on my commute to work as the ICE will need to warm the engine up?

How true is this?


I really am liking the aesthetics of the XC60. Saw an F-Pace today, looked alright. Ended up trying to find some videos of the exhaust note of the 3.0 S and it sounded okay.

I would love a throaty noised car. One last dance with an ICE perhaps?

A "self charging" hybrid probably won't be ideal, but a PHEV will run on pure electric and the engine won't run at all. Assuming you can charge it at home (or work) that is.

[Lucas_Wxm]

I would need to buy a charger… although the previous owners of the house seem to have put a caravan power outlet on the side of the garage. Not sure if this is something I could use to charge the car.

I’ve seen a XC60 T8 with a charger port on the side. So assume that would be fine as it would just run off the electric motor.

[ninjag]

The latest XC60 is a nice looking car.

[JQ]

Lucas_Wxm said:

I would need to buy a charger…

No you wouldn’t, my wife’s EV is run off a 3 pin plug. That would be more than adequate for 6 miles a day.

[Lucas_Wxm]

ninjag said:

The latest XC60 is a nice looking car.

We’ve always liked the Volvo SUVs. Originally liked the new XC90, but now they’re too big for our needs.

JQ said:

No you wouldn’t, my wife’s EV is run off a 3 pin plug. That would be more than adequate for 6 miles a day.

Would it not take an age to charge?