Family car, hot or not?
Discussion
Sort of a potential future buying question.
For the past 5 years my wife has had the dull, small MPV which we use as family transport. This allows me to have something a bit less practical which is nice. Anyway, to say she has little interest in cars we were chatting the other day and she mentioned that she was a bit fed up with having a 'mum mobile' and would like something more 'funky' next time. I've no idea what she has in mind but she did say she saw an ad for the i30N (she loves Hyundai) and really liked it.
Whilst I live a nice hot hatch, I do wonder how well one would work as a family car? My fiesta ST3 is imo not suitable in that the ride is too hard and the seats too big. I can appreciate that bigger with rear doors would improve things but a hard ride could still be a pain. Also I think of comfort, practicality, low running costs for the family car.
Anyone use a 5dr hot hatch for main family duties?
For the past 5 years my wife has had the dull, small MPV which we use as family transport. This allows me to have something a bit less practical which is nice. Anyway, to say she has little interest in cars we were chatting the other day and she mentioned that she was a bit fed up with having a 'mum mobile' and would like something more 'funky' next time. I've no idea what she has in mind but she did say she saw an ad for the i30N (she loves Hyundai) and really liked it.
Whilst I live a nice hot hatch, I do wonder how well one would work as a family car? My fiesta ST3 is imo not suitable in that the ride is too hard and the seats too big. I can appreciate that bigger with rear doors would improve things but a hard ride could still be a pain. Also I think of comfort, practicality, low running costs for the family car.
Anyone use a 5dr hot hatch for main family duties?
It depends I suppose? If you are past the pushchairs and huge car seats stage, a hatch could work. No reason why a hot hatch wouldn’t work as long as it does what you need it too.. as in, fits the kids in, transports you as a family to away days and trips to the relatives.
The rest, such as ride, mpg, noise etc is personal choice.
MPVs are popular for a reason I suppose. Have you considered a warm MPV?
The rest, such as ride, mpg, noise etc is personal choice.
MPVs are popular for a reason I suppose. Have you considered a warm MPV?
I loved my i30N and if I'm honest the only reason it got sold was that my Mrs has a dodgy knee and couldn't really drive it (needs an automatic), this meant that any time we were doing longer journeys where we might want to split journeys then we were leaving it at home and taken another car.
The i30N comes fully spec'd as standard, I think only a very limited number of the first batch of cars didn't have the winter pack as standard and so I guess that would be one thing to look out for if you were looking at the bottom end of the budget. The ride is really quite firm, though I found it completely acceptable when it wasn't in N mode. If you like the styling and prefer a softer ride then the i30N fastback is a substantially smoother ride and I really like the look of it.
If you're looking at spending ~£30k then the new DCT facelifted model is coming this year and may be an even better option.
~£22k will pick you up a lightly used (10k miles, 1-2 years old) car that still has 3+ years of warranty remaining and will put a huge smile on your face.
The i30N comes fully spec'd as standard, I think only a very limited number of the first batch of cars didn't have the winter pack as standard and so I guess that would be one thing to look out for if you were looking at the bottom end of the budget. The ride is really quite firm, though I found it completely acceptable when it wasn't in N mode. If you like the styling and prefer a softer ride then the i30N fastback is a substantially smoother ride and I really like the look of it.
If you're looking at spending ~£30k then the new DCT facelifted model is coming this year and may be an even better option.
~£22k will pick you up a lightly used (10k miles, 1-2 years old) car that still has 3+ years of warranty remaining and will put a huge smile on your face.
I moved to a 5 door Golf when my child was about 6 years old and then a Golf GTI when he was about 12. Serves me fine as a family car. Really depends on your child / children and what they are like in a car. I carry very little luggage most of the time and have a roof box for camping trips.
A hot hatch will be less comfortable and will be more expensive to run than a normal car. Comfort will be slightly compromised but not much. Try to find one with adaptive dampeners if that's really important to you.
A hot hatch will be less comfortable and will be more expensive to run than a normal car. Comfort will be slightly compromised but not much. Try to find one with adaptive dampeners if that's really important to you.
Yes, forgot to say that there is no longer any need for an mpv or loads of room. It's just the 3 of us and little man is now 5 so doesn't need buggy or lots of stuff.
She does like the Kona too. An N version hmmm.
A few years ago she had an Audi A3 as a company car and quite liked that. Ultimately I do think a 5dr hatch will be the best bet although I'm sure she would like the style of an SUV. Nothing too big though.
She does like the Kona too. An N version hmmm.
A few years ago she had an Audi A3 as a company car and quite liked that. Ultimately I do think a 5dr hatch will be the best bet although I'm sure she would like the style of an SUV. Nothing too big though.
Our family car is a Mini Countryman Cooper S.
Has the same 1.6litre turbo charged engine as a standard Mini Cooper S but with the benefits of a small SUV layout which makes it a great family car. Easily fits me the wife and two kids in the back, one in a child seat and the boot is a decent size.
It's worth a look.
Has the same 1.6litre turbo charged engine as a standard Mini Cooper S but with the benefits of a small SUV layout which makes it a great family car. Easily fits me the wife and two kids in the back, one in a child seat and the boot is a decent size.
It's worth a look.
The trick I've found with clients who have partners (male/female who aren't to interested in cars) to drive the family car but want something more sporty is to get the warm hatch that has the softer ride a little less power than the hot version but enough to make it feel special.
This is normally enough to keep them happy & my clients in their less practical car & when they drive it they have enough go/handling to make it an enjoyable experience.
My go to four are these.
Infiniti Q30 Sport although these are getting harder to find with low miles the interior & spec normally seal the deal:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102139...
Kia Ceed GT again getting harder to find:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104020...
The Megane in GT Nav spec has taken up the mantle from the other two again hard to find but well worth seeking out as it's a good looking nicely spec'd car.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104010...
Volvo V40 T5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104050...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103230...
So in answer to your question warm
This is normally enough to keep them happy & my clients in their less practical car & when they drive it they have enough go/handling to make it an enjoyable experience.
My go to four are these.
Infiniti Q30 Sport although these are getting harder to find with low miles the interior & spec normally seal the deal:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202102139...
Kia Ceed GT again getting harder to find:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104020...
The Megane in GT Nav spec has taken up the mantle from the other two again hard to find but well worth seeking out as it's a good looking nicely spec'd car.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104010...
Volvo V40 T5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104050...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103230...
So in answer to your question warm
That's a good point Gweeds!
Sporty SUV like the countryman is worth investigating too thanks.
I did a bit of googling and found the Kona N. Wonder if it would actually have any more space than the new i20N though or if you're just paying more for the jacked up stance. It's 2.0 rather than 1.6 though. She'd probably like the i20N and thatay be big enough even.
I guess it'll come down to price too. She has her own money and could drop 20k on a car but I'm not sure she would. I noticed that the i30 N-line (see what they did there) fastback can be had just over a year old for less than 15k. All show but less go may work as I think too much performance will be wasted on her. But then, I drive it half the time as well!
Cheers for the insight. It's good to hear what people run and how it works for them.
Sporty SUV like the countryman is worth investigating too thanks.
I did a bit of googling and found the Kona N. Wonder if it would actually have any more space than the new i20N though or if you're just paying more for the jacked up stance. It's 2.0 rather than 1.6 though. She'd probably like the i20N and thatay be big enough even.
I guess it'll come down to price too. She has her own money and could drop 20k on a car but I'm not sure she would. I noticed that the i30 N-line (see what they did there) fastback can be had just over a year old for less than 15k. All show but less go may work as I think too much performance will be wasted on her. But then, I drive it half the time as well!
Cheers for the insight. It's good to hear what people run and how it works for them.
This is the whole point of a hot hatch IMO.
Even better, go hot estate!
Just check and double check front seat space when there is a child seat behind. My Leon estate would not fit a child seat behind my driver's seat for instance. Front passenger seat is a little bit too tight for comfort.
Even better, go hot estate!
Just check and double check front seat space when there is a child seat behind. My Leon estate would not fit a child seat behind my driver's seat for instance. Front passenger seat is a little bit too tight for comfort.
She definitely wouldn't want an estate, in fact the smaller the better as long as it fits us in for a week away. Rear space for the lad is fine even in the fiesta, but obviously not ideal with just 3 doors. Then there's the Hyundai thing, she is very very faithful to the brand. Her last two cars were Hyundai ex demos and for the past 10 years have been faultless. Cheap to buy and run although I have noticed their latest cars have gone up in price considerably. I may tempt her with another make depending on price and value as she is one for a bargain. It'll have to be relatively new though as that's what she goes for.
Other option is for me to get a hot family motor next time. I don't mind something bigger. Then she can get a small and relatively sporty job. In all honesty though I prefer our current set up. Ideal for me is that she has a fairly new warm/hot family hatch and I can perhaps look at another roadster (still miss my MR2).
There's time yet. It makes sense to wait and see what our car useage is like in a few months time. Neither car has done more than 3k this last year.
Other option is for me to get a hot family motor next time. I don't mind something bigger. Then she can get a small and relatively sporty job. In all honesty though I prefer our current set up. Ideal for me is that she has a fairly new warm/hot family hatch and I can perhaps look at another roadster (still miss my MR2).
There's time yet. It makes sense to wait and see what our car useage is like in a few months time. Neither car has done more than 3k this last year.
ChrisH72 said:
She definitely wouldn't want an estate, in fact the smaller the better as long as it fits us in for a week away. Rear space for the lad is fine even in the fiesta, but obviously not ideal with just 3 doors. Then there's the Hyundai thing, she is very very faithful to the brand. Her last two cars were Hyundai ex demos and for the past 10 years have been faultless. Cheap to buy and run although I have noticed their latest cars have gone up in price considerably. I may tempt her with another make depending on price and value as she is one for a bargain. It'll have to be relatively new though as that's what she goes for.
Other option is for me to get a hot family motor next time. I don't mind something bigger. Then she can get a small and relatively sporty job. In all honesty though I prefer our current set up. Ideal for me is that she has a fairly new warm/hot family hatch and I can perhaps look at another roadster (still miss my MR2).
There's time yet. It makes sense to wait and see what our car useage is like in a few months time. Neither car has done more than 3k this last year.
Blimey considering she "has little interest in cars" your missus has a fair few opinions on the topic.Other option is for me to get a hot family motor next time. I don't mind something bigger. Then she can get a small and relatively sporty job. In all honesty though I prefer our current set up. Ideal for me is that she has a fairly new warm/hot family hatch and I can perhaps look at another roadster (still miss my MR2).
There's time yet. It makes sense to wait and see what our car useage is like in a few months time. Neither car has done more than 3k this last year.
Well, very little interest in my cars then!
She likes to buy nearly new and keep for a while which is sensible enough. Until now the main criteria has been practicality, reliability and value with looks and enjoyable drive not coming into it. Seems like that may be changing I can't imagine her becoming a petrol head.
She likes to buy nearly new and keep for a while which is sensible enough. Until now the main criteria has been practicality, reliability and value with looks and enjoyable drive not coming into it. Seems like that may be changing I can't imagine her becoming a petrol head.
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