New family car with nod to performance

[BALDER5]

Hi all I need some help as I really can't decide on what car to go for go for next. I used to commute 400 miles a week so needed a diesel so had a alfa GT, then BMW E92 335d and then F31 330d

At lockdown I was working at home full time so decided to get rid of the car. Cue 6 months later I needed a car to start getting out again and the lure of getting back to petrol cars was too much so I got a bmw M135i for some fun. Ive owned this for a year and it's been fun.

Now though with 2 kids aged 2 and 5 and starting to travel to work 2 days a week I need something more family usable and something a little less thirsty in this world of near £2 per litre (well the way you need to drive a hit hatch).

Got a bank loan to buy the M135i and with such a low rate and recent wife job change I want to leave this as is and use the money from sale for new car, so this gives me £13-15k for the right car.

At the moment the mk3 skoda octavia vrs is leading as saloon sized and hatchback. But ideally hankering after keeping a 6 cylinder engine or getting an alfa Guilia Veloce. Both feel a little out of price at the moment. Have also considered MB CLS350, another E90 bmw 330i, even at one point an alfa 159 Ti 1750. Just can't seem to find a car I can compromise on for my budget!

Key specs I want
Auto
PDC and cruiae control
Saloon or estate
No older than 10 years
Quick and a decent steer if I find myself on a nice road
Ideally 40+ mpg on a motorway cruise (but could lower to around 37/38 to match m135i)

Any help and ideas welcome! So I need to lower my expectations and just get a "normal" car like a audi A4 or regular octavia?

[Canon_Fodder]

Countryman Cooper S?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205055...

[BALDER5]

Canon_Fodder said:

Countryman Cooper S?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202205055...

Is the countryman longer than normal mini hatch?

[georgeyboy12345]

I'd go for a 330i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204295...


A 330e could work if you do lots of short journeys and are decent to drive, you can get big power from a remap!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203093...

[Canon_Fodder]

BALDER5 said:

Is the countryman longer than normal mini hatch?

Yes lots bigger all round. But still handles

[vaud]

I have a A4 3.0tdi quattro SE avant that is quite good fun. 60 is 6.1 I think.

Softer ride than a BMW but I quite like it. Once you adjust to it it can be driven really quite swiftly (some reviews on Youtube - 5th gear I think), it's really good on flowing A/B roads. 7 speed s-tronic.

The original owner had it debadged so it has an element of stealth (aside from the twin pipes). Good load space. The kids like it (9 and 5) plus it has isofix in front and rear (unlike our other car which is a Volvo).

I like it so much I'm looking for an A6 version as well and get shot of the Volvo.

[BALDER5]

georgeyboy12345 said:

I'd go for a 330i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204295...


A 330e could work if you do lots of short journeys and are decent to drive, you can get big power from a remap!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203093...

Thanks for the ideas. Don't want a plug in hybrid, could do a self charging hybrid if "sporty"

The b48 in that 330i is a decent choice if I can't stretch to the b58

[BALDER5]

vaud said:

I have a A4 3.0tdi quattro SE avant that is quite good fun. 60 is 6.1 I think.

Softer ride than a BMW but I quite like it. Once you adjust to it it can be driven really quite swiftly (some reviews on Youtube - 5th gear I think), it's really good on flowing A/B roads. 7 speed s-tronic.

The original owner had it debadged so it has an element of stealth (aside from the twin pipes). Good load space. The kids like it (9 and 5) plus it has isofix in front and rear (unlike our other car which is a Volvo).

I like it so much I'm looking for an A6 version as well and get shot of the Volvo.

I don't want a diesel but thanks for the response. Petrol 2L with quattro are a bit out of range on price 😔

[ZX10R NIN]

BALDER5 said:

Hi all I need some help as I really can't decide on what car to go for go for next. I used to commute 400 miles a week so needed a diesel so had a alfa GT, then BMW E92 335d and then F31 330d

At lockdown I was working at home full time so decided to get rid of the car. Cue 6 months later I needed a car to start getting out again and the lure of getting back to petrol cars was too much so I got a bmw M135i for some fun. Ive owned this for a year and it's been fun.

Now though with 2 kids aged 2 and 5 and starting to travel to work 2 days a week I need something more family usable and something a little less thirsty in this world of near £2 per litre (well the way you need to drive a hit hatch).

Got a bank loan to buy the M135i and with such a low rate and recent wife job change I want to leave this as is and use the money from sale for new car, so this gives me £13-15k for the right car.

At the moment the mk3 skoda octavia vrs is leading as saloon sized and hatchback. But ideally hankering after keeping a 6 cylinder engine or getting an alfa Guilia Veloce. Both feel a little out of price at the moment. Have also considered MB CLS350, another E90 bmw 330i, even at one point an alfa 159 Ti 1750. Just can't seem to find a car I can compromise on for my budget!

Key specs I want
Auto
PDC and cruiae control
Saloon or estate
No older than 10 years
Quick and a decent steer if I find myself on a nice road
Ideally 40+ mpg on a motorway cruise (but could lower to around 37/38 to match m135i)

Any help and ideas welcome! So I need to lower my expectations and just get a "normal" car like a audi A4 or regular octavia?

I'll give you a 6 Cylinder alternative & it's the Infiniti Q50 35h it's properly quick & a nice (not M135i good but they can be hustled at a decent lick) steer.

I have two family members with them, one drive from SE London to Woking 3 days a week & is seeing 41mpg, the other drives from SE London to central & is averaging 33mpg.

Q50 35h Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208068...

Or there's the 2.0T option (this uses the same 2.0T found in the A/C Classes but in the lower state of tune) which a remap could add a bit more poke to:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207157...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206176...

If you want a good alternative to the Octavia VRS then I'd say go & drive the last of line Insignia in 2.0T Elite Nav form but they're hard to find & will be slightly over your 15k limit:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208048...

IMO the Mondeo is the better steer (than both the VRS & the Insignia listed above) & when it comes to the 2.0T options these are the pick.

Titanium Edition:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207127...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111179...

[BALDER5]

ZX10R NIN said:

I'll give you a 6 Cylinder alternative & it's the Infiniti Q50 35h it's properly quick & a nice (not M135i good but they can be hustled at a decent lick) steer.

I have two family members with them, one drive from SE London to Woking 3 days a week & is seeing 41mpg, the other drives from SE London to central & is averaging 33mpg.

Q50 35h Sport:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208068...

Or there's the 2.0T option (this uses the same 2.0T found in the A/C Classes but in the lower state of tune) which a remap could add a bit more poke to:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207157...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206176...

If you want a good alternative to the Octavia VRS then I'd say go & drive the last of line Insignia in 2.0T Elite Nav form but they're hard to find & will be slightly over your 15k limit:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208048...

IMO the Mondeo is the better steer (than both the VRS & the Insignia listed above) & when it comes to the 2.0T options these are the pick.

Titanium Edition:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202207127...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111179...

It's an interesting idea. Reviews are uncertain over thr fly by wire steering and brakes but like the idea of that much power with fairy decent fuel economy

Thanks for your reply

[MissChief]

What about a BMW 4 series Gran Coupe? Plenty of 428/30’s out there and a few 435i’s but with higher mileages than you may like.

[ZX10R NIN]

BALDER5 said:

It's an interesting idea. Reviews are uncertain over thr fly by wire steering and brakes but like the idea of that much power with fairy decent fuel economy

Thanks for your reply

I've found both just fine but I'd say drive one yourself as then you'll know.