What car should I buy?

[Filibuster]

Well, never thought I’d start one of these threads, but here we go:

I have a serious car problem. Currently I own (or lease) no less than 5 cars. None of which the OH likes. We have a 2 year old daughter and we need a one does it all car. And one that is not too big!

I bought (well leased through my company) a Volvo V90 T8 when the young one was on the way, since my OH wanted a Volvo estate. Problem is, it is too big in her opinion. Mainly too wide and too long. So she doesn’t drive it herself. Also she is not interested in the gadgets and can’t handle the automatic tailgate.

If she is alone with the daughter, she takes the F56 Mini Cooper S (3 door) which she likes but is obviously too small for all of us.

The Porsche 911 (997.1 C2) and the Mercedes SL 320 (R127) obviously are no family cars and the Range Rover Classic I recently bought as a classic car for the whole family is not suitable as a main family car (also it probably has a blown head gasket, slipped liner or cracked block anyway).

The one car she liked most was a Audi S4 B6 Avant with the 4.2 V8. She claims this to have been the perfect size (although when I bought it she claimed it was way too big and mature, compared to the Lupo GTI I got rid of….). But I agree with her regarding the Volvo V90 being uncomfortably big, vague steering and hard to see out of.

So I’m looking for an interesting (!) small estate. Budget depends on what other cars I get rid of and what I may be able to go through the company. Buying outright with own money budget is 20k, maybe 30k.

Main thing, it has to be interesting. I was thinking B8 RS4, but while I love the exterior, the interior is pretty grimm…
I was even thinking of an other B6 S4, but the OH thinks those being 20 years old is a deal breaker.
I was also looking at Mercedes G55 AMGs as those are pretty slim cars being a 70’s design.

If going newer B9 S4 (petrol) or even RS4, I’d be probably looking at leasing. A lot depends on what cars are staying really.

So what other cars am I missing? Oddball and left field choices welcome!

[Brassblaster]

Does she like the V90 for the most part other than size?

Might be worth looking at its smaller brother the V60 if so - smaller enough that it might make a difference (7" less length and 2 or 3" less wide iirc)?

[Scootersp]

Golf R estate?

Most modern estates are as large as the V90 from a glance.

The V60 can be had with a dual engine, zero tax nearly 300bhp, can do a small amount of electric only miles etc, interesting (if not dynamically so!)

[RoVoFob]

Filibuster said:

I bought (well leased through my company) a Volvo V90 T8 when the young one was on the way, since my OH wanted a Volvo estate. Problem is, it is too big in her opinion. Mainly too wide and too long. So she doesn’t drive it herself. Also she is not interested in the gadgets and can’t handle the automatic tailgate.

If she is alone with the daughter, she takes the F56 Mini Cooper S (3 door) which she likes but is obviously too small for all of us.

The one car she liked most was a Audi S4 B6 Avant with the 4.2 V8. She claims this to have been the perfect size (although when I bought it she claimed it was way too big and mature, compared to the Lupo GTI I got rid of….). But I agree with her regarding the Volvo V90 being uncomfortably big, vague steering and hard to see out of.

So I’m looking for an interesting (!) small estate. Budget depends on what other cars I get rid of and what I may be able to go through the company. Buying outright with own money budget is 20k, maybe 30k.

Main thing, it has to be interesting. I was thinking B8 RS4, but while I love the exterior, the interior is pretty grimm…
I was even thinking of an other B6 S4, but the OH thinks those being 20 years old is a deal breaker.

So what other cars am I missing? Oddball and left field choices welcome!

From your requirements, I’d say you need a car from the right era, rather than the right specific car, since there aren’t many estates of B6 size any more.

Even a 2012 Volvo V40 has abysmal visibility and feels like a bulky, hard-to-drive car compared with many much larger older cars.

If the S4 and Mini appeal, how about a Passat R36 Estate - it’s bigger than the S4, but still doesn’t feel large, with decent visibility and a boxy shape? It also sounds amazing and feels analogue to drive, but is newer than the B6. As for the Mini side, what about a Clubman or Countryman to provide a bit more space but maintain the same type of drive?

Why do you find the B8 RS4 interior grim? I’d say it’s pretty nice compared to most things, so would be helpful to understand what you don’t like about it.

In the spirit of recommending my own cars (ex-R36 owner here and current 130i driver), if size is really an issue, what about a BMW 130i? Small, analogue, easy to place on the road, you can fit child things in the boot (now you’re post baby stage) and I’ve just shifted our enormous new 15-month-to-12-year-old child seat into the back of mine and it seems to fit OK.

Alternative is a Skoda Fabia vRS Estate. Small, fast, engaging to drive but with a massive boot and decent enough visibility.

You could probably buy an R36, Clubman or Countryman, 130i AND a Fabia vRS for your top budget, so I suggest you do that. I don’t think you have enough cars.

[Kuwahara]

V60 Polestar…

[Filibuster]

The V60 probably would have been an option if bought on day 1. But I fear it would be way to similar from the V90 to make a difference. I realise most is in the head of my wife and could be overcome with a little practice. But do try and tell her!

I think the view out would be similar in a V60, also steering feel and turning circle are probably not far away.
It is amazing how compact something like a Range Rover Classic (not exactly a small car) feels in a multi story carpark compared to the Volvo. It is genuinely is easier to park, even tough compared to the Volvo it has no 360• camera view and parking radar

I already have the T8 twin engine in the V90. Driving electric around town is great and I get a real world 25 miles from 10kwh. It has 410-ish hp and straight line performance is really good. But the engine sound absolutely terrible, although the supercharger whine is nice-ish. Real world mpg is 35 mpg, btw.

[georgeyboy12345]

I think the Audi S4 is a good idea

Edit - also Golf R and the V60 PHEV

Was going to suggest an Alfa Romeo 156 GTA Sportwagon, but good luck finding one

Some other ideas

Mercedes CLA 45 AMG 4Matic Shooting Brake
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305177...


BMW G20 330e Touring
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306228...

BMW F30 340i Touring
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305026...


Ford Focus ST Estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307240...



Older stuff significantly under budget

Lexus IS300 Sportcross - not too big, will take E10, ULEZ compliant, auto and a 2JZ engine
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306248...


Saab 9-3 2.8T Aero Sportwagon
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307039...


Blobeye Impreza WRX
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307069...

Freshly imported example
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308010...

Edited by georgeyboy12345 on Tuesday 1st August 20:23

[Gad-Westy]

You mention B8 RS4 and B6 S4 but surely the elephant (erm not) in the room there is the B7 RS4 which is IMO peak Audi estate. Yes, getting on a bit now but your budget would get you an absolute gem or spend a little less and get a specialist to go to town on it. I think you'd have reliable transport with a gem of an engine.

Personally I'm not a huge fan of Golf/Leon sector estates but hard to argue that they're not worth considering. I think I just find them a bit dull as driver's car but not big and wafty enough to excel as family cars but they might just be the goldilocks solution for you or others. There's the focus too of course.

BMW 340i? A bit anonymous maybe with it not wearing an m-badge but they're very decent cars.

[defblade]

Filibuster said:

So what other cars am I missing? Oddball and left field choices welcome!

Have a chat with your nearest JDM importer. Japan has loads of interesting stuff (size/shape/power) if you want something outside the run of the mill.

[The Cardinal]

I bet your OH would be very happy with something like a Golf GTI. Perhaps a size down from what you’d had in mind, but very usable and easy to place on the road.

[Jamescrs]

Mini Countryman Cooper S would be a good option.

Wife has one and we are currently on holiday in Cornwall in it with the two kids and it's got all our stuff in it for 10 days away.

The wife is a serial Mini owner so I doubt she would want anything else bit in Cooper S trim it's not a slow car, I do wish I'd looked for a JCW version though.

[CrippsCorner]

Filibuster said:

If she is alone with the daughter, she takes the F56 Mini Cooper S (3 door) which she likes but is obviously too small for all of us.

These kind of posts always make me laugh! We managed fine with a Ford KA & R53 Mini with one child... then a Honda Jazz & Astra with two! It was only on the third we thought it was MPV/SUV time.

Oh well, man maths innit

As a side note... holy st, just noticed the new PistonHeads logo. Weird.

[Filibuster]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far! A Passat R36 never crossed my mind before, but it ticks a lot of boxes! I will look into that.

Also jap stuff might be interesting. I especially like the fourth gen Legacy. Lots of them around here in Switzerland, especially in the rural part.

I agree, the B7 RS4 would be absolutely the car I would be looking for! They are indeed peak Audi estate! But the other half demands an auto box this is why I didn’t include them on my list.

I probably need to have an other look at the B8 Audi. The last time I sat in one was quite some time ago and I remember it being a lot more cluttery (too much buttons) and my B6 at the time felt much more solid from inside than the B8. The B6 felt like a Braun calculator, while the B8 felt like one from Casio, if you know what I mean. But I might give it an other try, as it looks to be a serious contender! Also Alpine build custom stereos with oem looks, touchscreen and Apple Carplay.

A C-segment car probably is too small for our need, especially coming from E-Segment. Sure, everything is possible! My grandparent had a Beetle in the 60’s with two children and went far away on holiday to Italy over alpine passes with it.

Reading a bit into different model changes, it is incredible how cars have grown. Something I was aware of course, but reading the naked numbers is astonishing nevertheless.

Taking the Audi A4 as a reference, the B6/7 (2000-08) has grown 70mm in length and 33mm in width over the B5. The B8 (2009-15) is again 117mm longer and 54mm wider. And the B9 has grown a little less with only +25mm in length and 20mm in width.

Here are some size comparisons for reference:

[georgeyboy12345]

Filibuster said:

.

Here are some size comparisons for reference:

What app/website is this from?

[Filibuster]

carsized.com

Of course it is only a broad spec and I would cross reference with manufacturer specs to be sure. But it certainly gives a good idea.

Here is the V90 compared to a B8 A4:

[defblade]

Filibuster said:

Also jap stuff might be interesting. I especially like the fourth gen Legacy. Lots of them around here in Switzerland, especially in the rural part.

That's exactly what I had as an estate, it's a fantastic family car - quick, capable, very spacious and rare enough that only those who know, know. I didn't mention it as such because they generally sit well below your stated budget!

[Sheepshanks]

Some women are weird with car sizes - my wife only ever had superminis then I got her a mk1 Tiguan and she loved it. I wanted to update it to mk2 and she dismissed it out of hand as too big.

There’s no SUVs in your list - I think women are OK with the size of them as they’re sitting higher up. What about a Macan?

[RoVoFob]

defblade said:

Filibuster said:

Also jap stuff might be interesting. I especially like the fourth gen Legacy. Lots of them around here in Switzerland, especially in the rural part.

That's exactly what I had as an estate, it's a fantastic family car - quick, capable, very spacious and rare enough that only those who know, know. I didn't mention it as such because they generally sit well below your stated budget!

I have had a Legacy 3.0R Spec.B estate (manual) and a Passat R36 estate (DSG). I found the Legacy more impressive on paper, but enjoyed having - and driving - the R36 much more.

The Legacy estate does have very good visibility and is particularly narrow. The engine is beautifully smooth and the manual gearbox super-precise and short-geared. It also has an interior that looks OK at a distance but I just didn’t enjoy spending time in the Subaru - I think the main problem was the shapeless, uncomfortable seats. The R36 seats were phenomenal, super adjustable, comfy and held you in place very well.

[wyson]

Who is wanting the 'interesting' car? Is your wife into cars?

I had a similar debate, but will most likely end up down the medium SUV route.

My first instinct was to go for an Audi A4 Avant, but then my back demanded a higher roof line. With little terrors, I seemed to spend a lot of time bent over with the rear doors open and thought the higher platform will lessen the load on my back and head bashing against the door aperture.

Duly tried a Tesla Model Y, Kia Sportage and Volvo XC40, all of which confirmed there is less bending over.

My Mrs likes the Volvo XC40 because it is the most compact and has the best ride quality / best sound deadening out of the three, whilst still having enough space for all the terrors bits and pieces / rear facing child seats etc. Its the most fun to drive out of the three too (dead steering not withstanding), which I found surprising given my experience of Volvo's in the past.

So, starting to look at SUV's in this class now. Might try a Qashqai E Power next.

For the life of me, I couldn't understand why these cars were so popular in the past, but with a young family I get them now. They really make a lot of sense. Personally for the main family runabout, I would want reliable, practical transport, preferably with a manufacturers warranty, leaving interesting options for the rest of the fleet / fun car. Would DREAD being broken down somewhere, with a 2 year old, or needing to ferry them somewhere when they are a bit older and doing nursery / kiddies activities and having to make alternative arrangements because the car in for a fix yet again.

Edited by wyson on Thursday 3rd August 00:19

[Filibuster]

I want an ‘interesting’ car because it‘s the one that gets driven the most. ‘Interesting‘ is a difficult term to put a definition on, but I‘m sure most people on PH know what I mean. Legacy 3.0 and Passat R36 are certainly cars I would consider interesting, for instance.

The wife insist on an estate and specifically doesn‘t want an SUV. Funny that, especially after reading the Volvo article and comments from yesterday!
She wants something ‘nice‘, but doesn‘t want something flashy.
Nice doesn‘t mean pricey by any means, but rather something of quality, especially the interior or otherwise interesting. She always comments about the Skoda Octavia estate being a good looking car, but even the VRS leaves me cold. I‘d much rather go down the Audi S4 instead.

I know what you mean by not wanting to gwt stranded at the side of the road with a 2 year old, but then this can happen to any new car. Granted, tough less likely. STG stranded with his 2k miles old GT3 in the SoF recently.

Never tell

The B6 Audis S4 I had was the only car that left me stranded btw. Due to a snapped alternator belt 150 miles from home @ midnight. Got picked up by a flatbed after only 30 min. who brought us home.

On an other note, I have been looking at RS3 SportBacks.
Anyhow, thanks for the suggestions and I keep you updated