Best performance family car for under £40k
Discussion
Long-time reader, first-time poster here. I’d be very grateful for your opinions on what my next car should be.
I currently have an M2 Comp, which I love. However, I have a baby on the way and will need something a little more practical. I’d like it to be something fun that will still earn the respect of fellow petrolheads and luckily my wife is very understanding.
Criteria:
- Needs to be easy to load and able to swallow all essential equipment for a newborn baby
- Safety. It must also accommodate the most heavy-duty rear-facing car seat easily
- At least 200 bhp
- Good handling (previous cars include a Mk8 Fiesta ST, which was brilliant, and an M140i which I liked less)
- I don’t mind a choppy ride, but the rest of the family will be less keen
- It will be parked on the street in London, so shouldn’t attract too much attention
- Can’t charge at home, so not looking at electric
- Happy with an estate, but not keen on an SUV. Smaller size preferable as it will need to be driven around London
- Manual or automatic, but my wife would prefer the latter
- Should ideally have Apple CarPlay
- Won’t be dailied, but will need to do a 10-mile commute once a week or fortnight
- Max budget £40k
Current shortlist:
- Megane RS Mk3
- I30N
- Civic Type R - preferably FL5 but as budget is tight, also like the FK8
- Golf GTI/R - seems an obvious choice though
- Focus ST Mk4
- F90 M5
- M6 Gran Coupe
Or should I just get something cheaper and less interesting and try to keep the M2 or buy a mid-engined sports car for the weekend at a later date.
Open to all other suggestions! Thanks in advance.
I currently have an M2 Comp, which I love. However, I have a baby on the way and will need something a little more practical. I’d like it to be something fun that will still earn the respect of fellow petrolheads and luckily my wife is very understanding.
Criteria:
- Needs to be easy to load and able to swallow all essential equipment for a newborn baby
- Safety. It must also accommodate the most heavy-duty rear-facing car seat easily
- At least 200 bhp
- Good handling (previous cars include a Mk8 Fiesta ST, which was brilliant, and an M140i which I liked less)
- I don’t mind a choppy ride, but the rest of the family will be less keen
- It will be parked on the street in London, so shouldn’t attract too much attention
- Can’t charge at home, so not looking at electric
- Happy with an estate, but not keen on an SUV. Smaller size preferable as it will need to be driven around London
- Manual or automatic, but my wife would prefer the latter
- Should ideally have Apple CarPlay
- Won’t be dailied, but will need to do a 10-mile commute once a week or fortnight
- Max budget £40k
Current shortlist:
- Megane RS Mk3
- I30N
- Civic Type R - preferably FL5 but as budget is tight, also like the FK8
- Golf GTI/R - seems an obvious choice though
- Focus ST Mk4
- F90 M5
- M6 Gran Coupe
Or should I just get something cheaper and less interesting and try to keep the M2 or buy a mid-engined sports car for the weekend at a later date.
Open to all other suggestions! Thanks in advance.
Patrick-M2 said:
I currently have an M2 Comp, which I love. However, I have a baby on the way and will need something a little more practical.....
Criteria:
- Needs to be easy to load and able to swallow all essential equipment for a newborn baby
- Happy with an estate, but not keen on an SUV. Smaller size preferable as it will need to be driven around London
- Max budget £40k
Current shortlist:
- F90 M5
- M6 Gran Coupe
I redacted a bit here for a reason; speaking from first hand experience you will find an estate or a full sized saloon is what you need. I agree with you on avoiding SUVs, but there is a reason you see so many about with families in them. So if you want to keep your honour intact, then in addition to the two remaining options above I'd suggest:Criteria:
- Needs to be easy to load and able to swallow all essential equipment for a newborn baby
- Happy with an estate, but not keen on an SUV. Smaller size preferable as it will need to be driven around London
- Max budget £40k
Current shortlist:
- F90 M5
- M6 Gran Coupe
- Audi A6 (or S6) estate
- Mercedes E-Class estate
- Jaguar XF estate
- BMW 7 series (you will find a few 740-750 in budget with low-ish miles)
- Audi A8
Whilst I love the XJ, the boot is miniscule so cannot in good faith recommend it when carting a pram or push chair around everywhere.
Having traded up from a smaller saloon to a family estate right before the arrival of my first born; best car-buying decision ever.
As above but if you want to change,
Nondescript grey Giulia Quadrifoglio:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511218...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511308...
B3 Alpina Estate, all the car you'll ever want:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512038...
C63 Estate Premium:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510157...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502259...
RS4:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512028...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510066...
Nondescript grey Giulia Quadrifoglio:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511218...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202511308...
B3 Alpina Estate, all the car you'll ever want:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512038...
C63 Estate Premium:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510157...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502259...
RS4:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202512028...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202510066...
Interesting topic.
I suppose it depends how much London insurance and how large your appetite for attention is. Based on my experience of closely looking at some of the cars suggested so far when I was awaiting my first child:
- G3x/90 5 series is plenty big enough for baby paraphernalia; M5 may attract too much attention though. I may be wrong, but I think folding rear seats was an option that wasn’t always ticked, so do check. I think CarPlay can be added over the air for £280ish from BMW if it doesn’t already have it.
- Alfa Giulia is also just about big enough for rear-facing car seat and pram in the boot; a bit smaller than 5 series inside and out. Expensive to maintain (from my research), but fairly reliable; standard CarPlay didn’t arrive until about 2020: I think those with the Italian flag below the gear selector have it, but do check as a lot of adverts falsely claim CarPlay on Giulie.
- MB C class: I actually went for a C43 saloon in the end, and this worked out fine. It was a bit uncomfortable for the front passenger in front of the car seat on long journeys, but we didn’t do many of those. Boot just about big enough; rear seats not great for carrying adults mind. Maybe not as nice-sounding as the C63, but more than enough power on a day-to-day basis. Facelift models have CarPlay I believe. If you take a closer look, make sure you get one with Premium Plus pack, as this includes 360 cameras to help with on-street parking (I found it to be way better than the equivalent BMW system), Burmester stereo (I found this impressive) and panoramic sunroof. MB warranty was also very reasonable on mine, if that’s a consideration. Warranty cost on a C63 was a lot more when I last looked. I got rid of mine because the wheels kept cracking and it got stolen!
- Also consider an E class of some sort of you can cope with the bigger size: more than enough internal space and a more comfortable ride. E63s, E53s and even E43s can be had for your budget, and all have plenty of go. Obviously, running costs will vary, but an E53 or E43 would give you plenty of change, and may be less attention-grabbing (E43 preceded E53, so they’ll the older). Interior is also a lovely place to be and E53/later E63 has facelifted interior with CarPlay. Again, aim for the Premium Plus pack!
- can’t comment on a larger saloon (e.g. 7 series), but they’ll certainly have enough space! Folding seats aren’t always standard on these though (probably because of champagne fridges or something). Size may be an issue in London though.
- a BMW M340i may also be worth considering: quite a lot of rear space and an impressive engine. Be careful with spec though: very little seemed to be standard on these (not even electric seats!).
Best of luck and keep us updated!
I suppose it depends how much London insurance and how large your appetite for attention is. Based on my experience of closely looking at some of the cars suggested so far when I was awaiting my first child:
- G3x/90 5 series is plenty big enough for baby paraphernalia; M5 may attract too much attention though. I may be wrong, but I think folding rear seats was an option that wasn’t always ticked, so do check. I think CarPlay can be added over the air for £280ish from BMW if it doesn’t already have it.
- Alfa Giulia is also just about big enough for rear-facing car seat and pram in the boot; a bit smaller than 5 series inside and out. Expensive to maintain (from my research), but fairly reliable; standard CarPlay didn’t arrive until about 2020: I think those with the Italian flag below the gear selector have it, but do check as a lot of adverts falsely claim CarPlay on Giulie.
- MB C class: I actually went for a C43 saloon in the end, and this worked out fine. It was a bit uncomfortable for the front passenger in front of the car seat on long journeys, but we didn’t do many of those. Boot just about big enough; rear seats not great for carrying adults mind. Maybe not as nice-sounding as the C63, but more than enough power on a day-to-day basis. Facelift models have CarPlay I believe. If you take a closer look, make sure you get one with Premium Plus pack, as this includes 360 cameras to help with on-street parking (I found it to be way better than the equivalent BMW system), Burmester stereo (I found this impressive) and panoramic sunroof. MB warranty was also very reasonable on mine, if that’s a consideration. Warranty cost on a C63 was a lot more when I last looked. I got rid of mine because the wheels kept cracking and it got stolen!
- Also consider an E class of some sort of you can cope with the bigger size: more than enough internal space and a more comfortable ride. E63s, E53s and even E43s can be had for your budget, and all have plenty of go. Obviously, running costs will vary, but an E53 or E43 would give you plenty of change, and may be less attention-grabbing (E43 preceded E53, so they’ll the older). Interior is also a lovely place to be and E53/later E63 has facelifted interior with CarPlay. Again, aim for the Premium Plus pack!
- can’t comment on a larger saloon (e.g. 7 series), but they’ll certainly have enough space! Folding seats aren’t always standard on these though (probably because of champagne fridges or something). Size may be an issue in London though.
- a BMW M340i may also be worth considering: quite a lot of rear space and an impressive engine. Be careful with spec though: very little seemed to be standard on these (not even electric seats!).
Best of luck and keep us updated!
Jag_NE said:
An M2 will be fine for a one child family. I'd keep it.
It’s a surprisingly practical car and had all the space we needed when there were just two of us but it’s pretty compromised for a baby in a rear facing car seat, with a large pram and a bassinet to store in the boot - I wouldn’t recommend it as a one car solution.I’m holding on to mine as once our daughter is older, is forward facing and my wife doesn’t sit in the back with her it’ll be fine for holidays and day trips but until then, our Fiesta (which will be replaced for a bigger car next year) is the go to car.
Mr_Megalomaniac said:
I agree with you on avoiding SUVs, but there is a reason you see so many about with families in them.
One reason is loading and offloading a heavy car seat in and out of the car daily. It's a lot easier to do in a car that sits higher up as SUVs do. I had a Accord Estate did find it a strain on my back lifting the car seat with child. Would recommend getting a car seat that can be lifted out of the car with baby in situ and then fit straight on to a buggy unit. No squatting trying to carefully lift a sleeping baby out of a car seat! I'd look at Cybex.
That would make life a bit easier if you end up with a lower sitting estate car.
biggbn said:
Kia Stinger. Often overlooked and universally loved by those brave enough to have taken the plunge.
Loved mine and you’d get a good one for 20k now. Dead reliable, good fun, decent boot, every toy you can think of.
With 40k I’d be looking at that Alpina B3 estate already listed - that’s a mega rare opportunity - or more likely a C63 estate because V8 and fairly understated, or being sensibler a C43 or a petrol 3-series-something.
My vote would be for an Octavia VRS Estate, although even the hatchback has a big boot and I'd be less worried about leaving it on the street than an RS4.
When we had one child we had an A3 Sportback, which changed to an A4 Avant when No.2 came along and then the ubiquitous XC90 when No.3 appeared. The one benefit we had over now is that the child seats weren't rear facing, just the one from newborn until a year old...
When we had one child we had an A3 Sportback, which changed to an A4 Avant when No.2 came along and then the ubiquitous XC90 when No.3 appeared. The one benefit we had over now is that the child seats weren't rear facing, just the one from newborn until a year old...
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff