What's the ultimate "family" car?

[rob.e]

I don't think you could go on a family skiing/ camping holiday with an FF.

For me money no object it'd be Audi RS6 as above.

[mr_tony]

I went through this exact conundrum over the last few years since I became a dad. Note that I didn't even consider a BMW / Merc / Audi / RR etc. My reasoning is that none of these would get picked in preference to the best below for a fun week away with the whole family. If you want one of those then you have one as well as one of these.

Rapide
Pros - beautiful to my eyes. Sounds awesome.
Cons - back seats too small for child seats and no boot space, interior feels old. S is good but its outclassed by maranellos offering to drive by a significant margin.

991 Turbo
Pros - Speed! Speed and more speed!
Cons - no boot space. Sounds rubbish. Have to be a midget to sit kids behind you in a car seat. If its just you and 2 kids for pottering about daily it can work but not with 4 and don't try and visit relatives for the weekend in it. Oh and you'll lose your license fast as going 30mph in it is soooooo boring....

Maserati GT -
Pros - pretty, Sounds awesome.
Cons - boot space, feeling a bit old and being replaced soon. Grancabrio boot space a joke. Think cabriolet will be a future classic though as its just so cool...

Bentley GT -
Pros - boot space good and rear space good. Interior is fabulous.
Cons - compared to best here drive is inert. V8 better than w12 to drive and listen to. Image a consideration here for me also. And I'm not middle aged yet.

Panamera Turbo / GTS -
Pros - brilliant fun and very useable as a family car. You can't see the outside from the inside.
Cons - I don't get along with the looks personally. GTS better everyday than Turbo. If you don't have a 4x4 then this is probably the smart choice as its the most usable inside. Update due soon.

Bentley Brooklands (2 door Arnage) - Pros - exclusivity, heritage. That interior!
Cons - really wanted to love this, but its impractically big and feels like driving the QE2 down the grand union canal most of the time. I am not a sir.

Rolls Royce Wraith -
Pros - it just works. Beautifully. Its quick but doesn't feel it.
Cons - Its quick but doesn't feel it. The ideal family car if you have the money but don't actually like driving that much. If I drove every day in central London or LA I'd lust after one, but I don't.

Phantom coupe/DHC -
Pros - its the ultimate. loved the idea...
Cons - ...until I stood next to one in the rain and realised this car only makes sense if you are 70 and live in Palm Springs and used to direct movies.

Ferrari FF.
Pros - Awesome sound, handling incredible, sounds amazing and more than enough room for a week away with 2 nippers, yet will break 200 if asked without a sweat.

Cons - not everyone likes the looks. But then it only works because it looks like that...

My top 3
Ferrari FF - My winner by some distance. As a car you can enjoy every day as a GT but can simultaneously mix it with Hypercars this is the only choice.

Panamera GTS
Its 100k less than the FF and 80% as good 100% of the time. You will just wince if you look at it when you are walking away from the car park.

Bentley CGT v8
The only non hatch in the top3. It works as a family GT just. You'll just be slightly more comfort oriented (maybe you have grand kids?) to chose this...

[mr_tony]

rob.e said:

I don't think you could go on a family skiing/ camping holiday with an FF.

For me money no object it'd be Audi RS6 as above.

http://youtu.be/T2NCbj71GME

Harry does it better than I can....

[rob.e]

g7jhp said:

Always amuses me why people suddenly need a 'big' car when they have kids.

Guess it depends on who's driving it with the kids in.

Personally I'd choose a 5 door Golf GTI because it's big enough for two kids 9but not too big), is safe, reasonably quick and is understated.

From that i'd guess you don't have kids then?!

I had a 5 door mk5 GTI when the first nipper came along - we were just about ok but had a roof box too. When the second arrived it was no use at all - pram filled the boot completely so no space for any other gear. It wasnt' big enough for a weekend away let alone camping etc.

And before those without kids moan "why do you need so much stuff?" - you just wait until it happens to you - lack of sleep, stress of parenthood, wife says "we need x, y, z, and a, b, c etc.." you're not going to argue, believe me!

I'm on my second vRS - so esentially a GTI with a boot. Admittedly now the kids are older we don't fill it as often but it is still maxed out at holiday time etc.

[PGNCerbera]

I went through this same thought process and in the end got an M5. Very briefly considered the RS6 but think estates generally look st.

Can't see how any 2 door car would be an "ultimate" choice either.

For me, if I never had to see clients or if my staff never saw my car, an Aston Rapide would be the choice. Such a beautiful car it actually makes me ache when I see one.

[PGNCerbera]

[rob.e]

mr_tony said:

rob.e said:

I don't think you could go on a family skiing/ camping holiday with an FF.

For me money no object it'd be Audi RS6 as above.

http://youtu.be/T2NCbj71GME

Harry does it better than I can....

Don't dispute you could go skiing (or offroading!) in it, just that harry's trip does not have wife+ two kids+ their luggage?

[Cartwheel]

rob.e said:

I don't think you could go on a family skiing/ camping holiday with an FF.

For me money no object it'd be Audi RS6 as above.

Skiing wise I think you'd change your mind after 5 minutes in Verbier - seen plenty of them there.

[anonymous-user]

mr_tony said:

<Lots of interesting and informed stuff...>

Thanks for that. As a matter of interest how does the bootspace of the Panamera compare to the Granturismo?

[kambites]

Greg66 said:

mr_tony said:

<Lots if interesting and informed stuff...>

Thanks for that. As a matter of interest how does the bootspace of the Panamera compare to the Granturismo?

With the seats up, the Porsche has about twice the capacity.

[Dapster]

For me I can not see an "ultimate family car" not being mahoosive or having five doors. Even if I had unlimited cash, an FF, Continental or Maserati Grand Coupe would just be a pain in the arse.

If I had 2 kids, the RS6 would be my choice too. As it is, I have 3 kids and all the associated paraphernalia and need for 3 car seats means my SMAX is probable my money no object ideal.

Having said that, I can't see your average billionaire needing to get three kids from swimming, drop one off at cricket and the other 2 at Nando's for a birthday party AND do a quick stop off at Waitrose en route....

[Cartwheel]

A R350 CDi with 4Matic and 7 seats (6 on the later models) would be a good choice too. They're a pain to park though.

[mr_tony]

rob.e said:

mr_tony said:

rob.e said:

I don't think you could go on a family skiing/ camping holiday with an FF.

For me money no object it'd be Audi RS6 as above.

http://youtu.be/T2NCbj71GME

Harry does it better than I can....

Don't dispute you could go skiing (or offroading!) in it, just that harry's trip does not have wife+ two kids+ their luggage?

You didn't watch the video did you he goes 4 up to the alps with all the luggage.
I'm off for a week in France in mine with mrs t plus toddler t and baby t. Buggy luggage and all. We won't be camping though...

[k-ink]

jke11y said:

Baby due next month and my answer was a G500 - but that was mostly because I have always wanted one. Mega practical though and has the 9 seat option for trips with the 3 of us. Ideal eh

I love this idea. The only 4x4 to own!

[Welshbeef]

Merc GL 7 seat comfort seats and rear entertainment system

[g7jhp]

rob.e said:

g7jhp said:

Always amuses me why people suddenly need a 'big' car when they have kids.

Guess it depends on who's driving it with the kids in.

Personally I'd choose a 5 door Golf GTI because it's big enough for two kids 9but not too big), is safe, reasonably quick and is understated.

From that i'd guess you don't have kids then?!

I had a 5 door mk5 GTI when the first nipper came along - we were just about ok but had a roof box too. When the second arrived it was no use at all - pram filled the boot completely so no space for any other gear. It wasnt' big enough for a weekend away let alone camping etc.

And before those without kids moan "why do you need so much stuff?" - you just wait until it happens to you - lack of sleep, stress of parenthood, wife says "we need x, y, z, and a, b, c etc.." you're not going to argue, believe me!

I'm on my second vRS - so esentially a GTI with a boot. Admittedly now the kids are older we don't fill it as often but it is still maxed out at holiday time etc.

I actually have two kids. We have a Golf GTI and have no problem packing everything we need for a week down in Cornwall. Bikes get strapped to the back (but in future I'll probably get a towbar bike rack). We haven't even needed a roofbox.

The kids are now past buggy stage, but that was never a problem.

You learn to pack what you need, rather than chucking everything in. Most people probably don't need the extra room 95% of the time.

There's no right or wrong to this all I'm saying is it works for us, so I'm sure it work for others.

[Welshbeef]

How about top of the range Ford Galaxy 7 full adult says panoramic roof so much kit you couldn't want for more plus any more space and you literally need a bus.


If its 2 kids and 2 parents plus luggage capacity for a two week holiday it needs to be 5 series /e class boot space estate or Merc GL equivalent auto a must best sound system and LCD screens in front plus rear for kids auto too panoramic roof is nice

[gizlaroc]

braddo said:

Or simply, people are different

Why assume that everyone needs/wants to cart around bikes and just throw them in the boot like you do?

Why should others assume people automatically go camping when you have kids or suddenly need ground clearance in your car?

Some people don't care if their cars are a pig sty, while others manage to keep theirs tidy even with kids.

For me the family car still has to be a decent drive and not too large so I can't for the life of me understand why you would want a SUV. The wife wants one though.... :facepalm:

Maserati Quattroporte is on my radar as the ultimate, or a M5/E63/RS6 estate if you want the occasional big load lugging ability.

Haha, I keep my cars clean.

My E350 estate...


My ML...



My point was that in the ML I am happy to throw the kids stuff in the back all muddy, where as the E350 I would always be worried about what I was doing to it. But that is more the difference between £40,000 worth or car and £4,000 worth of car.


I'm surprised people have kids that don't want to take their bikes places etc. My lad wants to take his bike everywhere. I totally get that people wouldn't want to camp, unless it is a festival we don't either, villa in the sun for me, I hate camping unless I am getting hammered.

Genuinely surprised at a Quattroporte though as the ultimate 'family' car.


I guess I never got the SUV thing till I bought this, and to be honest I only bought it as someone on the forum was trading it in and I had just sold my E350 estate as I didn't like it and was deciding what to buy, thought it could be a car to use for a couple of months and cost me nothing, just happens that I have now been in it for nearly 18 months which is longer than I normally keep my cars for, it feels quite liberating now worrying about mileage, depreciation, every mark, and it is just so easy to use on a daily basis.
But I had to live with it to get it.

[Dick Seaman]

It can change as your family changes. When my two were young and uncouth the Discovery 3 was the ultimate. Now they're teens and have had some civilisation beaten into them, the 640d GC is the ultimate.

[Cartwheel]

Just to add this as a showcase for a 3/5 series diesel

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Touring, toys, 4wd, bosh