What is the best new all-rounder that you can buy?
Discussion
Yes, a good all-rounder is usually compromised in some way, so a lot of PHers have multiple vehicles to meet all their motoring needs but what if you can only have one vehicle? What is the best new car all-rounder out there all things considered, when you take into account:
Performance
Handling
Fun
Comfort
Practicality (decent sized boot and ability to transport 4 in comfort)
Affordable running costs
Looks and image
Purchase price/value
I still think the VW Golf GTI still takes some beating. No, it's probably not as fast or exciting as some of it's rivals but it is a very good car and does most things well, whilst maintaining a respectable but not overtly flash image. I think the mk5/mk6/mk7 GTIs are even better all-rounders than their illustrious forbears in fact.
A 5 door manual GTI with Performance Pack is probably all the car that you would ever need 95% of the time and all for less than 30k, so fairly attainable for someone on an average income.
Arguably, for not much more, the Golf R offers more of everything but (cheap lease deals aside) it is over that 30k barrier, which seems like a lot of money for a Golf. I'm sure that if I drove one, I would find it fantastic but I have never really warmed to the Golf R models. To me, they never look as good as the GTIs (mk4 R32 excepted) and although it is unquestionably faster and more economical, it has lost some of its USP/appeal by dropping that snarly V6! Yes, it is also now available as an estate, which make its case potentially even stronger but not everyone wants an estate (although I like them).
I guess one could also make a good case for this as the best all-rounder but then it does cost 60k puttiing it out of reach of most people.
Did anything in the past (no longer in production) do the all-rounder thing better? With the exception of running costs and looks/image, my old WRX Wagon ticked most of the boxes for me and was the best all-rounder that I have ever owned.
Performance
Handling
Fun
Comfort
Practicality (decent sized boot and ability to transport 4 in comfort)
Affordable running costs
Looks and image
Purchase price/value
I still think the VW Golf GTI still takes some beating. No, it's probably not as fast or exciting as some of it's rivals but it is a very good car and does most things well, whilst maintaining a respectable but not overtly flash image. I think the mk5/mk6/mk7 GTIs are even better all-rounders than their illustrious forbears in fact.
A 5 door manual GTI with Performance Pack is probably all the car that you would ever need 95% of the time and all for less than 30k, so fairly attainable for someone on an average income.
Arguably, for not much more, the Golf R offers more of everything but (cheap lease deals aside) it is over that 30k barrier, which seems like a lot of money for a Golf. I'm sure that if I drove one, I would find it fantastic but I have never really warmed to the Golf R models. To me, they never look as good as the GTIs (mk4 R32 excepted) and although it is unquestionably faster and more economical, it has lost some of its USP/appeal by dropping that snarly V6! Yes, it is also now available as an estate, which make its case potentially even stronger but not everyone wants an estate (although I like them).
I guess one could also make a good case for this as the best all-rounder but then it does cost 60k puttiing it out of reach of most people.
Did anything in the past (no longer in production) do the all-rounder thing better? With the exception of running costs and looks/image, my old WRX Wagon ticked most of the boxes for me and was the best all-rounder that I have ever owned.
Merc C350e?
Nearly 280bhp and 450lb/ft of torque.
Claimed fuel economy of over 130MPG!
Nice exterior and interior design, a lot of improvement on the W204, much more akin to an E/S class than the previous C class.
No road tax as emissions are tiny.
0-60 in sub 6seconds.
If you spec the AMG package then you get much better driving pleasure out of it if you fancy doing some country lanes. Makes the exterior look better IMO as well.
If you spend a bit more there's a lot of options for toys, standard equipment isnt exactly spartan either.
Fair enough you're looking at more than £30k, closer to £40k with a good selection of options ticked but there're some cracking lease deals going.
Remember, that you'll be saving plenty compared to a normal car as you can go nearly 20miles on the electric motor (which ain't too bad for the average commute) and can recharge it in only 2 hours whilst you're at work. Realistically you'd be looking at a safe 90mpg average if you're not a long distance driver!
Also, you'll never get your tyres slashed by those green party mentals.
Nearly 280bhp and 450lb/ft of torque.
Claimed fuel economy of over 130MPG!
Nice exterior and interior design, a lot of improvement on the W204, much more akin to an E/S class than the previous C class.
No road tax as emissions are tiny.
0-60 in sub 6seconds.
If you spec the AMG package then you get much better driving pleasure out of it if you fancy doing some country lanes. Makes the exterior look better IMO as well.
If you spend a bit more there's a lot of options for toys, standard equipment isnt exactly spartan either.
Fair enough you're looking at more than £30k, closer to £40k with a good selection of options ticked but there're some cracking lease deals going.
Remember, that you'll be saving plenty compared to a normal car as you can go nearly 20miles on the electric motor (which ain't too bad for the average commute) and can recharge it in only 2 hours whilst you're at work. Realistically you'd be looking at a safe 90mpg average if you're not a long distance driver!
Also, you'll never get your tyres slashed by those green party mentals.
Edited by maurauth on Monday 25th May 17:24
I came from a string of Mercedes CLK, Jaguar XF, Mercedes CLS, BMW 630d and 640d to a Golf GTi, really by accident.
Mine was a chunk more than £30k, as it's well specced, but I am really happy with it. It does everything the above could do, and is cheaper to run. I do have a 4x4 and a classic, for specific duties; but the Golf really is all the car I need day-to-day.
It's over a year old now, and I still smile when I drive it!
Mine was a chunk more than £30k, as it's well specced, but I am really happy with it. It does everything the above could do, and is cheaper to run. I do have a 4x4 and a classic, for specific duties; but the Golf really is all the car I need day-to-day.
It's over a year old now, and I still smile when I drive it!
Anything not German? I thought about a Focus ST. Cheaper and more power than the Golf but challenging looks, a smaller boot, dubious image in some eyes and not as good as the Golf from what I've read.
Does the Golf R hatch lose boot space by being AWD? The loss in boot space in the mk5 R32 compared to the GTI was significant from what I remember.
Interesting choice in the C350e and a nice car but I'm not sure if it would be as fun and involving as the Golf on a B-road blast or on track, as no manual option and it's a considerably bigger car.
Does the Golf R hatch lose boot space by being AWD? The loss in boot space in the mk5 R32 compared to the GTI was significant from what I remember.
Interesting choice in the C350e and a nice car but I'm not sure if it would be as fun and involving as the Golf on a B-road blast or on track, as no manual option and it's a considerably bigger car.
white_goodman said:
A 5 door manual GTI with Performance Pack is probably all the car that you would ever need 95% of the time and all for less than 30k, so fairly attainable for someone on an average income.
The average person on an average wage with a mortgage to pay and 2.4 kids to feed doesn't have 30 grand to spunk on a car. Further to this, I put it to you that a 10 year old Golf GTi would still be too expensive to run for them.
Willy Nilly said:
The average person on an average wage with a mortgage to pay and 2.4 kids to feed doesn't have 30 grand to spunk on a car. Further to this, I put it to you that a 10 year old Golf GTi would still be too expensive to run for them.
I'm probably the person that you describe and definitely can't afford a new GTI but think that I could probably afford to run a 10 year old GTI!M135IBOSS said:
My vote goes for the:
M1
It ticks all the boxes, its breath takingly fast, comfortable, good looking, exceptional handling and makes a noise to die for.
Slow learner. That's a 1M. An M1 is a supercar.M1
It ticks all the boxes, its breath takingly fast, comfortable, good looking, exceptional handling and makes a noise to die for.
Also either I've got hammered and missed a day of my life or you've never driven the 1-series yet and clearly never driven performance cars in general so you are just regurgitating other peoples' opinions which is epically sad - or just trying to expand your trolling because your first troll thread has failed.
jamieduff1981 said:
Slow learner. That's a 1M. An M1 is a supercar.
Also either I've got hammered and missed a day of my life or you've never driven the 1-series yet and clearly never driven performance cars in general so you are just regurgitating other peoples' opinions which is epically sad - or just trying to expand your trolling because your first troll thread has failed.
But it's a sick German whip fam? Poor lad just wants to show off to the big boys now he's on half term holiday.Also either I've got hammered and missed a day of my life or you've never driven the 1-series yet and clearly never driven performance cars in general so you are just regurgitating other peoples' opinions which is epically sad - or just trying to expand your trolling because your first troll thread has failed.
Willy Nilly said:
The average person on an average wage with a mortgage to pay and 2.4 kids to feed doesn't have 30 grand to spunk on a car. Further to this, I put it to you that a 10 year old Golf GTi would still be too expensive to run for them.
There's plenty of affordable golf leasing deals as well for those that don't fancy buying.
jamieduff1981 said:
Slow learner. That's a 1M. An M1 is a supercar.
Also either I've got hammered and missed a day of my life or you've never driven the 1-series yet and clearly never driven performance cars in general so you are just regurgitating other peoples' opinions which is epically sad - or just trying to expand your trolling because your first troll thread has failed.
I've got a test drive booked for tomorrow and if the car is right i will be purchasing the car outright with CASH. Also either I've got hammered and missed a day of my life or you've never driven the 1-series yet and clearly never driven performance cars in general so you are just regurgitating other peoples' opinions which is epically sad - or just trying to expand your trolling because your first troll thread has failed.
Eski1991 said:
10,000 miles is a bit more than not quite new 
maurauth said:
10,000 miles is a bit more than not quite new
Sorry, couldn't find one new. Here's another one that isn't new.http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
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