What car - practical and fun under £5k
Discussion
After 10 years of running a small 2 seater roadster as my only car I have decided it is time to buy a "sensible car". At the moment we have 2 cars, my MR2 Roadster and my fiance's Fiat 500, both are great at what we bought them for - sports car/urban runaround. However, there have been a few occasions recently where for logistical reasons, we have had to take the 500 on longer drives, which have ended up on some pretty good roads. So I think it is time to expand the fleet and get something which can be filled with luggage/people/bikes and driven to Scotland or Wales, whilst still being fun on mountain roads when we get there.
I'm going to be keeping the MR2 for track days/blats out/driving holidays etc, so the new car doesn't need to be too focussed.
Some requirements:
Fun to drive - I value handling and feedback over straight line acceleration
5 door hatchback/small estate
Not too big - my fiance isn't too keen on driving something much bigger than a Golf and anything bigger than a 3 Series wouldn't fit on the drive
Not an SUV
£3k to £5k
Nice to haves:
Enough space for a mountain bike in the boot with the seats folded
Standard double DIN headunit
Not too crazy on insurance
My options so far:
Mk5 Golf GTI
Subaru Impreza WRX Estate - although blue with gold wheels has been banned
BMW 1 Series - I'd love a 6 cylinder one, but think I'd need to up the budget, assuming I can actually find one for sale
Does anybody have comments on the suitability of the above cars, especially how fun they are to drive. Or can you suggest other cars which I should be looking at?
I'm going to be keeping the MR2 for track days/blats out/driving holidays etc, so the new car doesn't need to be too focussed.
Some requirements:
Fun to drive - I value handling and feedback over straight line acceleration
5 door hatchback/small estate
Not too big - my fiance isn't too keen on driving something much bigger than a Golf and anything bigger than a 3 Series wouldn't fit on the drive
Not an SUV
£3k to £5k
Nice to haves:
Enough space for a mountain bike in the boot with the seats folded
Standard double DIN headunit
Not too crazy on insurance
My options so far:
Mk5 Golf GTI
Subaru Impreza WRX Estate - although blue with gold wheels has been banned
BMW 1 Series - I'd love a 6 cylinder one, but think I'd need to up the budget, assuming I can actually find one for sale
Does anybody have comments on the suitability of the above cars, especially how fun they are to drive. Or can you suggest other cars which I should be looking at?
Edited by Craikeybaby on Monday 3rd August 14:23
Edited by Craikeybaby on Monday 3rd August 20:03
This is such a tough category... I'm looking for something similar and after going round in lots and lots of circles have so far narrowed it down to...
- Mk5 Golf GTI/Seat Leon equivalent
- Focus ST
- EP3 Civic Type R
- Volvo C30 T5 (manual)
- Clio 197/200
- Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon
- Subaru Forester XT (2.0 with a TD04 turbo or a 2.5 pre 2005/6 tax hike!) - this might be no good as I suppose it is an 'SUV'-ish
They all have their ups and downs and I still think the Mk5 ticks all the boxes: quick enough, decent chassis, practical, available in 5 door and refined/economical enough for the long slogs - but this is indeed reflected in their strong residuals! If you really want 5 doors I think you've already hit the nail on the head
- Mk5 Golf GTI/Seat Leon equivalent
- Focus ST
- EP3 Civic Type R
- Volvo C30 T5 (manual)
- Clio 197/200
- Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon
- Subaru Forester XT (2.0 with a TD04 turbo or a 2.5 pre 2005/6 tax hike!) - this might be no good as I suppose it is an 'SUV'-ish
They all have their ups and downs and I still think the Mk5 ticks all the boxes: quick enough, decent chassis, practical, available in 5 door and refined/economical enough for the long slogs - but this is indeed reflected in their strong residuals! If you really want 5 doors I think you've already hit the nail on the head
Mk5 GTi is a fine car, and there should be a good selection around your budget.
Looking to the previous generation, you may be on the cusp of being able to afford an R32 ..... failing that, look for a 3.2 Quattro A3 maybe?
A really nice Civic Breadvan Type-R is also in budget, however I think you might be a bit shy of a DC5 integra or newer shaped civic.
BMW 130i is a good car, and lots of RWD fun. Cramped in the back for passengers, and not brilliant as a load lugger with the seats down.
If you're looking up to the scale of an Impreza wagon, then don't rule out a 330i Estate BMW. Your budget will be in the E46 shape. Really good cars, however you'll need to convince the other half regarding its "enormous" size.
Looking to the previous generation, you may be on the cusp of being able to afford an R32 ..... failing that, look for a 3.2 Quattro A3 maybe?
A really nice Civic Breadvan Type-R is also in budget, however I think you might be a bit shy of a DC5 integra or newer shaped civic.
BMW 130i is a good car, and lots of RWD fun. Cramped in the back for passengers, and not brilliant as a load lugger with the seats down.
If you're looking up to the scale of an Impreza wagon, then don't rule out a 330i Estate BMW. Your budget will be in the E46 shape. Really good cars, however you'll need to convince the other half regarding its "enormous" size.
Craikeybaby said:
What are the mk4 Golfs like handling wise? I thought the mk5 was meant to be a big improvement.
I think an E46 330i would be a good choice, but like you say it may be "too big". Also when I've looked previously there wasn't that many for sale, loads of 320s, but very few 330s.
R32 is a lot better than a regular MK4 but not up to MK5 standard.I think an E46 330i would be a good choice, but like you say it may be "too big". Also when I've looked previously there wasn't that many for sale, loads of 320s, but very few 330s.
You mentioned a WRX wagon - that's the end of the search for me
if only I could insure one 
Craikeybaby said:
What are the mk4 Golfs like handling wise? I thought the mk5 was meant to be a big improvement.
Viewed objectively, the Mk4 Golf is a poor quality, poor handling, underpowered crock. You really need to want the badge to want the car.Why VAG developed the 20v Turbo 1.8 engine, then gave Audi, Skoda, and Seat the sweet powerful one, and left the GTi Golf with the flat and dull performing 150bhp derivative is a mystery.
The R32 has a sweet engine, massively improved drivetrain and handling, sounds lovely, looks fantastic and purposeful, is trimmed to a high standard, and is what you expect a premium Golf to be.
mat205125 said:
Viewed objectively, the Mk4 Golf is a poor quality, poor handling, underpowered crock. You really need to want the badge to want the car.
Why VAG developed the 20v Turbo 1.8 engine, then gave Audi, Skoda, and Seat the sweet powerful one, and left the GTi Golf with the flat and dull performing 150bhp derivative is a mystery.
The R32 has a sweet engine, massively improved drivetrain and handling, sounds lovely, looks fantastic and purposeful, is trimmed to a high standard, and is what you expect a premium Golf to be.
Perhaps for that reason, they didn't want to take sales away from the R32? The Golf did get the 180HP Engine in the Anniversary version.Why VAG developed the 20v Turbo 1.8 engine, then gave Audi, Skoda, and Seat the sweet powerful one, and left the GTi Golf with the flat and dull performing 150bhp derivative is a mystery.
The R32 has a sweet engine, massively improved drivetrain and handling, sounds lovely, looks fantastic and purposeful, is trimmed to a high standard, and is what you expect a premium Golf to be.
mat205125 said:
Why VAG developed the 20v Turbo 1.8 engine, then gave Audi, Skoda, and Seat the sweet powerful one, and left the GTi Golf with the flat and dull performing 150bhp derivative is a mystery.
The R32 has a sweet engine
As MissChief says, you've answered your own question.The R32 has a sweet engine
Re the OP - any hatch Golf size and up with the rear seats folded will take a bike with the wheels and seat off. In fact they will take 2 bikes standing up and camping gear, I know. Some will take a wheel-less bike in the boot with the back seat still in place, but not all. Having had booted cars with bikes, I'd say that this is to be avoided. Yes, you can. It's just not much fun. Quite often I ended up dismantling it, chucking it in a bike bag and tossing that on the back seat, because to do otherwise costs you 3/4 of the boot. This isn't a bad solution, it's a good way to contain all the filth and it takes me 5 minutes tops to remove wheels, seat and pedals. A cheap bike bag is £30.
battered said:
As MissChief says, you've answered your own question.
Re the OP - any hatch Golf size and up with the rear seats folded will take a bike with the wheels and seat off. In fact they will take 2 bikes standing up and camping gear, I know. Some will take a wheel-less bike in the boot with the back seat still in place, but not all. Having had booted cars with bikes, I'd say that this is to be avoided. Yes, you can. It's just not much fun. Quite often I ended up dismantling it, chucking it in a bike bag and tossing that on the back seat, because to do otherwise costs you 3/4 of the boot. This isn't a bad solution, it's a good way to contain all the filth and it takes me 5 minutes tops to remove wheels, seat and pedals. A cheap bike bag is £30.
Thanks, I've only ever ridden from home since getting my bike, so hadn't even thought of bike bags. Re the OP - any hatch Golf size and up with the rear seats folded will take a bike with the wheels and seat off. In fact they will take 2 bikes standing up and camping gear, I know. Some will take a wheel-less bike in the boot with the back seat still in place, but not all. Having had booted cars with bikes, I'd say that this is to be avoided. Yes, you can. It's just not much fun. Quite often I ended up dismantling it, chucking it in a bike bag and tossing that on the back seat, because to do otherwise costs you 3/4 of the boot. This isn't a bad solution, it's a good way to contain all the filth and it takes me 5 minutes tops to remove wheels, seat and pedals. A cheap bike bag is £30.
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