Sporty and practical family sports cars - suggestions please

[Turnip Farmer]

Hey everyone

I've been looking around for family sized car to replace my 12 plate Seat Ibiza FR.

I originally had my eye on 15 plate Focus ST but I think it was little out of my budget.

Other car I was looking at was Skoda Octavia VRS.

However are there any other cars I should look at? Budget is around 15k and of course will part ex the Ibiza in against new car.

Many thanks all

:-)

[Turnip Farmer]

Just realised my phone auto corrected practical in the topic title. Could a moderator please change it?

[anonymous-user]

Leon Cupra/FR, Mazda 3 MPS or Alfa Giulietta are good shouts and less obvious choices

[mk4gtiturbo]

I have a 14 plate Octavia vRS TDI Estate, with a few nice options. I've had it from new but I'm near the end of my three year PCP deal and I'm seriously considering just paying it off and keeping it.

[kiethton]

335i touring?

Audi S4

Golf R estate

[ZX10R NIN]

If it has to be 2015 then I'd say the Alfa is a good shout,

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Megane GT (220bhp version but 3 doors)
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[Turnip Farmer]

Thank you all for suggestions, will check them out.

Shame about the Meganne being 3 door as that's a nice motor, need 5 door ideally.

The OH doesn't like the shape of the Alfa and I'm not too keen either.

One other car I've seen is the Peugeot 308 gti 270, worth looking into or stay well away as it's a pug?

[ZX10R NIN]

The 308 isn't bad a lot of people seem to complain about the dash/steering wheel so go for a test drive.

Also the Kia Cee'd GT might be worth a look.

2015 200bhp
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2016
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[MKnight702]

You definitely need 2 cars, one sporty and one practical. The sporty one can be a cheap MX5 and the practical one a boggo SEAT. Total cost should be in budget and you get the best of both worlds!!!

[Turnip Farmer]

MKnight702 said:

You definitely need 2 cars, one sporty and one practical. The sporty one can be a cheap MX5 and the practical one a boggo SEAT. Total cost should be in budget and you get the best of both worlds!!!

I've got an Abarth 500 as my daily drive to and from work.

This would be our main family car that I would want to get for replacement of seat Ibiza as it's a bit small for family car.

But yeah your correct practical is the word. Should I not bother with sporty family car and go just a standard but practical family car?

If I was to go down that route any cars I should consider? Quite like the nissan qashqai but part of me still thinks I should go for sporty fun family car.

[Turnip Farmer]

ZX10R NIN said:

The 308 isn't bad a lot of people seem to complain about the dash/steering wheel so go for a test drive.

Also the Kia Cee'd GT might be worth a look.

2015 200bhp
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2016
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Cheers mate. I will have a look

[MKnight702]

Turnip Farmer said:

But yeah your correct practical is the word. Should I not bother with sporty family car and go just a standard but practical family car?

If I was to go down that route any cars I should consider? Quite like the nissan qashqai but part of me still thinks I should go for sporty fun family car.

For me, a "sporty" practical car would be a compromise, you would get the worst of both worlds, it would ride too harshly for the daily trips and longer journeys and would probably cost more to run in fuel and tyres not to mention insurance but it would not be sporty enough to enjoy fully when required.

Don't compromise, get a practical cheap to run car that you don't mind getting trashed in Tesco carpark and sticky jam fingers inside and when funds allow a no frills sports car for when required. A Westfield could be had reasonably affordably and costs peanuts to run and insure and probably won't depreciate at all.

[Turnip Farmer]

Just another thought today but few threads I've been reading on PH but few guys recommend the Ford Mondeo Titanium x.

Lookso like a goodream practical family car but with a bit of oomph when needed.

Anyone got experience of the mondeo? Is it worth going for the diesel or petrol engines?

Had a look at the Qashqui and it's quite a nice looking car but the engines worry me, sound like 1.5 and 1.6 engines will be underpowered.

[ZX10R NIN]

Turnip Farmer said:

Just another thought today but few threads I've been reading on PH but few guys recommend the Ford Mondeo Titanium x.

Lookso like a goodream practical family car but with a bit of oomph when needed.

Anyone got experience of the mondeo? Is it worth going for the diesel or petrol engines?

Had a look at the Qashqui and it's quite a nice looking car but the engines worry me, sound like 1.5 and 1.6 engines will be underpowered.

The Mondeo is a great shout but I got hung up on it having to be 2015 or newer, also they're hard to find but well worth seeking out.

2014 Mondeo Titanium X Sport 14k FSH Fully Loaded 240bhp (as well as being the sweetest FWD steer in class)
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

I'd take the Mondeo over the Qashqai every time, especially one with the Focus ST engine in

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Sunday 4th December 23:16

[Turnip Farmer]

PetrolJosh said:

Sounds like you are stuck in two minds now; Practical & sporty car or just a practical car.

My advice would be to test drive a standard car, for example a Mondeo, then also test a sporty equivalent such as an Octavia VRS and see what you think.

Yes I think your right lol. I think I need to get out testing them but I am now leaning towards the Mondeo Titanium X mentioned in the previous post, looks like it ticks most of the boxes.

[MKnight702]

PetrolJosh said:

I think the idea is that you actually get the best of both worlds. You have one car that can do two jobs. I think hot hatches, saloons and the like are fantastic because they just do everything. You can be loading it up for a holiday one week and going on a long haul, then be blasting down a B road the next week. I mean, that's the point of them in the first place right?

IMO you won't get the best of both worlds, you get a compromise, something that feels a bit sporty when pushed but will fit 4 people and luggage in slightly less comfort.

[Turnip Farmer]

Hey guys

An update. I struggled to find the right mondeo for near me so put that on back burner for now.

I went on to test drive the Tekna Qashqai and quote liked it. Seemed nice place to be and liked the gadgets and high driving position, you can see why it's a good family car. Only thing is that it felt a little underpowered.

The other car we test drove is 2015 Volvo V40 d3 Rdesign. Really liked this car and feel I want to go for this car over the others I've mentioned as it's good price, still has good power and is also practical. Only thing I'm not sure on is boot space, looks a little small for its class.

Is there anyone out there with a v40 as a family car and uses one on a day to day basis?

[Turnip Farmer]

Or should I go for qashqai instead?

[RTaylor2208]

I'm surprised you're looking at Tekna Qashqai's when you said the Focus ST was out of budget. A 2016 focus ST in petrol or diesel can be had for 15K with under 25k on the clock. Looking at the QQ there more expensive.

Anyway, we have a focus ST-2 Nav TDCI and its not great as a family car, the boot is too narrow for a lot of prams \ buggy's and if you have rear facing child seats in the back room for the person in front is limited due to the size of the recaros. Other than that I like it just not as a family car.

We were also looking at the QQ to become the family wagon, I have to say I like them particularly the latest shape in Tekna spec. But the list price new is ridiculous for what is still a run of the mil family car. We drove the 1.5D, 1.6D and 1.6T. Out of them all the 1.6D was the pick of the bunch, torquey with decent MPG. The 1.6T petrol felt no faster.

Prior to the focus we had a 2002 SAAB 9-5 Aero estate and stupidly sold it. It was everything you really need. Pretty quick, comfortable, lots of room and well spec'd. So tomorrow I pick up yet another 9-5 aero estate to commence family duties.

There an absolute bargain and if looked after just as reliable as anything else. Ours will be a 2010 9-5 2.3T Turbo Edition, which has pretty much every option that was available, 50K miles on the clock and all for £2700 (Private sale obviously). The insurance is very cheap at £298 fully comp for both me and the wife with 0 NCD as its in use on our other policies, running costs are high with 25-30MPG in the real world and 500 in VED but that's offset with little depreciation over the next few years.

[Turnip Farmer]

RTaylor2208 said:

I'm surprised you're looking at Tekna Qashqai's when you said the Focus ST was out of budget. A 2016 focus ST in petrol or diesel can be had for 15K with under 25k on the clock. Looking at the QQ there more expensive.

Anyway, we have a focus ST-2 Nav TDCI and its not great as a family car, the boot is too narrow for a lot of prams \ buggy's and if you have rear facing child seats in the back room for the person in front is limited due to the size of the recaros. Other than that I like it just not as a family car.

We were also looking at the QQ to become the family wagon, I have to say I like them particularly the latest shape in Tekna spec. But the list price new is ridiculous for what is still a run of the mil family car. We drove the 1.5D, 1.6D and 1.6T. Out of them all the 1.6D was the pick of the bunch, torquey with decent MPG. The 1.6T petrol felt no faster.

Prior to the focus we had a 2002 SAAB 9-5 Aero estate and stupidly sold it. It was everything you really need. Pretty quick, comfortable, lots of room and well spec'd. So tomorrow I pick up yet another 9-5 aero estate to commence family duties.

There an absolute bargain and if looked after just as reliable as anything else. Ours will be a 2010 9-5 2.3T Turbo Edition, which has pretty much every option that was available, 50K miles on the clock and all for £2700 (Private sale obviously). The insurance is very cheap at £298 fully comp for both me and the wife with 0 NCD as its in use on our other policies, running costs are high with 25-30MPG in the real world and 500 in VED but that's offset with little depreciation over the next few years.

With regard to the ST-2 I couldn't find one at that price or am I looking in the wrong place? After reviewing our budget we could go upto 17k from the original 15k I said.

I have seen a couple of the QQ Teknas around the 16.5k to 17k mark that are 2015/16 plate so within our budget.

The Saab sounds like you say a bargain, do you not have any issues with maintenance etc now that they are not made anymore?

Also on the Volvo V40 front, the V40 I test drove yesterday was faultless up until the last bit coming into the dealership where it started running lumpy and misfiring, the V40 is only year old and 10k on the clock. Was assured by the dealer it was something called EGR valve and known recall MOD that is needed to be done on the V40 engines but just had some feedback from the dealer and it appears it was'nt the EGR valve but water ingress into one of the fuel injectors. I really want to like the car as it has every optional extra you could possibly imagine and was pleasant to drive when it was running OK.

The water got there from when they jet washed the engine bay to clean it and were a little too keen. They are going to replace the fuel injector.

Now I pose this question to those who know more stuff about this than me but with it being a fuel injector issue which I know they are going to replace it, will it be OK once fixed and I'll be OK to buy the car or should I walk away from this car? Is it likely to give me more issues in the future?