Family Car - Subaru Legacy Spec.B Estate or MPV + Westfield?
Discussion
I am soon to change our family car which is a Skoda Octavia Estate MK1 VRS.
After months of research I decided on the Subaru as it ticked all the boxes for the family needs, space, safety and also it's driving ability.
I never ever wanted an MPV as our only car, however for the same budget I could buy a Diesel Focus C-Max or even a Toyota Prius and with the savings inc tax/insurance/fuel buy a Westfield.
Alternatively I could remap the Skoda but want something with more driving feel and performance without modification and I'd like the 3.0 H6 in the Subaru.
Any opinions or alternatives???
After months of research I decided on the Subaru as it ticked all the boxes for the family needs, space, safety and also it's driving ability.
I never ever wanted an MPV as our only car, however for the same budget I could buy a Diesel Focus C-Max or even a Toyota Prius and with the savings inc tax/insurance/fuel buy a Westfield.
Alternatively I could remap the Skoda but want something with more driving feel and performance without modification and I'd like the 3.0 H6 in the Subaru.
Any opinions or alternatives???
How much are you proposing paying for the Legacy, and how much for the cheaper cars which would allow you to buy a Westfield? In fact, what **is** your budget?
I think you could probably buy a non-SpecB Legacy for a price low enough that you could also afford a Westy. 2nd hand ones are cheapy cheap.
I think you could probably buy a non-SpecB Legacy for a price low enough that you could also afford a Westy. 2nd hand ones are cheapy cheap.
What's your commute/usage like?
There really is something special about driving an interesting car day-to-day and that'll come back to haunt you if you spend 5 days a week in a souless runaround. You will spend half the time in the wrong car of the two - I speak from experience. However, there is a lot to be said for two (or more) cars, not least that it usually works out cheaper than one genuinely entertaining all rounder and allows you to go for something far more extreme as the fun car.
I'd decide based on your typical useage. If it's 20 miles of deserted moorland roads and a nice secure place to leave the car at the end you'd be mad not to go for an interesting daily driver. If it's a 5 mile trudge through the city centre, scuffing curbs, running the gauntlet with spatially challenged van drivers and then parking on a dodgy street it'd be frivolous to subject a worthwhile car to that and you'd be better off with a weekday workhorse.
There really is something special about driving an interesting car day-to-day and that'll come back to haunt you if you spend 5 days a week in a souless runaround. You will spend half the time in the wrong car of the two - I speak from experience. However, there is a lot to be said for two (or more) cars, not least that it usually works out cheaper than one genuinely entertaining all rounder and allows you to go for something far more extreme as the fun car.
I'd decide based on your typical useage. If it's 20 miles of deserted moorland roads and a nice secure place to leave the car at the end you'd be mad not to go for an interesting daily driver. If it's a 5 mile trudge through the city centre, scuffing curbs, running the gauntlet with spatially challenged van drivers and then parking on a dodgy street it'd be frivolous to subject a worthwhile car to that and you'd be better off with a weekday workhorse.
Yes sorry, here is the missing info.
Forgot to say I am self employed man with white VAN.
Family Car: Total around 7,500 miles p.a
Wife to use 3 days a week 8mile round trip to work <40mph whole journey
Family to use dropping of children, going to park etc short 3 mile journeys <40mph
Lots of shopping trips etc.
Family trip: 8 x 300miles round trips, mainly motorways
Solo journeys: 8 x 300miles round trips, mainly motorways
Other general driving
Westfield would be:
Whenever I fancy a drive or can use it for a practical reason.
Possibly track day once a year if I am lucky.
Budget:
Legacy Estate: £8,500
MPV/PRIUS £5,500, Kit Car £3,500
(I will be buying the kit car after the summer, so I am not sure if that means I might get more value for money at that time?)
(when I say westfield I mean lotus seven design cars, I know I might not be able to afford a genuine westfield)
Forgot to say I am self employed man with white VAN.
Family Car: Total around 7,500 miles p.a
Wife to use 3 days a week 8mile round trip to work <40mph whole journey
Family to use dropping of children, going to park etc short 3 mile journeys <40mph
Lots of shopping trips etc.
Family trip: 8 x 300miles round trips, mainly motorways
Solo journeys: 8 x 300miles round trips, mainly motorways
Other general driving
Westfield would be:
Whenever I fancy a drive or can use it for a practical reason.
Possibly track day once a year if I am lucky.
Budget:
Legacy Estate: £8,500
MPV/PRIUS £5,500, Kit Car £3,500
(I will be buying the kit car after the summer, so I am not sure if that means I might get more value for money at that time?)
(when I say westfield I mean lotus seven design cars, I know I might not be able to afford a genuine westfield)
Edited by henry123 on Monday 5th July 12:53
Edited by henry123 on Monday 5th July 13:22
I guess if you need 4+ seats for the kids then that rules out a lot of the interesting coupes and the like that you could otherwise use as a daily driver. Probably best to go for option 2.
Does it have to be a Caterfield type car? What's your budget for the 'fun' car? You're looking at about £6k+ for a respectable Westfield and Caterhams start at about £9k. With a bit of haggling you might be able to get one of the cheaper Seven-style cars down to about £4,500.
Does it have to be a Caterfield type car? What's your budget for the 'fun' car? You're looking at about £6k+ for a respectable Westfield and Caterhams start at about £9k. With a bit of haggling you might be able to get one of the cheaper Seven-style cars down to about £4,500.
henry123 said:
Budget:
Legacy Estate: £8,500
MPV/PRIUS £5,500, Kit Car £3,500
(I will be buying the kit car after the summer, so I am not sure if that means I might get more value for money at that time?)
(when I say westfield I mean lotus seven design cars, I know I might not be able to afford a genuine westfield)
OK, if you're considering that kind of split, might I suggest you could get a non-SpecB Legacy for the kind of price you are considering buying a MPV for.Legacy Estate: £8,500
MPV/PRIUS £5,500, Kit Car £3,500
(I will be buying the kit car after the summer, so I am not sure if that means I might get more value for money at that time?)
(when I say westfield I mean lotus seven design cars, I know I might not be able to afford a genuine westfield)
Doubt you'd get a Westy for £3500 but have a look for the MK Se7ens in the classifieds. Often these are built with bike engines on a very useful chassis. Avoid Robin Hoods and (slightly less evil) Tigers.
The rule is that if I have a fun car then the other has to be a MPV type car.
My wife wants higher ride height, cubby holes for children's items, cup holders, comfy seats, good visibility, comfy ride.
It has to be LOW tax, LOW insurance and high MPG to offset the unnecessary purchase of my car.
Appreciate at £3,500 it's unlikely to be a real Westfield.
It doesn't have to be a Lotus Seven design. I just thought that I would get the most handling performance for my money.
My wife wants higher ride height, cubby holes for children's items, cup holders, comfy seats, good visibility, comfy ride.
It has to be LOW tax, LOW insurance and high MPG to offset the unnecessary purchase of my car.
Appreciate at £3,500 it's unlikely to be a real Westfield.
It doesn't have to be a Lotus Seven design. I just thought that I would get the most handling performance for my money.
Edited by henry123 on Monday 5th July 14:30
henry123 said:
The rule is that if I have a fun car then the other has to be a MPV type car.
My wife wants higher ride height, cubby holes for children's items, cup holders, comfy seats, good visibility, comfy ride.
It has to be LOW tax, LOW insurance and high MPG to offset the unnecessary purchase of my car.
Appreciate at £3,500 it's unlikely to be a real Westfield.
It doesn't have to be a Lotus Seven design. I just thought that I would get the most handling performance for my money.
Dunno about MPVs but if you're not stuck on a Se7en, look at Furys, or any other Jeremy Philips design. They are relatively stiff and lightweight, and can have some interesting engine options.My wife wants higher ride height, cubby holes for children's items, cup holders, comfy seats, good visibility, comfy ride.
It has to be LOW tax, LOW insurance and high MPG to offset the unnecessary purchase of my car.
Appreciate at £3,500 it's unlikely to be a real Westfield.
It doesn't have to be a Lotus Seven design. I just thought that I would get the most handling performance for my money.
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