What car - time for a VAG change?

[stewies_minion]

Not for all the what car haters..

I may be cutting my commute down from 65 miles a day to 5 miles a day. Most days I'd walk / cycle. With this in mind, I'd want to sell a Golf Mk5 TDI DSG. Really like the car. Really like the DSG. It'd just be a complete waste for 5 miles a day. It would never even get warm etc.

So I'm thinking a bit of fun / bit of a giggle is required too. Here's the criteria and some ideas I'd had.

Needs to be safe as my kids will need to get be ferried about in it
30+ mpg
Would prefer 5 doors but not essential
Would prefer normally aspirated as I'd fear for the turbo on mainly short hops
Reliable enough to sit in the garage for 3 weeks at a time and start first time
Ok for the wife to drive. She loves the Golf and is happier with a hatch.
Practical enough to get a bit of shopping in
I'm 6 foot and a big lad so needs to be roomy
Fun but need not be that quick.
No French
No VX

£5000 or there abouts

My candidates:

Jeep Grand cherokee 4.7. Not fast. Not very PH. I just like jeeps / yank tanks.
Toyota Yaris 1.5 sport thing. WEEEEEEEEEEEE. At a guess. Jap reliability.
330 manual. Possibly a bit boring. Starting to look dated maybe? Not much fun.
Mint MK2 GTI. Always wanted one. Possibly not wife friendly. I'm not the best with spanners.
E30 325 touring. The one from Wheeler Dealers. No idea why.
530 / 540. Huge. Might not fit in the garage. I like these.
ST220. I like these. The blue ones.
Mazda 6. The fast one. Q car.
Impreza. Not keen on the interior / image but I'm not sure if I care that much.
Cooper S. I'd look silly. But then I'd look silly in a Yaris.
Maybe push the budget to £9000 and get a MKV GTI. Always wanted one.

I'd welcome comments on these cars / more ideas.

Cheers

[bmw2002]

Something like this, debadged of course!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

[stewies_minion]

I like them!

So much so, I already have a Passat diesel so two of the same might me a tad dull.

Good thinking, mind.

[pilchardthecat]

stewies_minion said:

5 miles a day
30+ mpg

eh?

[Blue Meanie]

Skyline 350GT

[stewies_minion]

To qualify the 30mpg & 5 miles a day thing.

Of course I wouldn't expect that on a 5 mile trip. On a run, I'd like to see 30 as the average.

[bmw2002]

Sticking with the fast estate theme:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1871359.htm

[pilchardthecat]

stewies_minion said:

To qualify the 30mpg & 5 miles a day thing.

Of course I wouldn't expect that on a 5 mile trip. On a run, I'd like to see 30 as the average.

Why?

Would 22mpg be too expensive? 25mpg?

Seriously you need to get a spreadsheet out. You're excluding a whole load of really interesting cars for no justifiable reason. Fuel is probably going to be your smallest cost. You'll spend the difference on a 100 mile trip between 30mpg and 25mpg buying a can of coke and a mars bar at a service station. If you're just commuting you'd barely get yourself a packet of chewing gum.

[stewies_minion]

Point taken.

The other car will do 95% of any other duties.

[stewies_minion]

That Audi is blinding. That's just the sort of thing I can see me picking up.

I'd be slightly nervous of some chaotic future bills, mind. But at 3 odd thousand, I'm not sure I'd really care.

More please.

[R4PID]

Get them all. One every 6 months or so. Buy right, sell right. Have fun along the way and gain massive PH experience.

[300bhp/ton]

stewies_minion said:

Not for all the what car haters..

I may be cutting my commute down from 65 miles a day to 5 miles a day. Most days I'd walk / cycle. With this in mind, I'd want to sell a Golf Mk5 TDI DSG. Really like the car. Really like the DSG. It'd just be a complete waste for 5 miles a day. It would never even get warm etc.

So I'm thinking a bit of fun / bit of a giggle is required too. Here's the criteria and some ideas I'd had.

Needs to be safe as my kids will need to get be ferried about in it
30+ mpg
Would prefer 5 doors but not essential
Would prefer normally aspirated as I'd fear for the turbo on mainly short hops
Reliable enough to sit in the garage for 3 weeks at a time and start first time
Ok for the wife to drive. She loves the Golf and is happier with a hatch.
Practical enough to get a bit of shopping in
I'm 6 foot and a big lad so needs to be roomy
Fun but need not be that quick.
No French
No VX

£5000 or there abouts

My candidates:

Jeep Grand cherokee 4.7. Not fast. Not very PH. I just like jeeps / yank tanks.
Toyota Yaris 1.5 sport thing. WEEEEEEEEEEEE. At a guess. Jap reliability.
330 manual. Possibly a bit boring. Starting to look dated maybe? Not much fun.
Mint MK2 GTI. Always wanted one. Possibly not wife friendly. I'm not the best with spanners.
E30 325 touring. The one from Wheeler Dealers. No idea why.
530 / 540. Huge. Might not fit in the garage. I like these.
ST220. I like these. The blue ones.
Mazda 6. The fast one. Q car.
Impreza. Not keen on the interior / image but I'm not sure if I care that much.
Cooper S. I'd look silly. But then I'd look silly in a Yaris.
Maybe push the budget to £9000 and get a MKV GTI. Always wanted one.

I'd welcome comments on these cars / more ideas.

Cheers

Not sure all of those are truly 30mpg+ motorcars and certainly not on a 5 mile commute. That said I too like Jeeps and you may find one running LPG too.

Impreza and MINI appeal too, but I think 30mpg is unlikely in both, esp the Impreza. e30 325 is probably a good bet depreciation wise, but again 30mpg I doubt.

[Petrolhead_Rich]

bmw2002 said:

Something like this, debadged of course!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

bmw2002 said:

Sticking with the fast estate theme:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1871359.htm

Either of these, save the cash for the fuel bill/repair bill!

[Tahiti]

bmw2002 said:

Something like this, debadged of course!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

I'm surprised at how cheap that is.

[Thorny]

With my sensible hat on I'd say do what you suggest, push the budget to 9k and get a GTI, one of the best all round cars I've owned.

[cmackay81]

Comments below of some of the ones driven...

stewies_minion said:

Jeep Grand cherokee 4.7. - Suprisingly fast actually, Awesome offroad.
Toyota Yaris 1.5 sport thing. - Built in France. don't even go there.
330 manual. - Fast, handles well, and i'd say fun
Impreza. - Turbo=fun car, but non-turbo = a bit of a heavy lump.
Cooper S. - Very fun to drive, though cramped driving space, you may struggle in this.

Just go for something totally different, If you haven't had a 4x4 before, then this would be my choice.
Otherwise if you can fit into it, the cooper S

[G_T]

Bar the Yaris, Mini and Mazda will any of those actually get close to 30mpg? A 4.0 bloody Jeep isn't going to do it either is it mate?

Your head is screaming 30mpg and your heart wants gas guzzler.

You're doing 5 miles a day. Buy something sporty and a bicycle. You'll get fit and have fun.

Ignoring MPG my 5 grand pratical car would probably be an Evo V/VI for something frantic or a V8 XJR.

I don't think anything tops beamers for all rounders. Personally I find they leave me cold though.

If you're not good with spanners a Golf mk2 is a bad choice. Even the last of the line is approaching 20 years old. Saying that it only costs about £1500 for a decent 16 valver. £800 for an 8 valver. So you could easy spend a few quid at the garage now and again.

[stewies_minion]

Some good comments ta.

I didn't realise the Toyota was made in France. Best avoided.

I do really like the idea of a Jeep. I've driven then in Anerica and LOVED them. Not sure it'd fit in the garage / a space in Tesco. But I'm not sure I really care. I'd love to have a go at off roading.

My sensible head is leading me toward a Gti though.

That's always been my problem. The sensible head puts me in Golfs and Passats.

I think I need a Jeep or a v8 something or other.

[bmw2002]

A W8 saloon as V8s are so common now

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

[teen_cerbera]

Seat Cupra R?