Which car?!

[Legend83]

You have:

- About £7k to spend
- Two children under 1 years of age
- The need to replace a 2-seater with something capable of lugging said children around and on holidays etc.
- A commute of 8 miles a day

Do you buy:

a) http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

2006 FORD Mondeo 3.0 V6 ST220
5 Doors, Manual, Estate, Petrol, 40,000 miles, Metallic Blue. Very high spec come direct from Ford Main dealer with a years Ford Warranty, in showroom condition inside and out a very rare estate model, Satnav, bluetooth telephone, DVD player, TV, Ipod, connection, Alpine touchscreen upgraded head unit, CD/MP3 Player, Recarro Half Leather half Suede racing seats, Heated seats, Parking sensors. 18inch ford wheels, privacy tints, etc. PAS, Drivers airbag, ABS, Remote central locking, Alarm, Immobiliser, Front electric windows, Climate control, Air conditioning, Alloy wheels, Radio/CD Multichanger, Leather seat trim, Metallic Paint, Cruise control, Front head restraints, Rear electric windows, Body coloured bumpers, Rear wiper, Passenger airbag, Lumbar support, Steering wheel rake adjustment, Front fog lights, Folding rear seats, Electric door mirrors, Audio remote control, Trip computer, Side airbags, Steering wheel reach adjustment, Sports seats, Rear headrests, Roof rails, Heated front seat, Space saver spare wheel, Front armrest, Electrically adjustable drivers seat, Electrically adjustable passenger seat, Rear armrest, Heated door mirrors. £5,995

[pic] http://pictures2.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servle...

OR

b) http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

2006 Subaru Legacy 3.0 R Spec B 5dr Sport Tourer
Low mileage genuine example of a Subaru Legacy SPEC B Sport Tourer in great condition,you will struggle to find better.Sort after and acclaimed by many of the main motoring press as one of the top 5 best ever "Q Cars"offering the perfect balance between comfort, practicality,understated presence with pedigree capable performance. * Finished in Metallic Blue* 35k miles * MOT 12mths & Taxed til June* Full service history with all old MOT certificates*6 speed manual gearbox * Black Leather Interior with electric front heated seat*Electric Panoramic Sunroof *6 CD sound system with touch screen Sat Nav * Cruise control and climate control * Special Edition SpecB 18"alloys * Winter pack and Front Fogs * Silver Subaru side kick seals and Subaru tough boot protector * Both keys and Thatcham Cat1 alarm & mobiliser * Subaru AWD with 241bhp,3.0R flat six The Legacy SpecB has the Impreza STI Bilstein suspension fitted so this car handles well when driving it on the bendy back roads too. The prefect sports tourer, great boot space,excellent motorway cruiser,returning 25-30mpg. The tyres have even tyre wear & plenty of tread left all round. I spent around 10-12mths searching for the right SpecB before I found this low mileage clean example. Relocating abroad for work forces me to sell, otherwise I would not be selling. Priced to sell,open to sensible offers, no canversors or part exchanges. £7,850

[pic] http://pictures2.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servle...

[Swifter]

A Megane R26.

I have run one with three kids no issue at all. The back doors are big so give easy access to the back, although can be a pain in tight car parks, but a five door is still the same.

[PaperCut]

The Legacy.

[Swifter]

Swifter said:

A Megane R26.

I have run one with three kids no issue at all. The back doors are big so give easy access to the back, although can be a pain in tight car parks, but a five door is still the same.

Sorry, I see you where looking at Estates. Ignore me then.

[Legend83]

PaperCut said:

The Legacy.

Any particular reasons?

[Dr Interceptor]

I wouldn't buy either.

Go and get yourself a Jag.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3734295.htm

Plenty of space, boot big enough for kiddie clobber, plus it has that gorgeous Supercharged V8 up front

[PaperCut]

Legend83 said:

PaperCut said:

The Legacy.

Any particular reasons?

Over the Ford (which i also like incidently) it is, or feels at least, better quality both interior and mechanicals, the added benefit of AWD, it's a lot more understated and subtle, plus it's likely to hold on to it's value better than the Mondeo (..i think!), plus it looks better/smarter/more modern.

TBH though if you picked either you're going to get a good, if not great car. But i'd personally pick the Legacy.

[RichTBiscuit]

I had a very similar condundrum (car wise, not family wise )

I went for the Legacy over the ST as it appears to be better made, nicer interior (imo) and it's just a little different. When you shoot past people in hot hatches you can see them wondering what the hell it is your driving!

I've done 40k miles (up to 82k now) and other than consumables (brakes, tyres) I've just had to replace the front suspension bushes. NOTHING else has gone wrong, best objective car i've ever owned. Alfa GTV V6 is best 'non objective' car

[RichTBiscuit]

BTW, just to warn you I get around 19mpg in town, and 30mpg on the motorway. I suspect the Mondeo will be a little better, but probs not much.

[Japveesix]

Legacy for me - faster, rarer and more interesting, benefit of 4WD (friend has a legacy and it was great in the snow and ice) and possibly a better handling car?

ST220 looks great in estate form though and is still plenty quick enough and they seem to have very similar spec in terms of toys/mileage/age etc.

And just to chuck in a couple of other possible options:

156 GTA - very good looking, sounds fantastic, unusual and very PH

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3695405.htm

SAAB 9-3 2.3t HOT - Bit more grown up and luxurious, very Q car with 260bhp

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3764006.htm

Or you should be able to get a nice VRs estate for that money (possibly higher mileage)
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Edited by Japveesix on Friday 23 March 15:52

[Azur]

RichTBiscuit said:

When you shoot past people in hot hatches you can see them wondering what the hell it is your driving!

I've done 40k miles (up to 82k now) and other than consumables (brakes, tyres) I've just had to replace the front suspension bushes. NOTHING else has gone wrong, best objective car i've ever owned.

What he said.

OEM bushes go a bit sloppy... as did my clutch. If your looking at one over 60k bear in mind it might need replacing (£££).

They are heavy drinkers. Luckily I get free fuel

[kentmotorcompany]

Another vote for the Legacy here.
Just a better all round car. Rarer, better built, better drive (IMO), and AWD.

A lot of them tend to get well used, so have a careful look for signs of dogs, and general farm/offroad use.
Don't remember the last time I saw a farmer in a Mondeo, what ever that means?

[Cledus Snow]

Mondeo.

Better to drive and the Legacy handbrake digs into your leg.

[RichTBiscuit]

Cledus Snow said:

Mondeo.

Better to drive and the Legacy handbrake digs into your leg.

Only if you've got fat legs

[Wafflesmk2]

My ST220 has been the single most unreliable car i have ever owned.

I will never buy another ford again. Ever.

[Cledus Snow]

RichTBiscuit said:

Cledus Snow said:

Mondeo.

Better to drive and the Legacy handbrake digs into your leg.

Only if you've got fat legs

[angusc43]

Finally a thread not about buying a diesel. How refreshing.

FWIW I seriously looked at Legacy's (Legacies?) when I was getting my C43 estate. Mate of mine had one and loved it.

Mondeo has less of an image but I'd be tempted by that too.

[Legend83]

Unsurprisingly, the Legacy seems the favorite here!

I'm just struggling to get over the fuel economy and boot size over say, the Octavia Vrs. But I promised myself at least one cylinder more than my current car...

The other difficulty with the Legacy is finding one! 3 spec b's in budget on Autotrader...

[sparkyhx]

you looked at the
- Accord estate
- Octavia Estate

Also if you only ever plan on packing an estate up to the 'parcel shelf' some booted cars are actually bigger than the estate versions. The spaces are also often more usable as well.

[300bhp/ton]

Defender 110 or maybe a Disco 2.