A bigger MK5 Golf Gti?

[Emeye]

I want a bigger Golf Gti.

I missed my Mk5 Golf Gti so much that I bought another one 6 months later. Even though me and my wife loved it, it just wasn't big enough to make life easy when our baby came along, squeezed in with our 7 year old. Mrs Emeye now has a 1.6 Zafira which whilst OK at what it does (carrying kids and their crap around town with ease) is dreadful to drive any long distance.

So what is the equivalent to a Mk5 Golf Gti but bigger? I.E. ultimate performance all-rounder - a PH'er car with decent pace but reasonable economy and a great image yet practical. Refined and comfortable on long journeys but can tear up the bends when required.

I want to be able to take the family on holiday to Europe in comfort without spending a fortune on fuel. It doesn't have to take our breath away, but be satisfying to drive and give us that feel good factor every time we drive it.

Lets say for about £6 - 8k max?

I can't think of anything off the top of my head!

[sherman]

BMW 325 estate.

[DrainTheSpuds]

Octavia vRS Estate?

[The Machine Elf]

A Golf but larger? isn't that the Golf Plus?

[nobodyknows]

DrainTheSpuds said:

Octavia vRS Estate?

This.

[SteveS Cup]

Skoda Octavia VRS!? Image... It's a lovely looking car but I guess badge snobbery may not tick this box for you.

[Beartato]

Toyota Caldina GT-4?

TVR Chimaera and a call to adoption services?

Mk V Golf GTI and a new woman, one not tainted by motherhood, life back to as fun as it used to be?

[kambites]

Isn't there a Zafira VXR with the 240bhp engine from the Astra VXR, or something ridiculous like that?

[Nick3point2]

kambites said:

Isn't there a Zafira VXR with the 240bhp engine from the Astra VXR, or something ridiculous like that?

Horrible to drive though.

[nobodyknows]

On that theme, how about an S-Max 2.5T?

[Emeye]

The Machine Elf said:

A Golf but larger? isn't that the Golf Plus?

They don't do a Gti version though do they?

I'm not too worried about image - look at the st old cars I currently run about in! - but wife is slightly image concious and won't have a Skoda - a Vauxhall was pushing it!

[Emeye]

Beartato said:

Mk V Golf GTI and a new woman, one not tainted by motherhood, life back to as fun as it used to be?

, been there had that type of fun - now having a completely different kind of fun and the happiest I've ever been!

Apart from the car situation obviously!

[poing]

Sneak the Skoda badges off and put some (insert the badge the wife most likes) and she'll never notice. After a while when she tells you that she really likes the car and, preferably after a big fight, tell her it's actually a Skoda!

[Beartato]

Thank god you spotted the winking smiley, I was worried someone would take offence.

But have a look at Caldina GT-4s. Might be just what you're after.

[Matt UK]

BMW 330i Touring

[The Machine Elf]

Emeye said:

The Machine Elf said:

A Golf but larger? isn't that the Golf Plus?

They don't do a Gti version though do they?

I'm not too worried about image - look at the st old cars I currently run about in! - but wife is slightly image concious and won't have a Skoda - a Vauxhall was pushing it!

Good God, I wasn't being serious man! We are in a similar position (A3 too small for kids) and are thinking about an A4 or a 2.0 Zetec C-Max (not particularly fast, but cheap and meant to handle more like a sporty car than most people movers).

[ambuletz]

Octavia vRS without a doubt. you have that same GTI engine. and a boot that's bigger then a ford mondeo. or get the estate for even more space.

I pitty the insecure person who has badge snobbery..

[Caulkhead]

Mazda 6 MPS.

[anonymous-user]

Caulkhead said:

Mazda 6 MPS.

Nah they're ste he doesnt want one...

sssssh I'm hopefully getting one next month but there are only about 13 for sale in the uk

[Presuming Ed]

You can buy a brand new Skoda Octavia VRS for 16k through online brokers. What more could you want.