Slightly Dull Content - What Baby Car? Head vs. Heart!
Discussion
Okay, so my wife and I are expecting our first child in June and we need to change her car (2011 R56 MINI Cooper S) for something more spacious. I am aware we could struggle through with the MINI, but we holiday away and will carry family about etc., so a bigger car will be far more useful. It is important to note that I won't drive this car Monday-Friday, but I may pop out in it at weekends or use it for the aforementioned longer trips away. What I most certainly do, however, is pay for it! We will be looking to keep the car for up to five years or so and ideally want to spend £20-25k.
It's driving me mad trying to work out what to buy, though! I've looked at Golf-sized hatchbacks and decided the new SEAT Leon was the best all-rounder of the breed, but just found them to be a bit dull and unremarkable. I have my heart set on a Jaguar XF Sportbrake (only the 2.2 diesel one, but it's still a Jaaaaaag), which would be lightly used and still slightly over budget, but even the base-spec ones come with everything you'd want. My wife, however, (and I see her point here) thinks the new Nissan Qashqai is far more suitable for what we'll be doing with it. It'd be the 1.2 petrol model in a higher trim level that we'd go for.
I'm sure the Nissan is an excellent car (it really does have a fantastic spec), but in five years' time it will just be an old worthless Nissan, whereas the XF will always be something that little bit more special. On the other hand, I'm sure my wife will ruin the outside by driving it into things and the baby will trash the interior, so perhaps the Nissan would be better? It's not my car after all! Any thoughts or other suggestions from the PH collective?
I could just sell both MINIs, take some Chris Harris-sized finance and buy an XFR-S Sportbrake, mind.
P.S. The sensibly-priced Qashqais are 2WD, which strikes me as being a bit stupid. Were it to snow, you'd look like a moron sitting there in your SUV with your front wheels spinning and the car going nowhere.
It's driving me mad trying to work out what to buy, though! I've looked at Golf-sized hatchbacks and decided the new SEAT Leon was the best all-rounder of the breed, but just found them to be a bit dull and unremarkable. I have my heart set on a Jaguar XF Sportbrake (only the 2.2 diesel one, but it's still a Jaaaaaag), which would be lightly used and still slightly over budget, but even the base-spec ones come with everything you'd want. My wife, however, (and I see her point here) thinks the new Nissan Qashqai is far more suitable for what we'll be doing with it. It'd be the 1.2 petrol model in a higher trim level that we'd go for.
I'm sure the Nissan is an excellent car (it really does have a fantastic spec), but in five years' time it will just be an old worthless Nissan, whereas the XF will always be something that little bit more special. On the other hand, I'm sure my wife will ruin the outside by driving it into things and the baby will trash the interior, so perhaps the Nissan would be better? It's not my car after all! Any thoughts or other suggestions from the PH collective?
I could just sell both MINIs, take some Chris Harris-sized finance and buy an XFR-S Sportbrake, mind.
P.S. The sensibly-priced Qashqais are 2WD, which strikes me as being a bit stupid. Were it to snow, you'd look like a moron sitting there in your SUV with your front wheels spinning and the car going nowhere.
Edited by David87 on Sunday 2nd March 10:35
t you will fill it with. Well I suppose the obvious Pistonheads answer is a 3-series estate. Probably an E91 to avoid the rather ferocious initial depreciation.
We're in much the same situation and the wife has an Octavia VRS hatch, which I think will do the job pretty well but as you say, is exceedingly dull.
We're in much the same situation and the wife has an Octavia VRS hatch, which I think will do the job pretty well but as you say, is exceedingly dull.
Edited by kambites on Sunday 2nd March 10:46
paulmoonraker said:
kambites said:
Well I suppose the obvious Pistonheads answer is a 3-series estate. Probably an E91 to avoid the rather ferocious initial depreciation.
You have one child, you don't need an estate. Estates are for dogs or amateur kitchen fitters... 
paulmoonraker said:
kambites said:
Well I suppose the obvious Pistonheads answer is a 3-series estate. Probably an E91 to avoid the rather ferocious initial depreciation.
You have one child, you don't need an estate. Estates are for dogs or amateur kitchen fitters... 
I have no children yet have a 3 Series Touring.
I don't understand the sudden desire to get something high off the ground when sprogs come along.
All you need is something with a decent boot to take the buggy and other clutter.
I went for an estate when we had the 2nd and FWIW it's been very useful to have all that extra space.
Didn't ever find myself wanting a mud plugger/urban stilt-mobile.
All you need is something with a decent boot to take the buggy and other clutter.
I went for an estate when we had the 2nd and FWIW it's been very useful to have all that extra space.
Didn't ever find myself wanting a mud plugger/urban stilt-mobile.
David87 said:
The Octavia vRS is a good shout - I really must get around to looking at those! Lightly used ones seem decent-ish value. As for the choice being an estate, well, they're just so much cooler!.
It's just been replaced; I'd imagine newish mk2 ones (there might even be new ones left sitting on forecourts) should be pretty cheap. kambites said:
paulmoonraker said:
kambites said:
Well I suppose the obvious Pistonheads answer is a 3-series estate. Probably an E91 to avoid the rather ferocious initial depreciation.
You have one child, you don't need an estate. Estates are for dogs or amateur kitchen fitters... 
g3org3y said:
paulmoonraker said:
kambites said:
Well I suppose the obvious Pistonheads answer is a 3-series estate. Probably an E91 to avoid the rather ferocious initial depreciation.
You have one child, you don't need an estate. Estates are for dogs or amateur kitchen fitters... I have no children yet have a 3 Series Touring.
kambites said:
paulmoonraker said:
The M3 does not come as an estate
Nor does it come anywhere near the OP's budget, given that he's looking new or nearly new. More seriously, there are loads of good quick/fun cars you could get for that money. You don't need a great big boat.
paulmoonraker said:
g3org3y said:
paulmoonraker said:
kambites said:
Well I suppose the obvious Pistonheads answer is a 3-series estate. Probably an E91 to avoid the rather ferocious initial depreciation.
You have one child, you don't need an estate. Estates are for dogs or amateur kitchen fitters... I have no children yet have a 3 Series Touring.
Hold on, I don't even have one of those.
*sound of penny dropping*
Wait, why do I have an estate car!?
g3org3y said:
paulmoonraker said:
g3org3y said:
paulmoonraker said:
kambites said:
Well I suppose the obvious Pistonheads answer is a 3-series estate. Probably an E91 to avoid the rather ferocious initial depreciation.
You have one child, you don't need an estate. Estates are for dogs or amateur kitchen fitters... I have no children yet have a 3 Series Touring.
Hold on, I don't even have one of those.
*sound of penny dropping*
Wait, why do I have an estate car!?
Coach for a kids foot ball team
Window cleaner
Scout leader
Car boot sale fanatic
Power kiting
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