What car with 5 doors?

[dawsonz]

I was hoping the PistonHeads community could try and help me with my future car. So, I currently have a 3 door Fiesta ST180. This will need to be replaced at the end of the year for something with 5 doors due to a new arrival. Therefore, I'll need to be able to get a baby seat in the back comfortably. The issue I'm having, is finding something to replace the Fiesta ST (which I absolutely love), but that has the additional 2 doors. I only do around 8k miles a year, petrol is therefore preferred and economy isn't the end of the world.

My considerations so far have been:

Alfa Romeo Gulietta 1.4 TB MultiAir - Seems like a good allrounders, good sized boot, 170hp.
Mk6 Volkswagen Golf GTI - Always liked the golfs, read a few stories of timing chain tensioner issues.
Ford Focus ST2/3 (Pre facelift) - Would be one of the early models, therefore higher mileage, but like the look and seems a good upgrade from the Fiesta.

Are there any other suggestions or recommendations that fulfill the following criteria;

Petrol
5 doors
Relatively fun
Somewhat reliable
No older than 8/9 years.

[mrbarnett]

I know it's rude to talk money but do you have a rough budget?

[kambites]

In much the same situation, we went for an Octavia VRS. The extra boot space over a Golf or Focus really comes in handy with a baby, not least because you can fit one of the ubiquitous fold-up push chairs like this in longitudinally, leaving most of the boot free for other stuff:

[AppleJuice]

Mazda 3 2.0?

Congratulations on your new arrival

[dawsonz]

mrbarnett said:

I know it's rude to talk money but do you have a rough budget?

Not at all, definitely helps

A max of 12k.

[jimPH]

We got an M135i. Just research the spec/options you want, there's always a compromise with BMWs.

[bga]

A 5 seater Golf GTI was all the car we needed when we were a family of 3. TBH pretty much any 5-door medium sized hatch is going to have family as a significant market so will be able to accommodate.

[dawsonz]

kambites said:

In much the same situation, we went for an Octavia VRS. The extra boot space over a Golf or Focus really comes in handy with a baby, not least because you can fit one of the ubiquitous fold-up push chairs like this in longitudinally, leaving most of the boot free for other stuff:

What did you go for, petrol or diesel, and was it a mk2 or mk3?

AppleJuice said:

Mazda 3 2.0?

Congratulations on your new arrival

Many thanks I like the Mazda 3, just don't think it fits the 'relatively fun' category, but happy to be proven wrong.

[kambites]

dawsonz said:

kambites said:

In much the same situation, we went for an Octavia VRS. The extra boot space over a Golf or Focus really comes in handy with a baby, not least because you can fit one of the ubiquitous fold-up push chairs like this in longitudinally, leaving most of the boot free for other stuff:

What did you go for, petrol or diesel, and was it a mk2 or mk3?

Ours is a petrol pre-facelift mk2 (2006). We've had it a while now though, I'd be looking at an early mk3 if I was in the same position now.

[Sk00p]

We struggled with a Golf GTI and the rear facing child seat, front seat passenger ended up very cramped when it was in place.

M Sport 3 series Touring? 1 Series is a bit small IMO. You can manage on the smaller cars but life is so much easier with a bit more space.

[kambites]

If you intend to keep the car for long, it's worth deciding now whether you're going to go down the "extended rear-facing seat" route. You need a considerably bigger car to make that work.

[Sk00p]

kambites said:

If you intend to keep the car for long, it's worth deciding now whether you're going to go down the "extended rear-facing seat" route. You need a considerably bigger car to make that work.

Friend of mine did that until his was about 4 years old. Was snug in the back of an A6!

[kambites]

Sk00p said:

Friend of mine did that until his was about 4 years old. Was snug in the back of an A6!

LWB S-class it is then?

[stumpage]

Octavia VRS

[Shaoxter]

You're not going to be driving in a "fun" manner with a baby in the back so I'd just get something big and bargey, a V8 engined BMW E61 for example.

[SmilerFTM]

A 4 four door 335i could be got I reckon within the rest of your criteria

[Shakermaker]

Shaoxter said:

You're not going to be driving in a "fun" manner with a baby in the back so I'd just get something big and bargey, a V8 engined BMW E61 for example.

No, but you can still drive fun when the baby isn't in the back

[kambites]

SmilerFTM said:

A 4 four door 335i could be got I reckon within the rest of your criteria

That was another car we looked at (well a four-door, the GT didn't exist at the time) but whilst it would have done the job, it wouldn't have done it as well as the Octavia - the boot is smaller, there's less space in the back, the transmission tunnel intrusion makes it much harder to carry two adults along with a baby seat (which is handy to be able to do occasionally)... but of course it's a far better car to drive and a quieter cruiser so I suppose it comes down to priorities. I have the Elise for when I'm not with the family.

[Herbs]

Ex Mrs Herbs had a Civic Type S which worked very well - enough room for the rear facing seat and the funky split rear seat which folds up gave us a decent amount of room when doing shopping runs etc when the boot is full of buggy and baby bags.

Would highly recommend one.

[bga]

Herbs said:

Ex Mrs Herbs had a Civic Type S which worked very well - enough room for the rear facing seat and the funky split rear seat which folds up gave us a decent amount of room when doing shopping runs etc when the boot is full of buggy and baby bags.

I've not seen that before. Looks very useful.