Going mad... fast, fun and family. Can they mix?

[Sdg1973]

So, I am going round in circles. The new ios12 screen time telling me how many hours I’m spending on autotrader and safari and YouTube, mostly car related, tells me I have a problem. Bear with me...

I have a 5 year old daughter. I don’t really commute to work so want something nice to drive in whenever I do, with a degree of practicality.

After she was born I got a Golf R, manual. It was sensible, fast, safe, comfortable (DCC) and the Dynaudio stereo was fabulous. But it was too good almost and the sound drove me mad. My previous U.K. car (before I moved abroad and had diesels for a few years) was a 987 cayman S gen 1.

So I decided to be selfish a few months ago and traded it for a 7 year old 987 cayman s gen 2. Despite the much heavier clutch I’d convinced myself it was my time to get into a sports car again.

But people change. And every time I sit in it, it’s not special. The interior quality is remarkably poor. It doesn’t have bose. The noise in the car is fairly unpleasant (no pse so exhaust is on the quiet side). And to add to the issues, my left knee is now playing up.

The car looks great. There are some angles that are breathtakingly good. But the interior quality and tech are simply in a much lower league than modern cars.

Options I have been considering.

New golf R (33k carwow with the options I want, and would tick the sunroof option this time). DSG only now. With DCC for comfort. Maybe the exhaust upgrade but it’s a lot (3k).

340i touring or saloon. Auto only. End of the current 3 series. Could get performance kit and exhaust. Second hand models available and some have CarPlay, which I quite like. Ranging from 28k to 40k.

AMG C43 (saloon or touring). Downside is that I’d want the latest model with the updated tech as it solves the issue I’ve always had with Mercs. 50k.

Audi S4 avant. 38-44k

Porsche Macan - to get the latest tech, 50k I reckon.

Audi RS3 - might solve the noise issue with the golf I had. 44k ish. Maybe more. And insurance not cheap either.

New X3 M140. 50k.

M2 DCT. I test drove one and could get one for 37k but passive suspension may not be the best, nor the 2 door nature.

It is clearly the case that one car can’t fulfil every desire but my personal situation is such that a family bus and a sport car for me isn’t an option.

Anyone care to help?

Oh. And I want it to fit in my garage. Have about 2.06m of width at the entrance (so mirrors would have to fold to be less than this overall).

Edited by Sdg1973 on Sunday 23 September 10:52

[MrGTI6]

Out of the cars you have listed, I'd definitely go for a 340i. The best compromise in terms of performance/practicality/etc and if you need an auto, the eight-speed ZF 'box is about the best there is.

Also much better value than most of the other contenders.

[ToothbrushMan]

a lot of babbling over a decision thats probably already made anyway just to come full circle onto a Golf R but seeks approval of PHers..

you can tell a golf r is the subject just by the title of a thread these days. I mean fast fun family........ere we go again. ZZZZZZ.

[Toed64]

As above, I'd probably go for a 340i, but the handling/roadholding will be a sadness unless you add some negative camber (M3/4 control arms) to the front. A JB4 piggy back box makes the engine a lot more interesting.

The S4 is a marvellous and very complicated beast. My mate likes his very much...his only regret is that he didn't buy an RS.

[Sdg1973]

Not seeking anyone’s approval. As my post said, just asking for some help from people who may have had a similar decision to make.

Move along if you can’t or don’t want to help.

[PaulGT3]

Sdg1973 said:

M2 DCT. I test drove one and could get one for 37k but passive suspension may not be the best, nor the 2 door nature.

What about a DCT M3 Competition? £40-50k depending on age, 4 doors and adaptive dampers standard.

This pre-reg is lovely: https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

[anonymous-user]

v10 m5 touring?

[steve-5snwi]

C63 AMG estate, the old one with the NA V8, it won't depreciate as much as something new and will be the perfect family car

[ZX10R NIN]

You say you won't drive it often, so how much does tech play into your enjoyment of the car your driving?

Don't get hung up on multimode suspension it doesn't always mean you get the best drive for example the passive setup on the M2 is actually better when you're driving in a committed fashion but it does mean you'll have a stiffer ride in normal driving.

For me I'd be looking at the following for various reasons.

If you want a fun hot hatch then it has to be these two:

Hyundai i30 N Performance

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Civic Type R

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

If you want something in the mould of the Golf R, which is a capable car but not fun in comparison to the above then I'd suggest the CLA45/shooting brake:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Family Saloon wise then I'd be looking at these:

C63 S Premium the 43 doesn't even get a look in for me.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

C63 Premium

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Lexus IS-F these are a very good underrated steer & will do family duties with ease.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

VXR8 GTS as above it'll depend on if the badge is an issue

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

M3 Competition Pack, this is the one to have I had a standard one it lasted 3 months but the CP is a good improvement also the M3's proportions look imo better than the M4.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Audi RS4

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Jaguar XE S if you're thinking about a 340i go & test drive one of these, the V6 is a peach as is the ride tech wise it has everything you need it is a bit old school.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Jaguar XF R-S

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[RJG46]

Take some brave pills. Rather nice Bentley GT 6.0 W12. 560bhp.




£28k


At a garage in Wrotham.

[Sdg1973]

lol. Thanks.

Certainly hard work, and being a tight northern bar steward it only makes decisions on cars even harder.

As for tech, I meant more the infotainment systems rather then diffs and suspension.

I did take the M2 DCT (and manual) out for drives before I got the cayman to see how the suspension was around town. Obviously not a very long run but didn’t find it jarring.

Will look into those links though, thanks.

[Jonny_]

If you're after a car that feels special, I'd consider that instant dismissal for any Golf or 3 series. The R and 340i are both certainly fast and practical, but both also have a rather plain interior and, to my eyes at least, singularly uninspiring styling.

How about an Alfa Giulia? If I could afford one I'd have a QV in a heartbeat. Glorious looking things. Stand out a mile from the ubiquitous German stuff, especially in a bright colour - red ideally.

[RSTurboPaul]

Jonny_ said:

How about an Alfa Giulia? If I could afford one I'd have a QV in a heartbeat. Glorious looking things. Stand out a mile from the ubiquitous German stuff, especially in a bright colour - red ideally.

Also very well reviewed!

6k for a set of OEM tyres (going from evo magazine's experience) is also not so much of a worry when you're only doing that mileage per year.

[ilikejam]

Giulia is where my mind went as well. If the tight northerner gets the better of your man maths with the QV, the Veloce was also well reviewed from what I remember. £32k seems to get you a sub-600 mile demo model with the correct 19" alloys

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[BUG4LIFE]

I had a similar decision to make....I bought a Subaru Forester STi.

No help to the OP, I just wanted to tell ya

[stuart_83]

440i GC?

Like the 3 series, but better spec'd, better looking (in my opinion, other opinions are available) and with a more practical hatch boot.

Got the MPPSK on mine to raise it to 360bhp / 500NM and the stupidly loud exhaust (in sport mode). It's as quick as I'll ever need a car to be.

Better on fuel than my previous Alfa Giulia Veloce too.

[SiKkBaSs]

The new Golf R.

Enough said - sad to let mine go in December.

[hamd01]

I had a similar quandary.

I have a young family (7 and 11), and a dog on the way.

I wanted the car as a daily driver....but also something to put a smile on my face and make me want to go out for a drive. I posted several posts during my decision making process, and it got narrowed down to either a BMW 340i, 140i or a Golf R.

I visited VW and BMW for test drives last week, and my conclusion was a Golf R....thread is here

For me and the family it's the better option.... but I spent months researching and didn't find anything better.

[Sdg1973]

Thanks all for the responses. Still not made my mind up.

New 3 series due next year and that looks interesting but a years wait. Don’t want to wait that long.

Alfa - hasn’t realised the tyres were so expensive on the QV. Veloce gets good reviews and has split folding rears. But concerned about practicality of a saloon.

Will keep thinking....

[ZX10R NIN]

If you don't mind hunting one down then try to find an Alpina B3 in estate form.