Hatchback for 8k (that does it all)

[dawsonz]

Evening,

I am a long time lurker of this section of the forum, but thought i'd finally put a post up in hope of some sound advise. I'm currently looking at purchasing my next car in the coming months and would love some advise on what my options are, or if I've missed anything that may fit the bill.

The car will be used as my daily commuter to work and doing the nursery trip in the morning. Therefore majority of my driving is across town with a mixture of parkway/town driving. However i'd like something that is enjoyable to drive, whilst having a good amount of power, therefore not to completely ruin my driving experience.

Budget 8k - can stretch a bit if need be
5 doors - need to fit two isofix child seats comfortably
Petrol - I do about 6k miles a year, with longer journeys at weekends
Reliable - ideally something reliable, I need it daily.

So far my list comprises of the following;

Mondeo Titanium X Sport 2.0 ecoboost (mk4 or mk4.5)

Seems as though they're well specced, a good steer, although quite big, therefore probably doesn't feel that quick.

Skoda Octavia VRS (tfsi engine)

Similar to the mondeo above, spacious, easily get child seats in, a lot of them are higher mileage now.

Focus ST-2 (pre facelift)

Always loved my mk7 Fiesta ST and therefore the Focus ST seems like a good shout.

[ZX10R NIN]

Mondeo TXS every time but they're hard to find:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Also look at thr Insignia

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

[Jamescrs]

I guess you are looking at the Mk2 Focus ST? That would be my choice, if you find a good one without the ISOFIX mounts you can easy fit them yourself, they cost about £20 each from Ford if I remember correctly and they are really easy to do with two bolts. I've fitted them in a couple of Mk2 Focus over the years

[ED209]

ZX10R NIN said:

Mondeo TXS every time but they're hard to find:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Also look at thr Insignia

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

What’s going on with those seats and the logos? Hideous

[dawsonz]

ED209 said:

ZX10R NIN said:

Mondeo TXS every time but they're hard to find:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Also look at thr Insignia

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

What’s going on with those seats and the logos? Hideous

Agree they look awful, though I believe they're just stickers..

[Ben Lowden]

BMW 130i sounds right up your street. I bought mine for similar duties – my next fleet update is overdue but here's my first if you fancy a read: https://www.pistonheads.com/news/general/bmw-130i-...

[dawsonz]

Ben Lowden said:

BMW 130i sounds right up your street. I bought mine for similar duties – my next fleet update is overdue but here's my first if you fancy a read: https://www.pistonheads.com/news/general/bmw-130i-...

That's a lovely car btw, funnily enough i've just come from a 130i, it will be greatly missed and the most fun car i've had (i've owned 2 now), they're fantastic cars, but I just found the interior space so cramped, passenger side is fine with a child seat, but i'm 6ft 2'' and the drivers side would be such a squeeze trying to get a car seat behind me, which is the reason I thinking something mondeo/octavia size.

[jwilco]

dawsonz said:

ED209 said:

ZX10R NIN said:

Mondeo TXS every time but they're hard to find:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Also look at thr Insignia

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

What’s going on with those seats and the logos? Hideous

Agree they look awful, though I believe they're just stickers..

Are they aftermarket? Surely Ford don't let them out of the factory like that.

[Ben Lowden]

dawsonz said:

That's a lovely car btw, funnily enough i've just come from a 130i, it will be greatly missed and the most fun car i've had (i've owned 2 now), they're fantastic cars, but I just found the interior space so cramped, passenger side is fine with a child seat, but i'm 6ft 2'' and the drivers side would be such a squeeze trying to get a car seat behind me, which is the reason I thinking something mondeo/octavia size.

Thanks! And good point – I tried putting our child seat behind the driver seat and no chance. I'm shocked at how much space they take up. Luckily my car is just a back up and will be used rarely for family duties. If I was forced into something bigger to act as a family car, I think I'd be looking at a Octavia vRS or Forester STI.

[dawsonz]

Ben Lowden said:

Thanks! And good point – I tried putting our child seat behind the driver seat and no chance. I'm shocked at how much space they take up. Luckily my car is just a back up and will be used rarely for family duties. If I was forced into something bigger to act as a family car, I think I'd be looking at a Octavia vRS or Forester STI.

Unfortunately me and my wife split the nursery run, so five days a week it's got 1 child seat and in the near future that'll be 2. I'm gutted to be selling my 130i, it's such a great car, but needs must.

I'll look at a forester STI, not something i'd consider to be honest.

[Ben Lowden]

dawsonz said:

Unfortunately me and my wife split the nursery run, so five days a week it's got 1 child seat and in the near future that'll be 2. I'm gutted to be selling my 130i, it's such a great car, but needs must.

I'll look at a forester STI, not something i'd consider to be honest.

Sad times! Although with the excitement of the imminent arrival of my first, family will be coming first (for once...) and cars will have to change to suit. I expect a decent Forester STI is £10K+ but still worth a look.

[manmaths]

ZX10R NIN said:

Mondeo TXS every time but they're hard to find:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Also look at thr Insignia

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

I think the Insignia looks great

[dawsonz]

manmaths said:

I think the Insignia looks great

I'm not usually a vauxhall fan I have to be honest, the insignia does look nice.

What are the VXR/VXR-Line like for reliability?

[emperorburger]

manmaths said:

I think the Insignia looks great

I actually really like them, but they do have a whiff of Alan Partridge on a budget about them.

[DoubleD]

manmaths said:

ZX10R NIN said:

Mondeo TXS every time but they're hard to find:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Also look at thr Insignia

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

I think the Insignia looks great

The 1st 1 does, the second looks like its been ruined

[ZX10R NIN]

dawsonz said:

Agree they look awful, though I believe they're just stickers..

You won't see them once you're driving.

[Mr Tidy]

dawsonz said:

Ben Lowden said:

BMW 130i sounds right up your street. I bought mine for similar duties – my next fleet update is overdue but here's my first if you fancy a read: https://www.pistonheads.com/news/general/bmw-130i-...

That's a lovely car btw, funnily enough i've just come from a 130i, it will be greatly missed and the most fun car i've had (i've owned 2 now), they're fantastic cars, but I just found the interior space so cramped, passenger side is fine with a child seat, but i'm 6ft 2'' and the drivers side would be such a squeeze trying to get a car seat behind me, which is the reason I thinking something mondeo/octavia size.

OK it's not a hatchback, but wouldn't an E91 330i or 335i work?

[Deathmole]

DoubleD said:

manmaths said:

ZX10R NIN said:

Mondeo TXS every time but they're hard to find:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Also look at thr Insignia

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

I think the Insignia looks great

The 1st 1 does, the second looks like its been ruined

Yep, the white one looks like one to avoid, to these eyes.

[dawsonz]

Is there a Vauxhall section on PH to ask some more specifics?

I’d like to know how reliable the Insignia VX Line SRi are, appears there aren’t too many 2.0 petrol turbos for sale.

[ZX10R NIN]

The 2.0t is a detuned version of the VXR engine reliability wise they don't go wrong that one I linked too is a later updated model so you benefit from a final facelift/interior & an extra 30bhp over the old model.