What car

[AJB88]

Yes another what car thread,

So I currently have 2 cars which are getting no use at all as I'm working from home until Jan but reckon it will be March, 2015 Porsche Cayman S stage 2 tuned and 2005 Leon FR+ TDI Stage 2 tuned.

Been talking to a few performance dealers about selling the Porsche to free up funds for a new house move (I can actually lump it into the Mortgage if I wanted to) and the Leon would probably just be traded in for whatever they would offer me against the new car. Missus has a Fiesta which she will be keeping.

Previous to the Porsche I have owned Stage 2 2014 Leon Cupra (420ps), Stage 2+ 2010 Leon Cupra R (375ps) and Stage 2 2008 Leon FR TDI (240ps) amongst other things.

Since buying the Porsche I have started a new relationship, potentially will be thinking about kids next year and also have 2 large dogs now so the Porsche isn't practical anymore.

So I am looking for something that is practical for dogs and kids but isn't a "normal" car, not interested in anymore 2.0T cars such as MK3 Leon Cupra/R or Golf R etc as I've already tuned them engines and I have been spoilt by the 3.4 NA noise of the Porsche. Usually do about 6-8k miles a year but that might increase a little if we end up taking the dogs out with us more (dogs currently go everywhere in the Fiesta), will also be hopefully going back on NC500 next and a road trip to Germany again.

I am also not bothered whether petrol or diesel! So far I have come up with;

Passat R36 Estate - few of these around
Alfa 159 3.2 V6 Sportwagon - red sportwagon are very rare unfortunately
Jag XF 3.0 V6 Diesel
Touareg V6/V8/V10 petrol or TDI
Q7 same as above, dont think the V12 is in budget haha
VW Amarok 3.0 V6 TDI (might be pushing budget a bit as they are + vat) - these tune well
Mercedes C/E AMG Estate


So anything else with "interesting" engines, not really into BMW's , looking at max 20k, none of them will be kept standard (map and exhaust changes).

Yes I'm aware the Amarok is quite a bit different than the other cars, but they do tune well.

Edited by AJB88 on Monday 9th November 13:56

[DaveyBoyWonder]

A Passat R36 is one car I'd really like to own but can't imagine getting sign off from SWMBO for a 3.6l V6 to run the kids to school and back in vs her current 1.6 Mini. Like a lot of big NA engines though, you won't be getting massive power gains unless you start to go down the forced induction route and until then, a stage 2 TFSI/TSI will blow the R36 away.

Still, the B6 shape still looks great I reckon, comes loaded with toys, Haldex, pretty bulletproof build and a V6. Holy grail for me would be blue, half leather with the nav etc. Few Jap imports coming in last time I looked...

[AJB88]

Yeh I realised quite quickly when going from my 420ps Cupra to Porsche which was 325ps standard that it was a lot slower, its now Stage 2 so goes very well (same gains as a GTS) but I enjoy the noise these days haha.

Most of these larger NA engines have a little bit of overheads to tap into, the Alfa 3.2 doesn't from what I've seen.

[SkodaIan]

What about a Kia Stinger? (The V6 one, not the diesel).
Reasonably interesting and quick, but fundamentally it's still a big hatchback which should be pretty good for family and dog duties. Apparently they also make very good tow cars too should you decide to add a horse or a caravan to the family.....

[GreatGranny]

Found this :-)



https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011065...

No idea if this is a bargain but it's looks fantastic, probably costs a fortune to run but you only do limited mileage so IMO worth it.

[si_xsi]

I've had a gen 1 2014 XFS Sportbrake 3.0 diesel and it was a great car, very capable, comfortable and lots of toys in Portfolio spec - you can pick up good ones for around £16k with around 50k miles or spend £18k and get one with less miles with main dealer warranty. They do need to be driven though and not great on short trips as the DPF gets clogged up. I'm not sure about the latest petrol ones.

I would also look at a nice, low mileage R36 Wagon, they will hold their value and have loads of space. And the noise!! DSG only though.

[BruceBogtrotter]

infiniti FX50s? makes a great sound and v8 to boot

[ZX10R NIN]

E63 AMG

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010024...

V60 Polestar

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011025...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010155...

S6

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009083...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010024...

535i

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008252...

R36

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010114...

SUV wise there are some nice options:

V8 QX70 these are a proper luxury SUV with a nice V8 to push you along

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010215...

X6M

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202001065...

Cayenne GTS with change for the higher running costs:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011045...

[AJB88]

Some good recommendations, don't know why I overlooked Audi and Volvo to be honest.

[AJB88]

Anybody think of anything else I have overlooked?

Think the Touareg 5.0 V10 TDI is a no, it has tuning potential but gearbox cant be mapped so will probably be quite sloppy to drive and its a bit of overkill at like 900lb.ft after tuning... dogs are big but not that big.

[culpz]

I know you said you're not really into BMW's, but I'm not sure i could look past something like a 340i Touring for the money, assuming you can get one for 20k.

S4 Avant would be worth a look too.

[AJB88]

Yep been looking at all the Audi's I've only ever owned VW Group cars (including my Porsche) so always start with them.

Do quite like the look of that V60 T6 Polestar above, would imagine they aren't very common.

RS6 5.0 V10 as well but not many in my budget.

Edited by AJB88 on Wednesday 11th November 15:53

[ZX10R NIN]

What about the V8 4.2d Touareg:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008262...

4.2d Cayenne

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011045...

Q7 S line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011045...

Go for the Polestar you won't regret it.

[AJB88]

Need to do the maths but think the estates will be better suited to us rather than the SUV style cars.

[AJB88]

Cayman has now gone, in no rush to replace as I'm working from home till Jan (rumoured March now)

[AJB88]

Started looking at Ranger Rovers the other night (after watching a TV program with one on) either RR or RRS with the 5.0 Supercharged engine can be had within budget but with high mileage.

Then a Q7 V12 TDI was put on eBay within budget as well! (yes I know Pistonheads hates this car).

Mortgage company said it might be better for me to get something sooner and lump it into the mortgage (like I was going to the Porsche) rather than paying it after. Still not decided on SUV or Estate, got 2 large dogs, me, missus and her lad at moment, potentially adding to that next year.

Edited by AJB88 on Friday 18th December 08:12

[Jeenyus161]

OK a couple of things to consider:

SUVs are taller, making jumping in the back harder for old dogs and puts more pressure on their joints. Not a huge deal - but worth thinking about
ISOFIX - something like the R36 Passat won't have the latest ISOFIX safety features.

If you're honestly looking for the car to serve your kid/dog needs then make sure ISOFIX is a first consideration - likely your partner won't let the kids travel in a car without the latest safety features.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012026...

I know you said you don't want a 2ltr - but if you want space for the dogs/kids (and trust me, you do) you simply can't do better.

Are you buying a car for you to hoon, or a family bus for the family?

[AJB88]

This is to replace my Porsche which has now gone and my daily MK1 Leon FR+ PD150 (running approx 2000 so don't think a Skoda Superb 150 diesel will cut it somehow... it needs to be V6,8,10. If I was going to get another 2.0T petrol or Diesel I'd just get another SEAT, I've owned them for 13 years now.

It will be for me to use to work and back and trips away, missus will still use her Fiesta for her stuff. Another NC500 trip, Stuttgart trip and maybe Maranello again. Couldnt imagine driving all the way to Maranello in a 150ps diesel to be honest.

SUV being high up has been a consideration, dogs are only 2 and 11 months but certainly need to think about that for the future, just not sure if something like an A6 3.0 biTDI V6 would be "big enough" in the future. When I was a teenager mum and dad had a "big estate" and with two adults, 2 kids and 2 dogs it was cramped.

Think I've taken Passat R36, Alfa 159, off the list not really got the power I want, still thinking about

Q7 4.2 TDI or 6.0 TDI
Touareg R50
A6 3.0 bi tdi
RS6 5.0T
Jag XF 3.0 V6
Merc C/E AMG estate

All will be higher mileage/older to come in under the 20k mark.

Edited by AJB88 on Friday 18th December 13:14

[ZX10R NIN]

Get the V12 tdi just because

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012137...

The R50 is cheaper by a margin but I still think I'd go for the Audi:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010255...

Putting your sensible head on then the 4.2d Touareg

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012016...

or the Q7 version:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010054...

X5 M50d

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010175...

X5 M40d

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008152...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202012036...

[AJB88]

There is a sense of just because about the V12 TDI haha, keep coming back to the R50 even though its ancient as well.

Not sure if I like the newer Touareg for some reason, think they all share the same tax bracket as well.