Very big boot, fast and under £25K

[thenortherner]

I've a 2017 MINI Cooper S Works 210. It's a great car, lots of kit, fairly quick but a bit on the small side. I'm covering 15-20k miles a year and would prefer something slightly bigger. Plus the noise from the exhaust is drawing the wrong sort of attention.

I'm looking for...
£25k or less and covered under 20k miles
Capable of standing up to a trackday or 2 a year
I don't mind an estate - I'm not sure a saloon would
Something that has a very big boot, ideally large enough to fit my road bike in it (with the wheels off) without folding the seats
Capable of 40+mpg on a run

I've got my eye on this...

https://www.lookers.co.uk/used-car/ford/focus/2-3-...

But can't help being drawn towards the M140i despite the boot issue. Chalk and cheese compared to the car in the link above!

Anyone any other recommendations?

Thanks

Edited by thenortherner on Friday 4th December 21:40

[rjfp1962]

The Focus ST Estate does look good and probably ticks a lot of boxes. Would be high on my shortlist as I did enjoy my ownership of a 2016 Fiesta ST2 for 4 years.. And you aren't paying any "Badge Money" either!

[ZX10R NIN]

That Focus is a great choice an alternative would be the i30N Fastback:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007151...

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

I think I'd take the Ford.

[Pilotguy]

Skoda Octavia VRS 245 humongous sized boot in estate or hatchback form. Mk3 facelift versions in the link-
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds?Category=u...
230 Bhp - https://www.lookers.co.uk/skoda/used-car/skoda/oct...

Edited by Pilotguy on Saturday 5th December 00:07

[Heaveho]

There's also the lesser spotted Skoda Superb 3.6 ( or the later 280 ) which is a ridiculous thing that I've been trying to talk my other half into considering.

A Lexus IS-F would be my choice, the mileage wouldn't matter with that.

Edit, forget it, just seen the 40 mpg requirement.

[DoubleD]

thenortherner said:

I've a 2017 MINI Cooper S Works 210. It's a great car, lots of kit, fairly quick but a bit on the small side. I'm covering 15-20k miles a year and would prefer something slightly bigger. Plus the noise from the exhaust is drawing the wrong sort of attention.

I'm looking for...
£25k or less and covered under 20k miles
Capable of standing up to a trackday or 2 a year
I don't mind an estate - I'm not sure a saloon would
Something that has a very big boot, ideally large enough to fit my road bike in it (with the wheels off) without folding the seats
Capable of 40+mpg on a run

I've got my eye on this...

https://www.lookers.co.uk/used-car/ford/focus/2-3-...

But can't help being drawn towards the M140i despite the boot issue. Chalk and cheese compared to the car in the link above!

Anyone any other recommendations?

Thanks

Edited by thenortherner on Friday 4th December 21:40

I would be looking at a 2 car set up. 10k on a fast estate and 15k on a car that will actually be fun to drive like an Elise or Caterham.

[cerb4.5lee]

DoubleD said:

I would be looking at a 2 car set up. 10k on a fast estate and 15k on a car that will actually be fun to drive like an Elise or Caterham.

I also think this is the better way of doing it too. You will never find a car that does it all imo.

[thenortherner]

Thanks all.

I've been up to have a look around an ST Estate. Registered August 2019, 5k miles, Ford main dealer and generally very decent condition bar a few chips out of the door where they've opened it against something.

They'll do it for £22.5k.

It does feel like it's built to a price though. The interior plastics didn't feel too great and there's no weight to the doors. It felt like a bit of a step down after getting out of the MINI.

I can't run two cars, at least I can't justify running two cars, if one of them is to meet the company car opt out rules.

I'm happy enough with one knowing it'll be a compromise. I've tracked my daily cars before so I guess I know what I'm getting into.

[rjfp1962]

Seems you like the Focus ST estate! The quality of Ford's generally won't be as high as the "Premium Brands", less a solid feel, some cheaper plastics, switchgear etc. I found with the Fiesta ST that the feel and handling made up for this. Strong engines, a really good manual gearbox and reasonable running costs made it a well sorted package imo.

[ZX10R NIN]

The thing is what would you buy with the performance/space& same age that's better built for the same price Leon's/Octavia's are no better built , then you have to go for something older like a V60 Polestar

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011286...

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

CLA250

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202002056...

S3

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202011136...

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

RS3

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

[nickfrog]

OP. I can easily fit my bike with the front wheel off in the M2 but that means rear seats down (is that an issue because you'll need more than 1 passenger?). It's a big mtb so I imagine a road bike would be even easier.

It does 36mpg on a run at 70/75 mph on the motorway.

Main issue would be the fact that they are still just under £30k so slightly over budget. You'll also need to have it serviced every year at either £500 or £250 every other service.

[thenortherner]

Thanks for the replies.

£25k was the absolute top end of my budget which rules out the M2, as much as I'd like one! I also wanted something that'll store the bike without it being on show - it always made me nervous leaving it at service stations etc when taking a break, even if covered up as best I could.

I'm sad to see the MINI go too. The spec is great, it's a fun car, and the build's great. But I'm looking for something faster still, more discreet and a bit more roomy to do 15-20k miles a year in.

Anyhow, a deal's been done. A late 2019 car with under 3,000 miles on it and in a great colour. The standard kit's already great - heated steering wheel, heated seats, folding mirrors, nav, parking sensors front and rear, camera etc etc - but this adds wireless phone charging, head up display and electric tailgate which can be operated by waving your foot underneath it to open it.

I've got a decent trade in for mine and paid £24k for the Focus. I pick it up Saturday.

[ZX10R NIN]

Glad you got sorted OP it sounds like a nice car.

[rjfp1962]

Great stuff OP. Practical and fun.... Enjoy!

[thenortherner]

Thanks.

I'll probably go for the Mountune 330 remap in the new year. I understand it's the same engine as was in the Focus RS so should be able to handle the increase. Oddly, even in its current standard tune of 280 bhp it's 30-70 time is better than the Focus RD was.

I reckon it'll be a bit of a sleeper. It looks very restrained for what it is. I'll be having the ST badge removed from the boot too. I'd do the same at the front but it forms part of the grill's shape so would look odd without it.

[thenortherner]

Collected a few days ago. Other than a 120 mile trip home I've not driven it so no real chance to get much of an impression. Miserable weather all weekend too which is a bit frustrating.

Anyhow, what do you reckon?

[rjfp1962]

Looks great OP. Colour really suits it too... Enjoy!

[thenortherner]

rjfp1962 said:

Looks great OP. Colour really suits it too... Enjoy!

Thanks. I'll start another thread in Readers' Cars at some point too.

[Deerfoot]

rjfp1962 said:

Looks great OP. Colour really suits it too... Enjoy!

My neighbour has a Kuga in that red, looks fantastic in the sun.

Nice car OP.

[thenortherner]

Deerfoot said:

My neighbour has a Kuga in that red, looks fantastic in the sun.

Nice car OP.

Thank you.

It looked great under the lights of the showroom too but outside it was miserable and overcast. Looking forward to seeing it when it's sunny.