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Fast family car advice- 'downgrading' from 2 cars to 1
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Fast family car advice- 'downgrading' from 2 cars to 1
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Leicesterdave

Original Poster:

2,288 posts

208 months

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[news]
Monday 21st February 2022
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I currently own a Mk3 Audi TT 2.0T quattro. It's fast, fun and was my car before I met my other half and 4 years on still is.
She own a late shape Zafira.

We have 2 kids. We managed perfectly well with the Zafira, although is truly is utterly soulless. The TT rarely gets used these days and we really can't justify the cost of running both. It just seems so silly to have the TT sat on the drive when the Zafira gets used 90% of the time.

She's now found a teaching job in a very local school so she can walk to school. This is yet another reason why we no longer need 2 cars. However, much as she's trying to convince me to sell the TT and be happy with the Zafira I understandably (on PH) just can't do it. It's a comfy sofa on wheels but that's it.

I don't particularly like trendy SUV's but in our case they might make sense. I love estates (nice Alpina would do nicely) which is another solution but I can't see any fast enough to fit the bill with our budget. Diesel is now a no no.

If we sold both our cars today we'd get around £27k- £28k which is the budget. Healthy as I thought it was it doesn't seem to get you that far.
I came up with the Audi SQ2- I like the fact that it's under the radar and isn't as shouty as an S3.
I will consider any other manufacturer- I'm not a brand snob but what goes as quick as an SQ2 with 4wd for the budget I have?

Cheers

WokkaWokka

803 posts

167 months

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Monday 21st February 2022
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Have you considered a fast Merc estate, something like a C43?

RichTT

3,266 posts

199 months

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Monday 21st February 2022
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Small trendy SUV's are such a compromise on body style for interior space / boot space.

How about 2019 Golf R Estate?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201271...

Seat Leon Cupra Estate

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201111...

Or push the budget and go for a slightly older CLA 45 Mercedes estate.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107124...


Leicesterdave

Original Poster:

2,288 posts

208 months

[report]
[news]
Monday 21st February 2022
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Thanks for advice so far- appreciate your input. It's true that looks-wise none particularly appeal.

The Golf is just too common and does look dull.

Cupra is a good shout- does look nicer but still not what I call stunning, and CLA just doesn't look right either. SQ2 same as all of them, hardly a stunner.

That C43 is much more like it to my eyes but only 1 at my price range!

Chubbyross

4,959 posts

113 months

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Monday 21st February 2022
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Get an Octavia vRS estate for about £15k, buy a cheap Boxster, park said Boxster in a secret garage and pop out in the roadster every few weekends on the pretext you’re visiting elderly relatives. Weep when Boxster engine goes bang.

WokkaWokka

803 posts

167 months

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Monday 21st February 2022
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Leicesterdave said:
Thanks for advice so far- appreciate your input. It's true that looks-wise none particularly appeal.

The Golf is just too common and does look dull.

Cupra is a good shout- does look nicer but still not what I call stunning, and CLA just doesn't look right either. SQ2 same as all of them, hardly a stunner.

That C43 is much more like it to my eyes but only 1 at my price range!
Yeah they are a lovely car. For gods sake don’t get looking at E43’s, a very classy looking car.

If it’s just out of reach and you’re wanting to buy with cash but aren’t quite there perhaps a very small bank loan could get you the one you really want.

ChrisH72

3,042 posts

80 months

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Monday 21st February 2022
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Similar situation to me really.

I sold my Celica and MR2 when our son came along 6 years ago. Loved those Toyotas but they weren't practical and it cost too much keeping 3 cars on the road (wife has a car too).

Now we use her Hyundai MPV for pretty much all our family motoring. I have a Fiesta ST which is used for work but doesn't go far and we could most likely manage with one car. I'm not quite ready for that just yet.

For me, buying one nice interesting car isn't an option as my wife has zero interest in cars and loves her Hyundai. To be fair it takes care of family duties fine and costs very little to run. So I justify keeping my car as a fun toy. I wonder if you should actually keep the Zafira, sell the TT and get a cheap fun car for you to use on the odd occasion?

The spinner of plates

18,084 posts

228 months

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Monday 21st February 2022
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Sounds a bit non-PH I know... but maybe go with the flow temporarily and don't fight it.

Whilst kids were young I ducked out of nice cars.
Money and time were tight, so cars nice just moved to something I read about when I had a spare 30mins whilst sitting through another swimming lesson...

It comes back round - kids get older, time pressures ease, income often improves as careers develops..
And one day you find yourself back in the game, enjoying a dawn-raid with your kid on a Sunday morning in the garage queen.

I love cars, but they have a time and a place. And make better servants than masters.

ChrisH72

3,042 posts

80 months

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[news]
Monday 21st February 2022
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The spinner of plates said:
Sounds a bit non-PH I know... but maybe go with the flow temporarily and don't fight it.

Whilst kids were young I ducked out of nice cars.
Money and time were tight, so cars nice just moved to something I read about when I had a spare 30mins whilst sitting through another swimming lesson...

It comes back round - kids get older, time pressures ease, income often improves as careers develops..
And one day you find yourself back in the game, enjoying a dawn-raid with your kid on a Sunday morning in the garage queen.

I love cars, but they have a time and a place. And make better servants than masters.
I would agree with this normally.

Trouble is, with the inevitable demise of ICE cars it does feel like time is of the essence. Wait another 10 years and we may all face the prospect of paying 50k for a soulless family EV.

MC Bodge

28,972 posts

203 months

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Monday 21st February 2022
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It's much less about the car than what you do with it.

Uncle boshy

525 posts

97 months

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Monday 21st February 2022
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It’s such a short period of time in reality, that getting a car you can easily fit in all the family stuff is the right, if slightly dull answer.

A quick car is nice, but by the time the kids have thrown up in it, squashed chocolate into the seats etc, banged the car doors etc, the appeal is lost.

Then the stress of not fitting everything in when you go on holidays and the mrs telling you you bought the wrong car, just not worth it,

We had this a few years ago, I went for an Smax at the time and then subsequently big estates.

Paynewright

659 posts

105 months

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Monday 21st February 2022
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Skoda Superb 280 estate.

Weekendrebuild

1,120 posts

91 months

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Monday 21st February 2022
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535d touring. Excellent all rounder, cheap to maintain and very robust. It’s all so quick enough to be entertaining while carrying the kids, although my little lad prefers the Atom much to the wife’s disapproval.

ChrisH72

3,042 posts

80 months

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Monday 21st February 2022
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I just looked at the SQ2 on AT. It looks okay and is certainly very quick. But I can't help but feel the Leon Cupra 300 estate with dsg and 4x4 offers the same but in an even more subtle and practical body. It's thousands cheaper than the Audi too.

Does your partner do much of the driving? If so then you might need to compromise further.

kiethton

14,608 posts

208 months

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Monday 21st February 2022
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lb3nson

826 posts

117 months

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Monday 21st February 2022
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ChrisH72 said:
I would agree with this normally.

Trouble is, with the inevitable demise of ICE cars it does feel like time is of the essence. Wait another 10 years and we may all face the prospect of paying 50k for a soulless family EV.
I feel the same. With prices getting silly and supply of ICE vehicles going down, it feels to me like it may be now or never for some stuff. I’d be gutted if I survived a decade of boring family cars to then discover anything interesting was either not available or well out of my price range.
I’ve already missed out on most of the 90’s JDM cars of my teenage dreams by waiting too long.
So now I’ve gone with a boring but useful family wagon for the Mrs/family and then have my car as something fun that can still ferry the kids around if required.

Leicesterdave

Original Poster:

2,288 posts

208 months

[report]
[news]
Monday 21st February 2022
quotequote all
georgeyboy12345 said:
Volvo V90 T8 TwinEngine
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110118...


BMW 540i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202172...


Audi S4 Avant
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202142...
Lovely motors- Volvo especially but the miles are too high for me given the price I'd have to pay for them. Sadly, the SQ2 remains a strong contender. The miles are low for my budget too- I just wished I found it a looker- I really don't!
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