A lurkers 'what car'

[Hammer315]

I'm a long time lurker around here but need some advice and ideas on what car I should consider next because I'm just lost this time around!

I currently drive a 1.2tce duster. It does the job and filled the criteria perfectly when my previous car died, I brought a house and got a divorce all within 6 months! But now I'm settled down and much better financially, I want to replace it with something just generally nicer to drive.

Here is the situation:
I need space for me, my 9&11 year old kids and a border collie size dog.
I do approx 12k miles per year, most of which are ferrying my son around to long distance football matches.
I am looking at around £10k (less would be better) but I can go a bit more for the right car.
Not bothered about petrol/diesel, manual/auto etc.
I want something fairly quick with relatively good handling and just a nicer place to be than the duster....but maybe not as performance based as my old evo 5!
I think maybe an estate of some sort is what I should be looking at but if others have done this with something hatchback sized etc then I'd love to hear it!

Thanks in advance.

[a_dreamer]

What about a golf or A3 type. Will be nicer to drive. Can get the dog in the boot.

My wife has a troc which is just a taller version and we have an English Springer.

[dunc69]

Skoda Octavia vRS estate.

Quick enough, reliable, very roomy, available in diesel or petrol, manual and DSG.

Fantastic all round cars! £10k should be plenty.

[Phil Dicky]

dunc69 said:

Skoda Octavia vRS estate.

Quick enough, reliable, very roomy, available in diesel or petrol, manual and DSG.

Fantastic all round cars! £10k should be plenty.

It's what I was going to suggest.

[georgeyboy12345]

Ford Focus ST Estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203314...


Seat Leon Sport Tourer FR TDI
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204084...

1.8 TSI DSG
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204134...


Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI vRS Estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203053...


Jaguar XF Sportbrake 3.0 D V6 S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202042...


Mercedes W205 C220d Estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202202...

Slightly older W204 C350 CDI Estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201271...

Same engine in a W212 E350 CDI Estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202202052...

Or slightly older still for a W211 E500 Estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109067...

[Super Sonic]

Honda Civic

[ChrisH72]

Hammer315 said:

I'm a long time lurker around here but need some advice and ideas on what car I should consider next because I'm just lost this time around!

I currently drive a 1.2tce duster. It does the job and filled the criteria perfectly when my previous car died, I brought a house and got a divorce all within 6 months! But now I'm settled down and much better financially, I want to replace it with something just generally nicer to drive.


Thanks in advance.

Sorry, but when I read that I could only think of one thing....

There was a long time lurker
Who drove a Dacia Duster
He bought a horse then got divorced
And now wants something faster.

Again, sorry!

I was actually thinking that the new Jogger would suit your needs better than the Duster? Don't know much about them other than they've had great reviews but probably not quick enough and too similar to what you've had.

[ZX10R NIN]

Hammer315 said:

I'm a long time lurker around here but need some advice and ideas on what car I should consider next because I'm just lost this time around!

I currently drive a 1.2tce duster. It does the job and filled the criteria perfectly when my previous car died, I brought a house and got a divorce all within 6 months! But now I'm settled down and much better financially, I want to replace it with something just generally nicer to drive.

Here is the situation:
I need space for me, my 9&11 year old kids and a border collie size dog.
I do approx 12k miles per year, most of which are ferrying my son around to long distance football matches.
I am looking at around £10k (less would be better) but I can go a bit more for the right car.
Not bothered about petrol/diesel, manual/auto etc.
I want something fairly quick with relatively good handling and just a nicer place to be than the duster....but maybe not as performance based as my old evo 5!
I think maybe an estate of some sort is what I should be looking at but if others have done this with something hatchback sized etc then I'd love to hear it!

Thanks in advance.

I'd say an Infiniti EX could be an option as they're a nice place to be swift handle well & will soak up long distances with ease:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203284...

For something more modern the DS5 180 in Prestige spec makes a lot of sense & it'll have plenty of room for the collie:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204144...

Estate wise the 308 in GT 180 spec is a good pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203143...

Or the Astra BiTurbo in Elite spec:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204054...

As you can see there are some decent options, all the above are ULEZ/CAZ compliant too.

[deeen]

BMW 3 series estate?

[ZX10R NIN]

Any of those options work for you OP?

[Hammer315]

Thanks for all the replies so far. Some of the cars mentioned are ones I considered anyway like the VRS estate, Leon FR and 308 GT estate.
I'm not a huge fan of the infinity tbh and for whatever reason, I don't like vauxhalls either.
I think I'm leaning towards an estate/hatchback styled car over an SUV/MPV thing like the duster again.

I might have a look at civics mentioned too.
I'd love to get the focus st Estate but I doubt I'd see much over 30mpg due to my 'progressive' driving and I'd rather not drop to something so thirsty.

ULEZ is definitely something to consider, although not 100% decisive.