Sub 20k, tow/dog/tip/child carrier

[ekulluke]

My last 3 (?) purchases have come from inspiration from readers cars (abarth 595, Golf GTI MK7.5 pp, F80 M3). I relieved myself of the M3 (to my extreme sadness, loved that car) to get a more practical C300 AMG Line Estate. Which whilst very nice is just a bit boring and isnt nice enough to be a special car but nor is it rubbish enough to be used for the dog, tip and general lopping around I need it for.

I’m moving house shortly, have a large dog and an 18 month old as well as a cycling addiction. I’d like to chop it in for something whilst still nice, not as nice and with a tow bar. I’d be looking at spending £12k-£20k but preferably the lower end. I have an i3 which I love and use daily. One catch is i would like it to have something about it as I do like my cars. I’m into the SQ5, 958 Cayenne or an E91 Touring.

Anything to add into the Autotrader searching?

[rallye101]

Sub £2k, waft round in an old volvo 740 and pretend you're the Earl of Whattsit

[Richtea1970]

Get a van

[ekulluke]

Richtea1970 said:

Get a van

The criteria is pointing there but…not hugely fun (had a T5.1 Transporter last year for about 10months) and my local tip requires a permit for vans!

[paradigital]

The biggest problem here is the “have something about it” criteria, as most “interesting” estates aren’t type approved for towing, even though the cooking models are.

This I fear will push you down the SUV route.

[Richtea1970]

ekulluke said:

Richtea1970 said:

Get a van

The criteria is pointing there but…not hugely fun (had a T5.1 Transporter last year for about 10months) and my local tip requires a permit for vans!

It wasn’t a flippant remark. I got a Vivaro (minibus variant) about 3 years ago. As COVID hit I didn’t need a car to commute so sold it. Was doing diy stuff at home (so tip runs), have a big dog (German shepherd)and was spending a lot of time out on my mountain bike too, so bought a van as it would swallow all of those things (with the middle row of seats removed).
Didn’t expect to keep it as I generally got bored with all my cars within about 6 months but as I say, 3 years on and it’s still here. Used all the time for dog walks, MTB’ing, tip runs, days out (I’ve fitted 240v electrics so can make a cuppa if required), helped with 2 house moves and fits in most car parks at less than 2.0m tall.
For me it does all those things so well, I’ll either run it into th ground or swap it for another van in the future.

[ekulluke]

paradigital said:

The biggest problem here is the “have something about it” criteria, as most “interesting” estates aren’t type approved for towing, even though the cooking models are.

This I fear will push you down the SUV route.

I’m not averse to an SUV, which I did not make at all clear in my OP…!

[ekulluke]

Richtea1970 said:

It wasn’t a flippant remark. I got a Vivaro (minibus variant) about 3 years ago. As COVID hit I didn’t need a car to commute so sold it. Was doing diy stuff at home (so tip runs), have a big dog (German shepherd)and was spending a lot of time out on my mountain bike too, so bought a van as it would swallow all of those things (with the middle row of seats removed).
Didn’t expect to keep it as I generally got bored with all my cars within about 6 months but as I say, 3 years on and it’s still here. Used all the time for dog walks, MTB’ing, tip runs, days out (I’ve fitted 240v electrics so can make a cuppa if required), helped with 2 house moves and fits in most car parks at less than 2.0m tall.
For me it does all those things so well, I’ll either run it into th ground or swap it for another van in the future.

It’s ok, I didn’t take it as such. I liked my van a lot and have flirted with the idea of getting a decent transit. I have a Doberman that likes to sit up front and which was great in my defender but not so much in a car, so it’ll be the boot for the young lad.

I guess I could get a permit for the tip (allows you 8 tip runs per year) but it still isn’t hugely interesting :-(

[andburg]

Some kind of pickup?

I think the default for a spacious tip wagon that isnt terrible to drive and can carry people is an S-Max? plenty of 2.0 turbo motors around if you want an auto or you may find an 2.5V6 if manual if you're lucky

[Shabaza]

Skoda Super estate (280bhp Golf R engine available)
Boringly capable, making it interesting in my head

[dhutch]

Shabaza said:

Skoda Superb estate (280bhp Golf R engine available)
Boringly capable, making it interesting in my head

We're in a fairly similar boat and currently leaning down this route as a potential, if likely plucking for the slightly less exciting 147bhp petrol.

Don't know how much it helps, but I have put together a bit of an Excel sheet of specs to compare various models against our current cars, which I will attach a screenshot of below.

So far I've ruled out an SUV favouring an estate, and focused on the automatic model as it will the family wagon and my wife commuting car, so slogging through long messy rush hour commute or Friday afternoon holiday traffic crawling around the M6. I hope to retain the 330ci as my daily.

[sbridgey]

Discovery 4 and a bunch of change to fix it when it inevitably breaks.

Perfect car for bikes, dogs and kids i'd say

[MDMA .]

https://www.seymourpope.com/vehicle-details/used-a...

[ekulluke]

MDMA . said:

https://www.seymourpope.com/vehicle-details/used-a...

Whew! That’s amazing, thanks a lot for bringing it to my attention; I love an A4 or A6 all road but didn’t know a petrol was in the offering. Luke

[ekulluke]

dhutch said:

Shabaza said:

Skoda Superb estate (280bhp Golf R engine available)
Boringly capable, making it interesting in my head

We're in a fairly similar boat and currently leaning down this route as a potential, if likely plucking for the slightly less exciting 147bhp petrol.

Don't know how much it helps, but I have put together a bit of an Excel sheet of specs to compare various models against our current cars, which I will attach a screenshot of below.

So far I've ruled out an SUV favouring an estate, and focused on the automatic model as it will the family wagon and my wife commuting car, so slogging through long messy rush hour commute or Friday afternoon holiday traffic crawling around the M6. I hope to retain the 330ci as my daily.

Interesting spreadsheet, some serious analysis there. I’d be after something with 200bhp plus though just because I’m that way inclined.

[MDMA .]

ekulluke said:

MDMA . said:

https://www.seymourpope.com/vehicle-details/used-a...

Whew! That’s amazing, thanks a lot for bringing it to my attention; I love an A4 or A6 all road but didn’t know a petrol was in the offering. Luke

Simple remap to a little over 400bhp

[ZX10R NIN]

Cayenne GTS:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306228...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307280...

X5M:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307229...

4.2d Cayenne now this drivetrain really suits the Cayenne:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308050...

[ekulluke]

ZX10R NIN said:

Cayenne GTS:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202306228...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307280...

X5M:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202307229...

4.2d Cayenne now this drivetrain really suits the Cayenne:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308050...

Ah bonjour ZX10.

X5M I didn’t realise could arrive in budget. I’ve just found this:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303074...

Love that 4.2 cayenne but rather spend a touch less to allow for maintenance. Thoughts on the 3.0d of the same generation?

[Chicken Chaser]

Too dull?

Passat BitDi

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023081809...

Alternatively the Passat GTE petrol hybrid

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023080504...

Sub 6 second behemoth.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023080705...

Edited by Chicken Chaser on Tuesday 22 August 08:44

Edited by Chicken Chaser on Tuesday 22 August 08:46

[ekulluke]

Chicken Chaser said:

Too dull?

Passat BitDi

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023081809...

Alternatively the Passat GTE petrol hybrid

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023080504...

Sub 6 second behemoth.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2023080705...

Edited by Chicken Chaser on Tuesday 22 August 08:44

Edited by Chicken Chaser on Tuesday 22 August 08:46

Ahhhh you know i had totally forgotten about the Passat. I like them in GT trim, or in Alltrack trim. Great shout, they’re on the list.

The 1/2 times a week I will use it will be longer drives so a diesel isn’t the end of the world.