Interesting Second Family Car

[RosscoPCole]

We have a VW California that is a perfect family car and a VW T-Cross that is proving to be very boring. Our daughter has a Fiat 500c that is often borrowed as it is a lot more more fun than the T-Cross. I am looking to get rid of the T-Cross and get something more interesting. Cars that stand out that I've had the recent past are a Mini R56 Clubman and a VW Up GTi. The criteria are it can't be much bigger than the T-Cross due to the driveway space and it must seat at least four in reasonable comfort. The budget is £14,000 and it can't have a sky high mileage as it needs to be inexpensive to run.

[V 02]

MK7 GTI Performance or Golf R, Audi S3, Leon Cupra £14k should get a fairly decent example of all of these. The R and the Cupra are available as estates.

BMW 335i (F30) also available for under £14k,

Jaguar XE/ XF-S as an alternative choice. The XF might be too big.

3 series and XE aren’t too large in dimensions.

Edited by V 02 on Friday 20th December 21:20

[Robertb]

If you enjoyed the last Mini, how about an F56 Cooper S? It’s a big step up in tech and engine.

[FA57REN]

You could get a very tidy RS Clio Mk 4, that's the one with the paddle-shift auto box. 1.6T so decently light on fuel, shares many parts with the boggo Clios so Mx costs not too high . Fits four easily and good fun.

[GeordieInExile]

A nice Focus ST? Or a Fiesta, even.

[Mr Tidy]

Maybe a BMW M135i? It's smaller than a 335i but should be better for 4 people than any Mini.

[Overall D]

Leftfield suggestion: FD2 Type-R?

[rodericb]

I thought the obvious answer would be Golf GTI. Or a Golf R if you wanted a bit more "interesting".

[InitialDave]

T-Cross footprint is, what, 4.2mx1.75m

I'd stretch to 4.6mx1.8m for an F31 340i touring.

[macron]

Giulietta, 4.3m

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024100548...

Fiesta ST3 5 door, 4.06m

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024122074...

Volvo V40 T5, 4.37m

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024100448...

Or the cross country

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024101552...

225i Active Tourer, 4.34m

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2024120871...

All of these are interesting. A cooking golf is not.

[jamesbilluk]

An Alfa Giulietta could be worth a look as well,

I had a 1750 Tbi QV Launch edition, very reliable in my time with it, and great fun, also just a bit different, Harry Metcalfe reviewed it against the GTi at the town, and was very complimentary of the Alfa.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202411276...

Or a facelift one
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410285...

The 1.4TB is also meant to be a lovely engine.

[RosscoPCole]

Thank you everyone for the suggestions. The Giulietta looks good and there is one not too far from me. I've even been looking at classics, but that's not going to be practical as a daily.

[Lefty]

Mr Tidy said:

Maybe a BMW M135i? It's smaller than a 335i but should be better for 4 people than any Mini.

This is a great shout.

[edc]

If you liked your R55 Clubman how about a newer F54?

[ZX10R NIN]

308 PS GTI 270:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412167...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412137...

A bit over budget but a good steer ic the Kia (not a patch on the 308 above nonetheless a good car) Ceed GT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412036...

somewhere between the two is the Focus ST:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412107...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410215...