Fun daily w/ a dog £30k

[AlexNJ89]

I have an Alpine A110 and absolutely bloody adore the thing.

Aside from wanting a little more steering engagement, it's such a hoot to drive, small and nimble for British B-road without jarring suspension, fast steering rack and geometry, low down torque for nipping around town and lightweight.

But I'm struggling to find opportunities to use it due to having a dog and no cargo space.

I may be asking the impossible, but what is the closest car to this in the form of a hatchback, estate, SUV or at a push a saloon.

I want it to be:
-Nippy in town
-Petrol
-Good on B-roads without being too firm
-Automatic for the odd central London trip (DCT preferably as I hate slow gearboxes)
-Have enough space to stick the dog in the back
-Be able to have enough power to be sedate on the motorway.
-4WD or RWD would be my preference.

I was thinking something like Hyundai i30N or Renault Megane 300RS Trophy (same drivetrain as the Alpine).

I find Audis and BMWs to be a bit too numb these days.

Stelvio QV could be good but never driven one so not sure how it'd be on a British B-road.

The GR Yaris has only just been released in auto and supposedly not that good anyway, but otherwise it would be a good choice.

Any suggestions?

[ZX10R NIN]

The Megane would be the pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408283...

closely followed by the i30N:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412197...

There's also the Focus ST, while not as sharp as the two above it's a good steer:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502289...

& it comes in estate form too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410145...

[AlexNJ89]

ZX10R NIN said:

The Megane would be the pick:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408283...

closely followed by the i30N:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202412197...

There's also the Focus ST, while not as sharp as the two above it's a good steer:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502289...

& it comes in estate form too:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202410145...

Thanks. Any thoughts on the Golf R estate?

[Belle427]

The Golf R would be the best all rounder really if you have another fun weekend car, such a capable machine but not the most exciting drive.

[AlexNJ89]

Belle427 said:

The Golf R would be the best all rounder really if you have another fun weekend car, such a capable machine but not the most exciting drive.

I also have a V8 Vantage S, which is horrendous on British B-roads and is not a car you can just jump in and drive any time you feel like it.

So I'm thinking about selling the Alpine and the boring daily XJ for a track-focussed MX5 and some kind of fun daily.

[SFTWend]

Where did you get to with the Ferrari FF suggestion, or was that someone else? Certainly had me looking at them.

Was it you who said the best car in the garage is the one you use most? I found a car each for myself and my wife, plus my weekend toy, was one too many.

[AlexNJ89]

SFTWend said:

Where did you get to with the Ferrari FF suggestion, or was that someone else? Certainly had me looking at them.

Was it you who said the best car in the garage is the one you use most? I found a car each for myself and my wife, plus my weekend toy, was one too many.

That might've been me as a Ferrari FF or Maserati MC Stradale are both on the cards. I see that as replacing the Aston and Ferrari finance is pretty incredible so I'd probs look for one through a main dealer.

I haven't been earning as much this last 12 months (think everyone is tightening their belts) so those plans are on hold for a bit.

[J1990]

If you're looking at the i30N then I'd definitely take one for a test drive. I had an original one back when there was a stonking good deal on them (sold 2 years old and 20k miles for a profit vs new price) and I then tested the DCT as a replacement - In the end I went for an F-Type as I was in a rare spot of having other practical cars and being able to get something impractical for a similar price.

The DCT gearbox is good, 5 year warranty includes track usage (which says a lot about Hyundai's confidence) and silly things like the Grin Shift button are brilliant fun. It's also nice to have practically zero options as they came fully spec'd, the main decision is between the electric seats vs the N-light seats.
Golf R is a good option as a faster family car but I consider them to be far from fun without a lot of modification and fettering.

[ZX10R NIN]

AlexNJ89 said:

Thanks. Any thoughts on the Golf R estate?

If you want to enjoy the drive then the Focus imo the better car, the Golf is a good allrounder but not the best steer.

If you want an auto that can do B road fun & fit the dog in, then the Evora makes (depending on the size of the dog)a lot of sense & you can also get them in auto form:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502249...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408303...

997 with a rebuilt engine:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501198...

[AlexNJ89]

ZX10R NIN said:

If you want to enjoy the drive then the Focus imo the better car, the Golf is a good allrounder but not the best steer.

If you want an auto that can do B road fun & fit the dog in, then the Evora makes (depending on the size of the dog)a lot of sense & you can also get them in auto form:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502249...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408303...

997 with a rebuilt engine:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202501198...

I'd love a 997 with a rebuild, I'm actually considering swapping the Aston for a Hartech 997 when one comes along. I wouldn't want a manual as a daily as I spend too long in London traffic.

He's an English Bull Terrier. Here's how the poor sod looks if I make him sit in the back of the Vantage:

[ZX10R NIN]

The Evora could well be the pick, the auto is rare thhough.

[AlexNJ89]

ZX10R NIN said:

The Evora could well be the pick, the auto is rare thhough.

He's too big for an Evora unfortunately.

I need the car to either be 4-door or hatch to be able to get him in and out easily.

I wonder what a gen 1 BMW 130i would be like.

[Belle427]

Interesting estate makes most sense really, BMW 340i maybe or a Merc equivalent?

[ZX10R NIN]

AlexNJ89 said:

He's too big for an Evora unfortunately.

I need the car to either be 4-door or hatch to be able to get him in and out easily.

I wonder what a gen 1 BMW 130i would be like.

The Megane/i30N will be better.

[BenB91]

Sadly the car you are looking for doesn't exist. If it did, I'd have one myself.

I think you need a fast estate car. RS4 or C63 or similar.

[demic]

The Megane in Trophy form does have quite a firm ride. I’d recommend an extended test drive in one to check it’s ok for you (and your dog). Worth bearing in mind too is the EDC gearbox is only 6spd in these which makes motorway cruising a bit more busier than its German rivals with their 7spd boxes.

[AlexNJ89]

BenB91 said:

Sadly the car you are looking for doesn't exist. If it did, I'd have one myself.

I think you need a fast estate car. RS4 or C63 or similar.

I think you're right.

I may have to try a c63 biturbo. Although I've heard they are quite stiff. I was also wondering what a Stelvio with adaptable suspension would be like. Or maybe a Porsche Macan GTS.

Edited by AlexNJ89 on Sunday 2nd March 13:03

[BenB91]

AlexNJ89 said:

I think you're right.

I may have to try a c63 biturbo. Although I've heard they are quite stiff. I was also wondering what a Stelvio with adaptable suspension would be like. Or maybe a Porsche Macan GTS.

Edited by AlexNJ89 on Sunday 2nd March 13:03

I've got a 2019 Macan S. It's lovely but it's not a driver's car. I would have preferred a BMW M340i but we got a great deal on the Macan and my wife preferred it to the BMW.

Fortunately it's not my only car. If I were you, I'd keep the Alpine and get a 5k hot hatch / estate for the dog duties.

[AlexNJ89]

BenB91 said:

I've got a 2019 Macan S. It's lovely but it's not a driver's car. I would have preferred a BMW M340i but we got a great deal on the Macan and my wife preferred it to the BMW.

Fortunately it's not my only car. If I were you, I'd keep the Alpine and get a 5k hot hatch / estate for the dog duties.

Yeah fair, good idea.