Family car - M140i or Golf R Estate?

Family car - M140i or Golf R Estate?

Author
Discussion

JuanGandini

Original Poster:

1,466 posts

140 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
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Hi folks,

I'm looking for some opinions please on the choice of two cars on my radar.

My current Audi A4 lease is ending next spring and I'm keeping my eye on possible replacements which fit my budget. At the moment there are lease deals available on the Golf R estate and the M140i shadow edition which are both a cigarette paper apart in terms of total cost.

I've leased an M135i in the past but the family has since grown to include a one year old and her associated paraphernalia. We don't do huge mileage though and would only occasionally need to fill the car up with stuff for holidays maybe once or twice per year. So is the Golf R estate's space really warranted that much?

So I'm pondering whether the M140i will have the capacity for a buggy or if it'll all just get too irritating having to fold down rear seats every time we go away anywhere.

What would you choose, given my scenario?

Uncle John

4,302 posts

192 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
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Personally would go for the R.

Much better suited as a family car especially factoring in the extra safety of 4WD.

Had a 1 series and it can get a bit cramped.

MR2 Steve

281 posts

108 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
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I've had an M135i and currently have a Leon Cupra 290 black edition. The boot is pretty small on both.

Personally I think the Leon Cupra 300 estate looks better than the Golf R. On offer for lease at IMG Warrington. That's where my money would go.

andrewparker

8,014 posts

188 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
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Kids seem to have lots of stuff these days. I have two (5 and 8) and really struggled with a Golf R hatchback, so have ordered the estate to replace my current car. I very nearly bought an M135i when they first came out but we couldn't get the pushchair we had at the time (Apple iCandy) into the boot. Now my children are wanting to throw bikes and scooters in the boot, so the R estate should be perfect.

JuanGandini

Original Poster:

1,466 posts

140 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
quotequote all
MR2 Steve said:
I've had an M135i and currently have a Leon Cupra 290 black edition. The boot is pretty small on both.

Personally I think the Leon Cupra 300 estate looks better than the Golf R. On offer for lease at IMG Warrington. That's where my money would go.
I knew about the Cupra hatch deal but can't see anything on their site for the estate. Do you have a direct link to the estate offer?

kmpowell

2,935 posts

229 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
quotequote all
R Estate, all day long.

The boot is the same size as an A4, it's comfortable (even more so if you go for DCC), and now the MK7.5 has the 7sp box (rather than the 6sp in the older MK7), it's a good family motorway cruiser.

If you have second child the R will also be up to to the job with the two kids and all the extra paraphernalia they bring, whereas the 1er certainly won't. 140i is also RWD so the boot is shallow and the gap entrance is narrow making buggy loading a PITA.

Dannbodge

2,167 posts

122 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
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M140i because it won't get stolen.

andrewparker

8,014 posts

188 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
quotequote all
Dannbodge said:
M140i because it won't get stolen.
Better tell that to my friend's Dad. When a thief broke in through the kitchen window and found keys to his M135i and his sons Golf R (both parked on the driveway outside), which do you think they took?

RS Grant

1,427 posts

234 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
quotequote all
On paper it may look like a fairly close call, but I think in reality the Golf will be a more practical and useable family car by some margin.


Cheers,
Grant

lord trumpton

7,415 posts

127 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
quotequote all
Golf estate is considerably more roomy both in the boot and the rear seats

The 1 series has a huge transmsission tunnel that affects rear leg room and the boot is not that deep, and further compromised by the sloping tailgate.

The Golf estate is miles better as a family car imho


Pica-Pica

13,849 posts

85 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
quotequote all
kmpowell said:
R Estate, all day long.

The boot is the same size as an A4, it's comfortable (even more so if you go for DCC), and now the MK7.5 has the 7sp box (rather than the 6sp in the older MK7), it's a good family motorway cruiser.

If you have second child the R will also be up to to the job with the two kids and all the extra paraphernalia they bring, whereas the 1er certainly won't. 140i is also RWD so the boot is shallow and the gap entrance is narrow making buggy loading a PITA.
My thoughts too. If you have a kid now, will you expect another within the lease period?

TheDrBrian

5,444 posts

223 months

Wednesday 16th August 2017
quotequote all
With a single child in 2017 you'll need a pickup truck. Make sure it's got at least 2000lb of payload for all the stuff a modern child needs.......

BMW cos it does skids and isn't fwd+

Jimmy800

1 posts

81 months

Monday 21st August 2017
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I can thoroughly recommend the Golf R estate - I faced a similar question with a 3 year old child, and plumped for the Golf. Very pleased that I did. Supremely talented chassis which makes every drive feel connected, even at family speeds.

maniac886

1,215 posts

171 months

Monday 21st August 2017
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I don't think there are any current deals on the M140i shadow edition at the moment . There were comments on the main lease thread that they could return at the end of this month. I'd wait a week then go for the Golf R estate if nothing appears.

spookly

4,020 posts

96 months

Monday 21st August 2017
quotequote all
I have a Golf R estate on lease, MK7, not the MK7.5.
Having tried out a 1 series before, I knew it would never have the room I needed.
I'd like to have the 7spd DSG, as a slightly taller gear on the motorway would be handy, but I suppose if I was that bothered about fuel economy I could just slow down a bit.

Brinyan

389 posts

94 months

Monday 21st August 2017
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You could get away with the Golf R hatch, couldn't you? Better looking (IMO) & good size boot. We've run a Subaru WRX 5 door since having children. 2 children, buggies, bags, scooters etc etc, has all gone in over the past 13 years & space in back of that is about the same as Golf hatch. There haven't been many times we've run out of space & the more space you have, the more unnecessary crap you'll fill it with.

anonymous-user

55 months

Monday 21st August 2017
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Had an M140 until 3 weeks ago. Have a 1 year old and 4 year old. The 140 would happily take enough to take the kids, buggy and assortment of stuff you need for a weekend away.

The only thing I'd say is see how a rear facing child seat goes in the back (there wasn't much clearance between the back of the driver seat and the back of the baby seat). Not sure how that measurement differs between the BMW and the golf.

Danxr46

142 posts

81 months

Monday 21st August 2017
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I previously had a VW R32 Mk5 and now a 330d. Neither estates but having two kids they coped fine. Only thing that was a struggle was at xmas when we travelled all the xmas present haha. Otherwise they were both safe, reliable and did the job whilst also given myself the fun when possible. I know having a lot of space is good but in reality if you don't need the space then why bother

anonymous-user

55 months

Monday 21st August 2017
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Just to add, have you thought of a 335d/340i, as these seem available with good discounts and have plenty of room.

carl_w

9,198 posts

259 months

Monday 21st August 2017
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4-pot vs 6-pot? No contest IMHO