So what car have you been obsessing about today?? (Vol 2)

[berlintaxi]

Here you go;

http://www.parkwayspecialistcars.co.uk/stocklist/m...

[AlmostUseful]

Mr Tidy said:

AlmostUseful said:

If I didn’t have to pick my kids up from the child minder on the way home I’d be buying a 3.0 Z4 coupe, no doubt about it.

I hope you can find a way around the child-minder pick-up then!

I'm over 4 years into Z4 Coupe ownership and I still get a silly grin on my face every time I drive mine!

Oh sod off!

[epom]

Not even a bonkers price (I think). Though its still about €34k over my budget.

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

[VitorioVeloce]

epom said:

Not even a bonkers price (I think). Though its still about €34k over my budget.

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

And The Ad Using Capital Letters On Each Word Makes It Pretty Much Unreadable...


Nice car though, but imho only a fool would pay 35K for one...

[p1stonhead]

berlintaxi said:

Here you go;

http://www.parkwayspecialistcars.co.uk/stocklist/m...

[DillonL]

Harry Flashman said:

Selling my Aston as first child is due, I live in London, and have been underwhelmed by fast estates at the £30-35k mark. V8 RS4 too small and the engine is not great with the S-tronic around town. RS6 a non-event at low speed, and over what I want to spend. Also likely to get stolen.

E63 AMG (W212) seems like a lot of car for the money, but the interior seems a bit rubbish and it looks like an airport taxi.The one I tested was very nice to burble around in.

Then I found a red CLS63 AMG for sale in WImbledon. And have been obsessing ever since. I just looks so good in the metal (if a bit weird in photos) - sort of art deco steampunk gangster silliness. The interior is a cut above any of the mainstream cars - dead cow slathered over every surface, and a cockpit that feels low, and right. And it had a pleasing V8 woofle at all speeds, unlike the Audis. Was easy to drive like a daily, but in sprt mode, was an absolute animal.

I just need one in black for maximum menace. Lovely thing - had never even thought of them before. Honestly, I prefer the saloon version - but the brake will do as a practical family wagon. If I buy one, I shall keep it until it is outlawed or dead. Debadged, too.

Want.

Does it need to be big? I’m also expecting my first child and have decided on an RS3 (pre face lift model around £35k).

Boot big enough for the pram, back seats big enough for the car seat and there are rear doors.

It’s fun to drive even an low speeds, and unlike the RS4/RS6, the sound is up there with the C63.

I don’t understand the need some people have for such big cars, unless you are regularly using the car to go away for the weekend, or taking the whole family to play golf, a hatchback is plenty big enough for one child. Can always use a roof rack if staying away.

[Harry Flashman]

Every person n. Know with a golf sized car and one child had to buy bigger when they had two, or got a dog. I don’t want to bother.

Also, twin turbo V8!

I looked at the RSQ3. Great car, great engine. But quite a lot of money for what you get compared to bigger stuff.

[VitorioVeloce]

Harry Flashman said:

Every person n. Know with a golf sized car and one child had to buy bigger when they had two, or got a dog. I don’t want to bother.

Also, twin turbo V8!

I looked at the RSQ3. Great car, great engine. But quite a lot of money for what you get compared to bigger stuff.

I dont think the RS3 qualifies as it isnt a proper estate, but something like a Focus estate should easily be enough for two kids. I had a megane estate when my kids were small (as in, needing a stroller small) and i didnt have any issues.

That said, who i am to argue with a TT V8? if you can afford it, by all means get something you like

[DillonL]

Harry Flashman said:

Every person n. Know with a golf sized car and one child had to buy bigger when they had two, or got a dog. I don’t want to bother.

Also, twin turbo V8!

I looked at the RSQ3. Great car, great engine. But quite a lot of money for what you get compared to bigger stuff.

I guess it’s different if you have a dog, or 2 kids within a year or so, where they are both at the age where they need a big pram.

I do know plenty of people who’ve managed to raise families with cars similar to a Vauxhall Corsa though, so I’m happy to tell myself the RS3 will be fine!

[DillonL]

Harry Flashman said:

Every person n. Know with a golf sized car and one child had to buy bigger when they had two, or got a dog. I don’t want to bother.

Also, twin turbo V8!

I looked at the RSQ3. Great car, great engine. But quite a lot of money for what you get compared to bigger stuff.

I guess it’s different if you have a dog, or 2 kids within a year or so, where they are both at the age where they need a big pram.

I do know plenty of people who’ve managed to raise families with cars similar to a Vauxhall Corsa though, so I’m happy to tell myself the RS3 will be fine!

[blearyeyedboy]

Never underestimate the ability of one's spouse to require the packing of things one didn't even think were necessary.

My friend recently completely filled the boot of an Octavia with himself, his wife and baby. We brought numerous things with us for a single week away. The only items belonging to my friend could have filled one small attaché case.

God help my friend if he has a second. He'll need a Skoda Superb, a roofbox and a f***ing Ifor Williams trailer to go to the supermarket at this rate.

I was going to talk your friend out of an RS3 but it might be a good strategy. Luggage will otherwise expand to meet the space available. If you do go down a large estate route, various flavours of VAG estate do a decent job.

[Harry Flashman]

It's also a price/value thing. I love the RS3, but like most second hand Audi RS products, it seems distinctly overpriced to me (IMHO)

RS3 - lovely thing, 42,000 miles, 2013, £20k,

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...


CLS63 AMG wagon - lovely thing, 41,000 miles, 2013, £27k,

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I'll admit that the Merc will cost a bunch more to run, but still...

[DillonL]

Harry Flashman said:

It's also a price/value thing. I love the RS3, but like most second hand Audi RS products, it seems distinctly overpriced to me (IMHO)

RS3 - lovely thing, 42,000 miles, 2013, £20k,

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...


CLS63 AMG wagon - lovely thing, 41,000 miles, 2013, £27k,

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I'll admit that the Merc will cost a bunch more to run, but still...

It works both ways though, they’ll also be overpriced when you come to sell! I don’t really consider the price on its own to be a big factor in buying a car. I think what’s more important is the total cost of ownership (including depreciation). I’d rather pay £70k for a car that I can sell for £60k in 2 years than £30k for a car that I can only sell for £10k in 2 years. Of course you don’t always know this cost in advance!

The C63 was actually very high on my list originally. I went to the local MB dealer and asked if I could arrange a test drive. Didn’t really get treated seriously (probably partly my fault, I’m relatively young and never make an effort to dress up) and the salesperson seemed quite dismissive. Put me off a bit (shouldn’t really base your car choice on the attitude of one employee but I did).

That then narrowed it down to RS3 vs M3 (two completely different categories of cars I know!)

Edited by DillonL on Monday 16th July 23:39

[DillonL]

blearyeyedboy said:

Never underestimate the ability of one's spouse to require the packing of things one didn't even think were necessary.

My friend recently completely filled the boot of an Octavia with himself, his wife and baby. We brought numerous things with us for a single week away. The only items belonging to my friend could have filled one small attaché case.

God help my friend if he has a second. He'll need a Skoda Superb, a roofbox and a f***ing Ifor Williams trailer to go to the supermarket at this rate.

I was going to talk your friend out of an RS3 but it might be a good strategy. Luggage will otherwise expand to meet the space available. If you do go down a large estate route, various flavours of VAG estate do a decent job.

I used to think like this, but realised that we only really go away for a week or more within driving distance once a year max. Most of our trips away involve flying. Didn’t want to compromise on a car that I’ll be driving 350+ days a year for the sake of one potential domestic getaway. Obviously it’s a very personal decision though. Some people need the extra space, some people don’t.

I know what you mean about luggage expanding to meet the space available though. For a weekend away we can easily get by on a backpack each. Accidentally add a suitcase onto the booking however and she manages to bring enough clothes for the year.

[Mr Tidy]

AlmostUseful said:

Oh sod off!

[blearyeyedboy]

DillonL said:

I used to think like this, but realised that we only really go away for a week or more within driving distance once a year max. Most of our trips away involve flying. Didn’t want to compromise on a car that I’ll be driving 350+ days a year for the sake of one potential domestic getaway. Obviously it’s a very personal decision though. Some people need the extra space, some people don’t.

I know what you mean about luggage expanding to meet the space available though. For a weekend away we can easily get by on a backpack each. Accidentally add a suitcase onto the booking however and she manages to bring enough clothes for the year.

Oh, there is one thing more: the baby's car seat.
If it has an ISOFIX base, some of them can be monstrously big, especially the "sit rearwards till age 4" ones. Unless you and your partner are short, check that you can fit your seat of choice in your car of choice.

A BMW 1 series stayed in the showroom on this basis. A Golf worked so I imagine an A3 would too. Long trips involve a highly loaded Octavia. (But we do them frequently enough to be worthwhile.)
I imagine a C43 to be a fine choice.

Edited by blearyeyedboy on Tuesday 17th July 08:22

[DJFish]

DillonL said:

I don’t understand the need some people have for such big cars, unless you are regularly using the car to go away for the weekend, or taking the whole family to play golf, a hatchback is plenty big enough for one child. Can always use a roof rack if staying away.

Our main consideration was legroom & rear facing child seats.
My wife has spent the past 5 years scrunched up against the glovebox as first, and then second daughter have sat behind her in their ejector seats.
Any extra kit for expeditions has been strapped to the roof or towbar.

[juice]

I'm obsessing about an Alfa GTV Cup and then a trip to Autodelta

[Liquid Knight]

Following the demise of the MG ZT family wagon I am entertaining the idea of a Vauxhall (I know right?) Signum (Seriously?) 2.8 turbo Elite (auto-bloody-tragic).



It's a bit of a Q car, rare, quirky, comfortable enough for family stuff, capable of towing my track day car and if needs be pretty quick.

Best of all you get VXR-ness without the stigma, insurance or seats made from some kind of granite composite.

[Fastdruid]

I have for a while been idly considering what to get as a replacement for my Mondeo 2.5T Estate.

Yesterday I realised that the Audi S4 Avant (B8) comes with a manual option (I'd previously discounted it as I thought they were all auto-only), and is only 4mpg worse on extra-urban (and the same on urban) but has an extra cylinder and 100hp more.

Downside is the newest ones appear to be 7 years old still (I'd rather something 4-5 years old) and it's the highest tax bracket.

I think I'm going to have to find one to take a look/test drive.