The £35k nearly new ‘do it all’ fast family car?

The £35k nearly new ‘do it all’ fast family car?

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Discussion

PaulConst

Original Poster:

29 posts

92 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
quotequote all
Apologies if there’s a similar thread out there to this. I have already browsed several but every scenario is slightly different.

I’ve sold my F-Pace 3.0d S two months ago with a paltry 8,000 miles on the clock after 14 months of ownership and taken a significant hit on that. Reason for selling, it was too wide for my daily commute down the lanes of Shropshire and frankly I found the proportions overall too big for me and as a £60k car I could never relax parking anywhere (playbarns etc!rolleyes) ending up using the wife’s Focus (soon to be new Peugeot 3008 – surprisingly good). I had bought a 2006 Suzuki Swift Sport for my commute instead (hilarious drive) and the Jag was then relegated to the drive, an expensive piece of jewellery with a second child on the way at the time - now born.

So, I’ve spent the last several months deciding on what’s needed from my next car. Where you guys come in I hope is appraising my logic and perhaps suggesting some fresh alternative cars to my shortlist?

- 0-24 months old
- Petrol not diesel (fear of future taxation) and only doing 7-8k miles pa
- Not too wide for the aforementioned country lanes
- Still big enough to potentially take an adult and one kids mountain bike in the boot with all seats down (not essential as could use a rack)
- 30mpg+ ideally on my short commute down the lanes. Whilst I can afford £35k on a car that does not mean I am not tight on the daily running costs and tax
- Comfortable for the wife and a 6 year old who can get car sick, and a one month old (2 boys, no more planned!)
- All wheel drive for the lanes in winter
- The ability to be fast for a 42 year old Dad so as to remind himself he can still have fun but sleeper’ish enough it’s not being sized-up daily by the criminal fraternity
- Plenty of toys
- Not ugly

My last car list: 2 Elise’s, RX8, TT, A5 coupe 3.0d, BMW 330d coupe, Evoque 2.2d (kept it 4 years so clearly that’s a sign), F-Pace S 3.0d

Front runners

S4 Avant

Looking at a 2017 in black this week with lots of spec and 11k miles. However, being registered in April 2017 that’s £450p.a. tax and realistically 20mpg on my commute. Lots of good tech though and fits the bill nicely size-wise but at £38k is also over budget and I expect my Swift will be worth £2.50 as a p/x.

Golf R Estate

£30k should buy a Mark 7.5 nearly new with LED dash and a couple of bits. More economical that the S4, more of a point and squirt machine for my commute but not the build quality, looks or badge of the S4 (sorry, a little vanity there). Still, great engine and buying a £25k Mark 7 would mean I could be less precious when parking it and running costs will be low (‘ish)

Other Contenders

C43 estate – great sound. Ageing
Volvo V60 Polestar – Rare. Uber cool. Ageing
3 series estate/ Alpina – Ageing and mostly diesels
Octavia Vrs 280(?) – Comfortably under budget nearly new just need to get over my inner badge issues
Evoque – it was a great car, always felt comfortable driving it and there’s a petrol option, albeit thirsty and ultimately slow and it’s also ageing

As you’ll see from the above I would like a car which still looks fresh in a couple of years!

Thoughts very welcome. I have a feeling I may need to compromise somewhere!

Thanks in advice authorities






Edited by PaulConst on Monday 22 January 10:00


Edited by PaulConst on Tuesday 23 January 17:18

kambites

67,462 posts

220 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
quotequote all
The Octavia VRS isn't available with the 280bhp engine or with 4wd. The Superb is and might be a good option.

Obviously it depends on the size of your family, but the C-class, 3-series and A4 are all pretty cramped in the back compared to other cars of similar external size. If you're an "extended rear-facing seat" person, it might be a squash.

They're also all surprisingly wide, but then so is everything else these days. hehe

Edited by kambites on Monday 22 January 09:22

Tuvra

7,920 posts

224 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
quotequote all
BMW 340i would be my choice.

captain_cynic

11,876 posts

94 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
quotequote all
Tuvra said:
BMW 340i would be my choice.
This. For £35,000 you can pick up a 17 reg easy. It meets all the OP's criteria except that 30 MPG isn't achievable in the real world. The auto gets about 26-28, my manual M240i gets 22.5 MPG.

If MPG is that important, the 330i with the 2L engine should get it and still be pretty quick, as fast as the OP's old 3L diesel F-Pace on paper and would definitely feel faster. You could probably get a new 330i for £35K depending on what options you want.

likesachange

2,630 posts

193 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
quotequote all
Golf R estate could probably had brand new for £30k if you shop about... (and its the 7.5 btw )

Fantastic allrounder imo, nicely kitted out in standard form too.




alock

4,224 posts

210 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
quotequote all
If you're looking at the Golf and potentially Octavia, then you should also look at the Leon. Available for £27k new.

https://broadspeed.com/CarView/Seat/Leon_ST/44805/...

Boydie88

3,283 posts

148 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
quotequote all
Haven't looked up the sizes compared to an F Pace.... An Alfa Stelvio? Saw my first the other day and looked good in a sea of Evoques.

LimaDelta

6,510 posts

217 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
quotequote all
A bit left field but have you considered the Subaru Ouback? Ticks all of your boxes, though perhaps lacking in badge appeal (though some might consider that a bonus). Shame there is no genuinely ‘fast’ version at the moment, but the 2.5 petrol is adequate for real-world use. A6 size load space for family accoutrements.

Zippee

13,445 posts

233 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
quotequote all
alock said:
If you're looking at the Golf and potentially Octavia, then you should also look at the Leon. Available for £27k new.

https://broadspeed.com/CarView/Seat/Leon_ST/44805/...
The Leon estate is a very good shout.

Another really good option would be the Skoda Superb 280, you can get new well within budget and it will likely be all the car you'll ever need.

psgcarey

611 posts

161 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
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Porsche Macan?

3 on here for sale under £35k

w8pmc

3,345 posts

237 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
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Another vote for the Golf R Estate. Simply epic machines OOTB & for that budget you could just about pick up a brand new one.

AppleJuice

2,154 posts

84 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
quotequote all
Whilst these are over 24 months old, they should fit most of the other criteria (looks are subjective I know):
2006 Subaru Legacy Sports Tourer 3.0 R Spec.B manual


2008 Subaru Legacy Sports Tourer 3.0 R Spec.B manual

fatjon

2,144 posts

212 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
quotequote all
A8L 4.2 TDI

Nice V8 diesel, 4.7 seconds to 60, remarkably chuckable for a massive car and 34+ MPG. The 3.0 one is a fair bit slower and not massively better on fuel.

Even the most basic spec has pretty much everything you ask for. The LWB version is like a gentleman's club in the back (you will need to find your own lap dancers though). That budget will pick you up a 2015 or 2016 low mileage one with some warranty left on it.

Had two and covered 100k plus without problems. Will be buying one of the new model when some other sucker has lost the first 40k on it and when Audi get their arses into gear and bring out the new models with the decent engines rather than the choice of two 6 pots initially on offer.


Sixpackpert

4,538 posts

213 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
quotequote all
Zippee said:
Another really good option would be the Skoda Superb 280, you can get new well within budget and it will likely be all the car you'll ever need.
Absolutely this. I have the L&K but in 190bhp diesel format.

Loads of kit, absolutely huge inside, comfortable. What more is needed!

I went to one from a Disco 4 and the only thing I miss is the pre-heater.

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
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I'd have the 6-cylinder Volvo Polestar, immensely silly car.

sjg

7,444 posts

264 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
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Have just finished 2 years in a Golf R estate and it's hard to think of a better practical family wagon that can also shift when you want it to. Enough space for newborn and toddler seats, huge boot, proper roof rails to fit bars to, and very well equipped especially the 7.5 with the active info display, carplay and winter pack standard now.

Drivethedeal will do a brand new one for under £30k.

liner33

10,642 posts

201 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
quotequote all
fatjon said:
A8L 4.2 TDI

Nice V8 diesel, 4.7 seconds to 60, remarkably chuckable for a massive car and 34+ MPG. The 3.0 one is a fair bit slower and not massively better on fuel.

Even the most basic spec has pretty much everything you ask for. The LWB version is like a gentleman's club in the back (you will need to find your own lap dancers though). That budget will pick you up a 2015 or 2016 low mileage one with some warranty left on it.

Had two and covered 100k plus without problems. Will be buying one of the new model when some other sucker has lost the first 40k on it and when Audi get their arses into gear and bring out the new models with the decent engines rather than the choice of two 6 pots initially on offer.
He doesnt want a diesel

I'd probably go with the Superb 280 , i think you get a whole lot of car for the money

Jim AK

4,029 posts

123 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
quotequote all
OP wants petrol due to rightly or wrongly thinking diesel will have significant tax rises imposed. My money would be going under the radar to Subaru too it's what farmers seem to default to, although may not get the MPG target. Looked at them last year although we didn't buy. My only warning would be to ensure it has a spare wheel & not a can of gloop!

Tuvra

7,920 posts

224 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
quotequote all
captain_cynic said:
This. For £35,000 you can pick up a 17 reg easy. It meets all the OP's criteria except that 30 MPG isn't achievable in the real world. The auto gets about 26-28, my manual M240i gets 22.5 MPG.

If MPG is that important, the 330i with the 2L engine should get it and still be pretty quick, as fast as the OP's old 3L diesel F-Pace on paper and would definitely feel faster. You could probably get a new 330i for £35K depending on what options you want.
In fairness, if mine is anything to go by the 340i will be similar to a Golf R DSG in regards to fuel consumption. The R would get 38mpg+ on a run, 18mpg when hooning it and around 25mpg around town.

AppleJuice

2,154 posts

84 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
quotequote all
fatjon said:
A8L 4.2

Nice V8 petrol, 6.6 seconds to 60, remarkably chuckable for a massive car and 34+ MPG on a run. The 3.0 one is a fair bit slower and not massively better on fuel.

Even the most basic spec has pretty much everything you ask for. The LWB version is like a gentleman's club in the back (you will need to find your own lap dancers though). That budget will pick you up a 2013 D4 3.0 TFSI or a 2003+ D3 4.2.
FTFY