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

[AppleJuice]

Krikkit said:

I'd have the 6-cylinder Volvo Polestar, immensely silly car.

If painted silver, a reasonably subtle Q-car too.

[Trevor555]

sjg said:

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.

That's a bargain.

I think you've just cost me 30k

[w8pmc]

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.

That fair bit slower being a gargantuan 1 second to 62 & not massively better on fuel being about 10+mpg. Hey ho, at least you get to say you've got a V8, albeit a diesel

[liner33]

kambites said:

The Octavia VRS isn't available with the 280bhp engine or with 4wd.

Edited by kambites on Monday 22 January 09:22

The Octavia VRS is available with 4wd but only on the diesel

[richatnort]

I'm going through exactly the same process as you at the minute and this was on my list at the start

S4 avant
S5 sport back
340i touring
440i gran coupe
merc C43 estate.

Having driven the 440 & S4 I'm between the the 440 gran couple and the s5 sport back.

Both really good cars and in terms of practical space i thought they were close to the estate as they're boot opens wide unlike a saloon.

Also the 440 anyway you get more standard on the car then the 340i (elec seats, pro nav and few others) and for a couple of hundred more might be a good choice

Be interested to see what you choose

[PaulConst]

This is good stuff, Thank you people. Keep it coming!

By my reckoning the Golf R and Skoda Superb are coming out top closely followed by the Polestar then the Leon and left-field Outback/ Legacy

I cannot help thinking that the Superb may be overkill on my space requirements but you can never have too much I guess as long is it's a better fit down my lanes to work than the F-Pace.

The Golf R Estate meantime is starting to bump the S4 and in doing so potentially saving me £ '000's on purchase and running costs. Key now is to find a nearly new one with a few options (Indium grey met, leather, pano, Pretoria's) which is tough as so many have been bought boggo on surprisingly economical lease deals

[ZX10R NIN]

If a Golf R is in the Mix what about the CLA45 Estate:

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

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

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

Or the Audi RS3

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

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

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

[PaulConst]

ZX10R NIN said:

If a Golf R is in the Mix what about the CLA45 Estate:

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

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

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

Or the Audi RS3

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

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

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

Interesting..... I'm thinking limited boot space (compared to an R Estate) and perhaps both have an overly firm ride but certainly they can join the party

[DKL]

ok it's a couple of years too old but just look at it. I'm trying hard to find the man maths to buy it.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[ZX10R NIN]

PaulConst said:

ZX10R NIN said:

If a Golf R is in the Mix what about the CLA45 Estate:

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

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

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

Or the Audi RS3

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

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

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

Interesting..... I'm thinking limited boot space (compared to an R Estate) and perhaps both have an overly firm ride but certainly they can join the party

Both will take a mountain bike (front wheel off) neither have as much boot space as the Leon/Golf R, here's a leftfield option that will have similar performance to the (320bhp) S4 save you an absolute chunk of money but it lacks the badge:

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

Talking of the S4 you can pick up Virtual Cockpit models for your budget:

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

[PaulConst]

richatnort said:

I'm going through exactly the same process as you at the minute and this was on my list at the start

S4 avant
S5 sport back
340i touring
440i gran coupe
merc C43 estate.

Having driven the 440 & S4 I'm between the the 440 gran couple and the s5 sport back.

Both really good cars and in terms of practical space i thought they were close to the estate as they're boot opens wide unlike a saloon.

Also the 440 anyway you get more standard on the car then the 340i (elec seats, pro nav and few others) and for a couple of hundred more might be a good choice

Be interested to see what you choose

Curious. What moved you from the S4 Avant to the S5 Sportback?

I have so far not test driven either but as I have small kids am thinking the swooping roof of a Sportback/ Gran Coupe could be tricky for access.

Numbers-wise you encouraged me to check and the S4 Avant and S5 Sportback have quite similar boot space seats up (505 plays 480). Naturally, seats down the S4 has more at 1510 versus 1300 but I imagined the gap would be wider as both cars are in-fact similar in width 2022 S4 v's 2020 S5 SB and length 4725 S4 v's 4712 S5 SB.

If my sensible-side wins out there's also the option of the 2.0 TFSI 252 Quattro engine instead of the 'S' engine cars

[richatnort]

PaulConst said:

Curious. What moved you from the S4 Avant to the S5 Sportback?

I have so far not test driven either but as I have small kids am thinking the swooping roof of a Sportback/ Gran Coupe could be tricky for access.

Numbers-wise you encouraged me to check and the S4 Avant and S5 Sportback have quite similar boot space seats up (505 plays 480). Naturally, seats down the S4 has more at 1510 versus 1300 but I imagined the gap would be wider as both cars are in-fact similar in width 2022 S4 v's 2020 S5 SB and length 4725 S4 v's 4712 S5 SB.

If my sensible-side wins out there's also the option of the 2.0 TFSI 252 Quattro engine instead of the 'S' engine cars

For me it was a lot to do with the look of it. I didn't find access any harder than the S4 in terms of getting into the back as i was able to put my feet in first to get in and found the head height and space behind me fine for moving around. I have to admit i probably didn't give it as much thought as i should of maybe when it comes to kids as i don't have one yet but i'd be interested your thoughts when you go see it.

Have you looked at the 3 series touring and 4 series gran coupe? I think i'm going to push the button on the 4 series gran coupe this weekend as i found you got a lot of what i was wanting standard on the 4 series compared to the 3 and the practical side didn't seem to be an issue either and they seem to be holding their value fairly well at the moment ( nearly new are around 31-34k but if you buy new bmw are offering around 11k discount on the car bringing it to around 35 depending on your options). I am also looking at financing via PCP and BMW is coming out way better than Audi's are

[RRLover]

DKL said:

ok it's a couple of years too old but just look at it. I'm trying hard to find the man maths to buy it.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

That looks incredible VFM. I had a 5.5 Bi E on the MY. What a stonking car

[HJMS123]

richatnort said:

For me it was a lot to do with the look of it. I didn't find access any harder than the S4 in terms of getting into the back as i was able to put my feet in first to get in and found the head height and space behind me fine for moving around. I have to admit i probably didn't give it as much thought as i should of maybe when it comes to kids as i don't have one yet but i'd be interested your thoughts when you go see it.

Have you looked at the 3 series touring and 4 series gran coupe? I think i'm going to push the button on the 4 series gran coupe this weekend as i found you got a lot of what i was wanting standard on the 4 series compared to the 3 and the practical side didn't seem to be an issue either and they seem to be holding their value fairly well at the moment ( nearly new are around 31-34k but if you buy new bmw are offering around 11k discount on the car bringing it to around 35 depending on your options). I am also looking at financing via PCP and BMW is coming out way better than Audi's are

IMO the 4 series grand coupe is more practical as the boot hatch opening is way more user and child 'cr@p' friendly ... surprised the 340i was mentioned twice before the 440i

OP ... 440i gran coupe gets my vote

[p1stonhead]

HJMS123 said:

richatnort said:

For me it was a lot to do with the look of it. I didn't find access any harder than the S4 in terms of getting into the back as i was able to put my feet in first to get in and found the head height and space behind me fine for moving around. I have to admit i probably didn't give it as much thought as i should of maybe when it comes to kids as i don't have one yet but i'd be interested your thoughts when you go see it.

Have you looked at the 3 series touring and 4 series gran coupe? I think i'm going to push the button on the 4 series gran coupe this weekend as i found you got a lot of what i was wanting standard on the 4 series compared to the 3 and the practical side didn't seem to be an issue either and they seem to be holding their value fairly well at the moment ( nearly new are around 31-34k but if you buy new bmw are offering around 11k discount on the car bringing it to around 35 depending on your options). I am also looking at financing via PCP and BMW is coming out way better than Audi's are

IMO the 4 series grand coupe is more practical as the boot hatch opening is way more user and child 'cr@p' friendly ... surprised the 340i was mentioned twice before the 440i

OP ... 440i gran coupe gets my vote

Any idea why the 6 gran coupe doesnt have a hatch? Would make it a way more practical car especially considering the 4 gran coupe gets it!

[PaulConst]

HJMS123 said:

IMO the 4 series grand coupe is more practical as the boot hatch opening is way more user and child 'cr@p' friendly ... surprised the 340i was mentioned twice before the 440i

OP ... 440i gran coupe gets my vote

Interesting. In the Gran Coupe/ Sportback challenge the A5/S5 wins for me based merely on it being a fresher model than the 3 series and Quattro

[richatnort]

PaulConst said:

Interesting. In the Gran Coupe/ Sportback challenge the A5/S5 wins for me based merely on it being a fresher model than the 3 series and Quattro

it did for me but for me the money side was daft for the s5 because it was so new compared to the 4 series. I'm not saying i didn't like the 440 as i did and it was really close but the money side which pipped it for me.

[cerb4.5lee]

p1stonhead said:

Any idea why the 6 gran coupe doesnt have a hatch? Would make it a way more practical car especially considering the 4 gran coupe gets it!

I'm guessing its because it is based on the 6 coupe just with a couple of doors added, whereas the 4 GC has the 3 GT with a similar platform so its made the 4 series easier to swap and change.

I thought my 640d Coupe was woeful in terms of practicality, but I'm really tempted with the 4 GC because of its hatchback and folding rear seats.

[WilliamWoollard]

Another vote for the Superb here, have a sit in a sportline, it's a very nice place to be.

[AndStilliRise]

RRLover said:

DKL said:

ok it's a couple of years too old but just look at it. I'm trying hard to find the man maths to buy it.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

That looks incredible VFM. I had a 5.5 Bi E on the MY. What a stonking car

That is awesome!