What performance family car?

[Tmrtom]

Recently had our first child, so decided to get rid of my cheap R50 Cooper and get something more family friendly. I'd all but made my mind up to get another Mk5 Golf GTI after really liking the one I had a few years ago, but was also considering other hot hatches in the 5-7k bracket. I didn't bother making a thread on here as I followed Stevekozs thread which was pretty much identical to my thoughts, although he ended up with a 3 door R26 which won't suit me as I definitely want and need 5 door. I also prefer the Mk3 Megane RS and they seem out of my price bracket and 3 door only, so Meganes are out unfortunately. Hopefully one to tick off the list in future...

Then my sensible head started considering quickish estates aswell, but I have no experience of these - all my knowledge and experience is pretty much linked to hot hatches, old air cooled VWs and a Mk3 MX5.

Requirements:
Petrol
5 door
Hatch or estate (no saloons as I have dogs and baby stuff)
Quickish
Handles well
Niceish interior
Reasonable running costs (unfortunately no 20 year old V8s etc)

Shortlist so far:
VW Golf Mk5 GTI (I know these and like them having owned one, bit boring I know)
Ford Focus Mk2 ST (don't like the interior, do like the 5 pot)

Off the list:
Skoda Octavia VRS Mk2 (the ones in my budget have the chocolate tensioner)
Seat Leon Cupra Mk2 (I don't like the styling or interior)
Volvos
Vauxhalls

What else could be good?

Thanks!

[Orangecurry]

Subaru?

Depending on rear legroom and space-in-the-back priority, Impreza or Legacy from 2000s.

[Glasgowrob]

Skoda superb with the 3.6 v6

Rare but ticks every box for you
Either that or a bmw 3/5 30i touring

[fat80b]

We went fast-ish estate. Looking back, I would definitely go estate. It's so much easier with kids, I now wouldn't bother with the fast-ish part as the family wagon is exactly that and doesn't actually get used in anger anywhere. For us, the wife drives the estate and we have other quicker cars for that. MPG would have been a more sensible feature

We went BMW E46 330 but could have gone A4 or possibly Merc, I paid £5800 for it and we treat it pretty badly. It has been great and I'd be sad to see it go - coming up for 8 years and 80k miles covered by us.

Estate benefits for us:

• chucking the pushchair in is actually really important, yes, you can check that your pushchair folds and can be made to fit in almost any boot but when it comes to it and you have a screaming, poo covered baby needing to get home cos you are a hopelessly unprepared father, you'll value the fact that you can just chuck the pushchair in without having to take it apart.

• Pushchair plus shopping is the actual requirement, again more space is a good thing.

• For us, long journeys loaded to the gunnels mattered. We have regularly been packed to the rafters with all sorts of stuff that you'd never get in a regular car, I guess a roofbox might solve this specific one, but they are a pita.

• In a few years time, wellies, festivals, dogs, more kids etc become the plan and again, an estate is nearly always best. Happy to leave it dumped in a field for the weekend without a thought.

Nearly all of our friends who successfully demonstrated that a small car was fine in the beginning ended up switching to a larger car part way through. Be it estate or SUV thing. Definitely cost more in the long run.

I'd get the cheapest / best estate I could with ~180-200 bhp and buy a fun car for me with the difference.

[Tmrtom]

Thanks for suggestions so far. Unfortunately no chance of third car, my wife also has a car so no space or budget for a third at the moment.

So the car would need to be a nice ownership proposition for a (sensible) petrol head.

Not sure about old Subarus - went in one years ago and liked it but not sure on running costs and non-shagged availability at my price point? One to look into for sure, thanks.

Like the idea of a BMW estate or an Audi one from a practicality point of view, but I still want it to be decent on B roads when I do get chance for a blast - but unsure how they handle? Also, would need advice on BMW engines as I've never looked into them - I know a lot of e9x generation (which seem best age/budget compromise) grenade themselves so would want to avoid the bork factor.

[ZX10R NIN]

When considering the hot hatches I'd be buying the Focus in ST-3 spec (you'll want a leather interior as it's much easier to clean any spillages/bodily fluids) you can land a facelift with your budget & that's the ones I'd go for:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Or go for the R32 they're a really nice car the engine is a peach it's not as sharp as the Focus but at 8/10ths it's a great car, tax is heavy but it's a price I'd pay over the regular GTI but I'd take the Focus over both:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

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

Other 5 door hot hatches

Giulietta Cloverleaf

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Mazda3 MPS

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

If you can live with a larger hatchback then I'd also include looking at something like a Mondeo Titanium X Sport they're swift handle well (best of the FWD cars) & have a very nice spec, although it's not an estate they have bot space for fun.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

325i M Sport these handle well & have a nice six pot

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

523i M Sport not as good as the 3 series in terms of A Road fun but a good spacious car

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

A4 2.0T S Line not as good a steer as the Mondeo but this one is a manual.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

2.0T A3 S Line Sportback not the most engaging but a good smaller option than the A4 & slightly more space than a GTI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Mid size SUV wise there are a few swift options within or just over your budget:

X3 3.0i M Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

2.5i M Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

3.0 SD M Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

EX 3.0 GT Premium

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

[Mr Tidy]

Tmrtom said:

Like the idea of a BMW estate or an Audi one from a practicality point of view, but I still want it to be decent on B roads when I do get chance for a blast - but unsure how they handle? Also, would need advice on BMW engines as I've never looked into them - I know a lot of e9x generation (which seem best age/budget compromise) grenade themselves so would want to avoid the bork factor.

Most of the E9* BMW engine issues relate to the 4 cylinder ones, which don't really fit the performance family car brief!

In 2018 I had an 06 plate E91 325i with the N52 engine that had full BMW SH and had done 132K miles. In the year I had it the only issue I had was a failed electric water pump which always happens to these at some point, but isn't a cheap fix as the pump costs around £300 + fitting! But I sold it in 2019 on 139K and it was still running really well.

Only because I replaced it with a 55 plate E90 330i on 107K that drives even better. It's now on 113K but did need new rear shocks a couple of weeks ago, which given the mileage wasn't exactly unexpected.

Or there is the 130i if a hatch would work - same N52 engine fitted in a smaller shell.

But I think in early 2007 the N52 engine got replaced by the N53 which does seem to throw up a few more issues with injectors and High Pressure Fuel Pumps - even if the road tax is slightly cheaper!

Depending which Audi you look at I suspect some will have the same engine issues as the Seat/Skoda options.

[Tmrtom]

Hi all, thanks for your replies. Decided I'm going to manage with a hot hatch as I dont want to lose out on the fun factor, just going to use a roof box if we go away.

Narrowed it down to Focus St mk2 (might even stretch the budget to a mk3 having read the buyers guide this morning), BMW 130i or trusty old VW Golf Mk5 Gti. Just need to test drive the Ford and BMW.

Thanks again!

[Jamescrs]

For me it would be the Mk2 (facelift) Focus ST, I've owned the Mk2 and Mk3 cars and I wouldn't go for a bottom end Mk3 assuming that's where your budget puts you, unless you can get a really nice spec one I don't think they are that nice personally in the pre facelift.

When me and the Mrs had our first daughter we both had Mk2 Focus, mine the ST, the interiors aren't the most on trend and I hazard a guess look nicer in the Golf but they are hard wearing and hold up well. They have really good cabin space and the boot on them is a really good size which when you have a new baby, pram etc is a must. The engine is brilliant in the ST if a bit on the thirsty side but still sounds great.

Buy a good one and you won't be disappointed.

[ZX10R NIN]

If you want a hot hatch then the 130i isn't it unless your prepared to add some M3 bits It's the Focus ST-3 that's the car that hit's your criteria the Golf is an okay pick.