Does a Petrolhead's Family Car Exist?

[apsona]

Dear All,

I'm driving a Mini Cooper S Clubman which is great fun thanks to it's go kart handling and grin per mile. However I have 2 growing teenage boys and with me being 6ft 4in neither of them can sit behind me any more! My car history includes an Escort XR3i, TVR Tuscan (2001), Renault 5 GT Turbo, MR2, Jaguar XKR and some boring family wagons sandwiched in between so i like a bit of fun and performance.

So I'm on the search for a family wagon that will still bring a grin but fit the teenagers and large enough to pack up for a holiday trip. Cheaper end of the market at < 10k and definitely not a softroader or a crossover although a real 4x4 would be ok and helpful for the ski trips.

I was thinking of BMW 5 series, Octavia vrs, Subaru Legacy or maybe go for luxury instead of grins with a Phaeton or dare i say it a Range Rover Vogue.

Has anyone found the holy grail yet? I'd be interested to know.

Paul

[ahenners]

We've had an Octavia VRS (MK3) for 5 years and it's served very well as a family car with 2 young kids under 5. Not sure if it's truly a petrolhead car; it's not the most exciting drivers car, nor does it sound much better than a Dyson. However, it's certainly less boring than some other family alternatives. It's cheap, reliable, well equipped and goes well enough. A decent all-rounder with the family compromise.

Edited by ahenners on Sunday 6th June 21:52

[fflump]

apsona said:

Dear All,

I'm driving a Mini Cooper S Clubman which is great fun thanks to it's go kart handling and grin per mile. However I have 2 growing teenage boys and with me being 6ft 4in neither of them can sit behind me any more! My car history includes an Escort XR3i, TVR Tuscan (2001), Renault 5 GT Turbo, MR2, Jaguar XKR and some boring family wagons sandwiched in between so i like a bit of fun and performance.

So I'm on the search for a family wagon that will still bring a grin but fit the teenagers and large enough to pack up for a holiday trip. Cheaper end of the market at < 10k and definitely not a softroader or a crossover although a real 4x4 would be ok and helpful for the ski trips.

I was thinking of BMW 5 series, Octavia vrs, Subaru Legacy or maybe go for luxury instead of grins with a Phaeton or dare i say it a Range Rover Vogue.

Has anyone found the holy grail yet? I'd be interested to know.

Paul

Pretty sure the Mini Countryman has better rear legroom if you've enjoyed that platform/engine.

[a7x88]

Depends what your appetite for running costs are. I have a V10 S6 for family work, and whilst it’s not the quickest or the last word in dynamics it’s certainly entertaining and handles all the family tasks you can throw at it. Can be picked up for the 10k mark now fairly easily.

[Keepersball]

Skoda superb 272 bhp 4x4 is my ultimate sleeper and I can’t recommend it enough however it is slightly out of your budget range - that said you could have a look at an older (2014 3.6 v6 4x4 superb?

[drgoatboy]

The clubman is going to be hard to beat for miles per smile I think. Out of interest which clubman is it? Not the one with the daft 3rd door?
I recently tried a 5 door mini hatch and was amazed by the space inside and thought the clubman of the same vintage was a bit bigger still.

Vrs as already said will be brisk but not hugely fun. But not sure anything of that size will be after the mini.
Leon cupra is of a similar ilk and size and might be a little more sporty?

5 series will probably be a better steer but again not super fun unless you got a rather powerful model which I suspect your 10k budget will only stretch to rather leggy examples...

[apsona]

Useful replies. Thanks all. The clubman is the suicide door one from 2009 (R55) but I’ve at least got the steering wheel on the left hand side and drive on the right &#128526; I’ll need plenty of space so more inclined to go with an estate and the VRS could be good but without the grin factor which is why I thought about more luxury/wafty drives.

Budget can go up a little and although I have a commute to work I prefer the performance and ease of maintenance of petrols. The S6 is a great suggestion and the Superb looks the part. I guess it’s based on the same platform as the A/S6?

[apsona]

Mondeo ST if I could find one?

[drgoatboy]

Ah yes the R55 is pretty small inside. The next generation is considerably bigger but it's not a big car. R55 Door makes more sense in France! (I do rather have a soft spot for the styling of these)

I think the superb and the Octavia share the same Audi A4 platform. The superb is huge inside, and a nice place to sit (although I personally didn't find the seats good for my back) and will be hard to beat for the price.

Are jaguar xf estate in your price range? They are not as big inside as some of the competition but handsome old things.

[Martyn76]

fflump said:

apsona said:

Dear All,

I'm driving a Mini Cooper S Clubman which is great fun thanks to it's go kart handling and grin per mile. However I have 2 growing teenage boys and with me being 6ft 4in neither of them can sit behind me any more! My car history includes an Escort XR3i, TVR Tuscan (2001), Renault 5 GT Turbo, MR2, Jaguar XKR and some boring family wagons sandwiched in between so i like a bit of fun and performance.

So I'm on the search for a family wagon that will still bring a grin but fit the teenagers and large enough to pack up for a holiday trip. Cheaper end of the market at < 10k and definitely not a softroader or a crossover although a real 4x4 would be ok and helpful for the ski trips.

I was thinking of BMW 5 series, Octavia vrs, Subaru Legacy or maybe go for luxury instead of grins with a Phaeton or dare i say it a Range Rover Vogue.

Has anyone found the holy grail yet? I'd be interested to know.

Paul

Pretty sure the Mini Countryman has better rear legroom if you've enjoyed that platform/engine.

There's plenty of cabin space but the boot is tiny especially for a family of 4.

[Wagonwheel555]

There are plenty of options in the saloon market with decent sized boots.

Even the 3 series will have a bigger boot than what you have now.

Depends what you want to put in the boot, Saloon boots are often bigger by volume than a hatchback but more difficult to get 'bigger' things in.

We have a Clubman (albeit F54) and a 330D and its far easier to get the stroller in the clubman than the BMW. In the BMW, although its bigger by volume you have to angle the buggy so it takes up more room meaning you have to have it in the exact same place each time and pack stuff round it.

If you don't do mega miles, one of the 1.5T/2.0T Saloons would likely be fine so 3/5 Series, Skoda Octavia/Superb, Passat, C Class etc

[BUG4LIFE]

Might as well mention the 2 cars I've owned since having children...a Subaru Forester STi [definitely fun] and a Jaguar S-Type R [more of a cruiser than the Foz but interesting never the less]. Both can be had for under £10k.

Subaru Legacy Spec-B is a good choice too.

[fflump]

I very much enjoyed the performance ride and looks of my Alfa 159 3.2 Q4 Sportwagon as a family car.

Not the most dynamically gifted but a nice n/a V6, AWD, great looks and extremely planted at speed and in bad weather.

[The Cardinal]

At the more compact end of the spectrum, perhaps a 2009-12 Audi S3 Sportback would tick the boxes? (With roof box!).

[apsona]

Keepersball said:

Skoda superb 272 bhp 4x4 is my ultimate sleeper and I can’t recommend it enough however it is slightly out of your budget range - that said you could have a look at an older (2014 3.6 v6 4x4 superb?

Nice looking car, great colour!

[ChocolateFrog]

Pretty sure you can pick up a Cayenne GTS for £10k.

You'd probably have to go in fingers crossed though.

[apsona]

BUG4LIFE]Might as well mention the 2 cars I've owned since having children...a Subaru Forester STi [definitely fun] and a Jaguar S-Type R [more of a cruiser than the Foz but interesting never the less said:

. Both can be had for under £10k.

Subaru Legacy Spec-B is a good choice too.

The Legacy is looking good and well in price and I've always fancied a Subaru having nearly fell into buying a Forester back in 2001.

[apsona]

fflump said:

I very much enjoyed the performance ride and looks of my Alfa 159 3.2 Q4 Sportwagon as a family car.

Not the most dynamically gifted but a nice n/a V6, AWD, great looks and extremely planted at speed and in bad weather.

Agreed i love these cars and if brave enough I'd be tempted. My mate had one and he said the only thing that worked well was the cappuccino maker in the boot !

[apsona]

The Cardinal said:

At the more compact end of the spectrum, perhaps a 2009-12 Audi S3 Sportback would tick the boxes? (With roof box!).

Yep not bad, just have to test the rear leg room behind me.

I buy my cars in Germany and import then into france since cars here are ridiculously expensive and in a bad condition and so german wagons are easy enough to find there.

[Ash_]

I had a Merc C320 Cdi for a while, pretty powerful, with a decent turn of speed, nice inside etc, it was an upgrade to the last performance big car I had, a Mondeo ST.

I never had any problems with it and liked it, in sport mode 0-60 came in about 7 seconds'ish, limited to 155 (not that you'd ever get near that of course). But it was nice, with AMG styling, and subtle too, no-one would know it was that quick unless they clocked the twin exhausts.

Mine was like this one;
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008313...