What practical fun car for around 10 grand?

[tomirk]

I am looking for a practical car can occasionally transport largish objects, so an estate, 4x4 or hatchback for about 10,000 pounds. The car will be an only car and do about 20,000 miles a year, fuel costs are not a huge issue as I have a company fuel card.

My intial thought was Subaru WRX wagon, but I'm not sure it's suited to doing 20,000miles a year in.

Any one have any other ideas?, leftfield suggestions also encouraged.

[Codswallop]

Mazda 3 MPS could be an interesting left-field choice.

Or since fuel isn't an issue, how about a Alfa 147 GTA/ 156 GTA Sport Wagon?

[tomirk]

Never owned an Alfa, but are they good for 20,000 miles a year?

[BoabyBooster]

My Mazda 3mps mk2 has done 29k from new in two years, all I've needed for it is 4 tyres and services and it has never put a foot wrong, lots of kit and still pulls as well as when I first got it.

[tomirk]

BoabyBooster said:

My Mazda 3mps mk2 has done 29k from new in two years, all I've needed for it is 4 tyres and services and it has never put a foot wrong, lots of kit and still pulls as well as when I first got it.

How does the Mazda deal with the power through the front wheels? Do you get a lot of torque steer?

[wackojacko]

E39 M5 and make the back seats fold down

[smugglersvin]

No ones answered back about an Alfa being any good I would take that as a No

[tomirk]

wackojacko said:

E39 M5 and make the back seats fold down

Believe me, if that were feasible it's what I would go for, such a shame they didn't do an E39 M5 Touring...

[R12HCO]

Megane F1 - mine was doing 20k a year before i got it (looking at service records). I only did about 12k a year in it, but when i did the occational 100+ mile journey i never felt uncomfortable in it. Gets four people in it easy, big boot, sit at 90 all day long yet has the ability to see approx 150 on the speedo and do 38 mpg on a 70 mph cruise (i use to average 30 without going on the motorway).

[BoabyBooster]

tomirk said:

How does the Mazda deal with the power through the front wheels? Do you get a lot of torque steer?

It has a torque limiter in 1st and 2nd to try and cut the torque steer , you still get a little bit but nothing to moan about, mid range torque is awesome and have scared some far more expensive metal. I'm averaging about 32mpg as well and that's a lot of mixed driving.

[Kozy]

Codswallop said:

Mazda 3 MPS could be an interesting left-field choice.

Pish, this is leftfield: http://pistonheads.com/sales/3463007.htm

Would definitely be my choice as I like going round corners more than straight line acceleration.

Edited by Kozy on Wednesday 4th January 10:43

[mnkiboy]

Octavia VRS Estate, older Audi S4 Avant or Volvo V50 T5?

[tomirk]

Kozy said:

Pish, this is leftfield: http://pistonheads.com/sales/3463007.htm

Would definitely be my choice as I like going round corners more than straight line acceleration.

Edited by Kozy on Wednesday 4th January 10:43

Nice, but If a saloon was on the cards I'd be straight into an M5.

[Grey Ghost]

Rare beast here

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3521981.htm

[bicycleshorts]

tomirk said:

My intial thought was Subaru WRX wagon, but I'm not sure it's suited to doing 20,000miles a year in.

My Impreza is 17 years old and fairly comfortable (seats, AC, stereo etc.), certainly wouldn't mind doing a few miles a day in it. Assume that newer ones would be even better.

Your company may get a shock when you are filling up several times a week though

[Sline]

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2800590.htm

[Hub]

The 'sensible' option would be a Skoda Octavia VRS - pretty nippy, reliable, good value, and a huge boot (both the hatch and estate)... though whether it is fun enough is not for me to decide!

[benzito]

Grey Ghost said:

Rare beast here

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3521981.htm

I love the rs2's, will likely hold its value over the years aswell. My suggestion is also very leftfield:

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/3408399.htm

the Porsche Cayenne Turbo! well you said fuel is not an issue

[stevemiller]

How about a MG ZT-T V8 for half the money. Club owner 78k on the clock. I have met the owner and its a nice car.

[smugglersvin]

I dont know about the rs2 but my father has a 1994 A6 avant and I can honestly say that the car is so well built and reliable, in all the time he has owned the car all its needed is its yearly service and tyres,.
Also I have an old 1995 A4 and is so reliable, the good thing with audis is you never have to worry about rust issues as the cars are galvanized.
I wouldnt touch a renault as I know someone who had to scrap a 6 year old low mileage laguna ide which had so many issues that even the main dealer told them off the record that the cars where terrible, the cars are so bad that renault dont even want to take there own cars in on part ex.