Fun 5k hatchback or estate? (I'm sorry)

[Joelonghair]

Hey guys,

I need a car that covers 3 things:

- 1 is fun to drive and pretty quick
- Can fit at least 1 bicycle inside with seats down
- Around 5k

Apart from that I'm pretty open. I buy and sell vintage pedal bikes so need to be able to fit some in the back, but no kids so any back seats are redundant. Open to a saloon with large boot and the seats fold down. or even sillier a coupe that can fit bike carriers - but probably not.

Budget is fluidish, I am ranging between an older A3 2.0 TFSI to a E91 BMW 545i touring.

This would be my daily driver, some short trips and some motorway miles.

All cars have issues, but lower maintainance would be a win.

Any ideas I haven't considered would be great.

Cheers guys

[sim72]

Octavia VRS estate?

[Welshbeef]

S4

Nexr.

[sim72]

Welshbeef said:

S4

Nexr.

On a 5K budget? I think you'd struggle to find a decent one. In fact I think you'd struggle to find one at all.

[Welshbeef]

sim72 said:

On a 5K budget? I think you'd struggle to find a decent one. In fact I think you'd struggle to find one at all.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201808239776054?atmobcid=soc3

[DailyHack]

I think your barking up the right tree with a BMW e91.

- Effortless on motorway cruise
- Big enough for most things (always get roofbars)
- Pretty fun to chuck around off the motorway, extremly balanced cars.
- Driven by the correct wheels.
- 3 series tourings are very classy looking vehicles, age well imo.

Just ticks alot of boxes imo, and lots are below 5k looking around.

[ZX10R NIN]

Vectra VXR Estate huge boot space lots of go & handle better than Clarkson made out:

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

The bonus of the above is that you get a decent low mileage car that won't cost the earth to run.

2.0T A4 S Line

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

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

9-3 Aero

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

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

[rustyuk]

Ford Focus ST-3 ?

[nammynake]

A hatchback would fit those criteria perfectly. With back seats folded down you will easily fit a bike in the back, with one or both wheels removed. If by 'fun' you mean good handling on twisty roads then what about a Clio 182 or 197?

[ZX10R NIN]

Any of those work for you OP

[Mr Tidy]

OP, a 545i Touring will be an E61.

E91 is the 3 Series Touring, so the quickest petrol you will get is a 335i.

I bought an E91 325i earlier this year to accommodate an elderly parent, wheelchairs/walkers/zimmers.

But for bike transport you could also consider an E92 (Coupe) or E93 (Convertible) as all of them had split/fold rear seats as standard - although for some reason it was an option on the E90 Saloon.

[smiley_boy2501]

rustyuk said:

Ford Focus ST-3 ?

This. My requirements are similar to yours and this is what I've landed on. Mk5 GTI for similar money as well but I wanted an engine with character.

You'll have more experience but Shirley vintage bikes in the boot will be back breaking with a saloon.?? I looked at hatchbacks and estates for purely this reason.

Ive only had a few experiences of it but the smaller boot opening which is lower down makes putting them in difficult and vintage bikes tend to be very heavy.

Out of interest what kind of vintage bikes?

[Dan_1981]

a Focus ST3 for sub £5k??

[mlatham]

Impreza WRX Wagon?

[actionslax]

VW Passat Wagon 3.2FSI? £3,400

1 owner 99k
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

[Billy.RS]

Mini Clubman S?

[keo]

I have an Audi A3 Quattro it is not fun. It is diesel but I can’t imagine a diesel being much better

[CrippsCorner]

Dan_1981 said:

a Focus ST3 for sub £5k??

I was looking at these recently and found a facelift one for £4k! And of course lots of pre-facelifts (even cheaper)

[Rtype]

06 Plate
52,000 miles
Estate
250 bhp
(don't see too many of them anymore either)
£4,950

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

/Thread

[RizzoTheRat]

With or without taking a wheel of the bike? I can fit a bike in the back of my Octavia without having to remove a wheel, so I'd have thought you'd need to take a wheel off to get one in an A3.