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£20kish Estate/SUV - Fast-ish, Practical, Dog-Proof?
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£20kish Estate/SUV - Fast-ish, Practical, Dog-Proof?
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dan425

Original Poster:

44 posts

170 months

[report]
[news]
Friday 25th January 2019
quotequote all
Previously owned a 3.0 E85 Z4, currently in a rather functional and uninspiring 1.6 Ford Focus. Want to get myself something that I'll enjoy driving in and won't crush my soul to look at.

Daily commute is 7 miles of 50mph/30mph roads. Rest is longer motorway trips and misc weekend adventures. Annual mileage is <10k.
Budget is £17,500-£22,500 ish.

We have a Lurcher (think small Greyhound, large Whippet) who currently sits on the rear seats in my Ford. I'd quite like something that I could put her in the boot, to keep any nicer rear seats in good condition. Hatch style boot also allows for trips to tip, etc and when I need to transport larger items. I see my options as either estate or SUV. Realistically, any decent sized boot will do.

I'd love a Lotus Elise and keep the Ford for functional use, but sadly we don't have space on the driveway for a third car and that plan won't fly with the other half! biggrin

In summary:

Petrol
Automatic
<50k mileage
Fast (ish) - not after a Lambo, but equally I'm not sure I want a generic x20i engine, or equivalent.
Decent tech inside (Cruise, heated seats, decent stereo, etc)
Relatively low bork potential (no old RS6s or C63s)

Contenders:

340i M Sport Touring
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
(Tested this one earlier today, engine is fabulous but I'm not sure it has the spark).

GLA45 AMG
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

435i/440i Gran Coupe
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

VW Golf R Estate
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

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

Not sure I'm a fan of the Octavia vRS or the Cupra Estate, they just don't grab me.

What else am I missing?


Galahad

2,029 posts

289 months

[report]
[news]
Friday 25th January 2019
quotequote all
Wifey (who has a 335D touring at present) used to have a Golf R. If you found the 340i lacked sparkle then I'm afraid the Golf may lack it even more. The engine note is dire and I found it pretty soulless. I prefer the 335d 95% of the time.

CLA45 can be fun, especially if it has the sports exhaust - that and the Golf are both a size down from the 3 series if that matters. A friend has the saloon version and really rates it.

troika

2,061 posts

172 months

[report]
[news]
Friday 25th January 2019
quotequote all
Subaru Forester XT

Strong Horse

94 posts

84 months

[report]
[news]
Saturday 26th January 2019
quotequote all
Not a big fan of the Golf R. They are far too loud even pootling around town. Its a turbo engine so its naturally hushed. Just VW felt they needed to be loud so the exhaust has been turned into an amplifier for the engine. Trouble is they still have that ratty 4 cylinder sound but its gotten noisier.

The BMW is a far better choice I feel.


But there is no right or wrong as all cars are good cars today. Just buy what gives you that happiness.

I also feel your plight as a MK2 focus driver. I got it as I enjoyed my MK1 but the MK2 is a completely different car and not in a good way. It lacks the go kart driving of the MK1 and feels much fatter on the road. Ford removed everything good that was in the MK1.
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