The Perfect Driveway for a Petrolhead Dad?

[Fiisch]

So I've got myself in a bit of a mess, and suffering from both seller's and buyer's remorse... I'm 33, a big petrolhead, and have a soon-to-be three year old and another on the way. Up until September, I daily drove an FK2 Type R, which I absolutely adored. My wife had a bohemian purple, 1.2TSI Seat Leon, which is the epitome of a great car that is equally boring. However, neither car was great for family trips out, and the Type R not ideal for my 14 mile commute to the station.

So, I had a brainwave... swap the 18,000 mile Type R (which sold for a great price via Facebook!) and get a family SUV. Enter an X3 m40d. A great family car: comfortable, fast, easy to drive. For family days out, it's ideal, but it's also taught me that it is very possible to go quickly without having fun. It may sound daft, but I'm surprised at how bad the handling is, even in "sport" mode. We live in rural Bucks, surrounded by lots of lovely twisty, yet bumpy, roads. I have given the wife the X3 (although I use it at weekends), and daily drive the Leon. It's perfect - when I leave at 6:30am, the roads are empty, but I'm half-asleep so not in the mood for a B road blast. On the way home at 6pm, the roads are busy, so no opportunity to have fun. It's the sensible choice.

Yet I'm missing my petrolhead fix. My plan had been to ultimately buy a weekend car (blob eye Subaru Impreza STI - had one previously for 9 months and I've missed it ever since), but the reality is hitting home that I will hardly get to use it as weekends are very much family time, and the realities of having a 15+ year old car are that it'll spend half the time off the road, and be more work than enjoyment.

So what would you do in my situation? Do you prefer a weekend toy that comes out occasionally, or a daily driver? The Leon is approaching the VT cross-over, and I'm starting to get the itch. Ideally, I'm thinking of something:
- Circa £200/month;
- Will manage 30-40mpg;
- Something I'm not overly precious about so I can bring myself to let the wife drive / happy to leave in a station carpark;
- Fun, manual, will put a smile on my face.

I'm test-driving the new Fiesta ST next week, but having watched the reviews I'm not sure it'll fit the bill... Another, slightly left-field choice is the new Octavia vRS, although may need a fairly chunky deposit to get the monthlies to £200. Any other suggestions? Would consider second-hand, but I do like the luxury of hassle-free finance motoring without the unexpected bills.... Or I could go completely mad and buy my teenage dream car... a Clio 182.

[Mully1906]

I think once you drive the Fiesta your mind will be made up. But I think you’ve answered your own question in that you like the fact of hassle free motoring you get with a new car. Just need to find the car that fits the bill.

[Speed Badger]

Buy an FK8 Type R like I might be! . I've got a 3 year old girl and a Clio 182, it's fate.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say rather than making the STI your weekend car make it your daily?

Or go for a more modern STi that can do both roles:

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

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

STI 330S

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

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

The extra you use for fuel will be covered by the fact you don't have to pay for another car as well as insure & run it, that's before you factor in depreciation.

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Saturday 25th January 14:13

[ATM]

You can find one car which will do everything but it wont be perfect. Compromises need to be made. I drive round in a tatty old Porsche but I have a big BMW estate for times when that wont work. If you're asking for a suggestion then I'd suggest a BMW estate which isn't too new. One of these maybe -

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16...

[mikey P 500]

I daily a 15 year old Impreza, no issues if not doing mega miles which you are not, plus you have the BMW for family stuff, sounds like a plan.

[Olas]

5dr Golf GTI is a petrolhead familycar with a big boot. all things to all men?

[SidewaysSi]

I had the same issue. I have a Caterham, Elise and was running my 3 year old and new born around in a modded 24 year old 3 Series coupe. Good fun but the reality was it wasn't practical enough - boot was too small and it lacked air con etc.

So I bought a practical family car that gets used for everything at weekends. It's pretty reliable, quick enough, rare, sounds great, goes sideways and didn't cost a fortune...

A modified Forester STI. And I love it.

[Fiisch]

Speed Badger said:

Buy an FK8 Type R like I might be! . I've got a 3 year old girl and a Clio 182, it's fate.

Haha I am very tempted. The FK2 was brilliant, and having driven an FK8 they're very similar. The main differences were the FK8 is more comfortable and has wireless charging, both of which I wouldn't mind...! It's not even horrendously expensive, but I think running costs kill it - realistically, I struggled to get 30 to the gallon, and tyres didn't last a long time.

Daily-driving a 15 year old STI is asking for trouble....... surely?!?! Although hugely tempting.

I've got a feeling I might feel a bit underwhelmed by the ST, and could end up going round in circles - having sold the FK2 to be sensible, buying an equally daft and more expensive hot hatch. D'oh!

[SidewaysSi]

Fiisch said:

Speed Badger said:

Buy an FK8 Type R like I might be! . I've got a 3 year old girl and a Clio 182, it's fate.

Haha I am very tempted. The FK2 was brilliant, and having driven an FK8 they're very similar. The main differences were the FK8 is more comfortable and has wireless charging, both of which I wouldn't mind...! It's not even horrendously expensive, but I think running costs kill it - realistically, I struggled to get 30 to the gallon, and tyres didn't last a long time.

Daily-driving a 15 year old STI is asking for trouble....... surely?!?! Although hugely tempting.

I've got a feeling I might feel a bit underwhelmed by the ST, and could end up going round in circles - having sold the FK2 to be sensible, buying an equally daft and more expensive hot hatch. D'oh!

I drove plenty but for me, can't see how an old STI is an issue. Treat it well, keep up with maintenance and it's all good.

I will probably do around 8k miles a year in the Forester and have no issues or worries. We did a family holiday to France this year in it. Filled to the roof with stuff and it handled it with no problems at all.

See the running report on here by Dan Trent who is doing the same..

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-fleet/subaru-f...

[ZX10R NIN]

Fiisch said:

Haha I am very tempted. The FK2 was brilliant, and having driven an FK8 they're very similar. The main differences were the FK8 is more comfortable and has wireless charging, both of which I wouldn't mind...! It's not even horrendously expensive, but I think running costs kill it - realistically, I struggled to get 30 to the gallon, and tyres didn't last a long time.

Daily-driving a 15 year old STI is asking for trouble....... surely?!?! Although hugely tempting.

I've got a feeling I might feel a bit underwhelmed by the ST, and could end up going round in circles - having sold the FK2 to be sensible, buying an equally daft and more expensive hot hatch. D'oh!

Why would it be asking for trouble, as long as you buy a good one then it'll be no more troublesome than a modern day car.

[edc]

First things first is car access. I fixed this by sorting the driveway and taking space from the garden so you can get 2 cars in the front with free access to the drive and garage for your weekend car. We have a small auto hatch, a small SUV/crossover and a 2 seat sports car. You can make it work if you want to.

[Roboticarm]

Abarth 595 turismo, Got myself a brand new pre reg within your budget, my 6 and 2 year old fit in the back just fine, it's super fun to drive.
I did the boring dad car thing for a bit and it just wasn't me, a compromised car which is fun to drive is just the ticket

[ATM]

Sensible Swedish family car for £1,395

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/164041121989