Big, fun, true 5 seater? 2 car garage?

[Cannyjock]

Can anyone recommend anything that can seat 2 adults, 2 teenage boys (adult sized) and a 5 year old in a car seat comfortably, and still be good fun to drive?

I currently have a manual e90 M3 and a Clio RS200 with cup pack which was a perfect pairing (M3 a fun, special all-rounder, Clio great for track days and general abuse). This was ideal when it was just me and my 2 boys - since meeting my new partner and her 5 year old daughter, I've found it a bit of a struggle to fit them all in the M3.

So I might need to get something bigger to ferry us round. I really hate the idea of spending money on white goods type cars - I've just got back from holiday where we hired a 7 seat Seat Tarraco which was a good family option but generically dull.

Any thoughts? I would prefer manuals but accept that the big car may have to be an auto these days. Are M5's big enough in the back? Are they too heavy? Should I buy something big and practical but dull/cheap and upgrade the Clio (Elise/Boxter)?

I could probably spend £30k on something if I got rid of the M3 (which I really don't want to do).

Or do I just keep them and hire something for long journeys?

[Jader1973]

Vauxhall VXR8.

Big enough to get 3 adults in the back seat.

[alabbasi]

AMG E or S class should fit the bill.

[PomBstard]

I’m in a similar boat. Rear leg room and three comfortable seats in a fun to drive package are not as common as many would have you believe. The shortlist for my next car includes the aforementioned VXR, albeit Aussie flavoured and wagon shaped, Cayenne and Jeep GC SRT. An MB GL or whatever it’s called is big too. X5 legroom felt tight for three.

I put together on here somewhere a list of those I’ve tried - I’ll find it later.

Not sure how tall you are, but at 6’2” I cut significantly into the rear room of a 5 series and an E class. Neither are no better than the Liberty I’ve got at the mo.

If you don’t want/need the boot space of a wagon/SUV maybe try one of the top line cars such as A8, S class, 7 series, Lexus LS for a bit of grunt.

Take your tallest offspring with you to try a few...

Edit: my musings on this...

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Edited by PomBstard on Saturday 15th August 05:55

[Smurfsarepeopletoo]

Skoda Superb 280, cheap, chearful and cavernous amounts of space in the back, pick one up for a few grand, and just leave it sat on your drive when your not using it for long journeys.

Or a chrysler 300C

[Cannyjock]

Good stuff guys. Legroom is not so much of an issue as I'm 5'8'' on a tall day, it's shoulder room across the bench because of the child seat. This is made worse in the M3 because it's an isofix seat which goes in the side seats, leaving an adult sized child in the middle which really doesn't work.

I wonder then if a M5 would work, if not then a S8 is quite tempting if I can swallow the brave pill (probably needed for both). Or just accept that the big car is just for taxi duties, but I do find it hard to accept a car that just isn't fun.

I really don't want a SUV thing although maybe I'm being selfish because the rest of them probably would. But - see above, plus I live in London and I don't like the image of one there (better in the countryside).

Maybe the answer is to buy something big but cheaper then spend more on the fun/track car, but I'd also like a nice car to use when it's just the two of us going away for a weekend.

I wish 3 cars was an option but it's probably not.

[ZX10R NIN]

If you can live with three cars then go for one of these space (they're S Class in size) won't be an issue & it's cost you a third of your budget plus you'll be able to extend the Manufacturer's warranty

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202007271...


If you can't go to three cars then take a good look at a VXR8 they are really good drivers cars & have space for fun plus they've pretty much stopped depreciating as well as having sensible running costs.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202006150...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202001246...

[DoubleD]

I wouldnt spend too much money on a family car if you dont often need more than 2 seats?

Get something fairly big and not that expensive for the dull family stuff, then spend the rest on a fun 2 seater.

[PomBstard]

The problem with many large cars that aren’t SUVs is that the middle seat isn’t really a seat. Great if you can fix the child seat there, but a pain if you can’t.

But I’m also with you in that the taxi should be fun to drive - sometimes it’s just you in the car and you can’t always plan when you’re on a fun road. And sometimes the kids like a fun drive too! Also, three kids prob means not having the time to just go for a drive in a fun-only car.

[MDUBZ]

PomBstard said:

The problem with many large cars that aren’t SUVs is that the middle seat isn’t really a seat. Great if you can fix the child seat there, but a pain if you can’t.

But I’m also with you in that the taxi should be fun to drive - sometimes it’s just you in the car and you can’t always plan when you’re on a fun road. And sometimes the kids like a fun drive too! Also, three kids prob means not having the time to just go for a drive in a fun-only car.

Agree, the number of cars with 3 full sized rear seats is very limited. We ended up with an s max for family duties, it is great at what it does but it couldn’t be described as quick. I’ve not been in a car yet that I haven’t been able to have fun in behind the wheel, granted some of them won’t win you a traffic light Grand Prix, or have been particularly dynamic but you can still have fun getting them to carry speed through or out of corners; All depends on what your definition of fun is and how the family feel about it.. I only drive it max once a week, and would rather take and do take something else, unless all 5 of us need to go ( a tip run is about the only time i’ll be flying solo). We’ll have 1 UK holiday a year and a spirited (60% of normal) drive in north wales usually ends up with 1 or more of them feeling or being sick or with me getting an ear ache from the missus, so as much as it pains me when it comes to replacing it, probably next year, a ‘performance’ 5 seater would be a waste of money for me as I’d never really be able to use it as I’d hope.

I have a fun station car, a 2 seater and a motorbike ( None overly special, expensive to buy or run, or interesting). There is always time for a fun, you just need to prioritise the time.