Car for the Wife: School Runner & Wife Commute

[Fiisch]

TL;DR

• Needing a replacement for 2020 BMW X3 M40D - ultimately looking to save money on the monthlies;
• Currently pay £540/month on PCP, due to expire September 2023, however have about £2k equity;
• Primary use will be nursery/school run (20 mile round trip; two >5 year olds) and wife's commute (30 mile round trip; 3-4 times a week) - expecting about 10k miles a year;
• Would like something a bit different, £20k max budget, a sporty drive but economical - looking for 40mpg ideally;
• Pleasant interior - needs to be modern, have mod cons like satnav and heated seats (I'd like to stress at this point that this is my wife's input, not mine!).

Long Version
Despite the above list of frankly shameful and rather boring requirements, I'm a massive petrolhead, and have oscillated over the years between massive PCPs on overpowered cars and buying very old, very broken, very fast cars. Recently tried the lightly used route, and to my horror, a 2018 Skoda Superb Sportline (in yellow, so fulfils my need to be a bit different) beats the far more expensive BMW X3 as a main family car.

We are looking to trim our monthly cost with some big bills ahead of us (namely school fees), and the unnecessary German SUV is the obvious area to cut. As the Superb will step into the shoes of the X3, the new car doesn't need to be a full-blown family car - Ford Focus size (even Fiesta size at a push) is workable. Focus ST seems to be the obvious choice, although stretching the economy requirement, and given I had an FK2 Civic Type R before, I'm loathed to spend similar money on what I see as an inferior car... As a petrolhead, my master plan is to save significantly on the X3 so that longer term I can look at a hardcore weekend car (Jap cars are my thing, Subaru Impreza top of my list), so the more I can save on this car, the more I can put towards a toy.

[Bannock]

You're going to have a coronary at the mere suggestion, but honestly your answer is Nissan Leaf or similar. If your main driver to the decision is saving money, that is.

[tallpaul26]

What does your Wife want? A cooking model Golf (or indeed ANY 5 door family hatchback) ticks all the boxes. Modern boosted 4 pots all have a bit of poke, just go for the R-Line/ST-Line/etc spec to get the sporty look.

[dmsims]

Hopefully not another diseasel "There is robust evidence that the effects of air pollution span over the life course, with growing children being particularly vulnerable."

Golf/Passat GTE

BMW i3

330e

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say go for one of these it'll keep the wife happy as it has all the tech etc she'll want & it's quick enough to be interesting interior wise it's better than an X3 imo:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111300...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110148...

Getting a personal loan to buy one should see you making lower payments.

I think your wife would be happy in one.

[georgeyboy12345]

Do you have a driveway? An EV would be a good choice

Nissan Leaf 40 kwh
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112170...


BMW i3 Range Extender
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201040...


Or a PHEV as a stepping stone to EV ownership

BMW 225xe
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111229...


Audi A3 e-tron - I have one of these, it's ace
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112230...


Or it's brother, the VW Golf GTE
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111159...


Petrol powered, from warm to quite spicy. The first few of these should manage 40 mpg, the others possibly on a run!

Seat Ibiza 1.4 EcoTSI FR
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110278...


Mercedes A250
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112150...


Mini Cooper S
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111139...


Alfa Romeo Giulietta TBi
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112010...


Audi S3 Sportback
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112200...


VW Golf R
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110208...


BMW M140i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108236...

[anonymous-user]

How about something a bit leftfield, Kia Soul EV

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111119...