Three cars changing at once

[Jeenyus161]

Hello everyone,

I've been chatting with my wife and I think we've decided to change all three of our cars at once. I'm not sure if this is a good idea or madness!

Currently, we have:
Hers - 2014 Ford Kuga Titanium Diesel, Auto
Mine - 2012 Skoda Superb CR SE Diesel, Manual
Mine - 2008 Mazda MX-5 2.0 Sport Petrol, Manual

Short version - what do we swap them for?

Budget is roughly £50k plus whatever trade in values we get. We want to buy outright, not PCP. Since we bought those cars, my wife has bought a horse, and so now we need to be able to tow a horse. This means that jobs the cars need to be able to do between them are:

1. item 1 Tow a horsebox
2. item 2 Carry a labrador
3. item 3 Carry x4 bikes
4. item 4 Have space for kids' friends (we have 2 kids)
5. item 5 Commute into London without ULEZ charge
6. item 6 Have an upright seating position, as a bad back necessitates this
7. item 7 Be fun to drive
8. item 8 Have an interesting engine (i.e. v6, v8 etc, rather than a 4 cylinder)
9. item 9 Include x2 daily drivers

At the moment, the split of work is:

Kuga = London commute | upright seating position | carry the dog | daily driver
Superb = Family vehicle (dog, bikes, buggy etc) | daily driver
MX-5 = Fun to drive

So, the jobs we're missing are towing a horse and having a fun engine. In order to add these jobs in, I think we need to shuffle round each cars' role.

Suggested Solution:
(Hers) Kuga = Merc GLA | Skoda Kamiq - London Commute | Upright seating position | Carry the dog | Daily Driver
(Mine) Superb = Jaguar XE | Maserati Ghibli - Interesting engine | Fun to drive | Daily Driver
(Ours) MX-5 = Mitsubishi Shogun | Isuzu Rodeo - Tow a horsebox | Carry the dog | Carry Bikes | Space for friends | Upright seating position


So, what do you reckon? How else could I do it?

[RoVoFob]

Jeenyus161 said:

Suggested Solution:
(Hers) Kuga = Merc GLA | Skoda Kamiq - London Commute | Upright seating position | Carry the dog | Daily Driver
(Mine) Superb = Jaguar XE | Maserati Ghibli - Interesting engine | Fun to drive | Daily Driver
(Ours) MX-5 = Mitsubishi Shogun | Isuzu Rodeo - Tow a horsebox | Carry the dog | Carry Bikes | Space for friends | Upright seating position

So, what do you reckon? How else could I do it?

As someone who has gone through three second cars in the last nine months, I understand the desire to shake things up a bit…

However, spending around £50k to lose a dedicated sports car and practical modern family car in exchange for a V6 cruiser and an old school, high-mileage SUV doesn’t seem to me like a particularly good way to get what you want. The Kamiq also doesn’t do anything the Kuga doesn’t, unless I’m missing something - is the Kuga ULEZ exempt?

I personally wouldn’t want my main family car to be the oldest and least safe of the three (and not ULEZ exempt either, limiting its usability/adding significant costs if you regularly go into the ULEZ area), while I don’t particularly see the value in the XE/Ghibli here; it uses a big chunk of the budget, without being particularly engaging or covering that many of your bases.

How about spending more on a family car with seven seats and plenty of space for children/friends/dog/bikes, since this car has the most challenging role? I’d go for something like a £23,000-£25,000 four-wheel drive 2.0 TDI 190hp Skoda Kodiaq. That can tow up to 2,000kg, which I imagine should be more than enough unless you have a monster horse/need to go very off-road.

Then for your car you could get a £18,000 M135i/140i or something like that; it has a more charismatic engine than the XE/Ghibli, which is more vocal and makes it an all-round more engaging car to drive. And if you really want, you can get more than 40mpg from it, making it a vaguely economical daily driver.

That leaves £7,000-£9,000 plus the trade in values of the three cars to replace the Kuga if it doesn’t do anything you need it to.

Does that work?

[JP__FOX]

I can see what you're trying to do but replacing an MX5 with an XE as a fun car and having 2 SUV's isn't what I'd be doing...

I'd be looking to add the tow a horse to requirement for the commuting 4x4, giving it a larger portion of the budget and see what you can get there... Then you can still go for the XE/Ghibli type car if that's what you'd like as a daily but keep the MX5 or swap it for something else that's fun if you fancy a change and have some budget left?

[drmike37]

A supercharged Range Rover would do all that.
(Except no 9. Get a little hatchback as runaround 2?)

[ZX10R NIN]

Towing vehicle.

3.2 Ford Ranger

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202103140...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110238...

Infiniti FX not the biggest boot but a bike rack/roof box will sort that, these have the bonus of being ULEZ compliant, upright driving position:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105062...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108075...

Daily

Q30 Sport based on the GLA, upright driving position but sits slightly lower than a GLA:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201020...

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

QX30 Exactly the same car as a GLA:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201051...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111039...

QX50 now this will make a good daily plus it's 3.0d engine will make towing a bit of a breeze:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111239...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201061...

Your car.

The XE-S is a good car but the XF-S is the better overall package & you'll get a nice one for a sensible price:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110258...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112120...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201071...

If you're going for a Ghibli then it has to be the S they're a very special car & are a well worth seeking out:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112010...

[Jeenyus161]

Thanks for your replies; it is certainly reassuring to know that others like you RovoFob have changed a few cars round at the same time!

I was trying to not make the original post an original essay; so to quickly clarify a few things -

RovoFob:
Kuga - not ULEZ exempt which is one of the main reasons for changing it - the Kamiq/GLA would be

The Shogun wouldn't be a main car, it would only ever be used for towing or if we were out on some kind of family adventure. The other two would be daily drivers

If we spend more on the 7 seater, my wife has to commute into London in it and park in a tight london car park. I acknowledge this bit is awkward/frustrating - but that's why we need the small, upright vehicle.

Nothing against M135/140s - they just don't interest me that much.

ZX10R NIN
Sorry, should have said - we need a minimum braked towing weight of 2,500KG - the FX looks to be 2,200KG.

I had no idea the QX30 existed, thank you - I'll certainly look into these. As for the ZF-S and the Ghibli S....well played! Also, if I sell my soul, I could sneak into this one which looks like an absolute belter

Wife has just got back from looking at a horse trailer which it looks like we're also getting, so we may have to get the tow vehicle first. We're very fortunate that we've got space to have our current cars and the trailer/new tow car on the drive (just about). Sadly there isn't some magical, endless pot of money, so something will need to be sold to keep the lights on if we buy first!

The other tow car I was wondering about was a Grand Cherokee

[RoVoFob]

Jeenyus161 said:

Thanks for your replies; it is certainly reassuring to know that others like you RovoFob have changed a few cars round at the same time!

RovoFob:
Kuga - not ULEZ exempt which is one of the main reasons for changing it - the Kamiq/GLA would be

The Shogun wouldn't be a main car, it would only ever be used for towing or if we were out on some kind of family adventure. The other two would be daily drivers

If we spend more on the 7 seater, my wife has to commute into London in it and park in a tight london car park. I acknowledge this bit is awkward/frustrating - but that's why we need the small, upright vehicle.

Nothing against M135/140s - they just don't interest me that much.

I didn’t change cars simultaneously…just in quick succession, but I don’t see any reason not to.

Ah, I see why you want to change the Kuga now. For the usage you describe, though, I personally don’t see what the GLA/Kamiq does that a £10k tall hatchback - or even a £10k ULEZ-exempt Kuga - wouldn’t do, so spending more than twice that still seems like it unnecessarily limits your other car options to me.

I’d personally steer well clear of the GLA for that kind of money, too, as it’s a pretty mediocre car for strong money, and it’s neither particularly small or practical.

Best of luck with whatever you choose. Intrigued to see which direction you go, as I wouldn’t have picked out a GLA/Kamiq-XE/Ghibli-Shogun combo from your initial shopping list!

[ZX10R NIN]

Jeenyus161 said:

Thanks for your replies; it is certainly reassuring to know that others like you RovoFob have changed a few cars round at the same time!

I was trying to not make the original post an original essay; so to quickly clarify a few things -

RovoFob:
Kuga - not ULEZ exempt which is one of the main reasons for changing it - the Kamiq/GLA would be

The Shogun wouldn't be a main car, it would only ever be used for towing or if we were out on some kind of family adventure. The other two would be daily drivers

If we spend more on the 7 seater, my wife has to commute into London in it and park in a tight london car park. I acknowledge this bit is awkward/frustrating - but that's why we need the small, upright vehicle.

Nothing against M135/140s - they just don't interest me that much.

ZX10R NIN
Sorry, should have said - we need a minimum braked towing weight of 2,500KG - the FX looks to be 2,200KG.

I had no idea the QX30 existed, thank you - I'll certainly look into these. As for the ZF-S and the Ghibli S....well played! Also, if I sell my soul, I could sneak into this one which looks like an absolute belter

Wife has just got back from looking at a horse trailer which it looks like we're also getting, so we may have to get the tow vehicle first. We're very fortunate that we've got space to have our current cars and the trailer/new tow car on the drive (just about). Sadly there isn't some magical, endless pot of money, so something will need to be sold to keep the lights on if we buy first!

The other tow car I was wondering about was a Grand Cherokee

There's no need to sell your soul just work on making it a reality.

You.

Ghibli S

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112040...

Your OH.

QX30 Premium exactly the same car as a GLA apart from the sheet metal:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111039...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201101...

QX50 GT Premium Q5 in size fully loaded with low miles

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107074...

Towing car:

Mercedes ML420cdi a rare find but the extra torque from the 4.0d will make towing an easier process:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112110...

ML320cdi

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201081...


Jeep Grand Cherokee same drivetrain as the ML320cdi above

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112120...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112310...

If you go for the most expensive picks then you're at £54500 which I think is very doable when you include you part ex's infact I think you'll have change

[Jeenyus161]

Thank you again ZX10R NIN, I've my evening reading sorted.

To test the water, I've lined up a tiguan allspace test drive tomorrow to see if my wife will be swayed by the ability to tow in a nice car. Then we only need 2 cars and the ghibli edges closer to reality haha.

I have also sown the idea of the infiniti in case the size proves to be a negative.

The horse trailer has been purchased, so one things for sure, horses are more expensive than motorsport!

[21ATS]

Porsche Cayenne diesel for circa £25K to £30K will do most of the items on the list, then whatever car you want as a daily.

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12615174

Or a Merc GL instead of the Porker

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12655478

I don't see you need three cars here, two will do the job comfortably especially as you don't see the need for a sports car any longer.

Saloon ideas:-

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12756902

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12469406

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12170939

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12735246

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12571449

[ZX10R NIN]

Jeenyus161 said:

Thank you again ZX10R NIN, I've my evening reading sorted.

To test the water, I've lined up a tiguan allspace test drive tomorrow to see if my wife will be swayed by the ability to tow in a nice car. Then we only need 2 cars and the ghibli edges closer to reality haha.

I have also sown the idea of the infiniti in case the size proves to be a negative.

The horse trailer has been purchased, so one things for sure, horses are more expensive than motorsport!

I'll be honest you'll be working the Tiguan hard, the otherside of this is that an Allspace is the same size as a Grand Cherokee which is where I'd be heading.

Summit

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111279...

Overland

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110278...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112210...

Limited

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112300...

[Jeenyus161]

So a curve-ball came in yesterday.

We went to see the Tiguan Allspace and the second my wife got in it, she knew it wasn't for her. The seat, oddly, is set up to feel too "car" like, rather than SUV and so it was discounted in seconds.

Lurking in the background though, was a ULEZ compliant, 2017 Skoda Kodiaq 4x4, 190ps, DSG, 2.0L Diesel. She hopped in, loved it, we drove it and we bought it.

So, that means that I know have a choice to make.

Either, keep the MX-5, spend around 15k on a new daily and then have a very generous budget for playing with the MX-5 (BBR supercharger kit). OR, sell both of my cars and spend around 30k on a daily that's also fun.

The challenge I have the reality of daily use. I need to be able to take the kids (in car seats) to school/nursery before I leave it at the station. Then at weekends if I want to go for a drive it needs to be interesting enough to want to go for a drive for driving's sake.

I still love the Ghibli S, but is it a good enough drive to want to just go and drive it....not sure. So, thinking hat still on!

[ZX10R NIN]

You already know the answer to that equation get a good daily & go through the BBR packages like a lottery winner

Then get yourself a smart daily.

Q70 Premium

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112240...

Semi sensible Q50h semi sensible

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201121...

Lexus GS250 F Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111259...

Luxury

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109097...

[RoVoFob]

Jeenyus161 said:

So a curve-ball came in yesterday.

We went to see the Tiguan Allspace and the second my wife got in it, she knew it wasn't for her. The seat, oddly, is set up to feel too "car" like, rather than SUV and so it was discounted in seconds.

Lurking in the background though, was a ULEZ compliant, 2017 Skoda Kodiaq 4x4, 190ps, DSG, 2.0L Diesel. She hopped in, loved it, we drove it and we bought it.

So, that means that I know have a choice to make.

Either, keep the MX-5, spend around 15k on a new daily and then have a very generous budget for playing with the MX-5 (BBR supercharger kit). OR, sell both of my cars and spend around 30k on a daily that's also fun.

The challenge I have the reality of daily use. I need to be able to take the kids (in car seats) to school/nursery before I leave it at the station. Then at weekends if I want to go for a drive it needs to be interesting enough to want to go for a drive for driving's sake.

I still love the Ghibli S, but is it a good enough drive to want to just go and drive it....not sure. So, thinking hat still on!

That’s not a curveball - sounds like a very sensible choice to me!

Interested to hear that your wife had such different reactions to the Tiguan Allspace and the Kodiaq, when they are so closely related. Is the driving position that different?

Would tuning the MX-5 make it cover all your sporty car bases? Or would you prefer a bigger, heavier car with a larger, more musical engine? My personal take is that the MX-5 is great because it’s light, agile and analogue and I’m not sure giving it more power would make it any better.

I’ve driven a Ghibli - albeit a diesel one - previously and found it immensely disappointing. It didn’t ride properly and wasn’t engaging, so not the best cruiser or sporty car. I can’t imagine wanting to drive a Ghibli for the hell of it.

If you want an interesting engine, you could get all sorts of V8s that would be exciting and somewhat practical. Audi RS4 with a 4.2-litre V8, an S6 or S7 with a twin-turbo V8, a Lexus IS F or RC F with a 5.0-litre V8, a C63 AMG, CLS 63 AMG, a Panamera 4.8 V8 etc.

Do any of those appeal? If you’re going down to two cars you’ll save a bit on insurance, road tax and servicing costs, so there’s no reason to not let your hair down…

[Jeenyus161]

Thank you for the continued suggestions, they are really appreciated.

I am my own worst enemy, flipping between ideas daily. I find myself in a position where i've never driven any of the mildly fast stuff to know what I like. I've done track days and driven a gt3rs, a 360 Cs, a mclaren 570, a gallardo etc. But, caymans, 370s, elise etc I've never even sat in.

That GS250 F looks like incredible VFM.
RovoFob, the IS-F is the pick of that bunch for me.

All I know is that the new Kodiaq's hidden umbrella is a win with our 5yr old and the sliding middle row of seats is hilarious if you're a 3yr old. Tow bar is on, ready to collect the horse trailer.

Front running partnership at the moment is the GS250 F and a cayman, but that'll probably change another 20 times before I buy anything. I'm loving the choices available, just nervous about getting it "wrong"

[ZX10R NIN]

Jeenyus161 said:

Thank you for the continued suggestions, they are really appreciated.

I am my own worst enemy, flipping between ideas daily. I find myself in a position where i've never driven any of the mildly fast stuff to know what I like. I've done track days and driven a gt3rs, a 360 Cs, a mclaren 570, a gallardo etc. But, caymans, 370s, elise etc I've never even sat in.

That GS250 F looks like incredible VFM.
RovoFob, the IS-F is the pick of that bunch for me.

All I know is that the new Kodiaq's hidden umbrella is a win with our 5yr old and the sliding middle row of seats is hilarious if you're a 3yr old. Tow bar is on, ready to collect the horse trailer.

Front running partnership at the moment is the GS250 F and a cayman, but that'll probably change another 20 times before I buy anything. I'm loving the choices available, just nervous about getting it "wrong"

I'll get my flame suit ready but while the Cayman is a very very good car I find the 370Z Nismo more engaging than the Cayman, it's a proper drivers car & in my book well worth a test drive:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111269...

Along with this GS250 Luxury & some haggling you'll be very close to your 30k:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111149...

[RoVoFob]

Jeenyus161 said:

I am my own worst enemy, flipping between ideas daily. I find myself in a position where i've never driven any of the mildly fast stuff to know what I like.

That GS250 F looks like incredible VFM.
RovoFob, the IS-F is the pick of that bunch for me.

Front running partnership at the moment is the GS250 F and a cayman, but that'll probably change another 20 times before I buy anything. I'm loving the choices available, just nervous about getting it "wrong"

I completely get your indecision. Your thread has me thinking of going the other way from my current sensible Audi and enjoyable BMW to one more exotic practical daily…partly for the sheer variety.

Since the Lexuses seem to appeal to you, Kodiaq and IS F or Kodiaq, GS250 and Cayman seem like good combinations. Maybe you can track down a relatively local Cayman and IS F to get a feel for which appeals most.

I wouldn’t worry about getting it too wrong. Your wife had a gut feel between the Tiguan Allspace and the Kodiiaq and there’s every chance that you’ll have a distinct preference between the IS F or Cayman. Even if neither is the right option, it should help you narrow down what type of car is right for you.

[Jeenyus161]

Hi guys,

Firstly - thanks very much for all of your suggestions; you've given me some great head scratching moments. I've been looking at a few things and drove a few things over the weekend which helped make up my mind.

I've decided to keep the Superb and sell the MX5.

As much as I want a car that's fun to drive on every journey, the reality is that if i've got the kids and/or dog in the car, I don't need anything sporty; so why give up a comfy, reliable car for something with firmer suspension a smaller boot and higher tax rates?

Doing that, means I can double down on the budget for the MX-5 replacement. So, I've started seeking out Porsche 997 C2s. I can get one in budget and 911s are special cars to me. A G body was the first "fast" car I ever went in, a 996 GT3 RS is still the best car I've ever driven and I just know I'll feel more excited driving one of those, than I will having two quite nice cars.

Quite a departure from my initial ask on this thread, but ZX and RovoFob, thanks for your suggestions. I'm going to take my time finding one that I really like the look of. So if you see and super smart 911 997 C2s for under £28k, send them my way!

Oddly, it was going to collect my wife's new horse trailer today in her new car that made me think, yep, time to get cracking!

[RoVoFob]

Jeenyus161 said:

Hi guys,

Firstly - thanks very much for all of your suggestions; you've given me some great head scratching moments. I've been looking at a few things and drove a few things over the weekend which helped make up my mind.

I've decided to keep the Superb and sell the MX5.

As much as I want a car that's fun to drive on every journey, the reality is that if i've got the kids and/or dog in the car, I don't need anything sporty; so why give up a comfy, reliable car for something with firmer suspension a smaller boot and higher tax rates?

Doing that, means I can double down on the budget for the MX-5 replacement. So, I've started seeking out Porsche 997 C2s. I can get one in budget and 911s are special cars to me. A G body was the first "fast" car I ever went in, a 996 GT3 RS is still the best car I've ever driven and I just know I'll feel more excited driving one of those, than I will having two quite nice cars.

Quite a departure from my initial ask on this thread, but ZX and RovoFob, thanks for your suggestions. I'm going to take my time finding one that I really like the look of. So if you see and super smart 911 997 C2s for under £28k, send them my way!

Oddly, it was going to collect my wife's new horse trailer today in her new car that made me think, yep, time to get cracking!

Sounds like a good plan. Covers all the bases you mentioned, with two particularly practical family cars - which gives you options if one’s in for a service or any issues pop up - plus a serious sports car with an exciting engine and focused drive.

I’ve been deliberating on the whole sporty/sensible family car dilemma, too, so understand the thought process. Currently mulling over sticking with V8 A6 Avant and 130i, selling them both and going for something silly like a V10 S6 Avant plus a Toyota iQ or Audi A2 for town trips or going the complete opposite direction with a super-sensible family Honda Civic Tourer plus a V8 Audi S5.

When you’re a diagnosed petrolhead, sometimes all the options are appealing in different ways!

Best of luck with the 911 search.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd also consider a regular Carrera they're still a very good car.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201181...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107124...


S

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110319...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201081...