Station car and sensible fun!

[Stuart70]

Looking for something as a station car with some fun.

Up to £30k, c2020 or newer, less than c35k miles, fun to drive. 4 seats, 4 or 5 doors.
Petrol, not electric

Now it gets contentious - no BMW, no Audi, no white cars, not Golf R as been there done that.
I have a 911 for weekends and Mrs has XC90 for long trips. Not looking for coupe or convertible.

Thoughts so far:-
Ford Fiesta / Focus ST - build quality?
Mercedes A35 / A45 (available for the price), C43?
Hyundai I30n?
Kia Stinger - residual / maintenance?
VW Polo GTI

What should I be thinking of?…

[A500leroy]

Station car? As I leave at the station?

Up! GTI.
Swift sport.
I30N.

[Mr E]

Station car is a ratty thing you don t care about?

I have one of these
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506253...

For 30k, you could have the Guila with the big boy engine.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504091...

Milage is just a number.

[Len Clifton]

Who spends £30k on a station car? Honestly, this place.

[Stuart70]

A500leroy said:

Station car? As I leave at the station?

Up! GTI.
Swift sport.
I30N.

Yes - leave at the station - SE England - everything from 2006 Fiesta diesel to Aston DB12 so can be most things… but I am trying to keep it sensible.

[Stuart70]

Mr E said:

Station car is a ratty thing you don t care about?

I have one of these
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506253...

For 30k, you could have the Guila with the big boy engine.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504091...

Milage is just a number.

Both are very cool - that Giulia looks remarkably good value - thank you!

[ChrisH72]

Most hot hatches will likely be stolen from station car parks. Same with prestige stuff like BMaw/Audi/Merc.

Octavia vrs might be a bit more under the radar and is a very good car.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025040911...

The other interesting car you have on your list is the Kia Stinger.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025050119...

The Stinger is very big though which could be an issue if the car park has small spaces like many do.

[Len Clifton]

Stuart70 said:

Len Clifton said:

Who spends £30k on a station car? Honestly, this place.

Fair comment, but there we go

What about this?

https://ebay.us/m/oiHJw9

[Mr Tidy]

I'd have thought a smaller car might work better as a station car.

How about a Mini Cooper S or Fiat 500 Abarth?

[lancslad58]

Why buy one when you can win one





https://theclassiccompetitioncompany.com/competiti...

[ZX10R NIN]

Stuart70 said:

Looking for something as a station car with some fun.

Up to £30k, c2020 or newer, less than c35k miles, fun to drive. 4 seats, 4 or 5 doors.
Petrol, not electric

Now it gets contentious - no BMW, no Audi, no white cars, not Golf R as been there done that.
I have a 911 for weekends and Mrs has XC90 for long trips. Not looking for coupe or convertible.

Thoughts so far:-
Ford Fiesta / Focus ST - build quality?
Mercedes A35 / A45 (available for the price), C43?
Hyundai I30n?
Kia Stinger - residual / maintenance?
VW Polo GTI

What should I be thinking of?

Focus ST good steer reliable & fun:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502289...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502249...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502259...

RS300 Trophy:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504181...

Ceed GT:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506133...

Stinger GTS, the servicing is actually sensibly priced, they're a very good steer & well worth a further look:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202502028...

G70:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505011...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505092...

Giulia Veloce:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504251...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202505212...

C43:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506133...

CLA 35 Premium Plus:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506123...

Arteon R:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506273...

GR86:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506023...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506243...

Circut Pack GR Yaris:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202503270...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506203...

370 Nismo:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506183...

i30N Performance:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506053...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504281...

[gmaz]

Why not electric? A station commute is an ideal use case for an electric car. Warm it up remotely in cold winter mornings. Cool it remotely in the evening after sitting in the summer sun all day. Quiet, smooth and easy to drive.

An ICE car doing "station run" short commutes is bad for engine life and will use way more fuel. You're always driving the car from cold.

I'd say a Cupra Born or MG4 would be a good fit.

[Len Clifton]

gmaz said:

Why not electric? A station commute is an ideal use case for an electric car. Warm it up remotely in cold winter mornings. Cool it remotely in the evening after sitting in the summer sun all day. Quiet, smooth and easy to drive.

An ICE car doing "station run" short commutes is bad for engine life and will use way more fuel. You're always driving the car from cold.

I'd say a Cupra Born or MG4 would be a good fit.

I’d say the opposite is true, big capacity alloy V8 will warm up in no time and you’ll be the envy of the car park.