I hate these threads but it's another what car?

[fridaypassion]

OK so we've just sold our RX8. It was a decent car but since the arrival of our first baby the Mrs has moaned on about lack of boot space and I never really drove it due to company van/other car etc. Anyway that coupled with the impending raid on the motorist we'll no doubt see in the coming budget I decided to cut my losses with the Rex.

Only problem is now its gone I just cant decide what to replace it with. I dont to weather to play the government at their own game and get some rubbish free to tax type thing or just get a runabout type car for the Mrs. Or just get something nice but that is big enough for the family requirments but still interesting to drive. Budget 8-10k

I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not so sure

[Somnophore]

I'll get in there first with mentioning BMW as an obvious choice 328 etc depends how much space you need and whether you're happy with low-med fuel economy or you want better fuel consumption

[excel monkey]

Somnophore said:

I'll get in there first with mentioning BMW as an obvious choice 328 etc depends how much space you need and whether you're happy with low-med fuel economy or you want better fuel consumption

E46 330d touring would be good

Or how about an Accord or Legacy estate if you want something non-German?

[fathomfive]

Alfa 156 GTA Sportwagon
Saab 9-5 Aero Estate
Volvo V70R (not sure these exist in that price range but might not be far off)

[ben_h100]

Focus ST?

Big enough for the family - Yes
5 Door - Yes
Interesting to drive - Yes, as quick as your RX8 (can also be remapped for much more power), 5 pot growl
Can be driven sensibly as well, nice torquey engine.
Better fuel economy (just!) than your Mazda, driving like a saint can produce 35+ mpg on mways

[Welshbeef]

How about an Evo6? Big enough for the family and plenty of power when you want - downside you need big ish revs to access the power and short servicing intervals & you'd need to be happy to be constantly challenged at the lights.

I Personally prefer a Q car

[havoc]

Avoiding the default Bavarian answer:-

Golf GTi
Focus ST
Octavia vRS
Legacy (saloon/estate)
Impreza WRX???

[fridaypassion]

We're still mulling it over. We do have a VX220 for fun so we can go reasonably boring with the main one......

[pixieporsche]

How about a Porsche 944? They have a roomy boot (I know from experience of camping trips etc.) They are also great to drive yet still comfortable for long journeys

[Pulse]

Mazda3 MPS? They are cheap as chips!

[havoc]

fridaypassion said:

We're still mulling it over. We do have a VX220 for fun so we can go reasonably boring with the main one......

Nah, don't be silly. Life's too short for boring cars!

[300bhp/ton]

fridaypassion said:

We're still mulling it over. We do have a VX220 for fun so we can go reasonably boring with the main one......

How non PH would you want to go?



One of these makes a good used buy and will likely have 5-7 years warranty on it. I'd place it above a Vauxhall Astra too. But it's certainly not PH.

I also quite like these, and the 2.0d is a 50mpg car


And available as an estate too.


If you do want some PH credentials, then a 4.6 litre V8 one of these makes a lot of sense:



More upmarket with a nice 3.0 litre V6:



However I'm a huge fan of vehicles like these, they are fun in a different kind of way and make great family cars IMO