Family all rounder - fun still required!

[ICSD]

Getting rid of the wife's Grand Voyager and she's getting a Mini - for various reasons, I won't bore you.

So the upshot is that I'm going to end up with the family motor but it needs to be something that's still quite fun to drive for £9-10K ish.

I'd like an E39 530i Sport Touring but manuals are like rocking horse **** and I don't really want auto.

I'd be quite interested in a Spec B Legacy estate but I'm concerned that it might be tight for 3 growing lads in the back - does anyone know?

Other alternatives welcome but it must be manual and RWD or 4WD.

Thanks

[alock]

ICSD said:

Other alternatives welcome but it must be manual and RWD or 4WD.

Is that requirement really set in stone?

You have a large choice of modern very capable FWD cars with that price range. An Octavia VRS would be my choice.

[braddo]

Monaro?

[aka_kerrly]

Audi A6 3.0 V6 Avant quattro or a S4.. i believe you can get them in manual.
jag X-type 3.0 Sport estate.. also available in 4x4 and manual

OOO before 300bhp gets in with this...

A MG ZT-T V8 260 , manaual, V8, RWD, big boot, bit unusual ie quite the sleeper!

Edited by aka_kerrly on Tuesday 24th August 11:26

[edo]

You are right that the manual beemers are thin on the ground.

E60?

2004 BMW 5 SERIES 525i SE 5dr Touring
Private Seller

68,000 miles, 5 Door Estate, Grey, Petrol, Manual, Service indicator, ABS, Electrically adjustable drivers seat, Audio remote control, 6 CD Changer, Factory Sat Nav, Grey leather with heated front seats, Factory supplied boot liner and floor mats, 16 months of comprehensive warranty remaining, Recently serviced and brake fluid change, Tax and MOT until Nov 2010, Excellent Condition. £10,995 No canvassers or agencies.

[edo]

Little over budget, but there are others cheaper with more miles.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

[Gretchen]

Have you read this thread...

http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I've got three boys. One of whom is 6'3. I can get 5 of us comfortably in my M3, and still have lots of fun. And mine was half your budget. There are maybe some good suggestions in the linked thread.

[GEORDIE_BOY]

Zafira VXR if you need the seats? Granted not RWD or 4WD but still very practicle and fun

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2005-VAUXHALL-ZAFIRA-VXR-BLU...

M5

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1999-BMW-M5-5-0-V8-BLUE-SUPE...

Edited by GEORDIE_BOY on Tuesday 24th August 12:59

[ICSD]

Forgot to mention the dogs so it needs to be an estate.

Audi's are the same as Beemers in as much as manuals are very rare so I'd discounted them as well but if a nice manual cropped up I would be tempted.

Definitely no FWDs, sorry to the fans but I find them bland - and definitely no MPVs either.

Is anyone able to make comment on the Legacy?

Cheers

[anonymous-user]

edo said:

Little over budget, but there are others cheaper with more miles.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

One of these! had one for a bit and it was a great car!

[ICSD]

MonkeyMatt said:

edo said:

Little over budget, but there are others cheaper with more miles.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

One of these! had one for a bit and it was a great car!

Nah! I could get a 330i Sport Touring but I'm really looking for the space of a 5 Series/A6.

[Evil.soup]

ICSD said:

Forgot to mention the dogs so it needs to be an estate.

Audi's are the same as Beemers in as much as manuals are very rare so I'd discounted them as well but if a nice manual cropped up I would be tempted.

Definitely no FWDs, sorry to the fans but I find them bland - and definitely no MPVs either.

Is anyone able to make comment on the Legacy?

Cheers

I own an 06 WRX and have a mate that had an 06 Legacy spec-B wagon with a couple of Sti bits thrown in. A very nice car it has to be said and far more grown up than the WRX. As for space there seemed to be tons of boot space but in the back was very simular to the WRX. You can get 3 adults in the back without issue but they dont have the legroom of e.g. the 5 series. I would imagine long journeys could become a pain. We went out on a number of runs though and i was very impressed at the performance next to a selection of Imprezas, some highly tuned. A very capable car! He put it in for a Forester Sti, an equally good performer but with more space for the dogs, possibly another option. They are rare as hens teeth though and i am unsure if they would even fall into you budget as they seem to hold their value well due to them being so rare.

Hope that halps a little mate;)

[Original Poster]

330 Sport Touring gets my vote.