Fast, family motor for 4k

new boy · 22 Jan 2018 at 00:33

I need to buy a new car. My current car (celica t-sport) cant fit a car seat lol + its pretty annoying on the motorway.

I've got about 4k to spend, could spend MAYBE another grand, but I'd rather have some money back just in case, less would be even better.

MPG and tax are lower priority, I only do about 12k per year.

Has to have enough boot space to fit a pram and the weekly shop in

Has to have a low chance of being ruinous.

My daily commute is a fairly short motorway journey, and about 15 mins of queing in stop start traffic, so it would be nice if the car was a decent place to be for those scenarios.

Current thought, is a mk2 octavia vrs. Not over keen on the VAG cars really, but it looks like it does what I need so might go for it. Probably not as refined and I would like, but compared to the celica I'm sure it'll be great. Reliability probably average?

If considered barges like a saab 9-5 aero, a mondeo st220, legacy spec b, volvo s60 t5 etc, but I don't know if I fancy a car THAT big tbh + I dont really want an estate, and I'm not sure how good a saloon would be.

Maybe a focus ST? Might have to find some extra money, are they likely to be costly to own? I think I could make a focus work size wise.

Thoughts? I know I'm probably asking too much for my 4k, but I really cant be bothered to drive something slow atm lol

Rilot · 22 Jan 2018 at 06:55

I think you already have the best choice listed. The VRS sounds like it fits your requirements perfectly.

bloodiedathame · 22 Jan 2018 at 07:10

Don't go VAG diesel if its an emissions recall model. No end of trouble. Not sure if the VRS is but a quick Google suggests some models are.

Liquid_Entity · 22 Jan 2018 at 07:24

I got a mondeo titanium x 2.5T plenty of boot space, loads of back seat and front seat space and quick considering the weight. Not sure how many are around now though.

Havana_UK · 22 Jan 2018 at 09:06

Avoid saloons in general if you want to get a pram in. While the boot space is normally good the size of the opening can make getting large items like prams in and out a pain.

new boy · 22 Jan 2018 at 12:18

bloodiedathame said:
Don't go VAG diesel if its an emissions recall model. No end of trouble. Not sure if the VRS is but a quick Google suggests some models are.

It will be petrol for sure

Liquid_Entity said:
I got a mondeo titanium x 2.5T plenty of boot space, loads of back seat and front seat space and quick considering the weight. Not sure how many are around now though.

Could be an option, I had only looked at the v6, but the 2.5t looks good too. Still not sure I want a car of that class though, one to think about. Would be nice on the motorway.

Havana_UK said:
Avoid saloons in general if you want to get a pram in. While the boot space is normally good the size of the opening can make getting large items like prams in and out a pain.

Yeah, that's my fear. I wonder why there are not more "longer hatchbacks with a boot" class cars like the Octavia, it obviously sells well? The Mondeo seams like pretty much the only big car with a hatch too.

[TW]Fox · 22 Jan 2018 at 12:23

new boy said:
Yeah, that's my fear. I wonder why there are not more "longer hatchbacks with a boot" class cars like the Octavia, it obviously sells well? The Mondeo seams like pretty much the only big car with a hatch too.

There are loads? Vauxhall Insignia for example.

Liquid_Entity · 22 Jan 2018 at 12:28

Mazda 6 was one I looked at but is it hatch or saloon. My neighbour has one.

shadow_boxer · 22 Jan 2018 at 12:47

Liquid_Entity said:
Mazda 6 was one I looked at but is it hatch or saloon. My neighbour has one.

2nd gen (08-12) are hatchback style and 3rd gen (2012 on) are saloon.

Liquid_Entity · 22 Jan 2018 at 12:53

Thanks for clearing that up.

inflames · 22 Jan 2018 at 12:57

Havana_UK said:
Avoid saloons in general if you want to get a pram in. While the boot space is normally good the size of the opening can make getting large items like prams in and out a pain.

I wouldn't completely right off a saloon as a option, yes they can make it a bit of a pain to get in but it is manageable. We have two kids i brought an estate when we had or first and that certainly works best, with our 2nd i currently have a saloon its not to bad for getting it in. My wife has a focus and once the buggy is in the boot there is not a lot of space left for shopping. So i would say stick with a large hatch or a estate.

Skillmister · 22 Jan 2018 at 13:38

Liquid_Entity said:
Mazda 6 was one I looked at but is it hatch or saloon. My neighbour has one.

The hatch boot is bloody enormous I love it

HEADRAT · 22 Jan 2018 at 13:46

I often give the Mazda 6 a "second look" when driving past, they do look nice.

Tinders · 22 Jan 2018 at 13:49

I always like the original Leon Cupra, it was a smart looking car, and its plenty quick enough. Mazda MPS of some sort would be a decent shout. I had a ST3 for a few years, and the boot wasnt all that big, not for the stupid prams that women insist on buying nowadays.

dhill · 22 Jan 2018 at 14:09

Liquid_Entity · 22 Jan 2018 at 15:02

Skillmister said:
The hatch boot is bloody enormous I love it

As is my Mondeo, it's like a tardis and sometimes I have to climb in to get something that's gone that far in haha

adam cool dude · 22 Jan 2018 at 15:47

The Vauxhall Insignia came in a 2.0 petrol turbo with 220 bhp. Worth checking out.

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 22 Jan 2018 at 16:24

adam cool dude said:
The Vauxhall Insignia came in a 2.0 petrol turbo with 220 bhp. Worth checking out.

God we had one of them on the fleet at work, no idea how as we only really had diesels, it was the least loved car of the fleet for anyone who had to pay the tax on it, it was sooo thirtsy, it was the most loved car on the fleet (bar maybe the 335d's) for anyone who got to borrow it for a couple of days when it was between users.

DereksDontRun · 22 Jan 2018 at 16:53

fast, reliable and £4k - pick 2 of the 3... (semi-joking)

ExoMale · 25 Jan 2018 at 01:06

Buy a scooby