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[SMD]

I always thought if I had the money, I would buy a Jag XFR or an M/AMG car but now I'm ready to pull the trigger its a very hard decision.

I have gone off the idea of these types of cars now, now I want something newer ('16 + ) under 30k ideally, but still want a big petrol engine, fast (obviously), mid size - I have three young children so Omega size is unnecessary and unwanted. I was thinking along the lines of F30 3 Series or Jag XE-S but some of my friends think £25k is a lot of money and they think I should get a 6 Series GC or Range Rover.

I went to Wales on Saturday to look at a 340i, it was fully loaded but condition wasn't as I expected (or led to believe) for a 3 year old car - my 11y/o Omega was in better nick when I bought it and the dealer wouldn't let me test drive it unless I committed to but it  so I walked away.

So thinking outside the box, other than the three Germans what else can I get for my money? What would you buy?

[RossPhim]

Maybe smaller than you want and not a 'big' petrol engine, but have you thought of the Golf 'R'.
It even comes in estate guise if you need extra luggage space.
Defo ticks the 'fast' box, and relatively comfy for a gocart.
It will be high up my list when it comes to getting shot of the Mundaino!   
Good luck!   

[Doctor Gollum]

The Omega isn't that big...

F30 3 series is pretty good for cabin space, and eats miles well. Prices should be dropping off a bit for later ones as the G20 takes hold.

Manual X drive should tick most of the driver boxes, and the GT is useful if yo don't need a full estate

[Viral_Jim]

It falls just outside your budget, but I might be tempted to haggle hard for this...


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201806157534223?atmobcid=soc3

[SMD]

I think I agree with you about the size of Omegas. I can easily reverse it into my garage without folding the mirrors, something I couldn't do with the Vectra 9-3

I have noticed the 68 plate Shadow Editions F30 are rapidly coming down in price, but still out of my price range. Then its a matter of finding one with the spec I want. I'm hoping the price will come down more once the G20 M340i hits the streets. So far I have only seen 320i/330i about.

I think XEs might be a bit tight in the back, going by the reviews  and its not really feasible to take the family out to a dealership to try one. Ditto with the Golf, I think that may be even smaller

[SMD]

It falls just outside your budget, but I might be tempted to haggle hard for this...


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201806157534223?atmobcid=soc3

Which child do I leave at home? 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I always thought if I had the money, I would buy a Jag XFR or an M/AMG car but now I'm ready to pull the trigger its a very hard decision.

I have gone off the idea of these types of cars now, now I want something newer ('16 + ) under 30k ideally, but still want a big petrol engine, fast (obviously), mid size - I have three young children so Omega size is unnecessary and unwanted. I was thinking along the lines of F30 3 Series or Jag XE-S but some of my friends think £25k is a lot of money and they think I should get a 6 Series GC or Range Rover.

I went to Wales on Saturday to look at a 340i, it was fully loaded but condition wasn't as I expected (or led to believe) for a 3 year old car - my 11y/o Omega was in better nick when I bought it and the dealer wouldn't let me test drive it unless I committed to but it  so I walked away.

So thinking outside the box, other than the three Germans what else can I get for my money? What would you buy?

Fast......mid size......and with a thoroughbred petrol engine rather than the engine from a diesel cement mixer. I'd go for an Alfa Giulia Quadrifoglio.

500+ BHP  from a 2.9 V6 with plenty of torque. I think you'll struggle to find one within your budget though.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

......a Range Rooney is essentially a posh van with windows.

[Viral_Jim]

It falls just outside your budget, but I might be tempted to haggle hard for this...


http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201806157534223?atmobcid=soc3

Which child do I leave at home? 

Apologies, I read your original brief as:

 

I no longer have three young children so Omega size is unnecessary and unwanted.

Given the average age of the users of this forum I assumed that the family had flown the nest. 

[Nick W]

I would have thought that with three young children, Omega interior space is essential? And that's a problem, because although things like a 3 series, C-class, Insignia etc are almost as big(bigger for the Insignia) as an Omega, they are less spacious inside. That's probably because most private buyers of family cars prefer more useful MPVs like Zafiras etc.

[STEMO]

I would have thought that with three young children, Omega interior space is essential? And that's a problem, because although things like a 3 series, C-class, Insignia etc are almost as big(bigger for the Insignia) as an Omega, they are less spacious inside. That's probably because most private buyers of family cars prefer more useful MPVs like Zafiras etc.

My astra estate is great for throwing stuff in the back, but the legroom for rear passengers is very tight and, as you say, Nick, it looks bigger than an omega out side.

[Doctor Gollum]

The 3 series will seat 5 in reasonable comfort, OK not tried it for a long journey but at 6'2"/15 stone, I don't feel squashed in it, and having done Hampshire to Orkney and back in three days in it, it's a decent cruiser

Was 5 up in a Porsche Cayenne on Sunday, and whilst comfy enough, the rear seat isn't any bigger (wider) than the Golf, point being that size and space aren't always the same thing

I was going to suggest a C32 estate as an interesting aside, but too old for your requirement 

£10-15k would see you in a w211 E55/63...

[TheBoy]

Maybe smaller than you want and not a 'big' petrol engine, but have you thought of the Golf 'R'.
It even comes in estate guise if you need extra luggage space.
Defo ticks the 'fast' box, and relatively comfy for a gocart.
It will be high up my list when it comes to getting shot of the Mundaino!   
Good luck!   

I quite like them. But I can't tolerate them for any distance without needing a back transplant after.  So if you fancy one, take one on a long test drive to see if you can live with it.

[YZ250]

......
I think XEs might be a bit tight in the back .........

My sister had one, I defy anyone over three feet tall to get in the back without smacking their head on that rediculous roof line as they get in or out.
Depreciation was horrific as well.

[Sir Tigger KC]

Big Family Car! 

Big Family Car Wiv Grunt! and for less cash! 

There's a V90 Cross Country T6 with 306bhp which looks interesting, but sadly out of budget. 

[YZ250]

Big Family Car! 

Big Family Car Wiv Grunt! and for less cash! 

There's a V90 Cross Country T6 with 306bhp which looks interesting, but sadly out of budget. 

I park next to a 2008 Volvo V50 T5 estate (I think it's a V50  ) most mornings and I must say that body-wise it looks in exceptional condition for its age. 

[Doctor Gollum]

A neglected car will always look neglected and a cared for one cared for.

Doesn't matter if it's a week old or two decades

The posh Focus has aged better than the cheap Focus, which helps

[Viral_Jim]

Maybe smaller than you want and not a 'big' petrol engine, but have you thought of the Golf 'R'.
It even comes in estate guise if you need extra luggage space.
Defo ticks the 'fast' box, and relatively comfy for a gocart.
It will be high up my list when it comes to getting shot of the Mundaino!   
Good luck!   

I quite like them. But I can't tolerate them for any distance without needing a back transplant after.  So if you fancy one, take one on a long test drive to see if you can live with it.

Same engine/drive train in a more comfy body...

Estate or Hatchback

Not really mid-size, but bags of interior space and more or less all the toys you could wish for.

[STEMO]

Maybe smaller than you want and not a 'big' petrol engine, but have you thought of the Golf 'R'.
It even comes in estate guise if you need extra luggage space.
Defo ticks the 'fast' box, and relatively comfy for a gocart.
It will be high up my list when it comes to getting shot of the Mundaino!   
Good luck!   

I quite like them. But I can't tolerate them for any distance without needing a back transplant after.  So if you fancy one, take one on a long test drive to see if you can live with it.

Same engine/drive train in a more comfy body...

Estate or Hatchback

Not really mid-size, but bags of interior space and more or less all the toys you could wish for.

I would love that estate. Do you think Opti would buy it for me?

[Sir Tigger KC]

I would love that estate. Do you think Opti would buy it for me?

No, but he might buy me this, as I'm nicer to him than you are! 

[Viral_Jim]

I would love that estate. Do you think Opti would buy it for me?

No, but he might buy me this, as I'm nicer to him than you are! 

Given the BHP on offer, I'd have thought the T6 would be quicker than that :/

[Doctor Gollum]

I would love that estate. Do you think Opti would buy it for me?

No, but he might buy me this, as I'm nicer to him than you are! 

I know it's tractor fuel, but this... has the correct number of cylinders and can pull pretty much anything 

[Sir Tigger KC]

I would love that estate. Do you think Opti would buy it for me?

No, but he might buy me this, as I'm nicer to him than you are! 

Given the BHP on offer, I'd have thought the T6 would be quicker than that :/

Maybe the AWD drivetrain affects it?     

Although I think that 0-60 in 6 seconds is quite respectable for a Swedish workhorse?   

[Doctor Gollum]

I would love that estate. Do you think Opti would buy it for me?

No, but he might buy me this, as I'm nicer to him than you are! 

Given the BHP on offer, I'd have thought the T6 would be quicker than that :/

Maybe the AWD drivetrain affects it?     

Although I think that 0-60 in 6 seconds is quite respectable for a Swedish workhorse?   

It's only a four pot 2.0

[SMD]

Thank for all the suggestions, the alfa looks like a beast.

I don't think I'd go for a golf, its too small. I take on board about extended test drives though to test the seats. My brother's F30 gave me mild back pain on the trip to Wales but it could be because I didn't adjust the seat, just jumped in and drove off.

No estates for me, missus dont like them and neither do I to be honest.

[Sir Tigger KC]

I would love that estate. Do you think Opti would buy it for me?

No, but he might buy me this, as I'm nicer to him than you are! 

Given the BHP on offer, I'd have thought the T6 would be quicker than that :/

Maybe the AWD drivetrain affects it?     

Although I think that 0-60 in 6 seconds is quite respectable for a Swedish workhorse?   

It's only a four pot 2.0, that produces 306 bhp 

FTFY Al! 

[Viral_Jim]

Yup, given that 2.0 4-pot production cars will breach the 400bhp mark* pretty shortly, it wasn't the capacity that was perplexing to me. It's more that it's 0.5s slower than the superb to the benchmark 62mph, but has 25bhp more on tap.

However, thinking about it, the Volvo is a hybrid right? Which probably makes it a two-ton lard ar$e 



*Technically mitsubishi did this already with the Evo, but a minute run of 40 odd models hardly counts. 

[Doctor Gollum]

That's no less stressed than a 3 pot turbo trying to shift a Mundeo... It won't end well...

[Viral_Jim]

That's no less stressed than a 3 pot turbo trying to shift a Mundeo... It won't end well...

Saab had been chucking out 2.3l 4 pots that produce well over 250 bhp nearly 20yrs ago, and excluding some issues caused poxy GM-quality components, they last well enough.  I'd like to think that a 15% reduction in cc's and a 15% uptick in bhp isn't asking for much in 20yrs of automotive development. 

[Sir Tigger KC]

That's no less stressed than a 3 pot turbo trying to shift a Mundeo... It won't end well...

My cousin has a Ford Ecosport with the 1ltr 3 pot turbo, and it goes quite well. 

[Nick W]

That's no less stressed than a 3 pot turbo trying to shift a Mundeo... It won't end well...

My cousin has a Ford Ecosport with the 1ltr 3 pot turbo, and it goes quite well. 

It's horrible in a Focus. My advice of the week month:


DON'T BUY A THREE CYLINDER FOCUS!

[Doctor Gollum]

That's no less stressed than a 3 pot turbo trying to shift a Mundeo... It won't end well...

My cousin has a Ford Ecosport with the 1ltr 3 pot turbo, and it goes quite well. 

I bet he doesn't use it like he would an XC90

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

That's no less stressed than a 3 pot turbo trying to shift a Mundeo... It won't end well...

My cousin has a Ford Ecosport with the 1ltr 3 pot turbo, and it goes quite well. 

Oh dear.....

[Sir Tigger KC]

That's no less stressed than a 3 pot turbo trying to shift a Mundeo... It won't end well...

My cousin has a Ford Ecosport with the 1ltr 3 pot turbo, and it goes quite well. 

Oh dear.....

Petrol M'lud!   

[TheBoy]

Yup, given that 2.0 4-pot production cars will breach the 400bhp mark*

*Technically mitsubishi did this already with the Evo, but a minute run of 40 odd models hardly counts. 

There are a few mass produced 400bhp 2.0l turbos around now, without the lags of the well known ones from yesteryear just running massive turbos to achieve it.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

That's no less stressed than a 3 pot turbo trying to shift a Mundeo... It won't end well...

My cousin has a Ford Ecosport with the 1ltr 3 pot turbo, and it goes quite well. 

Oh dear.....

Petrol M'lud!   

Yes....but even so.

[TheBoy]

That's no less stressed than a 3 pot turbo trying to shift a Mundeo... It won't end well...

My cousin has a Ford Ecosport with the 1ltr 3 pot turbo, and it goes quite well. 

It's horrible in a Focus. My advice of the week month:


DON'T BUY A THREE CYLINDER FOCUS!

Ignoring its reliability and durability for a minute, it is "usable" in a Focus, and performs better than you'd expect.  In fact, I'd suggest the engine is the best part of a 1l Focus, as the rest of the car is as shite as all Focus' before it.

[Nick W]

My cousin has a Ford Ecosport with the 1ltr 3 pot turbo, and it goes quite well. 

It's horrible in a Focus. My advice of the week month:


DON'T BUY A THREE CYLINDER FOCUS!

Ignoring its reliability and durability for a minute, it is "usable" in a Focus, and performs better than you'd expect.  In fact, I'd suggest the engine is the best part of a 1l Focus, as the rest of the car is as shite as all Focus' before it.

You have that completely arse about face because the engine is awful; slow, noisy, rough, gutless once you get past the small range of boost and horrible to use. The car it is fitted to is better than the preceding models in that it has an almost acceptable driving position, more space, a usable boot and a decent ride. But they achieved all of that by increasing the physical size by a considerable amount rather than engineering it properly. It retains the hideous appearance inside and out, and all the trim still looks and feels cheap.


I'm not convinced about the long term durability either, but then that's true of a lot of modern cars; we've gone backwards, and will be scrapping 15 year old cars as a matter of course.

[Sir Tigger KC]

I'm not convinced about the long term durability either, but then that's true of a lot of modern cars; we've gone backwards, and will be scrapping 15 year old cars as a matter of course.

Um.. That's routine now! 

[Viral_Jim]

But of course. You can't keep all the economic balls in the air if people don't keep consuming and paying interest on their borrows cars