Hi all

I'm after some input on car choices. My current situation is E39 M5 (road niceness) and Clio 172 (road hack, track-suitable). We're expecting our first kid in March, and I'm wondering if a car change may be a good plan.

Both of the current cars will work with a new baby, but I'm feeling that the M5 is a little bit of a waste (especially in the congested South East) - sure, it's massively practical, and pretty awesome overall, with great toys, but I'm thinking I need something interesting but with more of a workhorse bent, especially as the wife and I have most of our family in the North West, so long journeys (at a very high fuel cost in the M5) could be more of a feature.

Anyway, I'll be selling my motorbike in any event (doesn't get enough use, even without a kid) so that keeps overall costs down and gives me a bit of cash. Currently I'm erring towards replacing the M5 with something like an Octavia VRS, then buying some kind of RWD 2+2 (another E36 M3 Evo maybe) that will be a nice toy and track-suitable, but capable of taking all three of us on weekend jaunts, at least when the baby's a bit older.

So two cars, budget £10k in total, one has to be a family car, 4/5 door, good size, but decent to drive and not totally dull, and the other one has to be suitable for track/Nurburgring action while accomodating three people - ideally I'd like something a bit "special" and RWD rather than a hot hatch, but happy to think about anything really.

No diesels for the purpose of this discussion - for the practical car, I'd be happy with a something that runs on normal unleaded (i.e. not super) and returns c.30mpg. I won't be tuning/remapping the practical car either, I like things pretty stock.

Any suggestions welcome!

Cheers

Neal

If you were considering one car I would say a Megane R26, practical, fast, fun, stock is still great, easily into 30mpg+. I have said it before, but by far the most focused car I have ever owned. For £10k, you could get nearly the best there is out there!

Edited - corrected myself

Congrats on your upcoming event - oh, and the baby

Thanks Proccy

Jimo, isn't the R26 3 door only - want a 4/5dr for certain, don't want to be messing around getting a baby in and out of a coupe/hot hatch really.

New thought is to combine something like an Octavia/Alfa 156 Sportwagon with a pre-facelift E46 M3. Hmmm....

just about to sell our 03 reg GSI Zafira. had it 7 years, A great family car that is as quick as a GTI

BMW M5 --> Skoda Octavia = New Dad Madness

You don't have to punish yourself just because you've become a dad.

Yes but you could get a 225 in 5 door form

Er, Skinners, have you driven the new Octavia vRS? Trust me, it may not be a M5 (yet) but every iteration of it moves it closer, and believe me it isn't a punishment

If they ever shift the drive to the rear wheels, well......!

Perhaps, but it's long journeys and savage fuel consumption/not being able to use it properly now, let alone once I have a kid. Problem with having your toy as your sensible car as well really - it's not like I'm going to buy a sensible car and have the M5 too, that'd be really silly.

@Jimo - thanks for that, and I'm sure they're v.good, but I think I'd rather have two cars, so she can take the baby out, and I can do a trackday

Stan, sorry, no offence meant here. I haven't driven a VRS, just one of the soggy VW efforts that the Octavia's based on so I'm probably making unfair assumptions.

My point is more about New Dad Madness where some hormonal change happens, and a new dad feels an unstoppable urge to go out and swap something gorgeous for something dull.

I take your point, but my point is that although I'd be swapping an M5 for something dull, I'd also be swapping a Clio 172 for something special (E46 M3, also thinking Porsche 968).

The issue with the M5 is that it can't be the day-to-day baby runaround because it's very very heavy on fuel, but I'm not owning two 4/5 door cars just to keep an M5 as a toy. Also, I'm not planning on giving up trackdays, and an M5 isn't the choice of champions for those - hilariously expensive on consumables.

Off the top of my head Alfa 159 2.2 & 200SX S14a? Of course the S14a would be an "older" car.

Cheers Gunzi, interesting, I do like the 159, although I've never been a massive 200sx fan (very hard to find an unruined one) - I'll have a look

Any thoughts?

www.pistonheads.com/sales/3514093.htm

If you didn't need to seat 3 I'd go with a 159 and a S2000, with change left over.

Or if you changed your mind the torquey 2.4 JTDM Ti Spec

Good shout, 159s are nice. Will need the 3 seats in the other car though.

Dare I say the Octavia, and (where did this come from) A FIAT COUPE???? The VRS is a fine car (even the estate), and the Coupe can be a track car, yet is practical enough to combine style, performance and load-carrying. When it is my turn to drive to away games at cricket and hockey the lads are queueing up for a lift

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-BMW-530D-...e#ht_662wt_1270

530d

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/renault-megane...d#ht_880wt_1270
megane 225?


edited forgot no diesals...

Sorry, no coupes Loved my 20vt as an all rounder/only car, but dynamically it just isn't what I'm after in a road/track "toy".

My friend just bought a a R33 Skyline GTS-T, 2.5 turbo, stage 1 310 bhp rear wheel drive fun for 3 k.
Excellent handling, sounds lovely and pretty fast.

The JTS engines are rubbish, from the ones I've test and reading on the web they seem to have their fair share of problems I found it to be gutless and uninspiring, the 2.4JTD in the 159 is awesome, a proper torque brute in 3rd gear upwards also interior wasn't too shabby.

Wait a sec havent we had this conversation!! "Envy of the school run" I believe your comment was on this car!! Haha

Alfa

Good shout with the porsche, I haven't been in one of those before my neighbor had a S2 is it - 944? I think they are the era before but it was forever in the garage having rust patches sorted.

Or wallop your budget on the M3

M3
156?



Hows thing's with you guys anyway?

Tim

Ah yes no Diesels, that bold font wasn't clear enough!

I think it's secretly because you'll get confused at the pump station

Dare I say:

Seat
Or one with a bit more punch

Seat v2

Thanks Tim, all good suggestions - I think I may need to change my tune about diesels, or at least test a 2.4 JTD, everyone seems to rave about them. E46 M3 is definitely on the list, although I must admit I looked at my cars when I arrived home this evening and thought "that's not a bad combination". Hmmm.

@Technics - I'll think about skylines, but my initial view is they aren't pretty enough for a "toy".

Im not sure how much you want to spend on each car.

But this for the money doesnt look too bad, I know you said you would rather not have anything modded but this isnt a bad toy, with good presence and not too Barryboy, also I think would be ALOT of fun!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3534118.htm

And something a bit more subtle with good quality mods.

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3533527.htm

OR

Older style Audi S4 2.7 V6 twin turbo!

Hmmm, I'll get some research done on Skylines. I'm not considering performance saloons, otherwise I'd just keep the M5 - performance is to be (largely) limited to the "toy".

Perhaps some kind of Saab as the family wagon?

Thats a very good point about performance saloons.

Wafty BMW 530D touring for the slog and a nifty two seater sports car for the fun. 4 seats are 2 seats too many in a sports car.

I agree in principle, but for sunday lunch cruise out into Kent, baby in tow, I'd rather not have to take the daily hack. Wife loves M3s too, so be good to give her the option of driving something a bit special with a baby in it too. Current thinking:

Saab 9-5 Estate (possibly HOT Aero) - c.£3-4k tops
E46 M3 (pre-facelift (probably) - c.£8-10k

Job done. Anyone want to buy a really nice M5?

M5 is now for sale:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3561838.htm

ooooh mmmmmm.............

Did you park your car outside those posh houses just for those pictures

Neal, you could have our 2002 manual E39 530d sport in the same colour! You'd hardly notice the difference* but get 40 mpg...


*when not trying to exceed warp factor 5.

Yes, I certainly do.

Jim, happy to take your car - £5k cash my way?

Oh, well, I wasn't looking to swap thanks! I'm trying to find something that'll do 60mpg, cost £35 per year in RFL and cost less than £500 to insure. I'm just guessing that a (very gorgeous!) M5 won't quite manage that!

I'm pretty sure it won't (if only!). Worth a try

I guess that an M5 won't but if only you knew someone selling a Mondeo diesel with maybe the nice 2.2 engine with the 155bhp, that would do some of that, well apart from the RFL and 60mpg!!

So do you want mine then, lets shake on it

That's brilliant Jim, when can you pick up the 530d and the M5? That is what you meant, isn't it...?

Nice work Jim C - 2 birds with one stone. JimO, look forward to meeting you (and your money).

PS - Just had a look at your 530d, looks very nice.

Cough. Clio and change from £2k. Cough. £20 a year RFL Will pay for itself!

Nice try Dan, but you get to cut the legs off my step-kids.


Sorry, Neal, I appear to have caused a hijack of your thread!

Ok, I'll bring the Clio and my junior hacksaw, you bring £1800 of your finest pounds sterling.

Plus I'll throw in the junior hacksaw when I've finished.

Done deal.

No problem at all! Wasn't getting much help or good ideas from these coupe-loving jokers anyway.

#reversepsychology

Have you read any of the Roy Grace books, Dan...?

That's ok then!

#notsurehashtagsworkwiththislot

Don't think I've had the pleasure. Did he write "How to close a sale"

#hashtagmyarse

Ray Grace + The Hove = A great read (or 6).

#greatreadpeterjames