Forgive the impertinence, but does "changing jobs" mean "quitting teaching"?

On the other hand, your list of equipment to carry might indicate continued ped***gy. I always loved the very rare occasions at school when a van der Graaf generator was demonstrated, or even a Wimshurst machine.

Science was never my bag, but the experiments and demonstrations in physics and chemistry were great.

P.S. Something's upset the filter. Can't think what; perhaps I'm naive.

Edited by FP on 26/05/2014 at 13:53

So, Bobbin, it needs to be capacious and fun. You'll have already thought about another Mazda 6, and you've followed the forum for long enough not to go for the 6 diesel. If you move and/or decide you don't need a diesel, then as well as the Mazda 6 you could consider the Octavia, Volvo V50 (good suggestion that by GB - I'd forgotten about it) or possibly Honda Civic, which people either love or loathe and is less roomy than the others.

I think you'll need one of these with a 1.8 or 2.0 engine: the 1.6s are competent without being exciting. The 1.4 TSI in the Octavia may be a bit recent depending on your budget but is quite lively. An Octavia vRS could suit you, although you'll need two sets of tyres as the standard fit tyres are no good in snow and ice.

If you go for a VAG diesel, you need the 1.9 or the faster 2.0 common-rail: avoid the 2.0 PD. The Octavia vRS diesel is good but not all that much quicker than the Elegance 2.0 TDI, and the Elegance (talking estates here) has a variable boot floor as standard, although some people (like me) specify it on the vRS. This makes quite a difference when lifting heavy things into the boot. I've never heard of a van Graaff - but it just sounds heavy....

The Ford 2.0 TDCI has a good reputation - faster and very little less economical than the 1.6. So assuming we're thinking of medium-sized estates here, and that the Mondeo and Passat are a bit too big, my short-list for you would be:

Skoda Octavia

Mazda 6

Volvo V50

Ford Focus

Have fun looking! Are you moving with the teaching profession?

FP - the filter is as you know a little over-sensitive, and I think its objection was to the word d-a-g-o which is in the middle of your elegant word for teaching.

Edit - I'd also forgotten the Avensis. If you follow Auristocrat's advice the Toyota 2.0 diesel is a good engine, and I've enjoyed test driving both an Auris and a Verso so equipped. A lot better to drive than the road testers would have you believe. The Verso has a low loading lip - maybe that's one to consider too.

Edited by Avant on 26/05/2014 at 14:59

How about a Honda CRZ? They are good to drive, if less quick than the shape suggests. Plenty of space for stuff when you fold down the useless back seats. Being a hybrid you should see 45 mpg or more, yet its still a fun, petrol powered manual. The earliest ones are 2010, so you will have to add some cash to the Mx5. The hybrid system is tried and tested being basically the same one they used from 1999 in the first Insight, and the rest is standard Honda, so little to worry about.

Have you considered an Alfa Giulietta?

Good diesels with plenty of poke and economy, several to choose from too. Good looking and tidy handling too, at least in my humble opinion. Should be capacious enough for your bits and bobs. Good deals too, and can be had at a reasonable prices too.

I know there not everyone's cup of tea mind, I grant you that!

Dabooka

Sorry Bobbin - by the sound of that van Graaff I thought you needed an estate. If you don't need anything as big as an Octavia vRS, you could look at a similarly-engined Golf GTI (you need the Mark 5 and onwards: the Mark 4 wasn't very fast). Or a hot Ford Focus ST (although the previous version had a 5-cylinder 2.5 engine which is fast but thirsty).

You may find a Golf 2.0 TDI or a Focus 2.0 TDCI fast enough - both go very well and have lots of torque as well as acceleration. The VW Group 1.4 TSI petrol is lively and economical - avoid the dual-charge 160 bhp version wich has been troublesome.

BMW 3-series? Might be tempting but quite expensive, and a full service history is even more essential than usual.

Edited by Avant on 29/05/2014 at 00:30

Well done Bobbin. I'd no idea that the CR-Z had the boot space that you need. Looking forward to hearing how you get on with it.

It sounds a lot more fun than the various other suggestions that we came up with - and therefore suits you I suspect!

The trouble with threads like this is that you'll just end up with a list of all cars available on the market! And everyone will simply recommend whatever they happen to drive!

I have a Saab 9-3 Aero. I've written about it before:

www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=99578

As you say you like a lively drive and enjoy driving, I'd seriously suggest you give one a try. Could also be your last opportunity to have one.

They are hardly sluggards to start with, but the Maptun tune really gives it some pep! 40-80 ttg in just 5.9s and pushing 220 atw on Shell V Power!!

Since I wrote that piece, I've suffered broken road springs, so have fitted a set of Maptun lowering springs. They are stiffer, but not too stiff. Improved handling, yet still comfortable. Slightly crashy on really rough stuff, but you'd expect some of that with any sport saloon.

Also since that piece I've replaced the stock Sport Contacts with Goodyear Eagle F1 Ass2. Much better comfort, loads quieter and superior wet grip (especially under power - the traction control cuts in a lot less in the wet now).

I now also do a 45 mile each way commute round the M6/M42. Driven with a light foot at about 66-68 I get an average of 40 -42mpg on standard branded unleaded (some days a little more). I sometimes have to go to Oxford from Redditch on the M40 - using cruise at 63mph it is pushing 46-48mpg.

Of course, if you hoof it about the economy suffers. I typically get about 32 driving round the lanes normally (we live in rural SW Leicestershire). Hoofing it can drop that further.

Very nice to drive, comfortable and quiet. Affordable. Extremely safe. What's not to like.

As an asside, I'm considering converting mine to lpg. There's a company near work that has done one recently. With the reduced fuel price and taking into account the 20% economy reduction on gas, it should return a "petrol equivalent" of about 75mpg on the commute. I reckon it's makes more economic sense than choping out for a diesel (and anyway I hate diesel and love the car I've got). And the company can fit a manual fuel selection switch for those occasions when every last mousepower is needed! Which is also good as I'm planning for a bit more power (looking to get to about 300).

You haven't actually said if economy is important - if I were buying now I'd go for a V6 with XWD (4WD). Quite rare. Couldn't afford one of those when I was buying mine.

Go on, give one a try. I defy you not to smile!