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sporty 5 door for sporty family - Smallzoo
Why is it that manufacturers seems to neglect families who have a couple of children and yet still want to enjoy the speed and looks of a sports car. I have three children and it seems nigh on impossible to find a new/used or classic car which looks really sporty,goes fast, has 5 doors and is NOT and estate( My wife wont drive an estate..must be her caribbean background )

So far we have tried :-

Seat Leon Cupra:
Likes: fast,roomy,reasonable price,looks great in yellow,airbag deactivation
Dislikes: Would have to be clean to look good,depreciation

Audi A3 1.8T:
Likes: fast,beautifully made,airbag deactivation
Dislikes: a bit small,VERY expensive(even 2nd hand)

VW Golf 1.8T and 130BHP TDi:
Likes: fast,efficient(Tdi),roomy,reliable
Dislikes: A but plain(unless someone can suggest a really good body kit),a lot of them around,have too add extra airbag deactivation kit

We have also tried the basic 206 but found it a bit plasticky

We have also thought about the mazda 323 1.8 or 2.0 sports and toyota corolla T3 but have not tried them

We have also not tried any classic cars yet because of fears on reliability

H..E..L..P






sporty 5 door for sporty family - Dorian
How about:

2.5 Mitsubishi Galant saloon?
Subaru Impreza

There are quite a few fast Jap cars around - maybe worth a look.
sporty 5 door for sporty family - james S
Honda Accord type R.

Big enough for 3 kids, fast and look OK. Should be reliable also

Jamees S
sporty 5 door for sporty family - M.M
SZ,

I think the fact you'e managed to mention six cars (even if there wasn't an obvious option) easily shows there is a fair choice in this market.

Go back a few years to the 70s and such a car didn't exist at all. Anything small/family minded was appalingly built and slow. Fast cars were big things for Bank Managers and Judges, sports cars were often cramped for two, slow and saddled with iffy handling.

The thought of a well screwed together 5 seater hatch with limpet-like handling that would do 135mph and 35mpg would have seemed a dream then....particulary with a CD stereo giving better quality music than most home hi-fi's!

Ok chaps..... Obververs Book of Cars (1970 edition) out to prove me wrong!




David W
sporty 5 door for sporty family - Union Jack
"My wife won't drive an estate.. must be her Caribbean background"

OK, Smallzoo, I'll play .... I've seen (and been in) lots of estate cars in the Windies, so grateful to know the significance of this interesting remark, please?

On the wider question you ask, surely there must be some BMW or SAAB model worth considering?

Jack
sporty 5 door for sporty family - Steve S
Body kit on a golf? Oh dear.
sporty 5 door for sporty family - The Watcher
Assuming you want to buy new, I'd suggest the Leon Cupra or the BMW 3 Series Compact.

There, you have a straight choice between initial high cost of the BM compared to the lower cost of the Seat. As regards depreciation, the AA site per vehicle shows the Cupra depreciation over 3 years isnt as heavy as you may have thought.

You could try the Vauxhall Astra Sports model as a outsider.
sporty 5 door for sporty family - Crombster
Whats the 1.8T Golf like - Anyone driven one? My girlfriend has a '99 1.6S and as nice as it is, I wouldn't fancy one with a turbo under the bonnet. It doesnt seem to handle particularly well at speed. Any opposing thoughts on the subject?
sporty 5 door for sporty family - Cardew
Crombster,
I have one. Really nice smooth engine, and the low pressure turbo gives lots of torque at low revs.

It is a bit heavier than some of it's rivals but on normal roads the handling qualities are fine. Certainly sufficient for my driving skill and courage.

C