Sporty family car - what's your preference
 

Hi all

As much as I love my TRD86 I actually don't know much about cars.

Looking at trading our Toyota Highlander and little Nissan Micra for one mid-sized family car. My kids are 9 and 6 so doesn't need to be too big yet.

Car will be my wife's daily drive so 99% of the time it will be used for school drop-off, groceries etc. Once a year we might use it to go away on holiday but we can borrow other family cars for that.

Here in New Zealand we mainly have JDM or European cars. USA cars are rare and expensive with LHD to RHD conversion. So limited to JDM or European.

Cars we have narrowed it down to are:

Lexus IS250 F Sport - new
Lexus IS350 Limited - used 2013 model (as new is too expensive)
Audi S3 - new
Audi A3 - new
VW Golf GTI - new
VW Golf R - new

Slight possibility is the Ford Focus ST but wife doesn't like Ford for some reason so struggling to get her to look at it.

Ruled out the Subaru WRX STI as wife decided she was ten years too old to drive one!

All of the options except the Lexus IS250 are pretty quick with the Audi S3 being the quickest at 0-100kph in 4.8s. Golf R I think is 4.9s. They will smoke me, in my TRD86, on the track - wife is pretty keen on that!

Cheapest is the Ford Focus ST and most expensive are the Lexus IS250 and the Audi S3. I won't go into dollars as that will cloud the issue given cars here in $NZ are far more expensive than in USA. Suffice to say the IS250 and Audi S3 are about 45% more expensive or almost 1 1/2 times the price.

What do you think?

I highly recommend the lexus IS series.

I have a hammer specifically for working on fords, its a five pound head with a handle short enough to swing inside a vehicle. Don't get the ford.

No, tell us what you really think LOL. Love it :lol:

My wife has a Focus ST. Just did the Cobb Stage 1 to it the other day. Pretty quick and people break necks when they hear it cause they don't expect that car to make that noise. It's a REALLY good car. My only complaint is the MyTouch stereo. It's a bit hesitant sometimes.

A WRX Hatchback is a good choice as well. I had a Stage 2+ '12 WRX that I got rid of for my FRS. Only reason I got rid of it was because I specifically wanted another RWD coupe. I still miss that car.

I never owned a GTI/Golf R but I've driven both. For everyday, they're pretty much the same. The Golf R has a little more grunt but that's about all you notice just driving around on the street. It comes down to whether you would rather get a FULLY LOADED GTI, or just a base Golf R for a couple $1,000USD more.

I've driven the IS250 & 350 as well. The 350 would be the only way I would go. The 250 F Sport is nice, but GHAAAD it's so slow. Granted, speed probably isn't a priority at all, but it's seriously slow. Like....Scion XB slow. All in all though, a good car and they'll last for years.

I've never driven an S3 but I have driven a B7 RS4 and the newer S4 and they were both fantastic cars. If the S3 is anything like them, I'd be all over it. Plus, the interiors on the new Audi's are amazing.

GTI. easiest decision ever.

What about a used IS250? I personally love Lexus interiors, and the Toyota engines are less likely to take a crap on you. Is your wife okay with not being able to smoke your 86? :P

Gti
Is350 not 250
Speed 3
Wrx hathch
Ford st

They are all I like. Frs is a good car but for a family is no. I'm single so this car is all I need...but ~270whp is heaven. Lol

Lamborghini Espada.

All too small, come mainly as autos and the last 4 are essentially bum draggers (Haldex is crap AWD unless the car is rear engined).

Get a Liberty/Legacy wagon. First time you want to take a road trip, you'll thank me. End of thread.

Since you're a kiwi, may I recommend the Lexus IS200 with the 6MT? I own a 2004 IS300 5MT here in the states and love it.

List is great but would scrap the R and the IS250 off the list for sure since for cost they dont delivery enough.

I say if its for your wife what does she plan to do with this car? I would vote the IS350 for a DD for sure.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h1...a/JZX110-2.jpg

Get a JZX110 Mark II IR-V, not too old and looks a hell lot of better than the Lexus IS. Furthermore it has a real engine (1JZ) and not that plastic covered 2GR!

http://www.carsguide.com.au/images/u...Audi-RS7-w.jpg

I'll let you know how it is when we get it in a few months.

Thanks. Took that on board and looked at a used one today. Quite a bit cheaper than the used IS350. Got a 2010 that gas only done 17,000km (10,500 miles).

Nowhere near the grunt but not bad as a family car.

I'm a huge fan of the e39 m5.

Thanks, had a closer look at the cost/specs of the Golf R and agree. The GTI has about 165kW and is enough for a family hatch. Don't need the 221kW of the R I have decided.

The S3 is prob not worth the extra money to get the 221kW.

So, I think now we are between Golf GTI, Audi A3, Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350.

Like the Ford, my wife won't drive a BMW. No rational reason but that's what she has decided.

Have you looked at the new 2014 Mazda 3 hatchback? Economical, tons of room, and pretty sexy for a 5door hatch family car.

If I didn't get my FRS, I would've gone for the mazda3.

Suggested it several times as I like them too but in same category as Ford and BMW for her. No reason but that's her decision and she'd the one that will drive it daily.

Personally I'd go for the new Audi S3.

If that's too small for you, go with the mk7 GTI (although I'm a bit biased).

A45 AMG
CLA45 AMG

If you want a hatch I would look at the non-STi WRX, new Golf GTI with the performance pack, and an Audi A3 (don't know about pricing where you are).

For your wife the Golf GTI might make a lot of sense as their interior is just about Audi quality for less money, and the new performance pack with the edifferential really sounds impressive. Sounds pretty fun in sport mode.

Thanks. I've looked at the dimensions and they are almost identical. Same chassis I think.

Thanks. It certainly drives well. Almost S3 performance for 25% less money and more S3 like interior than A3.

Hadn't thought about Merc. The A250 looks nice .

how about the lexus ct200h? my sister is looking at one to replace her 2000 honda prelude she bought new. she also has two kids but they're still quite small... 3, and 2 months.

M3

Somewhat sporty I think (supposedly handles pretty well), slow as balls (hybrid), decently luxurious, decent room (its a hatch, I think on the small side though)


I think its a decent economical A to B in style type of vehicle, with at least some entertaining driving dynamics. Definitely not something for corner carving though.

GTi or Focus ST.

Take her to see the Ford they've improved by leaps and bounds over the last 10 years. My buddy has one and loves it, it's a pretty nice little car.

Think we've decided. Changeover price means the 221kW (296HP) Golf R is only 8% more than the 162kW Golf GTI (with performance pack) and heaps cheaper than the Audi S3.

As it will be a bit more rare in New Zealand (like my TRD86) 99% likely we'll go with that in Oryx White Pearl paint. Black looks good but the black grill and bumper trims disappear on it.

I will go for the car that saves gas and is sporty and 4 doors.

Golf R or S3

or the speculated RS3

Go for the Top of the line model,
If not GTI will probably be the best you can do on a budget for sporty family car

Thanks, hadn't heard about the A45 AMG.

Looks an amazing car if I could have stretched to that price. 265kW (350HP) in a hatch - wow!

Thanks. Think the Golf R is what we're likely to go for. Four month delivery wait though!

Haha, I definitely would if I was expecting a kid.

my next sporty family wagon

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psd225678d.jpg

Audi S3 is impressive, how much are they ? probably 45k ? But that will beat the IS Lexus family.

For now, if you care about sporty feeling and stiff ride: WRX, STI, EVO, GOLF R

Plusher sporty ride, Luxury: IS, CL...future S3

The wife won't have a WRX, e39, or MS3?

Conclusion: get a new wife

Actually sorry, I change my mind.


I should say I would pick a Honda Type R over Golf R/S3.


That being said I would go for a Mk7 GTI simply due to the fact that it has the LSD, is lighter, insurance would be cheaper if you have to pay insurance.


Golf R still needs a bit of work because it lacks LSD and it uses XDS.

E series AMG Wagon.