Family (Track) car

[Mike Scib]

Following on from Andy's "Evo car of the year" thread i am thinking about swapping the BMW and Clio for a Hot Hatch as i can't really justify the Clio sitting on the drive doing nothing most the year as i only do a handful of track days a year.

The car will be used for Lynda's daily commute to town and back everyday so about 20 miles a day, plus needs to be big enough for 2 little ones in the back along with prams etc

Top of the list at the moment is a new shape (FN2) Civic Type-R with a LSD, so either a Champ White or a 10 plate. The Civic seems to tick a lot of boxes for me with the boot being 10 litres bigger than my BMW Touring , relatively light weight compared to others tipping the scales at just over 1250kg plus comes with lots of toys, Sat-Nav, cruise, etc. I appreciate it has it's down sides, main one being the handling being worse than the out going model however i reckon with a little Geo set up and maybe a stiffer rear ARB the handling will be transformed....maybe!

Others i have thought of and dismissed are the BMW 130i, RWD but to small. Focus ST, quite a toy once chipped but its going to eat fuel IMO even in standard form

Thoughts?

Ps, no Evo's or Scooby's

[Dark]

We had a 2.0 Type-S for a few years.

It was the 5-door body, similar engine to the Type-R, just different VTEC heads which gave 170bhp and a bit more low end torque. Quite thirsty, averaged max 30mpg in & out of Edinburgh from West Lothian.

One of your considerations should be the number of doors. The lack of rear doors can be a real pain if it's your main car especially with small kids who need help with seat belts, etc. I guess you've got experience from the Clio to make that judgement!

Mark

[Mike Scib]

One of your considerations should be the number of doors. The lack of rear doors can be a real pain if it's your main car especially with small kids who need help with seat belts, etc. I guess you've got experience from the Clio to make that judgement!

My friend had a Type-R and we did try putting Megan in and out the back thinking the same as yourself. We found it to be fine, maybe because when the front seat tilts it also slides forward so plently of room to stand in front. Might not be quite so easy with a new born clicking the carry cot in and out the Isofix base

[Fluoxetine]

RS Cup?

See they can be had secondhand from £13k now, and according to the internet / Evo the handling is apparently far superior to the CTR...?

(You won't keep it long enough to be concerned with the depreciation... )

[Mike Scib]

I do like them Ross, my bro-in-law had a 265 as a company car which i drove e few times...sound good to!

Howerver...

The boot is far to small for my needs coming in at only 350 litres against the Civic's 490 litres

Ps, i have had the BMW for a year and a half!

[Fluoxetine]

Hmm - I'd suggest an FD2 CTR Saloon, but the boot is only 350 litres, and they seem to go for crazy money (£18k for a 4 year old Civic?!)

£18k would buy the previous shape Focus RS Chav Wagon - But the boot's still sub-400 litres...And the Megane would be just as quick, and £5k cheaper...

VXR8's seem cheap, starting around £13k - Like the dinosaur juice, though...?

[Dominic]

Predictable,.... but,... MK5 Golf GTi? ...will need better brake pads for track though, and maybe not the most economical to run.

[campbell]

Civic ideas are on good lines.

SEAT Leon to consider too.

[The Hoff]

Others i have thought of and dismissed are the BMW 130i, RWD but to small. Focus ST, quite a toy once chipped but its going to eat fuel IMO even in standard form

Thoughts?

Ps, no Evo's or Scooby's [/quote]

Promised in an earlier email to let interested parties know what the new focus st estate was like.. One more week to go before collection..
Fuel economy from other owners is in the region of 31 to 34 mpg.. It's quick enough as it is IMO.

[campbell]

Nice looking estate, Cowan. Fuel usage would trouble me a little, but will probably be offset by grin factor

[Ferg]

Focus ST, quite a toy once chipped but its going to eat fuel IMO even in standard form

A friend chopped in his RS for the new ST recently and it's a very nice motor. Some great touches and significantly better on fuel. Still thristy when you boot it, but then nothing your looking for is likely to acheive economy when driven agressively. It's got the revo knuckle etc but is much more understated visually.

[Doc883]

Focus ST, quite a toy once chipped but its going to eat fuel IMO even in standard form

A friend chopped in his RS for the new ST recently and it's a very nice motor. Some great touches and significantly better on fuel. Still thristy when you boot it, but then nothing your looking for is likely to acheive economy when driven agressively. It's got the revo knuckle etc but is much more understated visually.

Even comes in Estate form

[Mike Scib]

Hmm - I'd suggest an FD2 CTR Saloon, but the boot is only 350 litres, and they seem to go for crazy money (£18k for a 4 year old Civic?!)

You can pick FD2's up for 13k Ross. My mate Simon on here has a white with a few trick bits

Predictable,.... but,... MK5 Golf GTi? ...will need better brake pads for track though, and maybe not the most economical to run.

The Golf is a good shout, i do like them. Probably a nicer place to be day to day than the Civic, just not sure it would be as good on track as the Civic?

I was specing a Focus ST estate the other night, i do like them but not for 13k ish over the Civic!

[philthy]

I know you said no evos but the IX I had was a great car, really comfy and well specced with sat nav xenons etc. a good fq340 would be a ideal car if you can put up with the image

[GregR]

I know you said no evos but the IX I had was a great car, really comfy and well specced with sat nav xenons etc. a good fq340 would be a ideal car if you can put up with the image

I predict a cleaning up of the image as the average Chavez can't afford to run them thesedays. Lots and lots of car for the cash, and there's an estate!