It's gonna have to go, so what do I get next?

[MrGringo]

It seems like the time has come to sell up as my wife's expecting our first baby and which ever way I look at it, you can't squeeze 3 people into the zed, even if one is tiny.
As the market value of our 2.0i Z4 has dropped to about 11k I'm wondering what to replace it with, without spending a lot more.

I'm after something that's still fun to drive but more practical with back doors, perhaps a Golf GTI or a 1 Series? My wife doesn't want anything too "blokey" so subtle is good.

Any suggestions and advice?

MrG

[ZermattV]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2099225.htm

i had a doppleganger for this car when i lived abroad great car.... understated colour in comparison to the red/black/white brigade... and IMHO the only blue which looks right with the red stripe on the nose. other understated option is the tungsten grey.

I only wish they dis them in BRG.. for the full eighties hot hatch throwback.


mpg was good and gearbox stunning .. loved the seemless power from 2000 rpm and the best bit.... the brakes

so something like this would get my vote... just watch the alloys easily kerbed

[a11y]

Lots of 1-series 5-dr 120d M-Sports on PH for under £11k,
e.g. http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2169999.htm

Or slightly newer (and with the Efficient Dynamics engine technology) 118d SE:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2180925.htm

Or, a fecking great engine in the same car, several of these under £11k on PH - 130i M-Sport, 265ps: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2188005.htm
or
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2093662.htm (ideal - it already has ISOFIX points for baby seats )


I'd also be tempted by a mk5 GTI but if it was me I'd more than likely stay within RWD BMW territory.

[ksher]

After checking both 1 series and VW Golf on a website about reliability, 1 series is much less reliable than VW Golf (and costs more to fix). Also, Golf has more space (back and boot). I will prefer a Golf GTI DSG.

http://www.reliabilityindex.com/

[Al Mac]

Our 54-plate 118d has been the most reliable car I've ever owned. Love it except for the seats (not enough lumbar support for my liking).

[ZermattV]

would agree with Ksher on the space issue the MkV Golf is a pretty big car in the back more roomy in fact than the A4 saloon I had before hand.

on 17" the GTI is a pretty comfortable cruiser drove one from South West France to Faro Portugal in a day .... 1000 km...

[encee]

Golf R32, maybe ?

I`ve owned both the Mk V GTI, and the R32, and whilst both were good cars, the R32 stirs the soul a bit more............the soundtrack is awesome !!