What is the best compromise car for a petrolhead MTBer?

Regardless of the petrol cost the other downside of ‘not very economical’ is if it doesn’t have a big tank you feel like you’re stopping at the petrol station every 10 minutes.

No no no. Everyone else is wrong. The Volvo V40 is what I you want.

And besides, it must be good for mountain biking, because there are fir trees in the background.

VW T5 180BHP, or Merc Vito 3.0CDI. Had both, but now drive a “nice” Volvo V70. Hmmm.

Nissan Figaro – want to buy the wife’s?

I’ve got an old (C5-shape 2003-plate) Audi RS6 Estate (4.2 twin-turbo V8, not the newer V10 or current V8).

I would say it was perfect for MTB-ing, but I don’t want to get the inside dirty so the bike always goes on the roof. Could therefore get something smaller which was a little more nimble in the bends… but it is the perfect family car for us.

I’ve averaged 19mpg in the 6 years I’ve owned it (occasionally see 25mpg on the motorway if you’re lucky).

You can fit a tow-bar easily (as far as tow-bars are concerned it’s about the same underneath as a standard A6) it’s just not officially allowed a tow-bar. I recall discussions on the RS forum that this is due to the weight of towing a trailer, added with the power and torque of the V8 will just destroy the fragile gearbox if driven hard… box oil cooling isn’t sufficient).

Other owners have fitted one with removable tow-hitch for bike-rack duties though, but you’d have to discuss the legalities of this with your insurance company.

Buy something like this with eyes wide open (re: cost of consumables like tyres, brake discs and pads, servicing-espicially cam-belt changes and weak spots (turbo failure, gearbox failure… all possible and gearboxes are around the £4k – £5k region to get fixed by a decent independent) and then enjoy it).

I tend to like things like this as they don’t look too dissimilar to a standard Estate car (unless you spot the twin oval exhausts and slightly wider-flared arches).

Kryton57 – Member
Real petrol head? Has to be the 3.2 159SW

Would look better if the photographer didn’t have a wonky tripod.

If the forums are to be believed a bike will fit in the back of a tt coupe. That is probably my next car. That or I’ll get a roller skate like an abarth 500

My old e92 m3 was pretty much perfect as a petrolhead/ bike car. It could take roof bars,so bikes could go on the roof, or the seats could fold down and bikes could go in the boot.

Took it down to the alps for a week of biking, perfect.

tomd – Member

I saw a Brabus Vito on a campsite in Austria last year, it was an expensive thing of beauty.

Guy Martin’s volvo estate?

How about a proper mini, take the back seats out and post the bike through the back

DT78 I used to get my bike in a mk1 TT.

Does the new-shape 3-series coupe have a hatchback or is it a saloon-type boot?

I’ve had two full size bikes in a TT, with climbing and kit for two – just dont expect to get it back out in a hurry….

What about a Mondeo Titanium X Sport with either the 200bhp 2.2l diesel or the 270bhp turbo petrol?

Or if you prefer it a little more matured:

And there will only ever be one van worthy of this thread:

Is that the Transit with the XJ220 running gear?

A quick Google chucks this up at under £25k – 200bhp diesel, 15k miles….

Is that the Transit with the XJ220 running gear?

Looks like it, wheels are the only visual clue that i can see….would love to spend a day driving round in that surprising other drivers.

And there will only ever be one van worthy of this thread

Although probably the best also worth a mention would be the original Ford Supervan 1* – mid engined V8 using Ford GT40 bits iirc.

Another would be the Royal Nail, Escort van running stupid Cossie power and 4wd.

Plenty of Transit Connects running Focus ST/RS lumps too, come to mention it I quite fancy a VW Caddy with a TFSI conversion…

* and 2, and 3

Bike in a mk1 tt is fine: both wheels off.

No mudguards though.

And there will only ever be one van worthy of this thread:

Is that the Transit with the XJ220 running gear?

Although probably the best also worth a mention would be the original Ford Supervan 1* – mid engined V8 using Ford GT40 bits iirc.

Nope, there can be only one

Renault “Espace” with a Williams F1 engine in it giving nearly 800bhp.

We have an M135i and a Skoda Yeti, seems to cover most eventualities of road, off road, load lugging and spirited fun drive

If you needed more space than the M135i I wouldn’t hesitate to get a 335i touring, if budget allows i expect it would be phenomenal!

continuity – Member
What about a Mondeo Titanium X Sport with either the 200bhp 2.2l diesel or the 270bhp turbo petrol?

I am not aware of a 270bhp Mondeo. I know the new one has a 240bhp version of the petrol turbo in the current Focus ST.

djglover
I am seriously thinking about the M135i as my next car. Not quite as practical as my Focus Estate but its just about big enough for the family. I could do with the wife getting a bigger car so we can use that for holidays etc but I will cope if I need to get a roof box.
What is it like in the real world, mpg, running costs etc? Interestingly when I was getting my Focus the insurance on the M135 was cheaper.

Another van option..

Ford F150 Lightning pickup or the dodge pickup with the corvette engine…the srt 10 . Sub 5 second 0 – 60.

Espace is a bingo bus, doesn’t count as a van if it has windows. 😛

Supervans are ace as well but I prefer the sleeper, Royal Nail is a good shout for that.

I’ve had an RS6 for 9 years. Great mtb car and nothing to replace it with except another RS6.

The tow bars do fit, I have one. The insurance comment is that the hi power cars don’t have gearboxes designed for dragging trailers. Fine with a bike rack

You’re all wrong, this is where it’s at with vans 😉

tymbian – Member

Ford F150 Lightning pickup or the dodge pickup with the corvette engine…the srt 10 . Sub 5 second 0 – 60.

Viper engine actually. Too much goofy styling on the SRT10. I think I’d rather have a 6.7 Cummins diesel.

djglover
I am seriously thinking about the M135i as my next car. Not quite as practical as my Focus Estate but its just about big enough for the family. I could do with the wife getting a bigger car so we can use that for holidays etc but I will cope if I need to get a roof box.
What is it like in the real world, mpg, running costs etc? Interestingly when I was getting my Focus the insurance on the M135 was cheaper.

Insurance is very reasonable compared to other powerful cars, I paid 600 and that was after I lost my NCB in an accident. Overall avg mpg is 32, drove London Leeds yesterday and averaged 43!

Downside is it is very small for class and not big enough for the whole family to go camping for example, so only works as a second car

Stop ****ing about you lot.

Overall avg mpg is 32, drove London Leeds yesterday and averaged 43!

Bloody hell thats pretty good. I only get 28 for general driving and got it upto 39 on a 300 mile motorway trip. Your engine has 2 more cylinders, an extra litre capacity and 70 more bhp. I’m impressed.

I had the kids sit in the back of one at the showroom and they just about fit in, but they are only 7 & 5 so the problem was that their legs arn’t long enough to sit in the seats properly. The boot is bigger than the current Focus hatch according to the mags but its probably not as good a shape.

Hi all, what’s the answer then? All I see is fantasy cars and silliness 🙂

I don’t think it is all fantasy cars. There have been some sensible suggestions like Skoda Octavias although I’m not 100% sure that fits the petrolhead part but I havn’t driven one. A reasonably sensible Volvo and Jag have been suggested too. And even an Alfa with a big engine that is probably worth about 20p on the second hand market.

I have a Focus ST Estate, a perfectly sensible family car that happens to have a reasonable amount of power and handles pretty well.

What’s your idea of the perfect compromise?

I had a b7 RS4 for 4 years, it was pure stealth, fitted a lot of stuff although wasn’t fantastically massive inside. Had a towbar so could rack the bikes and put two playboats on the roof. Even loaded with 4 people and gear it would still pull like a train in 6th uphill! It was amazing. BP used to send me Xmas cards. I sold it and a little bit of me died. I now drive a van…

A petrolhead would want something that is fun, handles well and has a decent turn of speed. – CHECK

A MTBer would want something that is easy to get their bike in or on and can carry a fair amount of luggage for day trip or even a week away in the alps. – CHECK

Those diesel Cummings trucks pump out a hell of a lot of soot, looks horrendous to be near that breathing the air, like the guys manning the start line!

Just clearing the DPF.

Porsche Cayenne Diesel S.

Massively fast, plenty of room, brilliant handling, not bad on fuel (30mpg) and 4wd with enough grip/clearance to give you the best uplift ever.

Just the question of cost 🙁