A familiar familiar doesn't have to be boring to drive, nor does a speedy familiar have to be small. Here at Driving, we've scratched our heads and gone back in time to bring car buyers five of the best fast yet affordable properties under £10,000.
Find and buy your next car at drive.co.uk
volvo 850 t5
- Best for:Burning rubber on a budget
- Budget:£ 1.000
- Best buy:850 T5 familiar
Like a pensioner with false teeth, Volvo's family lineup of 850 sedans and estates has regained momentum with the turbocharged T5. Here was a company that had spent the last six decades selling insurance and now wanted to kick back and live a little.
The 2.3-liter five-cylinder engine sounded fantastic, with a high-pitched sound that could pass for the sound of an Audi quattro rally car tearing up a country circuit, and it delivered 225 horsepower to the front wheels.
Middle-class moms and dads complained that the front tires lasted about as long as a stick of butter next to an Aga.
This presented one or two minor problems: you could hear middle-class moms and dads complaining that the front tires held like a stick of butter next to an Aga, and if you messed up the throttle in corners, the front end of the car could be as excited as a sprinter chasing a trail. It was old-fashioned Sweden, and somehow the riders loved it even more.
The Volvo 850 T-5R and 850 R models appeared in 1995, but they are very expensive. The regular T5 is cheap as chips (£1,000 is realistic) and the estate version is as practical and understated as ever.
Cars that have had few owners and have a thorough maintenance history are your safest bet, as there are many that cango badsame with a Volvo in 20 years.
Skoda Octavia vRS
- Best for:high speed chases
- Budget:6.000€
- Best buy:Octavia 2.0T FSI vRS familiar
The traffic police have a lot of time for the Skoda Octavia vRS station wagon. They need a fast car that can keep up with the bad guys and not spit them out on a slippery road, have enough equipment to fill a small police station and not drain the department's budget. The vRS (Victor Rally Sport) version of the Octavia offers all that and more.
There were three versions of the speedy Octavia. The first model, sold between 2001 and 2005, has been around for some time. The current third generation version is also quite new in terms of price. while the second-generation model, sold from 2005 to 2013, can be had for around £6,000 (for a 2006 car with 50,000 miles) from an authorized Skoda dealer with a one-year warranty.
Stay away from the Flappy-Padle Gearbox (DSG) as it can be expensive to repair and is known to malfunction
Beneath the van's roomy body (carrying 605 liters of luggage or 1,655 liters with the seats folded down) lies essentially a Golf GTI. Thus, drivers are treated to a powerful 2-liter turbo engine with 200 horsepower, which means that this car can stay in the fast lane. There are also diesel models, but they are not as fast or as fun to drive as the gasoline ones. A good buying tip is to stay away from the Flappy-Padle Gearbox (DSG) as it can be expensive to repair and often fails.
Find used Skodas for sale at drive.es
Subaru Impreza WRX sports car
- Best for:winter sports
- Budget:5.000€
- Best buy:Impreza WRX 2.5 sports van
Subaru called it a Sport Truck rather than a Family, and it's an important distinction: the Impreza WRX Sport Truck is for mums or dads who really don't want the family to be cooped up all the time. It's a little cramped inside for a growing family of four, the 356-litre trunk is barely bigger than a jewelry box, and the mechanical drone will give passengers headaches even on a short trip to the supermarket.
This car stands out when the hammer drops on a winding desert road
But this car comes into its own when the hammer drops on a winding, deserted road. Its horizontally opposed 2.5-litre turbo-four (introduced in 2005) has more torque and top speed than the old 2-litre cars, and the engine and exhaust note could almost put Colin McRae back together.
Chassis balance is a revelation even compared to that of the Skoda Octavia vRS. the Subaru feels like an athlete showing a hobbyist how things should be done. That's because it has a low center of gravity and permanent four-wheel drive. Even on wet and bumpy roads, its suspension keeps the tires in contact with the asphalt and the steering provides precise feedback to the driver.
The 2.5-litre model, sold from 2005 to 2008, is worth checking out. You'll pay around £5,000 for a 2006 or 2007 car with around 70,000 miles on it. As long as the car has a full service history it should be good for the same distance again. The rest of the family may not be grateful for your choice, but the Impreza WRX sports truck is a delight to drive.
BMW 330d Turismo
- Best for:Avoid gas stations
- Budget:£ 10.000
- Best buy:Sport Tourer 330d M
Fast is good, but the problem with traveling fast is that fuel bills add up at the end of a family cookout. Not so with the 330d Touring. It's a compact and agile car, and under the slender bodywork is a six-cylinder diesel engine that has the power of a heavyweight champion, but can top out at 45 mpg.
The six-cylinder diesel engine delivers the knockout blow of a heavyweight champion, yet can return up to 45 mpg.
For the £10,000 budget you'll get a 3-litre diesel Touring model (BMW talks wagon) built between late 2005 and mid-2008. The secret to its appeal, as anyone who's tried it can attest, is the torque This is an indication of how hard an engine can accelerate a car when low in its rev range, and the 330d has 369 Ib ft of torque, which is enough to take the car from zero to 62 mph in 6 ,6 seconds.
There have been earlier versions of the 330d Touring, but they're as small and impractical as a tiny house when you're trying to cram a family of four and dog on board. The M Sport models look good and retain their value, while the car's front-engine and rear-wheel drive layout delivers dynamic performance. One thing to keep in mind is turning off the traction control: with that much torque, this is a diesel that can easily overload the rear tires on the highway.
Mercedes E 320 CDI familiar
- Best for:The family and the kitchen sink.
- Budget:9.000€
- Best buy:E 320 CDI Vanguardia family
Of our fast five members of the family, the E-Class is the best choice for anyone who likes a king-size bed. The trunk has a capacity of 690 liters, which is definitely palatial, and it has an interesting detail for families with more than two children: a third row of seats. They're rear-facing, which may sound alarming, but it means kids sit in the center of the car rather than in the tailgate (like in a seven-seater SUV or minivan).
An interesting feature for families with more than two children is the third row of seats.
It's worth mentioning that the model has been significantly updated for 2006, with better engines, a seven-speed automatic transmission and the addition of Isofix attachment points for child seats.
The engine to choose is the 320 CDI. It almost matches the frugal 220 CDI in mpg because it's more capable of hauling that big, heavy (almost 4,000 lb) member of the family.
The Sport version of the E 320 CDI is popular and sought after, but drivers following The Princess and the Pea may find the ride bumpy. In that case, opt for the Avantgarde version, as the suspension is lower than the Classic and Elegance versions and the steering is more responsive; However, the tires have higher sidewalls than the Sport, providing a more supple ride on dilapidated country roads. . .
Browse used Mercedes-Benz models for sale at drive.co.uk