Replacing MCS for something more practical

FC · 12-09-2013, 10:26 AM

My wife has been mentioning for a few months now that as much as she likes her car, we should have a second car that is more practical - like a wagon. The LR4 is great, but from there we go down to the MCS and the non-winter 997.

I don't get it, personally. I mean sure, the MCS can carry all four of us, but very snugly. I think she would prefer a car that could carry a fifth person in a pinch or the four of us and some semblance of luggage or leftover room for some shopping. But I feel that that hardly ever arises. She has a car she likes and is super fun to drive. It is also already set with winter tires, nice summer wheels & tires, etc. At the same time, this is a fight I'm not willing to put too much effort into. We'll see how strongly she feels about this.

But hypothetically, what could be a good car to replace it with? I know it screams of "you got rid of the wrong car - you should have kept the E91!" But that car was not the right option for the reasons below.

In the event that she is actually serious about this, here is what the requirements are:

-Inexpensive enough to leave parked at a train station all day and endure minor cosmetic damage without getting depressed about it.
-FWD or AWD so it can be half decent at getting my wife to the train station even during crappy (but not horrendous) winter weather.
-I like the idea of something compact enough to get around in the city with no trouble.
-Good fuel economy
-Ideally manual transmission
-roomy-ish rear seats, preferably 4 doors.
-Adequate trunk/cargo space
-I'd like a car with some personality.
-Car would only see ~5k miles per year
-I'm thinking of keeping it under $15k. I'd like to not have to cough up much more over than we'd get for the MCS (no clue what that would be).

Off the top of my head I'm thinking of a good MT 4-door hatch.

-Golf TDI
-Mazda 3
-Focus

Thoughts?

bren · 12-09-2013, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FC

I know it screams of "you got rid of the wrong car - you should have kept the E91!"

I'm sorry, but I can't help it.

FC · 12-09-2013, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bren

I'm sorry, but I can't help it.

See OP:

I know it screams of "you got rid of the wrong car - you should have kept the E91!" But that car was not the right option for the reasons below.

bren · 12-09-2013, 10:32 AM

yeah yeah. Still it's pretty funny.

I like that you get a Turbo and a new SUV and she gets a beater. Nice work.

What's the availability like of diesel fuel in your area? The Golf sure seems to be everyone's pick around here.

FC · 12-09-2013, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bren

yeah yeah. Still it's pretty funny.

I like that you get a Turbo and a new SUV and she gets a beater. Nice work.

She drives the LR4 plenty - well on weekends. She still refuses to even try to drive the Turbo.

No problem finding diesel around here.

bren · 12-09-2013, 10:37 AM

You know what else fits the bill of a city/train station beater? A nice Grand Cherokee.

hahaha, this is too much fun.

dan · 12-09-2013, 10:49 AM

wait, why does she want something other than the LR4? I don't get it. Why do you even still have the MCS? This is all very odd.

TD · 12-09-2013, 11:02 AM

I guess I'm confused as to the role the LR was supposed to play.

It does sound like you should have kept at least one of the two - the Jeep or the BMW.

JST · 12-09-2013, 11:03 AM

We have a Golf and a Focus for the time being, and I can tell you that the Golf has a lot more usable interior room. Trunk/hatch space is about the same, but the Golf has more rear legroom.

That said, neither of these cars will fit five people in any semblance of comfort if two of the people are in booster seats. They are just too narrow. There's no space in between the booster seats for a fifth person.

Honestly, I don't think the Golf or particularly the Focus will give you that much more interior space than the Mini. If you really want to carry five people, you're going to have to go up in size to something like an Accord.

Which is why you should keep the Mini. But, if you do decide to sell it, post it here first.

lemming · 12-09-2013, 11:03 AM

merciless.

12-09-2013, 10:26 AM	#1
FC Solving problems Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: M5 / 718 GTS / Cooper S / GTI / LR4 Location: Metro Boston Posts: 25,248	Replacing MCS for something more practical My wife has been mentioning for a few months now that as much as she likes her car, we should have a second car that is more practical - like a wagon. The LR4 is great, but from there we go down to the MCS and the non-winter 997. I don't get it, personally. I mean sure, the MCS can carry all four of us, but very snugly. I think she would prefer a car that could carry a fifth person in a pinch or the four of us and some semblance of luggage or leftover room for some shopping. But I feel that that hardly ever arises. She has a car she likes and is super fun to drive. It is also already set with winter tires, nice summer wheels & tires, etc. At the same time, this is a fight I'm not willing to put too much effort into. We'll see how strongly she feels about this. But hypothetically, what could be a good car to replace it with? I know it screams of "you got rid of the wrong car - you should have kept the E91!" But that car was not the right option for the reasons below. In the event that she is actually serious about this, here is what the requirements are: -Inexpensive enough to leave parked at a train station all day and endure minor cosmetic damage without getting depressed about it. -FWD or AWD so it can be half decent at getting my wife to the train station even during crappy (but not horrendous) winter weather. -I like the idea of something compact enough to get around in the city with no trouble. -Good fuel economy -Ideally manual transmission -roomy-ish rear seats, preferably 4 doors. -Adequate trunk/cargo space -I'd like a car with some personality. -Car would only see ~5k miles per year -I'm thinking of keeping it under $15k. I'd like to not have to cough up much more over than we'd get for the MCS (no clue what that would be). Off the top of my head I'm thinking of a good MT 4-door hatch. -Golf TDI -Mazda 3 -Focus Thoughts?

12-09-2013, 11:03 AM	#10
lemming Western Anomaly Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: White Orca Posts: 16,593	merciless. __________________

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12-09-2013, 10:32 AM	#4
bren lawn boy Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: e46m3, f25x3,C5 Z06, C4 Vette, 06 CTD Ram, and a trailer Location: Maryland Posts: 14,029	yeah yeah. Still it's pretty funny. I like that you get a Turbo and a new SUV and she gets a beater. Nice work. What's the availability like of diesel fuel in your area? The Golf sure seems to be everyone's pick around here.

12-09-2013, 10:37 AM	#6
bren lawn boy Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: e46m3, f25x3,C5 Z06, C4 Vette, 06 CTD Ram, and a trailer Location: Maryland Posts: 14,029	You know what else fits the bill of a city/train station beater? A nice Grand Cherokee. hahaha, this is too much fun.

12-09-2013, 10:49 AM	#7
dan redefined Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 14,891	wait, why does she want something other than the LR4? I don't get it. Why do you even still have the MCS? This is all very odd.

12-09-2013, 11:02 AM	#8
TD Founder emeritus Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Maryland Posts: 21,007	I guess I'm confused as to the role the LR was supposed to play. It does sound like you should have kept at least one of the two - the Jeep or the BMW.

12-09-2013, 11:03 AM	#9
JST 195 Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 24,607	We have a Golf and a Focus for the time being, and I can tell you that the Golf has a lot more usable interior room. Trunk/hatch space is about the same, but the Golf has more rear legroom. That said, neither of these cars will fit five people in any semblance of comfort if two of the people are in booster seats. They are just too narrow. There's no space in between the booster seats for a fifth person. Honestly, I don't think the Golf or particularly the Focus will give you that much more interior space than the Mini. If you really want to carry five people, you're going to have to go up in size to something like an Accord. Which is why you should keep the Mini. But, if you do decide to sell it, post it here first.