You can have a family car and performance, especially if you have 2 cars. Recently bought an ML430 (7 seats and 0-60 in 8 seconds for 7k). The Evo 8 arrives tomorrow.

Forester STI is good, as is a 330d (E46) but in neither car can you turn off the passenger airbag. Latest advice is that children should not go in fron of an airbag until they are 12. If you are bringing other children home after school, you may need to get more than 2 in the car. As for an A4/S4/RS4 Avant the boot is smaller than an Impreza.

Mercedes ML, I've just bought one and it's stunning, fully loaded with every extra and for exactly the same reason as you, a large family.

Theirs plenty of choice as far as engine size and fuel option is concerned
from 270CDI through to the 63AMG:norty:

Oh and bo**ocks to all the scaremongering stories about them, make your own mind up.

Rob

A Honda CRV! :D



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Pong
Subaru 2006 Collection Brochure

Saab 9-5 Aero Estate
Volvo V70 D5 or T5 (R?)
Audi A6 3.0TDI Estate
BM 530d Touring
Skoda Octavia vRS Estate
Skoda Octavia vRs Estate diesel Fr thingy
Seat Altea XL
Legacy Spec-B Estate

As others have said - you will need 4 doors, and loads of boot space for kids stuff. You'll always be surprised how much room a little 'un needs for all the bits and bobs.

Always had coupes myself and last year when my son was born I still had a CLK320. Taking him and my wife home from hospital wasn't as easy as I'd hoped. With a two door coupe it was unfair to expect my wife having just given birth to clamber into the back of a coupe and you can't disable the passenger airbig unless you use a Mercdes child seat. Swinging my son into the rear was not easy and my wife had to have her seat right forward to give enough clearance for the child seat.

I sold the CLK very quickly and bought a 5 Series Touring.

You might think you don't need an estate and you can get away without one - just - but bit the bullet as an estate makes things SO easy.

car
 

i would stick with the porsche if you looking for a sporty car that can cope incase you add to the family not to everyone taste but i like the zafira gsi turbo in blue lovely car easily hold a large family practical and nippy to 220bhp in a people carrier:eek2:

Classic wagon, got 3 kids and does me great ! plus your'll have plenty of change for improvements :norty:

Go for E39. It's worth it!


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Ira
Subaru 2006 Outback Brochure