After a couple of months of wrangling I have lost the battle with SWMBO and the RRS is now the family car.

This means I am in a desperate rush to chop in her awful motor and get me a weekday runaround for my 3 mile commute (I do walk occasionally, honest) that is in some way cool and sporty.

Looking to spend about 5-7k, ideally 4 doors, certainly 4 seats and able to comfortably fit my 6'5" wreck of a body in. My two leading contenders are either a mk5 GTI or 159 3.2 Q4.

Any suggestions on what else could be worth considering (divorce not an option, will cost more than my 5-7k budget)?

Cool? - Got to be an Arbarth.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3943821.htm
A bit over budget, but a hoot to drive and surprisingly roomy for tall people

Your solution of a Golf is probably far more practical to be honest, don't know why, but wouldn't be the Alfa for me.  ON THE WAY: BMW F21 M140i
MERCEDES GL350 - Metallic Navy Blue w/Grey interior

GOING: BMW F31 335D MSport+ xDrive Touring
GONE: Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - Stornaway Grey w/Black Interior (wish we'd kept it )
GONE: BMW F10 520D MSport - Carbon Black
GONE:MY12 RRS SDV6 HSE Sumatra/Ivory/Grand Black Privacy glass

Just couldn't do it I'm afraid.

When they first "came out" we looked at a 500 for the wife. I was really against it so she asked the dealer if men bought them, to which he replied.... " a certain type of man".

Not for me

asellers33 wrote:

" a certain type of man"

Ah, fair enough, wasn't sure if you were a 'certain type of man'

Mrs Bean has a 500 and I fully understand. She stole the RRS the other day and I was forced to go to the gym in the 500, I looked 'camper than a row of tents' when I got out of it in the car park, never again  ON THE WAY: BMW F21 M140i
MERCEDES GL350 - Metallic Navy Blue w/Grey interior

GOING: BMW F31 335D MSport+ xDrive Touring
GONE: Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - Stornaway Grey w/Black Interior (wish we'd kept it )
GONE: BMW F10 520D MSport - Carbon Black
GONE:MY12 RRS SDV6 HSE Sumatra/Ivory/Grand Black Privacy glass

I had to park the Juke between a DB9 and a Morgan Aero at a meeting the other week

asellers33 wrote:

I had to park the Juke ..............

Fk me, and you're worried about looking camp in a 500  ON THE WAY: BMW F21 M140i
MERCEDES GL350 - Metallic Navy Blue w/Grey interior

GOING: BMW F31 335D MSport+ xDrive Touring
GONE: Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - Stornaway Grey w/Black Interior (wish we'd kept it )
GONE: BMW F10 520D MSport - Carbon Black
GONE:MY12 RRS SDV6 HSE Sumatra/Ivory/Grand Black Privacy glass

Beancounter_74 wrote:

asellers33 wrote:

I had to park the Juke ..............

Fk me, and you're worried about looking camp in a 500

 ON THE WAY: BMW F21 M140i
MERCEDES GL350 - Metallic Navy Blue w/Grey interior

GOING: BMW F31 335D MSport+ xDrive Touring
GONE: Land Rover Discovery 4 HSE - Stornaway Grey w/Black Interior (wish we'd kept it )
GONE: BMW F10 520D MSport - Carbon Black
GONE:MY12 RRS SDV6 HSE Sumatra/Ivory/Grand Black Privacy glass

BMW 330

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv...?logcode=p

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv...?logcode=p

Cheers Jonny.

Not too keen on the E46 though, feel it looks dated now. Plus my colleague has one and is the biggest BMW-nut out there so it needs to be newer and better than his if I go down that route

Audi A4?

Not really excited by them, want something that stands out a little more

How about a leggy Touareg?
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3849082.htm

And as for some of the other suggestions- what's wrong with a camp or girly car if it's a hoot to drive? Or are some guys hereabouts more worried about what others think than of enjoying their driving?

Oops, just saw that you want "cool and sporting". Touareg isn't either of those. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3923348.htm

Great cars if you can stretch your budget! Otherwise, a Golf is always a safe bet  LCFC. Receiver of threatening letters from Overfinch.