A little new Car Advice: Family sized vehicle.

[Gordy]

Hi All

With the birth of my son in December, my trusty 206 gti is really too small and impractical for our needs so I'm looking to change to something bigger.

What I'm after is the following:

Turbo Diesel
Bigish boot
5 Door
Good performance without nuking me on fuel.
Something around 1-2 years old
Budget around 10k
Reliable
Small as possible as I do a lot of bristol park for my job! So no big people carriers

I've looked at the following

Peuguot 307 HDi Xsi

Had a quick test drive of this and it seems a good drive. It's very similar to my 206gti and in fact around town the performance seemed better. My concern with this car is the reliability and boot space. Any owners out there who can give me feed back? It has a 2.0 Turbo Diesel engine, and a fair amount of extra's

Ford Focus

I'm not a fan of the new focus's look but its bearable. However for the size you don't seem to get a lot of boot space. Not driven one of the new shape ones so can't comment on how it drives

Focus C-Max

Again I was look at the 2.0 turbo diesel option, zetec probably. This wasn't the car I orginally was looking at, but its almost identical in size to the focus, but has a far bigger boot and more space generally. If I got a ford I think it would be this. Unfortunatly the main dealer didn't have one for test driving, so not sure what its like to drive.

Chrysler PT cruiser

Seemed to be too slow, uneconomical and too small a boot. Like the looks tho hehe

Vauxhall Astra

Didn't like the interior seemed cheap, and boot wasn't big enough.

Subaru Impreza WRX

Had a look at a couple, but it would have to be much older models and imports. Great performance and space, but the interior was terrible imho and it would just get nicked round here


Any other suggestions or feedback on the ones mentioned above. Any other suggestions welcome

[behappier]

This one. here

Alfa 156 Sportwagon.

[Gordy]

This one. here

Alfa 156 Sportwagon.

Not seen one in the flesh, but I'm majorly concerned about alfa's build quality. Love the looks and performance side of them tho


I also was thinking about the Seat Leon, though not had a chance to get to the Seat dealer yet.

[behappier]

Not seen one in the flesh, but I'm majorly concerned about alfa's build quality. Love the looks and performance side of them tho


I also was thinking about the Seat Leon, though not had a chance to get to the Seat dealer yet.

My Alfa has been very reliable and it is different for no more money. This 1.9 140BHP is a cracking engine, prob one of the best in the class.

We test drove the Leon for my wife but to get the new one with the 2.0 TDI it was too much money still


PS - I think you'll find Alfa to be higher than Peugeot in the reliability surveys if that helps!

[Shorty]

Don't discount the new Focus

I was wary of buying one as it's more sedate looking than the previous generation. A test drive will change your mind I am sure. It's a great car with superb handling. It's reliable too. I tried a SEAT Leon, nice but the drive was unresponsive and lacked any fun.

The boot can fit 3 guitars (in full size cases) without any issue, it's deceptive how much space it has.

Definitely test drive one, they are fun when you need and sensible when you need it to be

[JPreston]

If you don't mind driving a Skoda, the boot in the (Mk1 at least) Octavia is gigantic and the diesels are apparently very good with one around ~150bhp (I think, though that may well be remapped cos that's the sort of skoda site I post on).

I think in the Mk2 they have/will introduced a sporty-styled diesel, to compliment the petrol vRS.

You should be able to get a very nice one for £10k anway

[herulach]

The honda 1.9 CDTI in the accord is a fantastic engine. Pretty damn nice inside as well.

[Gordy]

Don't discount the new Focus

I was wary of buying one as it's more sedate looking than the previous generation. A test drive will change your mind I am sure. It's a great car with superb handling. It's reliable too. I tried a SEAT Leon, nice but the drive was unresponsive and lacked any fun.

The boot can fit 3 guitars (in full size cases) without any issue, it's deceptive how much space it has.

Definitely test drive one, they are fun when you need and sensible when you need it to be

Ok, thanks I've not totally discounted it, but when you look at the specs its longer than the c-max but has 3/5ths of the boot space. I was orignally not looking at the c-max thinking it was too big till I saw one next to the focus hehe

I drove one of the older versions of the focus on a track and had a right giggle.

My Alfa has been very reliable and it is different for no more money. This 1.9 140BHP is a cracking engine, prob one of the best in the class.

We test drove the Leon for my wife but to get the new one with the 2.0 TDI it was too much money still


PS - I think you'll find Alfa to be higher than Peugeot in the reliability surveys if that helps!

Being higher than the pug ain't hard didn't they come bottom in the last top gear one hehe.

Alfa always could build stunning engines I may have to drive one and see what I think

Leon: is slightly higher priced than I wanted so I agree there. Not sure about the looks from the front tho.

If you don't mind driving a Skoda, the boot in the (Mk1 at least) Octavia is gigantic and the diesels are apparently very good with one around ~150bhp (I think, though that may well be remapped cos that's the sort of skoda site I post on).

I think in the Mk2 they have/will introduced a sporty-styled diesel, to compliment the petrol vRS.

You should be able to get a very nice one for £10k anway

I looked at the skoda, and would consider one if they didn't look like some 80's volvo Other than that they would be high up my list.

The honda 1.9 CDTI in the accord is a fantastic engine. Pretty damn nice inside as well.

I love the looks of the new civic, but they seem very pricey second hand and I don't think its going to be big enough. Not sure I like the Accord so it would have to be the civic.

[behappier]

Citroen C4 2.0 HDI if you want to stick with the French rather than the soon to be replaced 307 ?

[Gordy]

Citroen C4 2.0 HDI if you want to stick with the French rather than the soon to be replaced 307 ?

Again my concern with the Citroen is reliability, my saxo was bloody awful for reliability. I swore I'd never touch another Citroen after that.

[behappier]

BTW We were in a similar situation with a baby on the way last year and we needed to replace my wife's 3 door civic. After going through the same list as you we ended up buying a 5 dr Freelander TD4. You will not believe it but we fill it up every time we take the little one out on a trip! It is amazing how much stuff they need...

[Gordy]

BTW We were in a similar situation with a baby on the way last year and we needed to replace my wife's 3 door civic. After going through the same list as you we ended up buying a 5 dr Freelander TD4. You will not believe it but we fill it up every time we take the little one out on a trip! It is amazing how much stuff they need...

Tell me about it, by the time we've put the pram in, thats my boot gone. Everything else gets stuffed in where we can find space

I looked at the freelander, but wasn't that impressed. My dad has one, but for the size you don't get that much boot space. Not too mention it costing a fair bit to fill up.

[XA04]

What about one of the newer model Mondeo's?

[Gordy]

What about one of the newer model Mondeo's?

Bit to big really. Not a fan of the shape either.

[alexpollard]

What about the Ford S-Max. A touch pricey but you get the versatilty of a C-Max with the engine from a Focus ST. Best of both worlds if you ask me.

Car of the year 2006 too...

[Gordy]

Its much more expensive, and bigger than the c-max. Love the wheels it comes with tho

Also the st engine isn't a diesel is it? Not sure on that tho?