What car? Petrol head dad vs. conservative mum and new born

What car? Petrol head dad vs. conservative mum and new born

Author
Discussion

jemment

55 posts

159 months

Sunday 5th February 2012
quotequote all
A realy boring choice but a high spec Ford C-Max high driving position well specked loads of room and iam sure good n-cap safty and very reliable, or a BMW X3

edc

9,231 posts

250 months

Sunday 5th February 2012
quotequote all
An £8k X3 must be one of the first gen models and they are cramped interior wise for what you think you might get. It's no better than a 3 series. The boot whilst higher isn't big.

pernod

Original Poster:

433 posts

187 months

Sunday 5th February 2012
quotequote all
hoyin said:
But why must you have a 4x4 if you have a kid?
Doesn't have to be a 4x4. Based on experiences with the last few cars, and what we tend to throw at them, the other half would prefer something that we can drop the seats flat and fit in extra large loads (for dump runs, furniture etc), so station wagons and hatches are the best fit for our lifestyle.

Normally I'm the first to line up abuse for 4x4 on-roaders, but having also always had lowered suspension vehicles I'm actually keen to try the other extreme with a high driving position.

The other car will be a VXR so hoonability isn't a massive requirement on this one.

pernod

Original Poster:

433 posts

187 months

Sunday 5th February 2012
quotequote all
edc said:
An £8k X3 must be one of the first gen models and they are cramped interior wise for what you think you might get. It's no better than a 3 series. The boot whilst higher isn't big.
Good to know! Thanks

kiwifraser

4,386 posts

193 months

Sunday 5th February 2012
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Another left field thought if the X3 is to small... XC90 D5. Lovely vehicle, and worth considering.

touching cloth

11,706 posts

238 months

Sunday 5th February 2012
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We had an rx300 when the kids were smaller, great car imo. Decent height for dealing with car seats etc enough space inside but not overly big out so ok for parking. Ours had nav which included rear reversing camera which was both cool and actually useful. Was a bit juicy though. Not driven an x3 but have read about crashy ride, maybe the internet overplaying things? I'd normally put a shout in for Legacy estate in as well but sounds like ruled out on body shape...way more fun to drive than the Lexus was.

kiwifraser

4,386 posts

193 months

Sunday 5th February 2012
quotequote all
In the RAV/ qashqai size category, you may just about be able to find a LR FL2 in budget.
Its not my cup of tea (I'd personally choose Disco 3/ L322 Vogue), but it might be an S1 choice.

eta fixed link: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Edited by kiwifraser on Monday 6th February 12:56

kiwifraser

4,386 posts

193 months

Monday 6th February 2012
quotequote all
Lexus history of reliability, durability, and customer service should mean owning a late model RX will be a good experience too.

eta fixed link: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Edited by kiwifraser on Monday 6th February 12:52

kiwifraser

4,386 posts

193 months

Monday 6th February 2012
quotequote all
Just checked the Nissan prices, and you can get the 2007 onwards models of much improved x-trail and Qashqai within budget.

Both are decent cars, and those models left behind the old and well documented Nissan diesel problem. The Qashqai is the smaller of the 2, but still could happily accommodate a family of 3. If you see a late model one, it would be worth having a nosey around too if S1 likes the look of them. Bear in mind some of the Qashqai's are 4x2 only. There is also a bigger Qashqai+2 which might be even better suited (even if you don't need the extra seats in the back)

eta fixed link: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...


Edited by kiwifraser on Monday 6th February 12:57

kiwifraser

4,386 posts

193 months

Monday 6th February 2012
quotequote all
edc said:
An £8k X3 must be one of the first gen models and they are cramped interior wise for what you think you might get. It's no better than a 3 series. The boot whilst higher isn't big.
Was first gen not 2003 - 2010? Chances of getting a 2010 new shape are likely to be impossible within budget. Size wise, it's about the same as the Qashqai, which is almost the same as the RAV.

The internet would lead you to believe the X3's have a hard ride reputation, but after your VXR and MX5, it might not seem that bad wink Worth a drive to test for yourself.

kiwifraser

4,386 posts

193 months

Monday 6th February 2012
quotequote all
volks al said:
Hazel brought some Mazda thing suv with the 3mps engine iirc. Might be a little over budget but not sure??

Edit:

Mazda CX7 2.3T

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3602590.htm

Bit pricey still...
Nice find Alex. I didn't think they were anywhere near the £8k budget yet eek

wackojacko

8,581 posts

189 months

Monday 6th February 2012
quotequote all
This is the correct choice :
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3612501.htm

Get a diesel badge for it and she won't know ...... Until she puts her foot down wink

volks al

4,107 posts

213 months

Monday 6th February 2012
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kiwifraser said:
Nice find Alex. I didn't think they were anywhere near the £8k budget yet eek
more

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2007-MAZDA-CX-7-SILVER-/...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2007-Mazda-CX-7-2-3-16v-...

pernod

Original Poster:

433 posts

187 months

Monday 6th February 2012
quotequote all
CX7 looks very interesting - had written them off as being too far beyond budget but they are withing the 'stretch room'. S1 loves her mazdas so it would be an easy tick from her.

There is one locally we are going to head out to have a look at this week.

pernod

Original Poster:

433 posts

187 months

Monday 6th February 2012
quotequote all
kiwifraser said:
In the RAV/ qashqai size category, you may just about be able to find a LR FL2 in budget.
Its not my cup of tea (I'd personally choose Disco 3/ L322 Vogue), but it might be an S1 choice.

eta fixed link: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

Edited by kiwifraser on Monday 6th February 12:56
S1 dismissed that from a picture alone - not her cup of tea either apparently!

john_r

8,353 posts

270 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
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pernod said:
CX7 looks very interesting - had written them off as being too far beyond budget but they are withing the 'stretch room'. S1 loves her mazdas so it would be an easy tick from her.

There is one locally we are going to head out to have a look at this week.
CX7?

Cracking car - exceptionally quiet and comfortable, loads of toys (cruise, park sensors, climate, elec everything, etc), full leather everywhere, handles like a sport saloon half the size and a BOSE sound system that is quite simply staggering at this budget. And given it's size/4x4 it's quick too! Sub 8s 0-60...

What to check for - aircon can be flaky so run it full blast as cold as possible to make sure it's ok, tyres are staggeringly big (19" SUV alloys I think?) and therefore will be expensive if need replacing, tow bar (if fitted) is removable so check all the bits are there, it's got the Mazda MPS 4-pot turbo so benefits from a tank of 99 octane every 3-4 tanks and service history is electronic so check with a Mazda dealer if they don't have a stack of receipts – they’ll print out the history.

If you can find it, look up Jeremy Clarkson's Sunday Times review of it in 2007’ish - he goes on to describe how he hid the press car he'd been given to review because he wanted to play with it for a few more days... The turbo-petrol CX-7 is still listed in his/Top Gear all time top 25 cars...!

pernod

Original Poster:

433 posts

187 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
quotequote all
Very helpful! Thanks John.


In other news...
In typical Murphy Law style, the Cam belt on the MX5 snapped this morning just as we start to think about selling it...

kiwifraser

4,386 posts

193 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
quotequote all
Not a bad review from someone whose alternative choices are a GTR, RS6, and Chim hehe


I'm still amazed these are now anywhere near £8k. In my mind they were circa the £12k Tiguan, Kuga, new CR-V, etc price.

If I was the one looking, this would writes off a few of the other suggestions - namely Xtrail, Qashqai, Vitara, Cherokee, and FL2.

kiwifraser

4,386 posts

193 months

Tuesday 7th February 2012
quotequote all
pernod said:
In other news...
In typical Murphy Law style, the Cam belt on the MX5 snapped this morning just as we start to think about selling it...
Bugger!! That's rotten luck frown


eta: Hopefully not too expensive, and I think all the 1.8 MX-5's are non-interference engines?

Edited by kiwifraser on Tuesday 7th February 11:27