What new car for my mum?

What new car for my mum?

Author
Discussion

Ecosseven

Original Poster:

1,978 posts

217 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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Afternoon all,

My mum’s after a new car. She wants to buy brand new or pre-registered with the following criteria

1. Petrol engine (she does around 5000 miles a year at most).
2. Something with a bit of ‘get up and go’ for climbing steep hills and for safe overtaking.
3. High driving position. This is a must have.
4. Reverse parking sensors are desirable (she has them on her current car)
5. Budget of £15,000 which must include metallic paint which usually costs £500 as an optional extra.
6. Enough space for three grandchildren and a decent boot.
7. Must fit in a single sized garage.
8. Front wheel drive.

She currently drives a 2004 Ford C-Max 2.0 TDCI.

Whatever she buys will have to last her at least 10 years and it will probably be her last car before she gives up driving for good.

My suggestion would be a 125bhp 1.0 B-Max as it meets all her criteria. She is used to the accessible torque of the diesel engine in her current car so I have suggested she avoids peaky petrol powered cars. An alternative is the 1.4T meriva. Do Vauxhall still offer the lifetime warranty on these?

SUV’s seem to be a lot more expensive than Mini MPV’s. She likes the new Qashqai but it’s over budget.

wemorgan

3,578 posts

178 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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Kia Sportage

lamboman100

1,445 posts

121 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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Qashqai, Yeti, Countryman or Sportage.

Tannedbaldhead

2,952 posts

132 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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At 5k miles per anum I'd avoid diesels. I'd also check out if the Kia Soul is big enough in the back for the grandchildren. A very elderly friend of my dad just bought one. Boxy shape makes it easy to place and park, light controls, elevated driving position makes it easy to get in and out and it's that little bit smaller and therefore more manageable for an older driver than the other cars you've mentioned. They're reliable and I'm sure comes with a seven year warranty.

Monkeylegend

26,335 posts

231 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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Has she thought of buying a house instead?

Mr Gear

9,416 posts

190 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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Kia soul is a good shout.

Citroen C3 Picasso maybe too?

Matt UK

17,688 posts

200 months

Monday 21st April 2014
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My folks got a kia Soul. Mum like it and the dealer has been very good with sorting early niggles.