Ideas for a car to cover new baby but also day-job

[PiztonHeadz]

Hi, I've just discovered this forum, afraid I'm the opposite of a PistonHead and need some advice from more knowledgeable people.

With no forethought, last year my wife and I blew our budget on a new Mazda CX-5. We upgraded from a tiny car because we got a dog, and we needed a car that suited my new job. Basically I drive around meeting clients all day, my colleagues all have BMWs / Mercedes but I wanted something that wasn't as flash but that still looks impressive. For better or worse, I think the CX-5 has done this job well.

Now what's happened.... my wife's pregnant. It's dawned on us we're not a one-car family. I can't schedule appointments based on her car needs, and vice versa.

So we've just started our hunt. The 2nd car basically needs to be a smaller version of our CX-5, as I reckon I'd like to use it for work too as it'll be less gas-guzzling. But I can't rock up in something that looks old / tired (I work in a superficial industry where this matters unfortunately).

My options:
a)PCP - this is new to me, only been reading up on it this week.
b)Interest-free loan from a family member
c)PCH? I need to research differences with PCP

PCP is new to me, I can't wrap my head around what makes more sense - leasing, or buying with interest-free loan then selling in a couple of years. The new car will go under my wife's name, she doesn't have any NCB so we'll have to consider insurance costs (along with my 3 points!)

Whether we lease or buy-then-sell, budget is £150-£200pcm?
Must be 5-door because of the baby and dog, and enough boot space for the pushchair.
Miles is probably 6000 p.a.

If I'm being too fussy, that's just my ignorance, willing to learn! Cheers.

[ZX10R NIN]

Why don't you keep the CX-5 to use as your daily the get the wife a Mazda5 which will have more than enough room for the dog & baby paraphernalia & still be a decent well equipped ride.

How many miles does your wife do per year as that will help you work out which type of engine you get, you can get one for between 7.5-9k.

2011 Mazda5 Sport 27k Petrol

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

2012 Venture Edition 33k Diesel

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[PiztonHeadz]

Another lug of a car sounds a bit like overkill for us, we have the CX-5 so a smaller car is a better balance (for running costs and city driving purposes)

[kiethton]

Why not just get a 5 door fiesta 1.25 for ~3.5k for the wife and baby.

A push chair will go in easily enough, cheap to buy and run and pretty reliable.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

[PiztonHeadz]

How much would that car be worth in 24 months? Plus the potential service costs due to it's age? That's how PCP is being sold to me, plus I'd have a car that casts a better impression to my clients. Again, superficial but a reality.

[kiethton]

Well the GF had a 5 door fiesta, of that age and spec and ran it for 60k/5 years with nothing but normal tyres and servicing.

They don't come off badly as although pre-facelift they are a current model shape and are pretty classless.

My mum has the previous shape version on a 54 plate, although a 1.4 and has owned it from new.

It has needed nothing beyond a new front spring owing to the plethora of speed bumps around here. 3 people learned to drive in it, its never washed and gets no love at all. Its never put a foot wrong.

If a more modern image is important you can likely get one on a lease for <£150pm

[ZX10R NIN]

What about a Nissan Leaf as you can see you can get with less than 10k on the clock for around 6k obviously you still have the battery rental on top but it might be a solution if your wife does low daily miles.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...