What car? Petrol head dad vs. conservative mum and new born
Discussion
Right, time for another 'what car' thread.
Being a new Mum and Dad to be, the much loved MX5 needs to go and be replaced by something that can hold a baby and all the stuff they come with.
Ground rules from "Mum" are:
Budget is ideally under £8k but can stretch (or shrink) for the right car.
Thoughts so far
So, now you know as much as we do... over to you for the general fun and games.
Being a new Mum and Dad to be, the much loved MX5 needs to go and be replaced by something that can hold a baby and all the stuff they come with.
Ground rules from "Mum" are:
- no station wagons
- no people movers
- no breakdowns will be tolerated.
Budget is ideally under £8k but can stretch (or shrink) for the right car.
Thoughts so far
- "Mum" likes Qashqai and Rav4. Qashqai is out as we can only get a 1st gen for the cash with the old motor.
- I've had her drive a Lexus RX300 as a comparison and she is coming round to the pros of a more luxurious option, albeit older (although ahe's not a fan of the extra costs of the V6
). - Based on a random list given by KiwiFraser, we are also going to try and find a X3 and Nissan Murano tomorrow as a comparison on size/feel (subject to being able to move the MX5 in the snow!).
So, now you know as much as we do... over to you for the general fun and games.
Furry Exocet said:
I bought a skoda Octavia vrs when we had our first baby, its quick and has more than enough room for everything (the boots are huge)
I sold that the other week and now have a Seat Leon Cupra 2007 and that fits the bill too (we have two kids now 4 year old and 1 year old)
We are aiming slightly bigger... think "long weekend camping with far too much crap".I sold that the other week and now have a Seat Leon Cupra 2007 and that fits the bill too (we have two kids now 4 year old and 1 year old)
(2.2 dCi is a better option if you want to be able to feed your child). Don't get an autobox. The worst gear changes I have ever experiencedWe've recently had our first baby and went through the same dilemma. Went for the Skoda Octavia vrs in the end.
The Octavia has a bigger boot than most of the soft roaders listed. We went for the estate, but the hatchback has an equally big boot. We want to take junior camping and I'm confident everything will fit in. And it's far more PH than a 4x4!
The Octavia has a bigger boot than most of the soft roaders listed. We went for the estate, but the hatchback has an equally big boot. We want to take junior camping and I'm confident everything will fit in. And it's far more PH than a 4x4!
hoyin said:
From what I have seen I would say a Rav 4 and 4x4 equivalents can actually hold less than a VRS or equivalent saloon?
Agree with that 100%We used to have the following in the boot for our weekend trips
Buggy
Travel cot
2 x suitcase
Bag full of toys
Bag full of (non) essential baby items
We would take most of the baby items used at home and had loads of room in the car.
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...
Edit:
Mazda CX7 2.3T
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3602590.htm
Bit pricey still...
Edited by volks al on Sunday 5th February 11:09
Edited by volks al on Monday 6th February 11:52
Stuart70 said:
You have a kid so you need a 4x4...
Big saloon or hatchback works well
Subaru or fast Mondeo... but why buy a tractor?
And worse still if a soft roader, why buy a s
t tractor?
Not trying to stir ... I don't have kids yet so I don't know the practicalities required. Big saloon or hatchback works well
Subaru or fast Mondeo... but why buy a tractor?
And worse still if a soft roader, why buy a s
t tractor?But why must you have a 4x4 if you have a kid?
hoyin said:
Not trying to stir ... I don't have kids yet so I don't know the practicalities required.
But why must you have a 4x4 if you have a kid?
I don't know if its as much 'I need a 4x4 because I have kids', as much as 'I would LIKE a softroader/ crossover/ 4x4'. But why must you have a 4x4 if you have a kid?
Mrs kiwi loved her Rav4, not because it had a 4x4 system of sorts, but because the driving position was higher up, the headroom was better for leaning over into the back seat for the things the kids always want, the door height was easier to get kids car seats into, she liked the look of it, the boot was big enough for what she needed it to carry, the rear seats slid forward and back (and folded flat with a single pull of a lever in the boot), etc, etc.
Eta: In 3 years and 70k miles it was unbelievably reliable needing nothing outside of normal servicing which was reasonably cheap at Toyota and the customer service was great. On the very few occasions she did need the ground clearance and 4x4 traction (getting out of a seriously muddy camping field where 2wd's were being towed, some deep drifted snow in Scotland, and being caught in the big floods a few years ago up to the top of the wheel arches in one place
), it was nice to have it there.Given your criteria and desire for that type of car, I think you would be hard pressed to better the RAV. I'd definitely try the X3 as well. The decision will be easier for you once you drive a few.
Edited by kiwifraser on Sunday 5th February 15:09
kiwifraser said:
edc said:
Grand Cherokee on the other hand has a huge boot and is proper 4 wheel drive to boot.
...I have to agree with this, but bear in mind ours does only do about 14mpg 
£8k gets you in to the newer Grand Cherokee or would probably get you a Freelander2.
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