What Car: Part 2 of finding a family wagon

[oyster]

So after lots of homework and enquiries with PH, I thought I'd decided on getting an E61 BMW as the ideal car to buy now that my Mrs is expecting our first child in April.

However, as it's her who will be using it almost all the time (I cycle to work and will buy a separate toy for weekend hooning), she has decided that she utterly detests large estate cars.

So now we're almost back to square one.
The criteria:
- Less than 6 years old
- Leather seats
- 4 doors
- no SUVs
- no estates
- reasonable mpg, say 35-40 on a combined cycle.
- budget £6-8k but with most of the depreciation out of the way already
- Super-reliable
- Ideally isofix
- Ideal for use of around 10k miles a year.

[wiggy001]

Did you have any further thoughts on this? Only asking as I am in a pretty similar situation and looking for something primarily for the missus with a child on the way.

I keep coming back to an Audi A4 (saloon or maybe estate).

Just wondered what you'd considered since you post?

[cheeky_chops]

my missus just got rid of her 2003 honda accord - 30k>105k in 7 years we owned it and never broke down(a abs sensor, clutch and some bushes is all i can think of). 70k of town driving, car parks, dents and the school run was taking its toll but it was a great car. Exec spec has all the toys and a 2 litre petrol will achieve 35+mpg (we had a 2.4)

It was so good we replaced it with another honda accord - another 1 owner FHSH car but a 2010 tourer with 126,000 miles!

[omniflow]

Wait until the baby has been born, and then let her work out what she wants to drive.

Her opinion will be somewhat different to now, and probably more correctly focused to your actual requirements.

[Herbs]

Funnily enough we have just bought a 2006 Honda Civic 1.8 ishift for precisely this reason to replace her SLK. Massive boot, small but large inside, economical (ave 38-39 mpg) and great spec so really happy with it. It's a 5 door with isofix but still looks like a coupe