Opinions on 3 potential family cars

[8potdave]

I have whittled down my next family car choice to 3 cars. There may be more once we drive some but for the time being these are in the short list. I wonder if anyone has any experience of them and which one would you pick (if any). Please bear in mind this is not a car designed for 5am Sunday hoons its for lugging the family around (me, the wife, toddler, 2 big dogs) so although I want a degree of poke for overtaking it is not priority. Budgets around £9K - £11K:

Audi A6 Estate 2.0TDi - Swore I would never buy an Audi as they seem to be the generic dhead car, but this aside I am quite drawn to them. They seem to have the nicest interiors and be ideal for what we need. The sluggish 0-60 time of 10.7 seconds does hold me back a bit but as I said it's not the end of the world. If it pulls well in the 'real world' then I am happy. I would be looking at 2008 - 2011 for my budget.

Ford Mondeo Titanium 163 - Logically and on paper this is the best of the 3. As well as being the quickest and most economical it has the most toys and is the cheapest. I could get anything from a 2009 to a 2012 model.

Ford Kuga - Really like the look of these as does the wife. The interior is the poorest of the 3 however and they are the slowest. Undoubtedly they will also handle the worst being sat in the air! I could get a 2009 - 2010 model for my budget.

I've also consider BMW 3/5 series' but after looking at a few yesterday I'm a bit put off by the interiors. Also the fact that they seem to be awash with big maintenance bill stories after reading around the internet. Shame really as I am a fan of BMW's and should a really special one come up I would consider it. Have also considered Honda Accord estates along with Volvo V70's but yet to go and see either.

[aspirated]

With that sort of budget I'd be after one of these;

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[STW2010]

Qashqai or Juke?

Kia Sportage?

That Suzuki SX4 looks pretty decent

Hyundai i30 touring?

Hummer?


I'm not good at this. My 3 series coupe does me as a family car.

[anonymous-user]

My brother had a 2.2 mondy till recently. (Company car now.)

Cracking motor, swift, comfortable, loads of toys and handled very well. Can't comment on the others, but I can't see you being disappointed with it.

[golfer19]

My mate has a Kuga and is very disappointed.Very poor mpg and a small boot.
I would consider a passat as a previous poster has suggested.

[GFraser]

My 2.0TDCi Mondeo does a sterling job of family duties, bags of room. That said, I am looking at changing it for a Focus ST estate this summer as I'd like something a bit more fun. You say this isn't too much of an issue for you, and the Mondeo handles surprisingly well for what it is so I'm sure you wouldn't be disappointed.

[delboy735]

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Surprised no-one has mentioned these yet !!






Damn, just re-read your post !!!!! missed that last bit

[ModernAndy]

If you really don't care too much about the driving experience (not saying the other 2 will be great) then I'd just go for the Mondeo. Better running costs, decent reliability (?) and if you keep the car for a long time, it'll probably be the cheapest to upkeep.

[BFG TERRANO]

Kuga is practical but thirsty and under powered. Mondeo will do the job but value will plummet and may throw up some bills (my old company 55 reg did)

I'd go with Audi. Quick enough, practical and still worth something in a few years even on 100k plus miles

[dai1983]

Octavia VRS seems to be my default answer for everything these days. Boot is massive and you have a choice of petrol or diesel. The estates look nice too. I would use seat covers from the off as the grey fabric looks tatty very quickly.

I'd also scrub the Kuga off the list as while the boot is tall I don't think it offers much useful space compared to an estate. Something it has in common with most of these cross over type vehicles. My mate had one on the ramp at work recently. It was a 62 plate and was leaking from the crank seal and the rear subframe was very rusty. Ford covered the oil leak but not the subframe as it hadn't rusted through yet!

[northwest monkey]

STW2010 said:

Juke?

I looked at one and the boot was odd.

[STW2010]

northwest monkey said:

STW2010 said:

Juke?

I looked at one and the boot was odd.

The whole car is odd!

[anonymous-user]

Mazda CX-7

[adsvx220]

My wife has just took delivery of her 2014 Ford Kuga Titanium and to be fair it's it a nice car. The interior has improved quite a bit over the old model and is very quiet and easy to drive.

Adam

[Jasandjules]

How big are the dogs? A nice Passat estate will do the trick if your dogs are really medium sized as the boot on the newer models has a low(for my dogs anyway) roof, but a friend can easily get two labs in the back.

The petrol will give you enough power to overtake or a 170bhp diesel will too (though I've heard bad things about the 170 engine..)

[TheFinners]

Would a 2.7TDI A6 be a good compromise, faster than the 163 Mondeo and probably happier pulling a heavy car like the A6 along? It would be a bit thirstier mind...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Edited by TheFinners on Sunday 11th May 13:31

[flatso]

Citroen C5 estate. The design is well sorted out, a lot more reliable then you'd think, don't see them on every corner, and comfort that is unbeatable this side of the S-Class. Hydropneumatic suspension, double glased windows, massage seats, one of the best deals going.

[8potdave]

I have considered a passat and not ruling them out but I drive one for work and I fancy something else. That Audi looks interesting!

Sadly no French. Twice bitten and all that. Probably irrational as I know the new Citroens are much better than ever before!

[PomBstard]

By about this time someone mentions Subaru Legacy/Outback. No idea what you'll get for your budget in the UK but Gen 4 (04-09) is big enough and the better drive than the bigger Gen 5. 3.0 flat 6 engine has enough poke, no idea what the diesels are like, I think the turbos are imports over there, rather than part of the official model line up, but they're entertaining. Build quality and engineering top notch - bought a 2005 model with 180,000kms on it and it's like new inside.

[Tannedbaldhead]

Mondeo. Best car to drive of the three you list, roomy and in Titanium trim a very nice place to be and very well equipped.