Boring what car thread with added child and wife facto

[Pete-mojsh]

I know these are the most repetitive and boring threads on PH so apologies in advance.

My wife and I have recently had our first child (Monday) and recently moved house (mid October), she currently has a 2007 Fiat 500 that won't be suitable for family duties. We would have preferred to get the car done before the baby came but we were stuck in a protracted house move and didn't want to take out any further finance until the mortgage and move were done.

The criteria is a 5 door, although would consider a saloon, enough power so 60 in the 10s, decent sized boot, decent fuel economy and tax bracket with reliability so I don't have to worry. We'll be part exchanging the Fiat so trade only as convenience is very important.

My preferred option at this point is a, 1. 8 civic SE around 07 onwards, the other half likes the idea of a 1.6 auris. It will be mainly short distances and semi regular trips 20 miles down the motorway and back. Budget is up to £ 6.5k but that would be for something a bit more enticing, happy to shop around and allow 2.5k trade in.

Other thoughts for a test drive;

Focus 5 door or estate, would need more power than the 1.6
Seat Ibiza estate or hatch
Seat Leon
Possibly a better spec astra, base models are awful but would be OK as a joyless hack
Qashqai
Peugeot 3008

My wife had to have an emergency c section so I'll have to look and test drive, i'll just need to be a bit more considerate in what she wants from the family car rather than me getting what I would want.

[SidewaysSi]

I am in exactly the same position. The only difference being Alfa 147 instead of a 500.

The big issue for me is getting a rear facing baby seat in the back and the missus able to sit comfortably in the front. My mum has an E90 3 series and that is just about OK but I don't want to go any smaller.

So I am thinking Honda Accord/FRV/CRV. Or an E39/E60 5 series. Alternatively a Quashqa, Mondeo or Mazda6.

I think you get more car with the Mazda than with the others to be honest.

[Pete-mojsh]

I've got a mazda 3 at the moment and that's what we brought her home in, the passenger seat had to be moved quite a bit forward to allow for the seat to go in the back. With that in mind I would like something with reasonable size but not too big to make my wife feel unhappy driving it.

Not too sure what the decent engines are for Fords, no point having a diesel really as it will only run in to dpf problems later on.

[ZX10R NIN]

You're not really doing the mileage to get a diesel but you can get some interesting metal for your budget.

Higher end of the budget but worth a look:

2007 Focus ST3 76k (tax £295) cracking engine good allrounder

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

2008 2.5T Mondeo Titanium X 56k (same engine as the above but more practical) (tax £295)

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

2006 Vectra VXR Estate 51k (Tax £295) 280bhp

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

More sensible

2007 2.3 Mondeo Titanium X 50k (£295) 160bhp

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

2006 C180 Sport Estate 47k (£295) 150bhp

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

2007 Saab 9-3 2.0T Aero Wagon (£295) 207bhp

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

2009 2.5 Mazda Sport 54k (£295) 170bhp

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

As Above 2008 78k

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

[blearyeyedboy]

If your wife is unable to drive and you're not similar heights/limb lengths, think carefully about what it's be like for her to look over her shoulder, reach the wheel etc. (Or wait till she's well enough to sit in one after her C Section?)

If she wants an Auris then it's not a bad call. The 1.8 Civic will tick your boxes and be very reliable too, and you'll be able to carry more stuff in it. Strangely, when I tried one I couldn't fit in a Civic! (I'm only 6'1")