Family Car Replacement
Discussion
I started a thread a while ago about SUVs / softroaders because my wife has a strange attraction to them (which judging by the traffic she shares this affliction with most of the rest of the public).
Basically, family is growing from 2 + 2 to 2 + 3 in the next 9 months. Currently my wife drives a 2008 Nissan Note 1.6 petrol. Basic motoring, does everything asked / needed of it. However, whilst she could theoretically get by with this car it's now at 90,000 miles and going to require more money throwing at it soon - plus the bigger issue; she wants something newer.
Our purchase will be on finance, spending somewhere in the region of £200 / month (HP, not PCP). Our deposit will be the car + £2,000.
We are looking at - (and this is the soul-destroying bit)
Vauxhall Zafira Tourer
+ Lots about, choice / value
+ 2.0 CDTi probably best choice?
+ Roomy Interior
+ Road tests say it's one of the better steers from this group
- Big car (physically looks the biggest)
- Will likely be worthless after 4 years?
Toyota Verso
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+ Mrs prefers the exterior styling (I know right?) and interior layout
+ It's a Toyota
+ Residual values? Taxi Drivers seem to like 'em
- I'm afraid it will be boring as hell
- Performance seems lacklustre (on paper at least)
VW Touran
+ It's a VW, so I'm hoping it will be very similarly well-built as my Golf?
+ It'll still be worth something in 4 years
+ It's got really positive reviews
+ It's my favourite of the bunch (but it's not my choice...)
- There are fewer about (so it seems) and most seem to be 1.6 TDi. A 2.0 TDi is rarer but much more desireable
- Much more expensive unless you only go for basic trim level
-
The reason for the shortlist is simple, I need to get 2 booster seats + a rear-facing child seat into the back, together with all the paraphernalia associated with a new born.
It has to go faster, or at least as fast as her current 1.6 Note. so 0-60 in around 10s.
Petrol or Diesel - no preference for either, does just over 11,000 miles so on the cusp of what makes sense to have an oil-burner.
Is there anything left-field or that I may have forgotten / should be considering with my criteria?
Will our money be better spent on an older model VW Touran rather than a newer alternative?
Basically, family is growing from 2 + 2 to 2 + 3 in the next 9 months. Currently my wife drives a 2008 Nissan Note 1.6 petrol. Basic motoring, does everything asked / needed of it. However, whilst she could theoretically get by with this car it's now at 90,000 miles and going to require more money throwing at it soon - plus the bigger issue; she wants something newer.
Our purchase will be on finance, spending somewhere in the region of £200 / month (HP, not PCP). Our deposit will be the car + £2,000.
We are looking at - (and this is the soul-destroying bit)
Vauxhall Zafira Tourer
+ Lots about, choice / value
+ 2.0 CDTi probably best choice?
+ Roomy Interior
+ Road tests say it's one of the better steers from this group
- Big car (physically looks the biggest)
- Will likely be worthless after 4 years?
Toyota Verso
+ Mrs prefers the exterior styling (I know right?) and interior layout
+ It's a Toyota
+ Residual values? Taxi Drivers seem to like 'em
- I'm afraid it will be boring as hell
- Performance seems lacklustre (on paper at least)
VW Touran
+ It's a VW, so I'm hoping it will be very similarly well-built as my Golf?
+ It'll still be worth something in 4 years
+ It's got really positive reviews
+ It's my favourite of the bunch (but it's not my choice...)
- There are fewer about (so it seems) and most seem to be 1.6 TDi. A 2.0 TDi is rarer but much more desireable
- Much more expensive unless you only go for basic trim level
-
The reason for the shortlist is simple, I need to get 2 booster seats + a rear-facing child seat into the back, together with all the paraphernalia associated with a new born.
It has to go faster, or at least as fast as her current 1.6 Note. so 0-60 in around 10s.
Petrol or Diesel - no preference for either, does just over 11,000 miles so on the cusp of what makes sense to have an oil-burner.
Is there anything left-field or that I may have forgotten / should be considering with my criteria?
Will our money be better spent on an older model VW Touran rather than a newer alternative?
I don't understand how SUV's got all aspirational on our ass while MPV's, which are proper family transport are seen as a depressing or dull choice.
I've been passenger in a (ratty) Zafira, Touran and a test mule Galaxy and the Galaxy was the best by a million miles and I put it to the jury better than any SUV, better than any I've been in, so at least look at one or an SMax
On the Toyota dullness. You're looking at a family car, dull is good. Japanese dull is bloody brilliant, you just get them serviced somewhat on time and they keep going. I'd check how the practicality of each of them stack up. My experience with Honda is that they don't blow you away on the test drive (though the Jazz impressed from the off), but 4 or 5 years down the line and all of a sudden you notice that in all that time the car just kept on keeping on.
I've been passenger in a (ratty) Zafira, Touran and a test mule Galaxy and the Galaxy was the best by a million miles and I put it to the jury better than any SUV, better than any I've been in, so at least look at one or an SMax
On the Toyota dullness. You're looking at a family car, dull is good. Japanese dull is bloody brilliant, you just get them serviced somewhat on time and they keep going. I'd check how the practicality of each of them stack up. My experience with Honda is that they don't blow you away on the test drive (though the Jazz impressed from the off), but 4 or 5 years down the line and all of a sudden you notice that in all that time the car just kept on keeping on.
Galaxy seems a fair bit bigger but we did look at one. Likewise the S-Max, which we did like but it seemed to be bigger than the suggested cars above.
The real victory so far is that we have moved away from SUVs even being a consideration!
I agree ref. Honda, but they don't really do a MPV, the Jazz is too small.
We also looked at the C-Max but this was pretty confusing as there were different variants - some had a sliding door and 7 seats and others 5 seats and hinged doors.
The real victory so far is that we have moved away from SUVs even being a consideration!
I agree ref. Honda, but they don't really do a MPV, the Jazz is too small.
We also looked at the C-Max but this was pretty confusing as there were different variants - some had a sliding door and 7 seats and others 5 seats and hinged doors.
I suggest taking a look at one of the Mazda5 you can find very good low mileage examples for very sensible money, Sport Venture Edition is the model to go for:
Sport Venture
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
The middle seat is small so it depends on your requirements but I'd say try one for size.
If you need something bigger then I'd say the S Max.
Sport Venture
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
The middle seat is small so it depends on your requirements but I'd say try one for size.
If you need something bigger then I'd say the S Max.
Can't see the S max being much bigger, performance wise our 210bhp diesel will do 60 in 8.5 secs, sync 3 is also very tidy! Load of space for car seats, comfy, quiet, uprated speakers are good (door card rattles less so with the bass turned up), ours is top spec so loads of good toys!
Happy to discuss more
Happy to discuss more
Assuming you're looking at 5 year HP therefore a budget around £15k... With no research at all, some that I might consider (certainly before a Zafira...)
Seat Alhambra
BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer
Citroen C4 Picasso/Grand Picasso
Mazda 5
Mercedes R Class L (probably my choice, though it is longer than the channel tunnel)
Renault Scenic/Grand Scenic (if you can get the latest model the interior is lovely)
Seat Alhambra
BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer
Citroen C4 Picasso/Grand Picasso
Mazda 5
Mercedes R Class L (probably my choice, though it is longer than the channel tunnel)
Renault Scenic/Grand Scenic (if you can get the latest model the interior is lovely)
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