A little help please...

[Mattyo76]

So, I’ve suddenly found myself a single Dad of 2 and with no car (long story, not to be gone into here, but she took the family BMW X5 with her)
After bills, expenses etc. etc. I only have a maximum of £2k left to spend buying a car.
It needs to be big enough for me and 2 children under 12 years old....and all their stuff.
As a family we love watersports, rock climbing and cycling (and I don’t want my choice in car to affect the kids) as well as needs to be my business car and carry tools of the trade etc. as I am a racehorse farrier so spend much time in very nice places indeed, and would like to fit in (if I can).

I’m not adverse to a people carrier, or 4x4 at all, but would maybe prefer a better equipped mid-size estate. Because of our recreational activities I would love built in sat nav as I find that external ones are never that great.

So far, I’ve looked at an old shape BMW 320i estate, a Ford Modeo estate and a Jaguar X-Type estate all with built in sat nav. But large millage. I’ve not gone for any yet, as I wanted to make sure I’m doing the right thing. And am borrowing a friends Volvo XC70 for the time being.
I have until October 10th to make my choice and buy, when he needs his car back.

Just wondered of some help and input from my fellow petrolheads please.

What else should I be looking at for the money?
Is external sat nav something I’m not giving justice too, and if so, which should I go for?
Many thanks
Matt

[TheAlastair34]

i wouldn't be bothered with sat nav, great when the cars came out but a mobile and the waze app is far better than anything else ive found.

[300bhp/ton]

Subaru Forrester. Lots of choice around the £2k mark.

[kieranblenk]

Forester is a good suggestion, also would like to throw in the Legacy and Outback along with the Volvo V70. A Rover 75/MG ZT Tourer may work also if you like the looks.

[DatfaceSoldier]

The problem with built in sat navs is they run on old technology, unless you're buying a car only a few years old, and they will be slow, have all of the new roads missing, and unless you want to pay the manufacturer to keep updating the built in Sat Nav which costs a fair amunt you'd be better off buying an external one. I think they update automatically or possibly need to be plugged into a PC or laptop and are updated with new roads/speed limits e.c.t for free.

[FlatToTheMat]

As others have said, Forester/Outback would fit the bill nicely and as for Satnav, I'd not buy an external one or bother about built in satnav, it'll be rubbish, outdated and slow! Use your smartphone, Google Maps and Waze is better imo, just buy a proper mount, in car charger and away you go

Good luck

[ZX10R NIN]

Your budget doesn't leave a lot of room but here are some decent options, built in sat nav will be to old get yourself a decent Garmin nav for around £150 & you'll be fine:

Here are some decent options obviously do your checks but all should see you & the kids right for a good few years:

Mondeo Ghia X/Zetec

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

MG ZT-T

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Vectra (in 1.9tdi form they're pretty much bulletproof same goes for the petrol) SRI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Saab 9-5 Vector Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

9-3 you may find these a bit small from your described usage but they're worth a look

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Honda Accord

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

407SW (not a looker but the drivetrain is very reliable they do seem to like a window regulator though) SE

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Vauxhall Signum

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Normally I'd say go for the Mondeo but the Signum/Vectra are hard to beat.

MPV wise these would be the direction I'd be looking in:

Mazda5 Sport (Mazda5 is the go to option for me in this segment)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Grand Picasso VTR+ (don't go for the 1.6d it's a dog of an engine)

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Seat Altea XL

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2.0T Zafira (due to the bad press these received you can get one of these for sensible money when compared to it's rivals) SRI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

SRI

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

If you need more of a van type of MPV then the 807 is worth a look:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

2.0T Grand Espace (this & the Galaxy below would be my pick out of the big mpv's) Initiale

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Ford Galaxy 1.9d Ghia

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

I hope this helps & you'll be back on your feet soon enough